Hi, Rachel! Welcome back! How have the past 18 months been since we last spoke?

A total whirlwind. It feels like Stone Cold Fox came out earlier this year it’s all gone by so fast. It’s been so fabulous meeting readers and other authors. The thriller community at large is so much fun!

Your latest novel, We Love the Nightlife, is out August 20^th ! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Disco London vampires running wild.

What can readers expect?

Lots of glamour with a fair amount of gore, this is ultimately the story about the end of a years-long friendship between two women that goes completely off the rails when they decide to open a nightclub together in London. And they just happen to be vampires!

Where did the inspiration for We Love the Nightlife come from?

I watched a documentary about Studio 54 – I love disco and dancing and that era generally, even though I didn’t live through it – and I started thinking about what it would look like if two women had opened a club like that. Then, to add even more flavor, I incorporated the vampire element since I like spooky things. Vampires are the coolest of all the supernatural creatures – they tend to be hot, rich and funny, too.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I loved writing both Nicola and Amber, the two vampires with the friendship in question at the center of the story. It was fun figuring out both of their distinct voices and motivations. And as far as London goes, it’s my favorite city in the whole world so I just put in all my favorite places I frequent. The research element for this book was such a treat! I spend a lot of extended time in the UK.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing We Love the Nightlife?

This book was a big swing with an ambitious twisty plot that spanned a significant swath of time with dual voices. The plotting had to be immaculate so it was super challenging for my second novel. Let’s put it this way – I have a lot of deleted scenes. But now I feel like I can do anything so overall it was a positive experience as an author.

Who are your top five vampires?

Eric from True Blood. Lestat & Claudia from Interview with the Vampire. And Laszlo & Nadja from What We Do in the Shadows.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on a new novel, but keeping it pretty close to my chest for now. And still developing my novels for tv and film as a screenwriter.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?

In no particular order, I loved: Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino, Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra, Aesthetica by Allie Rowbottom, Rabbit Hole by Kate Brody and Good Material by Dolly Alderton

And I am SO excited to read these: Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker, So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison, The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich, Entitlement by Rumaan Alam and The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister

Will you be picking up We Love the Nightlife? Tell us in the comments below!

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About It Had To Be You (out July 16): Two contract killers, each with a hit out on the other, must fight their growing attraction as they face off in an epic game of lust and murder across Western Europe.

In her three-hour video dissecting Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight, ContraPoints argues readers can safely engage in toxic relationships in print. Let’s prove her right with five books about bad love. In honor of Sabrina Carpenter, we’re pairing each book with a tune from a girly pop queen.

Baby, let the games begin!

A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing

Soundtrack: My Kink is Karma – Chappell Roan

Downing’s Twisted Love Story is about a relationship like no other. On-again-off-again couple Wes and Ivy use each other’s distress as foreplay, to the point that they may have (accidentally?) murdered someone. And now a detective is on their tail. Talk about letting it get bad when it ended.

Toxic Scale: 4/5, These two are just too entertaining to earn the full five.

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

Soundtrack: But Daddy I Love Him – Taylor Swift

My dream girl Ali is a Swiftie and she has a sense of humor, so she’s getting BDILH for her food science romance. Not in Love features a pair of lovers who think they can change the beat of their hearts but, quite literally, can’t hold back the chemistry. Main Character Rue and her work nemesis Kline have a top secret, super-hot affair that puts the urge in merger. The twist? She’s having his baby. No, she’s not.

Toxic Scale: 1/5, Rue and Kline are more “messy” than toxic, so they score low on the scale.

We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft

Soundtrack: Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl – Chappell Roan

Toxic female friendship on the dance scene? It has to be Chappell Roan. We Love the Nightlife tells the tale of two girlies who love to dance, and also suck blood, because they’re vampires. At every party, they’re the party. Until one of the girls wants out, and finds out just how hard it is to leave the party alive…

Toxic Scale: 3/5, Nicola and Amber have a toxic friendship, but they also have a lot of fun.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Soundtrack: Ivy – Taylor Swift

One simply cannot discuss toxic relationships in print without mentioning Miss Hoover. We need to pair a classic with a classic, so we’re going with Swift for this one. In It Ends With Us, main girl Lily reconnects with her old flame Atlas, but she’s been promised to another: the super-toxic Ryle. Atlas puts roots in her dreamland and starts a goddamn blaze in the dark. It’s all very drama!

Toxic Scale: 5/5, Ryle and Lily’s relationship is an honest, complex portrayal of abuse, but Lily’s relationship with Atlas gives the audience a couple to root for.

