Thank you Elle for the interview! I loved Of Curses and Beauty and The Sacrifice and the Spare is released today.

Interview

What inspired you to create a Beauty and the Beast retelling, Of Curses and Beauty?

This story originally began as a short story that I intended to submit to a retelling anthology, but once I got started, I couldn’t seem to stop. I chose Beauty and the Beast because it is one of my favorite fairytales and, thus, the one I have the most knowledge of.

Was writing a retelling easier than writing The Sacrifice and the Spare?

I think both of these projects had their challenges. At the moment, I remember Of Curses and Beauty being easier, but I think that was because I had no deadline for it. It was my first completed novel, so I didn’t set dates until I finished the first draft. The Sacrifice and the Spare had a publication date before I even started writing it.

What was your process of writing a fantasy romance retelling and a vampire romance? 

I had a similar process for both of these. Since I am a pantser, I do very little in terms of initial plotting. I begin with a general idea and let the story flow from there. It means I do a lot of editing and rewriting, but I can really give my characters free rein to tell me how the story should be written. That alone makes it feel so much less contrived, to me, at least. It helps me get in the heads of my characters.

What is your approach to world-building? 

Oh my. World-building is my kryptonite. I really admire authors that can create these new, complex worlds with histories, cultures, myths, and magic, but so far, my stories have all been low fantasy, second world, which means, even though they don’t happen in our world, the settings are very similar to certain periods of Earth. It gives me the space to focus on the romance of the story without getting caught up in the intricacies of a completely new world. Though, I hope I’m able to expand into more complex worlds in the future.

How would you describe Of Curses and Beauty in five words?

Cozy cottage romance with magic

How would you describe The Sacrifice and the Spare in five words?

Spicy arranged marriage murder plot

Did you have a favourite moment to write in each book (without spoilers)?

There were several that I loved to write in Of Curses and Beauty. It has so many sweet, romantic, and funny moments. It just gives me warm, fuzzy feelings. I definitely had a smile on my face through most of the drafting.

The Sacrifice and the Spare has higher stakes, so I felt more stressed through the writing process, but I really love the opening scene of the prince being unable to look away from his new vampire bride. I think it sets the tone for their relationship early on.

What was your favourite book growing up?

That would depend on my age at the time. I was always a voracious reader, so I probably had a different favorite book every year of my life. Some standouts that I can recall are Moon Bridge by Marcia Savin, Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix, and later Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice.

Do you have a favourite genre to read? 

I love to read anything with romance in it. Absolutely every sub-genre, though my favorites are Fantasy Romance and Rom Coms.

Definitely check out Of Curses and Beauty as well as The Sacrifice and the Spare, released today.