In this thrilling conclusion to New York Times best-selling authors Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige’s The Ravens, the sorority witches are tested when a rival threatens to usurp their place on campus and the forces of hell come knocking on their door.
We chat with co-authors Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige about The Monarchs, along with writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Danielle and Kass! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourselves?
KM: In addition to being a writer, I’m also a book editor! So I essentially have two full-time jobs. It’s a lot but who can complain about having TWO dream jobs?! I grew up in NY and California and currently live in Brooklyn. I love horseback riding, hiking, inventing new cocktails, biking, petting strangers’ french bulldogs, and people-watching at coffee shops. I have a Master’s degree in Victorian Literature though I’m not sure I would’ve finished all those novels if Twitter and Instagram had existed when I was in grad school.
DP: I live in NY but I have spent most of the pandemic down the Jersey Shore with my fiancé. I share Kass’ love for coffee shops and people watching and cocktails and I love television and film and fashion and art. I love to draw and paint. Art was my minor in college. I got my start as a writer in soaps. I wrote for Guiding Light and Days of Our Lives. It was the absolute best/most fun entryway into the world of writing and taught me so much about the business of writing. It also taught me that I can (and anyone can!) write just about anything. I love trying new genres and new mediums – I am so lucky to have gotten to write television, comics and novels. I love being a writer, but this year I am desperately missing getting to see our readers.
Welcome to 2022! What are you hoping the year will bring?
KM: I’m hoping we get a handle on the pandemic and keep American democracy from collapsing. I’d also like to learn to bake.
DP: I want us all to be happy and healthy, physically, emotionally and politically! Also, learning to bake. I made chocolate chip cookies and a key lime pie from scratch last month. Who are we, Mallory?
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
KM:
- First book—The Twits by Roald Dahl
- Book that made me want to be an author—Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
- Book I can’t stop thinking about—My Year of Rest and Relaxation
DP:
- First Book: Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales.
- Book that made me want to be an author : Great Expectations.
The Monarchs, which is the sequel to The Ravens, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
KM: Glamorous, twisted, irreverent, romantic, magical
DP: Sorority. Witches. Save. The. World?
What can readers expect in the final installment in the duology?
KM: Darker magic, bigger spells, rival sororities, more elaborate costume parties, creepier villains!
DP: Darker, scarier, sexier…
Can you tell us a bit about the challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
KM: The backstory for the villain took a while to iron out but our editor, Laura, pitched us a MIND-BLOWING twist that made everything fall into place. Hooray for editors!
DP: Not getting to see Kass for the entirety of this process except on screen! I miss you, Kass. Thank goodness for Zoom. I still want us to go an our epic tour someday. Maybe there will be a Ravens, Part 3?
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
KM: Our witch sorority throws an Alice in Wonderland-themed party and it was SUPER fun to imagine how they’d use their magic to bring it to life. I wish I could hire a witch party-planner in real life.
DP: Creating a new villain with Kass. I can’t tell you who.
What’s next for the both of you?
KM: I have to fix the “e” key on my computer before I can start writing a new book. That one turns out to be rather essential.
DP: My fairy godmother origin story, The Wish of the Wicked is out end of the year. And I am working on another DC Comic and an audio script with my fiancé (late night writer, Chris Albers.)
Lastly, do you have any 2022 book recommendations for our readers?
KM: This Might Get Awkward by Kara McDowell
DP: Once Upon a Heartbreak by Stephanie Garber
