We chat with debut author Rachel Koller Croft about Stone Cold Fox, a compelling debut about an ambitious woman who, after a lifetime of conning alongside her mother, wants to leave her dark past behind and marry the heir to one of the country’s wealthiest families.
Hi, Rachel! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’m a novelist and screenwriter based in Los Angeles, right by the beach, where I live with my husband, Charles, and my dog, Junie. I’ve been in LA for most of my adult life so it feels like home, but I’m originally from Chicago. I’ve been in a book club with a bunch of my pals for ten years, I travel a lot – both with my husband and also bestiefiestas with my friends –, and there’s not much I love more than going out for dinner and a movie on a weeknight just because.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love those things. I’ve been a reader and writer from a very young age, with supportive teachers and lovely librarians in my life. My parents always made sure I had books to read and notebooks to fill, things like that. It’s always been a strong part of my identity.
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!
First Book I Remember Reading: Koko’s Kitten.
Book That Made Me Want to Become An Author: All of the Little House books, Caddie Woodlawn, Junie B. Jones, Ramona Quimby, Age 8, the American Girl books. Anything with a plucky, young heroine really.
Book I Can’t Stop Thinking About: I think about A Little Life on the regular, even when I don’t want to – thanks, Hanya! (I loved it, but oh, the free-falling tears of it all!)
Your debut novel, Stone Cold Fox, is out February 14th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Sharp. Salacious. Sexy. Savage. FUN!
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect a very strong point-of-view from the main character, Bea, and likely a visceral reaction to her, which is my intent. My hope is that whether you love her (like me) or hate her, you will find her entertaining and want to go on the wild ride with her in the driver’s seat either way.
Where did the inspiration for Stone Cold Fox come from?
I’m very intrigued by the push and pull of extreme wealth and the type of woman who aspires to marry up. I thought the interiority of that – being simultaneously repulsed and enticed by that 1% world – would make for a compelling main character. As for Bea’s signature snark, I definitely leaned on my own darker sense of humor that I share with my girlfriends. Not in a nasty way, but we all grew up in the early ‘00s when the broader social perception of women was really grim and specific and harsh – and whether we like it or not, a lot of that toxicity is internalized in us, despite working just about daily to rid ourselves of it.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I’m very protective and loving of Bea. I loved being inside her head the whole journey and made sure that, even when I was trying to ruin her life, that all of her decisions felt true to her character. I loved writing all of the female characters, though, especially when they are all together in a scene. The brunch scene where Bea meets Collin’s family for the first time is a personal favorite along with another scene later on discussing potential wedding plans amidst all the gals. It was a blast to make sure they were all three-dimensional and funny and smart – I wanted them to feel like real people readers may have come across in their lives.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey of getting Stone Cold Fox published?
I was introduced to my literary agent via my work as a screenwriter and she responded to my first draft of the book, but had a lot of wonderful, intense notes. So we really buckled down to make it super sparkly before going out to sell it – she has a very editorial and creative spirit that I adore and really pushes me in the best way. So much so that I was very fortunate Stone Cold Fox was sold at auction in a competitive situation. We found the perfect home for the book at Berkley with my equally talented editor to round out the whole Stone Cold Fox team. I’m truly thrilled by where she’s ended up!
What’s next for you?
I have lots of exciting projects in tv and film coming up, to be announced, but I’m also working on my second novel – which I can’t say too much about yet, but I’ll share that music plays a really big part in the story and that it might even be a bit spooky!
Lastly, are there any 2023 book releases our readers should look out for?
I can’t wait to read Daisy Alpert Florin’s My Last Innocent Year, Ella Berman’s Before We Were Innocent, Ruth Madievsky’s All-Night Pharmacy, Becky Chalsen’s Kismet, Laura Hankin’s The Daydreams and Mona Awad’s Rouge. And I’m probably missing so many others. 2023 is just a really juicy year for new books!
