We chat with author Kathryn Foxfield about Our Wicked Gifts, which follows the daughter of a sinister magical family who made a deal with the devil and must stop the man killing them off, one by one, in this deliciously dark fantasy thriller that’s House of Hollow meets Succession, laced with a kiss-or-kill romance.
Hi, Kathryn! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m a YA horror writer who used to be a research scientist but decided imaginary monsters are more fun than killer microbes. I live in Oxfordshire, UK, and spend most of my time writing weird stories or hanging out in creepy places looking for inspiration.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
Most authors will tell you that they wanted to write from a young age. I didn’t. Instead, I was really into bacteria and ended up becoming a microbiologist, before discovering National Novel Writing Month and deciding to give it a go on my commute to work. I wrote an appallingly bad book about a zombie uprising among the elderly, that was thankfully lost to the world when someone stole my laptop. But I’d already been bitten by the writing bug and I haven’t stopped since.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Redwall series by Brian Jacques
- The one that made you want to become an author: Legend by Marie Lu
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
Your latest novel, Our Wicked Gifts, is out July 7th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Toxic billionaires sell their souls!
What can readers expect?
Deals with the devil, strange magic, rich people behaving terribly, and the perils of falling in love with the wrong person.
Where did the inspiration for Our Wicked Gifts come from?
I was watching the TV show Succession and I immediately knew I wanted to write a book about a toxic family of billionaires, but with murder and magic. I’ve always loved writing about awful people and what’s worse than a family who’d happily sacrifice each other to the devil if it meant getting what they want?
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I enjoyed writing Allegra, in particular. She’s the family matriarch and the worst of a bad bunch. Her levels of selfishness and manipulation know no bounds. There’s one scene where she forces her entire family to keep a vigil at her bedside when she’s in no way dying – even asleep, she has them all wrapped around her little finger.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
My writing process tends to be extremely chaotic and painful. At one point, I decided to give up on Our Wicked Gifts and write about the murder of a UFO hoaxer told in the style of a true crime documentary. Thankfully, my agent gently encouraged me to stop being ridiculous. Every word is a challenge, but I think that’s why I love my job.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently writing another YA fantasy with magic and murder, as well as an adult book about cannibals.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I recently enjoyed All Hail Chaos by Sarah Rees Brennan, and Augusta Pine Does Not Exist by Emily Lloyd-Jones, and I can’t wait to read Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo.
