We chat with author Molly O’Neill about Nightshade and Oak, which follows an Iron Age goddess who must grapple with becoming human in this delightful historical fantasy of myth and magic.
Hi, Molly! Welcome back! How has the past year been since we last spoke for the release of Greenteeth?
It’s been wonderful! I’ve been really overwhelmed by the positive responses, and hearing from readers makes my day every single time!
Your latest novel, Nightshade and Oak, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Myths, magic, history, love & laughter
What can readers expect?
A fantasy adventure that stretches from ancient battlefields to the Celtic underworld, as the goddess of death and a witch-princess try to save their world and themselves.
Where did the inspiration for Nightshade and Oak come from?
I was thinking about the lost girls of history, women who vanish from the narrative – and Boudicca’s daughters are the ones that have haunted me for a long time. Their mother is such a force of nature, leading one of the most successful rebellions against Rome but ultimately failing in the last battle. I wondered how those daughters would cope with the loss of their mother but also of the whole society they lived in.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I always love my side characters, and there are a couple here that were really fun to explore. I also got to write some scenes in Londinium which made my inner ten year old very happy (My roman empire was the roman empire!)
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Yes! I originally focused on Belis, the elder daughter, but I could never quite get her voice right or understand what her story was. I realised that although she was a main character, she needed a narrative foil who was her equal. Once I found Mallt Y Nos and slotted her in as the goddess of the dead the story really came together.
How does it feel to have two stunning covers? Can you tell us anything about the inspiration and work behind the cover for this release?
The cover artist is brilliant and I’m so happy they came back for this one! We wanted it to feel cohesive with Greenteeth but a little darker, a little more romantic, and to situate the book in the Roman-British era. I really love the playing card positions of Mallt and Belis, how they seem opposed to each other but when you look closer there’s a meeting point too.
This is your second published novel! Were there any key lessons you learned from Greenteeth which helped with Nightshade?
I understood the process a lot better and I really trusted and loved my publishing team so I was much less anxious about editing and waiting for covers. I knew they would come up with something amazing. I also stopped worrying so much about reviews – my mum accidentally rated Greenteeth 2 stars on Goodreads and when I saw that I laughed so hard that I’ve never felt bad about a review since.
What’s next for you?
I just finished a draft of my next project, set in another historical era, that I’m really excited about! I want to keep exploring little pockets of British folklore and history that don’t get as much attention as they should! I’d also love to try out writing science-fiction, maybe something that draws from my career as a geologist.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
Let me consult my teetering to read pile! I’m excited about The Poet Empress by Shen Tao, Hell’s Heart by Alexis Hall, and Everybody’s Perfect by Jo Walton. There’s also new books coming from Ann Leckie and Adrian Tchaikovsky and I am determined to finally get around to A Drop of Corruption and The Will of The Many which were on my list all last year.
