Image Credit: Crystal Stokes
Vampires are back! Renée Ahdieh, New York Times bestselling author of The Wrath and the Dawn and Flame in the Mist duologies, returns with a sumptuous, sultry and romantic new series set in 19th century New Orleans where vampires hide in plain sight.
We had the pleasure of chatting to Renée about her new novel, The Beautiful, book recommendations, and more
Hi Renée! Tell us a little about yourself!
Hi! Thank you so much for having me. I’m a writer of YA books, and a big fan of history and gothic fiction, which you can definitely see in the stories I’ve published so far. Basically I’m a sucker for anything set in a different world, with magic and kissing.
Your new novel, The Beautiful, publishes on October 8th. If you could only use five words to describe it, what would they be?
Anne Rice meets Agatha Christie.
Where did the inspiration for The Beautiful come from?
When I was a teen, I fell in love with Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. Then I was definitely part of the vampire craze from about ten years ago. Writing a story about vampires set in New Orleans, with a cast of characters from all over the world, is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid.
Were there any challenges you faced while writing?
I always think the biggest challenge for me as a writer is doing the story in my head justice on the page.
What kind of research did you have to do?
I delight in doing research, so of course I read books about life in the 1870s, but also I was able to travel to New Orleans—to eat and immerse myself in its unique culture—and get to call it work.
We’ve been through a very significant vampire and paranormal book craze previously and now they’re making a comeback. What do you think sets your vampires apart?
I think the world of my vampires is definitely a nod to the greats of the past, but I’m thrilled to bring inclusivity and my own multicultural, feminist perspective to these stories.
From start to final revision, how long did The Beautiful take you?
Well, the truth is I started imagining this book when I was twelve. I’m bad at math, but let’s settle on the fact that it was a long time coming, haha. In reality, I think it took me about eight months to write it all down and feel like I’d done justice to my dream.
The Beautiful will be getting a sequel. Any teasers, even if it’s just a single word tease?
No one is safe.
What’s next for you?
I’m busy working on the next book in this series and letting my mind wander into other possibilities. This is such a great time to be a writer. The writing community—even with all its drama—does inspire me all the time. I’d like to think that we are engaging in the necessary conversations that our society desperately needs to have right now.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
I am out-of-control excited for the fourth book is Sabaa Tahir’s quartet of doom. I mean, Ember series, hahaha. Also Alwyn Hamilton’s The Notorious Virtues is fantastic, as is Roshani Chokshi’s upcoming The Silvered Serpents. And who isn’t dying to read Marie Lu’s Rebel?