Almost Love by Louise O’Neill

Soundtrack: Bad Romance – Lady Gaga

Louise O’Neill is one of my all-time favorite authors. She tells complicated stories that force readers to engage in the conversation. In Almost Love, we watch main character Sarah fall hard for older man Matthew. This book examines the dark heart of toxic relationships, and how some people believe that real love is supposed to hurt.

Toxic Scale: 10/5, this book examines every angle of a Bad Romance.

Bonus: It Had to Be You by Eliza Jane Brazier (aka Me)

My forthcoming novel isn’t exactly about toxic love; it’s just about assassins who kill people for a living. And also fall in love. So, totally healthy, balanced individuals.

Toxic Scale: 0/5, I will not be responding to comments at this time.

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Hi, Rachel! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi! I’m a novelist and screenwriter based in Los Angeles, right by the beach, where I live with my husband, Charles, and my dog, Junie. I’ve been in LA for most of my adult life so it feels like home, but I’m originally from Chicago. I’ve been in a book club with a bunch of my pals for ten years, I travel a lot – both with my husband and also bestiefiestas with my friends –, and there’s not much I love more than going out for dinner and a movie on a weeknight just because.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love those things. I’ve been a reader and writer from a very young age, with supportive teachers and lovely librarians in my life. My parents always made sure I had books to read and notebooks to fill, things like that. It’s always been a strong part of my identity.

Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!

First Book I Remember Reading: Koko’s Kitten.

Book That Made Me Want to Become An Author: All of the Little House books, Caddie Woodlawn, Junie B. Jones, Ramona Quimby, Age 8, the American Girl books. Anything with a plucky, young heroine really.

Book I Can’t Stop Thinking About: I think about A Little Life on the regular, even when I don’t want to – thanks, Hanya! (I loved it, but oh, the free-falling tears of it all!)

Your debut novel, Stone Cold Fox, is out February 14^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Sharp. Salacious. Sexy. Savage. FUN!

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect a very strong point-of-view from the main character, Bea, and likely a visceral reaction to her, which is my intent. My hope is that whether you love her (like me) or hate her, you will find her entertaining and want to go on the wild ride with her in the driver’s seat either way.

Where did the inspiration for Stone Cold Fox come from?

I’m very intrigued by the push and pull of extreme wealth and the type of woman who aspires to marry up. I thought the interiority of that – being simultaneously repulsed and enticed by that 1% world – would make for a compelling main character. As for Bea’s signature snark, I definitely leaned on my own darker sense of humor that I share with my girlfriends. Not in a nasty way, but we all grew up in the early ‘00s when the broader social perception of women was really grim and specific and harsh – and whether we like it or not, a lot of that toxicity is internalized in us, despite working just about daily to rid ourselves of it.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I’m very protective and loving of Bea. I loved being inside her head the whole journey and made sure that, even when I was trying to ruin her life, that all of her decisions felt true to her character. I loved writing all of the female characters, though, especially when they are all together in a scene. The brunch scene where Bea meets Collin’s family for the first time is a personal favorite along with another scene later on discussing potential wedding plans amidst all the gals. It was a blast to make sure they were all three-dimensional and funny and smart – I wanted them to feel like real people readers may have come across in their lives.

Can you tell us a bit about your journey of getting Stone Cold Fox published?

I was introduced to my literary agent via my work as a screenwriter and she responded to my first draft of the book, but had a lot of wonderful, intense notes. So we really buckled down to make it super sparkly before going out to sell it – she has a very editorial and creative spirit that I adore and really pushes me in the best way. So much so that I was very fortunate Stone Cold Fox was sold at auction in a competitive situation.  We found the perfect home for the book at Berkley with my equally talented editor to round out the whole Stone Cold Fox team. I’m truly thrilled by where she’s ended up!

What’s next for you?

I have lots of exciting projects in tv and film coming up, to be announced, but I’m also working on my second novel – which I can’t say too much about yet, but I’ll share that music plays a really big part in the story and that it might even be a bit spooky!

Lastly, are there any 2023 book releases our readers should look out for?

I can’t wait to read Daisy Alpert Florin’s My Last Innocent Year, Ella Berman’s Before We Were Innocent,  Ruth Madievsky’s All-Night Pharmacy, Becky Chalsen’s Kismet, Laura Hankin’s The Daydreams and Mona Awad’s Rouge. And I’m probably missing so many others. 2023 is just a really juicy year for new books!

Will you be picking up Stone Cold Fox? Tell us in the comments below!

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