Q&A: Erin Doom, Author of ‘The Tearsmith’

We chat with author Erin Doom about The Tearsmith, which is the bestselling international sensation, coming soon to Netflix, now in English for the first time. It’s a dark, sexy, haunting novel of two very damaged teens who are taken in by the same foster family and forced to reckon with a destructive love that could be both of their undoing.

What was your inspiration for THE TEARSMITH and what compelled you to write characters impacted by the adoption system?

I was inspired by my passion for dark fables, constellations, classic music and the small little things that often go unnoticed; on the other and, adoption was a reality I wanted to debate, an important matter that I wanted to bring to the attention of people with all its circumstances and complex situations.

Why did you decide to set the novel in Alabama?

Alabama had a particular fascinating atmosphere, combined with very strict laws about adoption and family matters; that helped me set the story and its unconventional type of relationship.

As a New Adult Romance novel, THE TEARSMITH features several popular tropes, including forbidden love, close proximity, enemies to lovers, and slow burn.  Why did you decide to feature these specific tropes, and do you have a favorite among the tropes?

I’m fond of the forbidden love trope, and all of the book deals with this particular kind of relationship: slow burn is one of my favorite ways to create tension, hopes and expectations and try to someway convey them to people.

Did your legal background influence your writing at all?

Yes, in more than one circumstance.

What kind of research did you do while writing the novel and was there anything you learned in your research that stood out to you? 

I read up on the law of the State involving family issues, adoption and foster care; the thing that struck me most powerfully was reading about foster care children experiences and their life once they had come of age; some of them told about the difficulties of adulthood and the hardship of finding themselves alone in a world that don’t keep up with their situations.

When THE TEARSMITH was first published in Italy, it was the biggest bestseller that year and a sensation on TikTok.  What was it like seeing the book go viral and have so many readers support the book on social media?  

It was unbelievable at first, completely unexpected. It still is.

What made you decide to publish pseudonymously?

I’ve always been very reserved about myself. I’m aware people can find it a bit untypical but I was very shy at first and didn’t know how to manage this big thing in a way that made me feel comfortable at the same time. Anonymity helped me.

How involved were you in the Netflix film adaptation and what is like to have your book adapted to screen?

It’s kind of a dig deal. Blessing and terrifying at the same time. I saw the script, I was on the set once, but wasn’t involved in other choices.

Will you be picking up The Tearsmith? Tell us in the comments below!