About Me
Hello Darling!
I’m Tina Koutras, and I write fantasy romance because, honestly, I’m a sucker for two things in life: epic love stories and epic adventures. Give me a sweeping tale of destiny, danger, and heart-melting romance, and I’m hooked faster than you can say “forbidden love.”
I grew up all over Canada, a little bit here, a little bit there (seriously, we moved around a lot). These days, I’ve settled outside of Halifax in rural Nova Scotia, where the small-town vibes seriously fuel my fantasy-loving soul. There's something about the peaceful fields, woods and quiet charm that makes it feel like I’m living in my very own magical realm… just with fewer dragons.
Speaking of fantasy
My love for it started early. Picture it: me as a wide-eyed kid, curled up with a rented VHS tape (remember those?), popping in The Last Unicorn. It was game over from there. That single movie kicked off my lifelong fantasy obsession. Soon after, I discovered The Never Ending Story, Legend, Conan the Barbarian, Ladyhawke, Red Sonja, and so many more.
And just when I thought my little magical heart couldn’t take any more... I found my first D&D table.
My love for epic quests only deepened when I discovered fantasy novels. OMG, so much fantasy so little time. I would draw fantasy, write fantasy, read fantasy, dream fantasy—I lived and breathed it. Life was sweet. Well, sweet for the geeky kid who kept her dice rolls and dragon-slaying dreams under wraps. Back in the '80s and early '90s, things like D&D weren’t exactly fashion statements. (A wedgie or two might’ve been involved. We don’t talk about it.)
But then something happened that changed everything.
Romance snuck into my fantasy world. Here’s the thing, my crew of D&D players was 100% guy central. Romance was about as welcome at our table as an ice troll. But for me? All those stories about fiery love and epic connection were calling. I started wanting more from my D&D games, something bigger than your average "grab gold, fight orcs" routine.
And, well, fate had a little surprise waiting for me. At 18, I sat down at a D&D table and met the guy who would later become my husband, Apostolos. (Seriously, his name just screams “epic hero,” right?)
Since then...
...my life has been one magical adventure after another. Together, Apostolos and I raised three amazing kids, traveled through life’s highs and lows, and built a story worth writing about. (Side note for the curious minds out there—we also share our castle with our two legendary dogs, Ophelia the Cane Corso and MacBeth the English Mastiff. They’re total scene-stealers.)
But, as with many tales, not every chapter has glowing swords and epic quests. There were jobs. Ugh, boring jobs that I’ll spare you the details of because, well, they weren’t exactly magical. Fast-forward, though, and life threw in another twist. We swapped city life for a quieter, more enchanting rural one at the base of a mountain! (It's breathtaking)
And then I started a podcast, Ink & Flame, chatting with other authors about their worlds. It was during these conversations that a little flame inside me started to spark to life.
I realized I’d been carrying a dream for years—to turn the epic fantasy stories I held in my heart and mind into actual books. Real books. Not just notebooks filled with random short stories tucked away in a drawer but complete, sweeping, magical tales I could share with the world.
Which brings me here. To you! I’m now embarking on a new chapter, weaving my love for fantasy and romance into something truly epic. Think breathtaking worlds, fierce heroines, heroic adventures, and love as big as the landscapes it unfolds in. Hopefully, you’ll come along for the ride and keep me company on this exciting author adventure.
If you’d like to stick around and be part of my story, make sure to join my fantasy family by filling out the form below. Together, we can explore worlds beyond imagination, celebrate love (epic or otherwise), and share in the magic of storytelling. 👇