581. Death, Candy Corn, and Witches with Amanda and Maria Vale
Sep 22, 2023
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Amanda and Maria Vale discuss the challenges of writing a book that deviates from traditional romance tropes, focusing on the concept of happy ever afters. They also explore the portrayal of death in literature, debate the definition of happily ever after, and discuss their opinions on candy corn and witches.
The podcast discusses the process of writing a book that deviates from traditional romance tropes and explores a different kind of happily ever after.
The concept of happily ever after (HEA) in romance novels is explored, with a focus on reader expectations and the inclusion of death in HEA narratives.
Deep dives
Summary of the Podcast Episode
In this episode, Sarah Wendell interviews Maria Vale, author of 'Molly Malloy and the Angel of Death.' They discuss the process of writing a book that deviates from traditional romance tropes and explores the concept of a different kind of happily ever after. Maria explains her inspiration for the book, drawing from various works of literature including Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. They also touch on the themes of empathy, the beauty of everyday life, and the portrayal of death in literature. Maria hints at her next project, a trilogy that challenges the narrative surrounding gods and explores the other side of mythology.
Maria Vale's Book Recommendations
Maria mentions several books she's looking forward to reading, including 'Thornhead' by T. Kingfisher, 'The Witch King' by Martha Wells, 'God-Killer' by Hannah Kainer, and 'Klytemnestra' by Jennifer Casati. She expresses her excitement for these fantasy novels and the unique perspectives they offer.
Opinions on Happily Ever After
The discussion delves into the concept of happily ever after (HEA) in romance novels. They explore the reader expectation that an HEA should be forever and the idea that death has no place in an HEA. Maria shares her own experiences and how she has dealt with reader feedback regarding unconventional HEAs in her previous books.
Podcast Reflections
Sarah and Maria reflect on their past conversations and how those conversations have influenced and inspired Maria's writing process. They express gratitude for the support and companionship they have found in each other as writers.
Several years ago, Amanda had coffee with Maria Vale at a conference, and Maria mentioned a book she was working on that sounded really cool.
And now, Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death is available to read! So we got together to talk about the book, what it’s like to write something that feels risky, different, and comes with warnings about HEA-expectations.
This becomes a conversation about the HEA, how it works, and how it is interpreted by different readers. What are your expectations for an HEA?