Let’s meet Signa and Death
Known as the bestselling author of Belladonna and the All The Stars and Teeth Duology, Adalyn Grace had always known she wanted to be a writer since she was nine years old. “I have always loved stories—consuming them, crafting them, making them up—and I’m very grateful to have the chance to do it for a living.” Before becoming a writer, she had worked in several different facets of the storytelling world such as animation, live theatre and working for a newspaper. So, it’s no surprise that she’s now one of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors.
We recently chatted with the lovely author on her new book Foxglove and what we can expect from the captivating three-book series.
Our conversation with Adalyn Grace:
What inspired you to write the Belladonna series?
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Back when I was working on live theatre, one of the shows I worked on was The Secret Garden. I remember daydreaming about it being a little darker, and wondering what a more mature and more Gothic version of the story might look like. While working on that show, I worked high up in the rafters
above the audience and remember wondering what would happen if I were to fall. Would I turn into a ghost that forever haunts the theatre? Would anyone be able to see me? Meanwhile, the ghost in the show was singing and all of that together sparked the very initial idea for the book, which eventually developed into a girl who can see spirits and who has a relationship with Death himself. You’ll still see a lot of nods to The Secret Garden, particularly in Belladonna!
What or who inspired the characters Signa and Death?
@authoradalyngrace The book is Belladonna by Adalyn Grace, and this gorgeous art is by @Luxury Banshee 😍 Would you read a story with this romantic trope? #booktok #romantasy #bookish #bookrecommendations #darkromance #fantasyromance ♬ my eye on you – theo
No one, at least not consciously! They each definitely have parts of me, though. Signa deals with something that a lot of people deal with, which is struggling with being true to herself and feeling the need to conform to be accepted. Death has a lot of my humour, and his character was crafted during a time when I was experiencing a lot of loss in my personal life. Apart from that, I made him love dogs because I always love films and books where the romantic lead is a huge dog lover, but that’s about it!
How long did it take you to go from idea to publication?
The initial idea for Belladonna came about ten years ago, and I had several different versions of the idea over the years. Once I settled on the final version I wanted to write, we took it from proposal to publication in about a year and a half. As for research, I did a ton! The book is Victorian-inspired, so everything from the fabric of their clothing and how characters would dress in every scenario, to poisons and antidotes, architecture, the societal season, courting, and so much more. Not everything I researched made it into the book, but a lot of research definitely happens!
How did you settle on the names of the books?
The story is so funny to me. I struggled with figuring out the title for Belladonna even though it seems so obvious now! It wasn’t until I was listening to a song from the musical Hadestown where one of the characters is singing about a “belladonna kiss” that a lightbulb stuck in my brain. I was like, “Hey wait a second! I have belladonna in my book! That’s a perfect title!” and the rest was history. All the titles after that were built around the same theme, and I think both Foxglove and Wisteria’s titles make a lot of sense once you read the books!
What did you love most about writing the books and what was the most challenging?
First and foremost, I absolutely love the characters. Writing Death and Signa’s relationship has been such a special and rewarding process, and I’ve loved getting to set that relationship on the backdrop of a Victorian-inspired landscape. The Gothic vibes and ghosts have been a blast to write, even though I’m a chicken and sometimes scare myself. I think the most challenging part has been ensuring that all of the story’s major elements (the romance, the mystery, the fantasy) have equal development. The story is such a genre mashup and there are so many characters and storylines happening that it takes a lot of work to ensure that everything is developed and feels satisfying.
Since the books are YA, did you have to tread lightly when it came to the steamy scenes? Was there any scene that had to be removed or dialled back?
Sort of! The characters in this book are all in their twenties, so it is a bit more mature as a whole. That said, I’m very careful about word choice and descriptions. It’s clear what’s happening in any of the steamier scenes, but the language is never quite as explicit as you might find in an adult book.
The book does have the love triangle trope, is this one of your favourite tropes? And, what tropes can be expected from the other books?
It is absolutely one of my favourite tropes! I don’t know why, considering that the love interest I root for pretty much is never the one who “wins,” but nothing keeps me turning pages or bingeing a show faster than a good love triangle. I play with that trope quite a bit in the series, though the found family and family rivalry tropes are also heavily featured.
All about Foxglove:
Describe Foxglove in 5 words.
Rivalry, vengeance, longing, shenanigans and murderous!
What can we expect from Foxglove?
Death’s estranged brother has arrived in town with vengeance on his mind. He’s angry after Death stole the only person he’s ever loved, and now he wants to do the same to his brother. Readers can expect dramatic sibling rivalry, a new fun location with lots of new ghosts, every relationship tested and a brand new murder to solve!
Did you listen to any particular songs or playlists when you wrote the book?
I couldn’t stop listening to the composer Peter Gundry while I was working on these books. He is so magnificently talented, and his music is perfect for the series. Every time I hear it my brain instantly gets transported to Thorn Grove.
What was your favourite scene to write and why?
I absolutely loved writing the fox hunt and the croquet scenes in Foxglove! There’s a lot of rivalry in those scenes, and a lot of shenanigans that were pure candy for me as the author. My actual favourite scene is a bit of a spoiler, but I will broadly say that it’s when one of the characters pays a solo visit to Wisteria Gardens.
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What can we expect from the third book of the series?
That is a fantastic question, and I’m dying to talk about it more in October when we reveal the cover! Until then, all I can say is that I think readers will have a very good idea of what the story’s about once they finish Foxglove.
What else is on the horizon for you?
I have many different ideas that I’m very eager to work on! You can expect more books that toe the crossover line of characters in their twenties, all things fantastical, and hopefully some fun announcements soon!
What are you reading right now?
I just finished Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, and now reading the upcoming The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young. I am also starting To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang.
Purchase Foxglove by Adalyn Grace now here.
