Dark, gripping, and utterly unique, this atmospheric historical fantasy from critically acclaimed author Laura E. Weymouth is perfect for fans of ‘The Hazel Wood’ and ‘Caraval’.
After the release of her debut novel last year, Laura E. Weymouth returns with a new YA fantasy that will have you hooked! We chat to Laura about A Treason of Thorns and its inspiration, along with book recommendations, writing, and more!
Hi Laura! Tell us a little about yourself!
I’m a fulltime kid-wrangler/animal-keeper and part-time author/Baba Yaga, who lives at the edge of the woods in western New York. I like coffee (though it doesn’t like me) running (though I’m terrible at it) and being surrounded by living things.
A Treason of Thorns is set to release on September 10th. If you could only use five words to describe it, what would they be?
Fierce and prickly pastoral gothic.
Now let’s hear a little more! What can readers expect?
A Treason of Thorns is the story of Violet Sterling, the dispossessed daughter of a treasonous nobleman, whose family has long served as Caretakers to a sentient estate called Burleigh House. When Vi’s given the opportunity to return to her family home after her father’s execution, she seizes it, only to discover that Burleigh House itself is slowly dying, and that if it fails, there could be severe consequences for the surrounding land. It’s up to Vi to decide whether her House is worth fighting for, or if, as others believe, it should be put down.
Where did the inspiration for A Treason of Thorns come from?
I’ve always been a history lover, and while a number of things factored into the development of the idea that became A Treason of Thorns, one of them was a fascination with how much of our personal stories houses witness. And particularly old stately homes in Europe, that see generations of the same family living under their roof. There’s a real sense of responsibility towards their homes among families who’ve been in one place for a long time, and so I thought what if the house was just as strongly bonded to its family? So that’s how Burleigh House came to be, and the rest of the book grew around it.
Did you face any challenges while writing?
HA! Yes. I have two daughters, who I describe as mildly feral. They’re seven and four and very lovely, happy kids but also absolute agents of chaos. I’m their fulltime carer first and foremost at this point, rather than a fulltime writer, so that’s definitely the biggest challenge—working my writing into the nooks and crannies of a pre-existing and nearly all-consuming endeavor.
Was there a certain scene or character you enjoyed writing?
Anytime I got to write interactions between Alfie and Espie was a DELIGHT, because I tend to write a lot of melancholy, brooding characters and to have two people who are so obviously on the same wavelength and so obviously having fun together no matter the circumstances was a treat.
Your debut novel, The Light Between Worlds, published last year. How have things changed since then?
I sleep a lot less??? I always joke that my office hours are from 8pm till 11, after the kids are in bed. And sometimes people refer to me as a “critically-acclaimed author” which means I have to awkward-shuffle away, even if I can only do it internally.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Read widely and write with abandon. Try writing in a lot of different genres, a lot of different styles. Practice imitating other voices and inventing new ones until you find something that’s a perfect, organic fit for you. And give yourself at least a couple years at the outset where you’re NOT writing with the goal of publication, so you can take those literary risks that will allow you to hone your style.
What’s next for you?
A nap! But on a publishing front I have a few projects in the works, none of which I can talk about yet, so you’ll have to stay tuned!
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for us?
ALWAYS. My eternal blanket recommendation is the Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta which are the books of my heart and which I re-read annually. Recently I’ve loved the stylish and whip-smart MEM by Bethany C. Morrow, An Enchantment of Ravens and Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson, The Beholder by Anna Bright, and Echo North by Joanna Meyer.
Is “A treason of thorns” going to be a movie or show?