What was your inspiration behind your most recent novel?
Alchemy was my inspiration! What’s not to love a pursuit that is equal parts science, philosophy, theology, and magic with eternal life and endless wealth as its goal? And it has a dark side, too. Alchemists were often despised, rumored to be sorcerers who made deals with the devil, and many of them devoted their entire lives to a hopeless cause. Alchemy is a pursuit that puts the cost of ambition on full display. And I love a cost of ambition story.
What character in this novel do you most relate to and why?
I relate most to Thea, by far, because I based her on me. Or at least, me at a very specific point in my life. Thea is me when I was her age, sheltered and lonely and totally unwilling to admit that she needs anyone. She’s way better at alchemy than I am, though.
Why do you feel novels with powerful and unique characters are so popular and have such a voice right now?
I think the most distinctive feature of the novel is the ability to get into a character’s head and identify with them, even if they’re extremely different from you. Speaking for myself, the more unique and powerful a character is, the more interesting I find it to live in their head for a while.
What’s next for you in the bookish world?
My second book, BRIGHT RUINED THINGS, comes out Fall 2021 with Wednesday Books. I think of it as THE GREAT GATSBY meets THE TEMPEST. It’s a 1920s YA retelling of THE TEMPEST, set during the Prosper family’s annual bash, in which their teenaged ward Mae realizes this powerful family is not what they seem, and seizes her chance to seize the magic they have always denied her. I’ve just wrapped up edits on that one, and I’m looking forward to diving back into another secret project once the dust settles from A Golden Fury’s release.
Who is your current favorite writer? Why?
I’m not sure I can choose! But since I just finished A Deadly Education a couple days ago, I have to shout out Naomi Novik. Even across very different kinds of stories, she knows how to write characters and a world that grab me and don’t let go. Reading her books feels like going back to the reading experiences of my childhood, except that they meet me where I am now.
Any writing advice for aspiring writers?
I’ll give the advice that I’ve been giving myself lately. Put away your phone. Turn off the internet on your computer, or maybe take a break from the computer entirely and write by hand in some of those notebooks I know you have. Let yourself be bored for those minutes between inspiration. Easy distraction is my biggest enemy as a creative person. I’m not exactly winning my war against it at the moment, to be quite honest, but that doesn’t mean you can’t! Be better than I am!
Your book interweaves elements of magic and dark fantasy. What inspired these themes? Why?
So far, the magic that comes out of my imagination all tends to be pretty dark. As much as I love wish-fulfillment fantasy and fun magic systems, my own subconscious, creative mind doesn’t seem to trust magic. The dark side of power is very evident to me. And after all, magic is power!
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