Author Interview: Jessica Spotswood on “Born Wicked”, YA romance, and witches!

I won’t deny that I have a soft spot in me when it comes to anything witchy. So naturally, I was drawn to Jessica Spotswood’s upcoming debut, “Born Wicked”, an alternate-history period drama story about three witches and their lives. Jessica took time from her busy schedule to do this interview, and I’m so very grateful for that since I had quite a few questions after finishing it (not to mention that I’m chomping at the bit for the second book!)

This is definitely not your usual YA/PNR genre book, and that’s what I love most about it. Everything you think you know about these characters gets turned on its head by the end, and I’m finding that that kind of storytelling is becoming extremely rare in YA right now, as well as strong heroines who are able to find their identities without relying (too much) on boys. We talk about all of this and more under the jump with the awesome author, Jessica Spotswood. Warning, there are a few spoilers in these questions, so if you haven’t read the book or you don’t mind being a teensy bit spoiled, you may want to read this AFTER you’ve read the book!

The lovely Jessica Spotswood.

USAGI: First, thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I know you must be seriously gearing up for the release of the book, and really busy. So it means a lot that you’re doing this! To our first question – what was the initial seed of “Born Wicked”?
JESSICA SPOTSWOOD: I was inspired by a dream I had about three sisters who were fighting over a magical locket they had been given by their mother. There’s no locket in BORN WICKED, but the idea of exploring the complicated relationships between three sisters with a dangerous magical inheritance stuck. (I’m the oldest of three sisters myself!)

U: In this alternate history, it seems like the US is not the US but still a UK colony. Did the US not happen in this alternate history? Within this alternate history, does the history of the downfall of the Daughters directly tie into the US (not) being created? If so, how? I’m dying to know! (I love alternate histories like mad. I blame “Fringe” for this one.) Or if this is too spoilery to answer, will it be further explored in later books?
JS: We’ll learn a little bit more about in future books about the downfall of the witches and the rise of the Brothers. The witches fled persecution in the UK to create their own new nation. They were never a UK colony, but they called their new nation New England. They hoped to create a better, more peaceful version of British society ruled by the priestesses of Persephone instead of a king.

U: What drew you to using witches as protagonists?
JS: I wanted to write about a society where educated, independent girls weren’t valued but without making it seem preachy. I wanted to give the Brotherhood and the general populace a real reason to fear strong women. In this society, the Brothers use witchery as an excuse to persecute disobedient women, but the witches did do some terrible things in the name of protecting themselves.  Their magic does give them a great deal of power. It’s not entirely black and white. And it gave my girls a lot of inner conflict, too.

The luscious cover for "Born Wicked".

 

U: We talked a little about this in our initial communication messages, but let’s talk about the kind- of love triangle. Why did you resist your editor’s idea of making Paul more of a contender and thus a real, concrete love triangle with Cate?
JS: My editor is a wonderful genius and throws out a lot of plot-based ideas when we’re brainstorming. Some of them I run with and some we decide aren’t right for the characters. (For instance, she once suggested that Sachi or Rory might be interested in Paul and out to get Cate. It would have created more conflict, but it was really important to me that Cate find genuine friendships with these girls she had misjudged and realize that girls who like pretty thing aren’t all cabbageheads.) In this case, I am a bit tired of love triangles where girls don’t know their own minds. Cate loves Paul, but she’s not in love with him; she knows early on that what she feels for him is not what she feels for Finn. The conflict isn’t who she loves; it’s whether or not she can ever have him given who she is. It would have been disingenuous for her (or me) not to acknowledge that. The love triangle is over at the end of book one.

 

U: Let’s also talk the LGBTQ angle (a bit spoilery, yes, but I feel it’s important) that you added to the story. I totally did NOT see that one coming. Was the seduction of Maura by Elena deliberately part of Elena/The Sisters’ agenda to win the Cahill sisters over? Let’s talk about this, because I found it wonderfully interesting.
JS: Ooh, this is spoilery! Elena intended to use Maura, but not romantically; I think she got much more than she bargained for, and I don’t think that relationship is as one-sided as Elena would have us believe. Can I say we’ll find out more in the other books?

 

U: What can we expect for the next book, and how many more books are set for this series?
JS: It’s a trilogy, so there will be two more books. I’d love to do a short story or two set in this world, too, perhaps from another character’s point of view (Sachi? Finn? Maura?). In terms of book two, which I’m writing now: I’m afraid things are only going to get worse before they get better for Cate and her sisters! The Cahill sisters will get to learn more about their magical heritage and what’s expected of them in the coming war between the Brotherhood and the witches. As usual, they’ll be divided about how to handle the responsibilities they’re faced with. They’ll finally get to meet their godmother, Zara Roth. There will be scandalous romantic trysts, new friends, political uprisings, and heartbreaking betrayals!

 

U: Are the places mentioned in the book places you’ve actually been to/lived in? It felt like they were, because the atmosphere of those places were so strong that I couldn’t help but feel like they really meant something to you.
JS: No, but that is a lovely compliment. Thank you! I did do a bit of research into New England towns of the late 1800s and into flowers and trees and gardening.

 

U: Before getting published, did you have a “day job”? If so, what was it?
JS: I did! I worked at the Catholic University of America Press for almost nine years. It was my only grown-up job. I was the director’s assistant, so I handled contracts, royalties, sales reports, and permissions. Also, I feel that I should add a disclaimer that all the priests I worked with were actually very nice and nothing like the Brotherhood.

 

U: What makes you want to write?
JS: I am a happier, healthier person when I’m writing. When I’m not, I feel restless and grumpy. It’s sort of selfish. I want to tell stories that I would like to read.

 

U: What is your favorite book? Can be adult, YA, etc.
JS: Eep, I don’t know if I can choose a Favorite Book Ever, but my favorite of 2011 was CHIME by Franny Billingsley. I’m a fervent book-evangelizer for that one. Such a gorgeous, unusual voice and an incredibly vivid setting and a wonderful, clever, strong protagonist — and also a swoony romance!

 

U: What do you see in YA that you want to change? Can be attributes of heroines, genres, or plot lines done to death – those are just examples, though.
JS: I’d like to see more romances that are partnerships, with laughing and talking, and not unhealthy obsessions characterized by a boy telling a girl what (or what not) to do. I do not find that sexy.

 

U: Finally, what is your message to the reader through “Born Wicked”, if any? Or, alternately, do you have a message you want to send to your readers?
JS: I hope readers will enjoy it. Thank you so much for reading! And thank you, Usagi, for the absolutely fabulous questions!

 

U: That’s it for now! You can catch “Born Wicked” on shelves in your local bookstore on February 7, 2012 (North America – other places, check with your local bookseller). Or get it from your local library. Either way, this is definitely one YA debut you do not want to miss! It’s made my list of best of 2012, and it definitely deserves it, so give it a read!

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