I’m so pleased to bring you the next installment of Deubt-to-Debut! Today’s interview is with Isabel Sterling, author of the Salem-set, queer witchy YA, These Witches Don’t Burn.
If you’re joining us for the first time, here’s what this series is all about: as a debut young adult author myself, (See All the Stars released from S&S/McElderry in August 2018), I found myself eager to start a conversation with a variety of authors in the debut year before, during, and after my own about their books, YA and the writing life more generally, and the experience of putting a first novel out into the world. I wanted their wisdom, and I wanted to share it with other authors, emerging writers, and readers. So every month or two, I chat with a fellow young adult debut novelist, and then I share our conversation with you. You can find all the interviews in the series collected right here.
I recently corresponded with Isabel Sterling about her debut young adult novel, These Witches Don’t Burn (PRH/Razorbill, May 28, 2019).
From the jacket:
Hannah’s a witch, but not the kind you’re thinking of. She’s the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she’s ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans.
But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah’s concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah’s sure it’s the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica.
While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she’s going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem’s witches become deadlier by the day.
KIT FRICK: Hi, Isabel! I’m so excited to chat with you about your debut novel, These Witches Don’t Burn. I knew going in that I was going to get witchcraft, queer main characters, and a contemporary Salem setting (yes, yes, and yes) but what I didn’t realize was that your debut would also be a page-turning mystery! Can you tell us a little about crafting the mystery at the center of the story? Was it an element you knew would drive the narrative from the beginning, or did it evolve during the drafting process?
ISABEL STERLING: Thank you so much for having me! There was always a heavy mystery element to the story, but it definitely took several drafts to get it right. Turns out, mysteries are really hard!
I don’t think I can say too much without giving away twists, but crafting a satisfying mystery with multiple viable suspects was tricky (and my success with that varies depends on who you ask). I ultimately had to resort to creating an excel spreadsheet to keep everything organized. While the mystery piece took a lot of logic and organization, I had a lot of fun crafting the thriller aspects of the plot. While the first few drafts were heavy on arson, I really enjoyed branching out and creating a wide variety of dangers to push my characters through.
KIT: Co-sign that crafting mysteries is really hard! (But fun when things start to click!)
What can you tell us about your creative process for developing the world of witches in your debut? Did you do research, and what did that entail? What came from your imagination and what was drawn from history, folklore, and classic witch stories?
ISABEL: I grew up on a steady diet of non-fiction about Wicca, witchy fiction, and a love for all things magical. When it came time to create my own fictional witches, I wanted to create a world where the fantasy-style witches I loved from media and real life Wiccans could coexist. In a lot of ways, I think that was the driving factor for this book, since the very first thing that came to me was having a “real” witch reluctantly working at a New Age shop run by a Wiccan high priestess.
When it came to creating the three Witch Clans that populate my version of Salem, I pulled from my favorite kinds of witches growing up. The Elementals come from my love of fiction like Avatar: The Last Airbender. Casters from all the “potions and spells” witches I loved. For my Blood Witches, the third of the three Witch Clans, I wanted to create a magic system that felt separate and apart from the other two. Someone the other witches would fear. The use of blood in magic tends to creep people out, so it felt like the natural choice.
KIT: Very cool. Now tell us something about These Witches Don’t Burn that isn’t apparent from the book cover or flap copy. We want the inside scoop!
ISABEL: A piece of the world building for TWDB that I love (but it’s a subtle piece of the story) is the creation story of the Witch Clans and their religious/spiritual beliefs. Part of the animosity between Clans stems all the way back to how their goddesses created them, and once I figured out that piece of their background, it added a lot of depth to their broader lives for me as the writer.
KIT: Thanks for that inside peek!
What gives you the most joy about your life as a YA writer right now? What’s bringing you satisfaction at this moment in time?
ISABEL: I love hearing from readers who are connecting to Hannah’s story! There’s so much great queer YA fiction these days (including more and more fantasy novels featuring queer girls), and I’m honored to be an entry point or a new favorite for some readers.
Beyond readers, I’m getting a lot of joy out of rediscovering my writing process. Drafting the sequel to These Witches Don’t Burn has been . . . challenging to say the least, but now that I’m finally on the right track, it feels good to know TWDB wasn’t a fluke. Writing is fun again, which is a relief after the stress of 2018.
KIT: True story: writing book two is, to put it softly, a challenge for most (ahem: all) debuts. But I’m so excited about a TWDB sequel!
The publishing journey is unique for every author, but it’s safe to say that the road to book publication is filled with surprises, twists, and turns for all of us. What has surprised you most about the process of putting a first book into the world?
ISABEL: Writing itself is a very solitary process (only you can put down the actual words), but traditional publishing is very much a team sport, much more so than I would have guessed. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much input I’ve been allowed to have in things like cover design and the inside jacket copy.
KIT: Drawing from your own unique experience, what advice would you to give to future young adult debut authors, or debut novelists in general?
ISABEL: I know it’s hard, but patience truly is your friend. It takes time to develop the myriad of skills needed to write a novel. It’s okay if your first attempt isn’t very good! Practice (write more books) and study (read more books) and give yourself time to revise and develop your stories before you send them off into the world. I was very impatient when I first started writing, but I’m glad I’ve had time and space to develop my craft before the wider reading world got to see any of it.
KIT: That is truly excellent advice. (Y’all listening?!) Thanks so much for chatting, Isabel!
Isabel Sterling is an LGBTQ educator and advocate by day and a YA author by night. When she’s not writing about magic and murder, Isabel can be found lost in a good book, marathoning her favorite shows, or relaxing by the lake. She lives in central NY with her wife and their brood of furry children: cats Oliver and December and a beagle-mix named Lily. These Witches Don’t Burn is her debut novel.
Website | Twitter | Instagram
Kit Frick is a novelist, poet, and MacDowell Colony fellow. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, she studied creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College and received her MFA from Syracuse University. When she isn’t putting complicated characters in impossible situations, Kit edits poetry and literary fiction for a small press, edits for private clients, and mentors emerging writers through Pitch Wars. Her debut young adult novel is See All the Stars (out now from Simon & Schuster / Margaret K. McElderry Books). Up next: All Eyes on Us (June 4, 2019, also from S&S/McElderry).
These Witches Don’t Burn is out now! Allow me to recommend your local indie, in addition to Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
Stop back soon for future posts in the Debut-to-Debut Interview Series. I’ll be chatting with more fantastic authors throughout 2019!