We chat with author Rebecca Robinson about The Serpent and the Wolf, which is a thrilling romantasy debut that combines high-stakes political intrigue and a steamy, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance.
Hi, Rebecca! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Absolutely! I’m a romantasy writer based in the Bay Area. I was born and raised here in California, and during the day I work as a high school administrator. I have the pleasure of owning a husky and two hilarious cats. When I’m not working, reading, or writing, I love to spend time with my partner and our son.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I think I’ve always had an inherent love for stories, which my parents can attest to with the hundreds of times I made them read Walpole by Syd Hoff. That being said, my first recollection of writing a short story was in fourth grade. I dove into creative writing in high school and college, and spent the majority of my early twenties honing my craft.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Walpole by Syd Hoff
- The one that made you want to become an author: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
Your debut novel, The Serpent and the Wolf, is out November 19th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Love, magic, healing, feminine rage
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect a fast-paced, swoon-worthy romantasy that truly straddles the line between fantasy and romance, in which our main character is faced with something she never has been before: gentle love. As a woman who was denied the throne in her home empire in favor of her murderous younger brother, Vaasa has a deep-rooted feminine rage that blossoms into the potential of healing once presented with community, kindness, and a man worth healing for.
Where did the inspiration for The Serpent and the Wolf come from?
The inspiration for this novel came from my own battle with my mental health, during a time where I felt very disconnected from my body. Vaasa’s magic feels as though its eating her alive, and the visceral reaction she has to her own body turning against her related to my feelings of disconnect from myself, both physically and emotionally. It, of course, takes inspiration from a variety of places outside of that: a community of women I was lucky enough to meet at work, the acceptance and love I’ve experienced from my family (both blood and chosen), and the other amazing fantasy and romance novels I’ve had the pleasure of reading.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Definitely! I really loved writing Vaasa and diving into a lesser spoken about symptom of anxiety and depression: irritability and prickliness. I think we often see trauma responses depicted as a lack of engagement, lack of appetitite, or lack of energy (which are all valid trauma responses!!), but I thought I could present another symptom I know many of us face, which is when instead of lacking something, we lash out and become more. More frustrated, more bitter, more unwilling to compromise. Screaming, because we’ve always been forced to whisper.
I also thoroughly enjoyed writing Reid, who quickly proves himself as far more gentle than his reputation seems. I loved writing an enemies to lovers where the male character wasn’t abusive at the start. He is, truly, her sworn enemy in that she is the daughter of the man who is trying to conquer his nation. Yet in that tension, he doesn’t devolve into treating Vaasa poorly before he decides to love her. I am enamored with Reid as a character and I hope readers are, too!
This is your debut published novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
I’m so thrilled! My journey was similar to others, long and full of vulnerability. This is my sixth manuscript that I’ve written but the only one I have seriously queried, since I would get too nervous and shelf other manuscripts after five to ten rejections. I found my amazing agent after querying THE SERPENT AND THE WOLF for about seven months, and the story found its home with Saga Press a little over nine months after we went on submission. While the journey has been full of ups and downs, I can confidently say that nothing could have prepared me for this experience other than actually experiencing it. Publishing is one of those industries that has a lot of “hurry up to wait” – some weeks there’s nothing and other weeks there’s so much news it’s hard to process it all. This has been such an amazing learning opportunity for me both personally and professionally, and I’m so excited to continue pursuing traditional publishing. It’s not the path for everyone, but it’s definitely the path for me.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on the sequel to THE SERPENT AND THE WOLF and am just about finished with this draft. I can’t wait to receive invaluable feedback from my editor, as I whole-heartedly believe her expert eye elevates my writing, and then share the next installment in Vaasa’s story with the world.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on in 2025?
I’ve been devouring audiobooks this year as I balance my life as a writer, educator, mother, and individual, so I’m eternally grateful for the accessibility of audiobooks. Some books I’ve read this year that I absolutely loved are: JUST FOR THE SUMMER by Abby Jimenez, FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry, HEARTLESS HUNTER by Kristin Ciccarelli, IRON FLAME by Rebecca Yarros, THE EX VOWS by Jessica Joyce, the Letters of Enchantment series by Rebecca Ross, and A FATE INKED IN BLOOD by Danielle L Jenson. Next year, I’m looking forward to my fellow romantasy authors releases, such as ONYX STORM by Rebecca Yarros, A CURSE CARVED IN BONE by Danielle L. Jenson, REBEL WITCH by Kristin Ciccarelli, and the amazing line up of authors on #TeamSamantha.
