We chat with author Ava Morgyn about The Bane Witch, which is dark, spellbinding novel about a woman who is more than a witch—she’s a hunter—think Practical Magic meets Gone Girl.
Hi, Ava! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m Ava Morgyn and I’m the author of the adult contemporary fantasies, THE WITCHES OF BONE HILL and THE BANE WITCH. I’m also the author of YA novels RESURRECTION GIRLS and THE SALT IN OUR BLOOD, which have similar magical themes in a real-world setting.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I fell in love with reading and writing as a kid. I think I was about eight years old when I announced I wanted to be an author. Books have been a delight and a comfort to me for as long as I can remember, and I started writing creatively from a very early age and never really stopped.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: I had a picture book called The Little Girl Story that I was obsessed with, probably because it had belonged to my older sister first. Not exactly literature, but I must have read it a thousand times.
- The one that made you want to become an author: Howliday Inn by James Howe. I had a teacher who read to the class from it a little bit every day, and I was riveted. That’s when I realized I wanted to be able to create that same kind of magic, I wanted to write stories.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: There are a lot of these. I read The Handmaid’s Tale in high school and was never the same again. It’s the first time I remember falling in love with an author’s voice. Most recently it was The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo, which is absolutely masterful.
Your latest novel, The Bane Witch, is out March 18th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Feminist Poisonous Magical Dark Deadly
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect a magical, blood-pumping journey pitting one desperate woman against multiple dangerous, predatory men fueled by toxic botcanicals and female rage. If you love novels about witches, about female relationships, about family bonds and secrets, about the real monsters who stalk the night, and bad guys getting what they deserve, then you will love this novel.
Where did the inspiration for The Bane Witch come from?
Originally it came from my interest in fictional female assassins and an idea I had for a YA novel featuring an all-girls’ school for trained killers. But then I started wanted to combine it with witches and a magical system. And that drew in the idea for toxic plants and poisons, and on it went from there.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing all of the bane witches—their interactions and philosophy, the little details that brought their world and work to life. But I think Myrtle and Azalea hold a very special place for me. I loved writing Myrtle’s wisdom and down-to-earth charm. And I loved writing Azalea’s confidence and charisma.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I always get a little muddled about halfway through the plot or so. That second act when we’ve firmly established where we are and introduced the main players, but now we’ve got to get everything and everyone (or not in some cases) to the finish line without losing steam or veering off course. And really, the only thing I know to do to overcome that feeling is to just keep going, to push through. Usually, I find my way to where I wanted to end up without much issue. But anything that falls short can be cleaned up and adjusted in the rewrite.
What’s next for you?
I have another standalone witchy novel coming out next year that I can’t wait to announce and start pumping readers up for. And I’m already starting two others that I’m eager to buckle down and finish—one set in the real world and one set in a fantasy world.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
I am forever behind on my reading list. But I can tell you that I’m eager to get my hands on Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix, The Serpent and The Wolf by Rebecca Robinson, The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig, and Rachel Harrison’s next book, Play Nice.
