We chat with author Tina Mars about This Wretched Alchemy, which is a dark, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy where love and loyalty become the very weapons that could destroy everything.
Hi, Tina! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
You will quickly discover that I am the biggest nerd. I’m into sci-fi, how-to books, and 3D printing. Chemistry fascinated me so much that I held a research lab assistant job between organic chemistry classes in college. My biggest badge of honor is the fact that I’ve played Dungeons & Dragons for the past decade. Obviously, I’m bookish (my husband is too), and we’ve gotten to pass on our love for reading, storytelling, and nerdiness to our three kids. On any random weekend, you can find my family building LEGO castles, playing board games, stumbling through escape rooms, or re-watching Marvel movies. But I will admit, my favorite place to be is home, in bed, with a candle and a cup of tea.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I cannot remember a time I did not love it. My mom read to me every day. I remember being five, sitting on my bed, and my mom re-reading my favorite book to me for the 100th time (it was Green Eggs and Ham). As soon as I was able to string a sentence together, I kept a journal and dedicated myself to writing in it every day, a practice I’ve more or less kept up my whole life. I wrote poems, journaled to process the latest drama in third grade or why I didn’t want to go to prom, and poured my grief over life’s curveballs onto the page because it was the only way I knew how to deal with it.
I am grateful that my parents were readers and brought me to Borders and the library on a weekly basis, and my aunt was also a librarian. She sent me a book every year on my birthday and at Christmas from the day I was born. I have always been into fantasy, but growing up, I was also enraptured by books like Jurassic Park, Ender’s Game, and Never Let Me Go. Can my answer be that my love for writing and stories was in my blood?
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: This wasn’t the first book I ever read, but one of my strongest memories is reading Holes in fourth grade.
- The one that made you want to become an author: Ooh, that’s a hard one, because there wasn’t just one book. But I’ll go with the Legend series by Marie Lu.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I recently finished Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang and LOVED it.
Your debut novel, This Wretched Alchemy, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
She’s sent to kill him.
What can readers expect?
I used Gladiator and Fullmetal Alchemist as comp titles, but I need to be clear. This Wretched Alchemy is NOT a Gladiator retelling. There are no arena competitions. Think of the Gladiator comp as a vibe. We have a brutal world inspired by Ancient Rome and some Japanese mythology. There is a lot of blood. Many early readers have said things like “you cannot read this book with your brain turned off,” which I think? Is a compliment? I do want readers to know the magic system is inspired by centuries of alchemy and transmutation lore, and involves a degree of science (but it’s all fictional, so chemists, don’t come at me). You can also expect high stakes and a nail-biting journey where you truly don’t know who to trust and who might betray you. Lastly, there is plenty of yearning and angst.
Where did the inspiration for This Wretched Alchemy come from?
I’ve always been drawn to alchemy, an old tradition spanning history and cultures, blending science and mysticism. Fun fact: the first recorded mentions of alchemy date to the fourth century (thank you, Zosimos of Panopolis). Alchemy is widely regarded as a precursor to chemistry. Because the theories and schools of thought are so widespread, I took every creative liberty with my iteration. Though the magic system and story were not inspired by Fullmetal Alchemist, it is my all-time favorite anime, and fans will definitely see little nods to it within the story.
A major inspiration came from my years playing Dungeons & Dragons. For those of you not in the nerd scene, D&D is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) where you create your own characters and embark on quests. The very first character I created was named Artemis Battlehammer. She was a labrys-wielding cleric, and often got her party into hot water because of her quick temper and overconfidence. Sound familiar? To be fair, Artemis was actually quite OP.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Aside from the main characters, I’d have to say the Heart Ender, also known as Dex. He initially wasn’t supposed to be a major side character, but as soon as I wrote him into his first scene, he was magnetic. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring him, building out his backstory, and figuring out why he’s so charming and what he might be hiding. He has since become a reader favorite and stole the show. Tied with Dex was Orphy, Revel’s sentient serpent tattoo. Orphy demanded the spotlight, and it was fun wondering what she might be thinking and doing in every scene.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Many of them. I started the book completely pantsing it, so it took a bit to get it off the ground. It was more of an experiment with no outline and no “big shiny idea.” After struggling through a few scenes, I realized I needed to flesh out the plot, world, and characters more. It might sound strange, but the way I overcame every moment of writer’s block was to put words down anyway. I challenged myself to write every day no matter what, even if it was 300 words at 11 p.m., even when I was tired, or in the middle of a crisis (which describes much of the year I wrote this book). I honestly believe I finished my debut because of how competitive I am with myself.
This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
Four years ago, I quit my job of 11 years that had really burned me out. I was convinced I had no other marketable skills and would have to endure a job for a paycheck. From a young age, I’d dreamed of one day writing a book, as many do, I imagine. When I quit that job, with no plan B and a family that relied on my paycheck, I knew I had to make something happen. I launched a book marketing business, ran it for four years, and its success enabled me to start writing this book. I didn’t know if I’d ever share it with others. When I was nearing the finish line of my first draft, I thought about indie publishing it. I never imagined I would get an agent (my dream agent at that). I was in over my head preparing to go on submission, facing rejections, and feeling anxious over whether my story would find a home in trad publishing. I couldn’t believe it when the UK pre-empt from Harper Voyager came, followed shortly by the US auction, where we landed with Saturday Books. It is still difficult to wrap my mind around it all.
What’s next for you?
I recently turned in the sequel to This Wretched Alchemy last night, which will conclude the duology. I know the first book has just released, but I am already giddy for readers to find out how the story ends. I have also finished another book I can’t share about yet, so stay tuned.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up soon? Any you’ve got your eye on that are releasing in 2027?
Ooh, there are many 2027 books I’m looking forward to. Chromeblood by Emily Varga, Bodice Ripper by Danica Nava, When Rage Broke Heart by Nisha Tuli, and Python by H.M. Wolfe.
