We chat with author Lyndall Clipstone about Tenderly, I Am Devoured, which is a moody, monstrously Gothic romantasy in which a young woman must bind herself to a dangerous underworld god to save her family’s legacy – and herself – from ruin.
Hi, Lyndall! Welcome back! How has the past two years been since we last spoke?
I’ve been busily working on revisions and promotion for Tenderly, I am Devoured, which I wrote following a time of extreme creative burnout. This is my most personal book and I feel so proud of the story I’ve told—it’s surreal to be almost at publication day already.
Your latest novel, Tenderly, I Am Devoured, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Glimmering, evocative, soft, flower-threaded, haunted
What can readers expect?
Tenderly, I am Devoured is a romantic folk horror where Saltburn meets The Secret History. Inside it, you can find: a desperate deal with a (kissable) swan god, a swoony heartbreak to lovers m/f/f polyamorous romance, dark academia meets cottagecore vibes, lyrical prose and a haunting seaside atmosphere
Where did the inspiration for Tenderly, I Am Devoured come from?
Tenderly, I am Devoured is my most personal book and drew a lot on my experiences of academia and perfectionism. My love of dark academia books like The Secret History, and Ari Aster’s film Midsommar were two big influences as well. I wanted to write a “flower-threaded horror” where the setting is summery and pastoral but there is still plenty of creeping ominousness.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I adored writing Lacrimosa, the main character. She is so gentle and vulnerable, filled with endless emotions and struggling to overcome enormous heartbreak. Her entire life has been upended and she begins the story with her dreams shattered, at a loss for what her future will hold. After writing such a fierce heroine in Unholy Terrors, I loved the contrast of writing such a soft girl, and showing the quiet strength that comes from within that softness.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
When I began work on Tenderly, I am Devoured, I was really at a crossroads in my career. I was burned out, depressed, and unsure if I wanted to continue being an author. There’s so much anxiety and heartache in this industry, but in the end my love of writing won out. I spent a lot of time thinking about the types of stories I wanted to tell, and what would really light me up creatively.
I believe you teased Tenderly back in our 2021 interview as the “spooky romance secret project” you were working on. Can you share with us a bit of the timeline from concept to print?
The “spooky romance project” was actually Unholy Terrors, which will be out in paperback on the same day as the hardcover release of Tenderly, I am Devoured. It all feels very full circle!
As I mentioned early, before I wrote Devoured I went through a difficult time of creative burn out. But once the idea for the story took hold of me, it was like it demanded to be written. I drafted it quite swiftly but the real magic happened in revisions. Some of my favourite elements of the story, like the dual timelines between Lark’s present and her past, was added in at that stage, as well as the decision to have an endgame polyamorous romance.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on what I hope will be my adult debut! It’s a literary-leaning sapphic horror. I can’t say much about it but it’s very special. Writing it has challenged me creatively and emotionally in the best way, and I am counting down the days until I can introduce this book to the world.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
Some recent favourites are: The Moth Diaries by Rachel Klein, The Thorns by Dawn Kurtagich, and The Lamb by Lucy Rose. I’m very excited for We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad, and What Hunger by Catherine Dang.
