Today we’re delighted to be joined by New York Times bestselling author Sasha Peyton Smith. After the smash-hit success of The Rose Bargain, we return to this twisted world in The Thorn Queen. We sit down with Sasha to find out more about her process and tease out what’s in store.
Hi Sasha, thank you for joining us today. Please could you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your latest release The Thorn Queen?
Hi Nerd Daily! I’m Sasha and I’m the author of the Rose Bargain Duology—a YA romantasy series about an alternate history Victorian England where the queen is a faerie and a group of debutantes enter a competition to marry her son, the faerie prince (it’s a bit like Bridgerton if you wished Bridgerton had way more fae.) The Thorn Queen, the sequel to the Rose Bargain, follows our main characters beyond England, dealing with some consequences to some choices they made in book one.
The Rose Bargain was such an astounding book. What were some unique challenges with writing the sequel?
Readers reacted so kindly to the Rose Bargain, I couldn’t believe the reception it got! Writing a sequel that was labelled as “anticipated” was a lot of pressure. I didn’t want to let anyone down! Learning to drown out the voices (including the self-doubt one in my own head) and focus on remaining true to the heart of the story was my big task in writing the Thorn Queen. It was also my first time writing a true fantasy world! I had to learn a lot about world-building.
Did anything change with your approach to writing or writing routine between book 1 and 2 and how did you handle this?
I don’t know if my approach to writing changed, but the deadlines definitely felt faster! I was writing the Thorn Queen and promoting and touring for the Rose Bargain, simultaneously, so I had to get more comfortable working while I was traveling (and I toured ten states and five countries for the Rose Bargain, so I was travelling A LOT.)
Were there any particular characters, themes or parts of the world that you were excited to explore or revisit in the sequel?
I was excited to dive deeper into Ivy and Lydia’s relationship as sisters. They go through so much together in this book, and the love they have for one another is really at the heart of the story. Having a sister can be so emotionally complex. They’re really forced to confront the harm they’ve both inflicted on the other and come together as allies.
What is one message or lingering thought that you’d like readers to take away from this duology?
Love is always worth it, or, be nice to your sister!
What do you think keeps drawing readers and writers back to the world of the fae?
There’s something so alluring about the idea of a faerie bargain. The question; what would you give up in order to have everything you’ve ever wanted is such a fundamental theme across storytelling. I, personally, love writing these beautiful beings that are distinctly not human. There’s something so interesting about a gorgeous creature offering you your heart’s desire, but some animal instinct in your brain is still screaming “Danger! Run!”
What other periods of history would you like to retell with a speculative lens?
I’m currently working on a book loosely inspired by 1920s London! (more details coming soon…)
What books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
I’m currently reading the Emma M Lion books by Beth Brower and finding myself so charmed. Releases on the horizon I’m excited for; The Long Con by Jenna Voris, The Queen of Lombard Street by Lisa Kleypas, and Hawk and Sparrow by Ayana Gray.
If possible, please can you share a little about what you are currently working on or any upcoming projects you have?
Unfortunately, the aforementioned 1920s-inspired project is still mostly a secret, but I’m excited to share more official details soon! I’m looking forward to calling it something other than my childhood-friends-to-arranged-marriage-book.
Finally if you could only use five words to describe The Thorn Queen, what would they be?
Don’t go in the woods.
Will you be picking up The Thorn Queen? Tell us in the comments below!
