We chat with author Vaishnavi Patel about We Dance Upon Demons, which is a galvanizing stand-alone contemporary fantasy following a burnt-out reproductive health care worker as she fights back against escalating attacks on her clinic and the malevolent forces in hot pursuit of her newly acquired power.
Hi, Vaishnavi! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’m the author of Kaikeyi, Goddess of the River, and Ten Incarnations of Rebellion, along with my new release We Dance Upon Demons, a contemporary fantasy set at an abortion clinic. In my day job, I’m a civil rights lawyer and a longtime abortion clinic volunteer, so I’m deeply passionate about reproductive rights and excited to share this story with the world!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I have loved writing and stories for as long as I can remember. My very first word was “book,” and my mom has saved little stories I wrote back when I was five years old, so it’s always been a part of me. I lost my passion for writing somewhere toward the end of high school, and rediscovered it several years later at the beginning of law school when I needed a creative outlet. I’m so fortunate that stories have always been there for me, and that they embraced me as an old friend when I found my way back to them.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Conch Bearer by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhorn
Your latest novel, We Dance Upon Demons, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Abortion + Depression + Demons + Dance = Catharsis
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect a mix of real world horror and fun fantasy elements. We Dance Upon Demons follows a depressed abortion clinic worker, Nisha, who accidentally acquires magical powers from a demon. There’s a realistic look at the daily functioning of reproductive health clinics and their struggles, mixed with demon hijinks all across the city of Chicago. So expect a story that acknowledges the bleak politics of women’s autonomy while also providing hope and strength.
Where did the inspiration for We Dance Upon Demons come from?
The idea for this book came about when I was struggling to come to terms with the fall of Roe and to find the motivation to keep fighting. I drew on my own feelings of hopelessness, as well as my knowledge of the reproductive justice movement, both as a lawyer and a longtime volunteer. Other bits of We Dance Upon Demons were added because I thought they would bring some lightness to the story—I love Indian art and mythology and dance, so all of those elements got folded in.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really enjoyed writing all the scenes between Nisha, the main character, and Muya, the demon that she accidentally frees from a statue. They start off having an antagonistic relationship, but as time goes on, it becomes a bit of a buddy comedy, although tinged with suspicion because he is a demon. I loved writing their evolving relationship and banter, as well as exploring how a demon of ignorance would react to being in the modern world.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
The hardest part of writing this book was balancing the bleakness of the reproductive rights landscape with the message of hope that I wanted to leave readers with. The book started off very dark and hopeless, but as I revised, I myself had the experience of regaining my resolve. I integrated that experience into the book, and gave it a slightly more hopeful character—but striking that balance took a lot of time and care.
What’s next for you?
Next up for me is The Library of Lost Time which is coming in fall 2027. It’s a time travel novel about book banning with my first ever romance! I’m so excited to share it with readers next year. In the meantime, I will be disappearing for a bit after the launch of We Dance Upon Demons because I am also launching a baby this summer.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I’ve recently enjoyed Shay Kauwe’s The Killing Spell, which is an urban fantasy with Native Hawaiian representation. I’m looking forward to the release of Emily Varga’s The River She Became; I read it last year and can’t wait for it to be out in the world.
