Author Interview: Charlotte Buckley

Get the inside scoop on ‘The Witch in the Dead of Night’!

Charlotte Buckley is the author of our August Romantasy ‘Blood & Coven’ featured book: The Witch in the Dead of Night. Read on to get the inside scoop from inspiration to favourite scenes and more!

What sparked the initial idea for the book?

I actually dreamt the idea, as crazy as that sounds! It came to me a long time ago, I think I was in high school. I just dreamt of the three main characters, Finn, King Mordric, and Prince Enhart, and I remember I woke up and wrote their names down in my notes app. And, I still have that note! But I didn’t write anything for years because at the time I just wasn’t really writing, but they lived in my head. And then finally, when I decided that I really wanted to try and write a book, it came very naturally as the story had been with me for so long.

The world of Valen is dark, mysterious and vast. How did you go about creating it?

I really love world building. I’m a lifelong fantasy reader and have always loved books that have such a rich world. For me, it was first about establishing the social dynamics. One of the big themes of the book is the relationship between the wealthy and the powerful, and then the more common folk. So I started out making the city, which is a little more insular and the people there think they’re a bit better than everyone else. And then Finn actually comes from a land far outside the city, which helped inform the dynamic. The rest of the world then developed as I was writing it. For example, the characters go on a journey towards the end of the book, and I kind of just fleshed out the area around the kingdom. I wanted to create something that was fantastical, yes, but also grounded and had distinct cultures shaped by the people.

We loved the magic system! Can you tell us a little bit about how you went about introducing it?

I feel like that is one of the challenges of writing fantasy! You don’t want to info-dump everything on the reader at the beginning or do any super long expositions or anything, so I wanted to find a way to balance that, where I peppered in information and the general rules about the magic system when Finn was in training with the prince. And then as they go out into the wider world, you then see more of how magic operates within those rules, but also how it defies them. It can be very dangerous and unpredictable! I’ve also just finished writing book 2, and in it we find out a little bit more about the vampires and their magic, so I’ve saved a little bit for later, too!

We adore Finn! She’s determined and fierce while carrying the pain and fear from her past. What challenges did you face when writing her character, and how did you overcome them?

I love a stabby FMC as much as everybody else, but for her, I wanted her to come from a place with a bit more softness and thoughtfulness. The challenge in writing her was that she does have this rich backstory, and it influences everything throughout the book. It was a case of peppering in hints about where she came from and why she can’t go back, and then expanding on that before there’s this big reveal. It was really important for me to make that a part of her character, to make sure we see that in how she acts and the way in which she thinks about the world. And then also, once that reveal happens, to make sure she can grow from that. That really shaped the evolution of her character; how she just kind of contends and then grows in her power, learning from her past and then overcoming it.

Who came first, King Mordric or Prince Enhart, and how did the other develop in contrast?

I think it was really King Mordric that came first. I had a really solid idea of who I wanted him to be. But like everything, his character did really evolve as I was writing. I don’t want any of my characters to be one-dimensional, and I don’t want them to be black and white, either. Mordric is very much governed by his love for his kingdom, and that’s a huge part of his character. Versus Enhart, who is a reluctant prince and I just love that type of character! So that’s what he serves, he’s kind of a foil to his brother. They have very different relationships with their family, with the kingdom, and with their responsibilities, which leads to them butting heads a lot. But they love each other! And then their separate relationships to Finn are also very different, they both feel different types of way at different points in the book, and that was really fun for me to explore as well.

What do you find most compelling about writing characters whose interactions are charged with both attraction and friction?

So clearly I love that dynamic! I just love writing characters with internal turmoil where they can’t figure out their feelings. For me, that’s really fun as it adds a layer of complexity in the relationship between the characters, rather than them instantly liking someone or having that good first impression that stays the same throughout. And for anyone who has the FairyLoot edition, there is a bonus chapter that is from an alternate POV where you get to see one of the characters really wrestling with those inner feelings, and that was also really fun to write!

Would you rather be a witch or a vampire, and why?

I think I would rather be a witch, I like the idea of wielding these bad*** powers. I also have a black cat, so I think it’s only fair to make him my familiar, so it all makes sense!

In this story, vampires crave power over blood, which is a really unique take. What did this allow you to explore?

I really enjoy flipping tropes on their head! Vampires have been done in so many different ways, so it was fun to play with the archetype, and I thought I’d add a layer of complexity that readers could relate to. They still have a bit of a thirst for blood, but it’s not something the drives them in their everyday actions. They instead crave power more than anything, and that was fun to play around with. They crave everything from juicy gossip to the actual throne, and it was fun to do something that was fresh.

Your writing is beautifully descriptive, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves. How did you find and develop your writing style?

Thank you! I think it really just comes from being a lifelong fantasy reader. As authors, part of our job is to just keep reading and keep honing our craft. I try to read really widely and diversely across different genres to really hone in on the styles that I like and make my own from that. So I think it’s just reading that’s helped, honestly. And when writing stories, you naturally end up coming up with your own style, and it’s been really fun just to explore!

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

My advice would be to just go for it! I didn’t study Creative Writing or English or anything in college, my career path did not take me in a creative direction at all! But, I loved writing when I was growing up, I just kind of fell out of it even though I had ideas sitting in my head for a long time. And then finally, when I decided to sit down and write this book, it was the first book I ever fully finished and it just flowed out of me. I think I wouldn’t have done that unless I pushed myself to do something unfamiliar and challenging. I knew absolutely nothing about getting published, I didn’t have any author friends and I didn’t even know I needed an agent at first! It was all so new, so yeah, just go for it! Get comfortable with being a bit uncomfortable, and with long waiting times and critiques. It’s not easy, but it is really worth it.

What is your favourite thing about the FairyLoot Exclusive Edition of The Witch in the Dead of Night?

Oh my god! I mean, I love so much about it. I think, probably the artists, because I remember getting the sketches really early on and they literally brought me to tears. These artists are so talented, so we have @serif.and.somnia who did the sprayed edges and dust jacket, and @kalisamiii who did the naked hardcover and endpaper art. It it crazy the level of talent these artists have, I just feel so lucky. I’ve heard nothing but good things, people really love this edition, so I just feel really fortunate.

Author Recommends

Have you ever wondered which books your favourite author thinks are an absolute must read? Well, wonder no more! Here are four books Charlotte Buckley thinks everyone needs on their TBR: