We chat with author I.V. Ophelia about The Cannibal, which is the explosive final book in the darkly addictive, nationally bestselling Poisoner trilogy—about a botanist who kills unsavory men, and the one man who’s resistant to her poisons yet possesses his own deadly charms…
Hi, I.V.! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello all! I’m IV Ophelia and I’m a USA Today bestselling author of gothic romances of various subgenres. I’m also an internationally awarded photographer, animal mom, and 19th century trinket collector.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
When I was writing SuperWhoLock fanfiction. 2014 was a time and a half! I’ve always enjoyed writing, whether it be essays or fiction, but I think I just like to yap a lot which makes it easier.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Goodnight Moon and Judy B Jones
- The one that made you want to become an author: House of Night Series
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Road
The Cannibal is the final installment in your Poisoner series and it’s out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Bloody, erotic, twisted, angsty, bittersweet
For those who haven’t picked up the series yet, what can they expect?
You can expect the drama of Interview With The Vampire and the smart FMCs of Apothecary Diaries! It’s twisted, dark, and morbidly funny at times. We have such a vibrant cast of characters surrounding our main love interests as well!
And for those who have, what’s to come in The Cannibal?
The expected, unexpected, and tons of debauchery.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Yes! This last book we have the treat of Phoebe’s POVs. Against the bleak background, we have our pink princess to help shed light on certain areas we’ve been waiting to hear more about. I think her POV completes the picture of this twisted story.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing the finale? How did you overcome them?
I did! Not only is it daunting to finished a series, but you want to do it right. I knew how it would end, but I wasn’t prepared to end it. I think writing this book out me through all the stages of grief in the process on top of a tight deadline. But my editors and team are fantastic and I’m so excited for everyone to experience the finale.
Can you share some insight into how you planned out the trilogy?
I start with a paragraph synopsis of each book to make sure I know how I plan to progress the story. I tend to make notes as I write to keep everything organized. But most importantly I knew how each book would end. I’ve had some of the big twists in Cannibal in mind since before I wrote Poisoner!
What’s next for you?
Something a little more… medieval.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
Yes! I’m so blessed to share an absolutely amazing release month with some of my peers! I’m currently looking forward to:
- Bloodgrove by Elisabeth G. Mark
- Necromantica by Ava Reid
- Before We Burn by Ophelia Reigns
- Mariposa by Lexie Axelson
- Our Cut of Salt by Deena Helm
- Bodice Ripper by Danica Nava
