Saturday Spotlight- Tricia Levenseller

Item: The Shadows Between Us
Author: stuckint

Posted February 22, 2020 by stuckint in Features, Saturday Spotlight / 1 Comment

We are so excited to welcome everyone back to another Saturday Spotlight!

Every month we hold one Spotlight where we feature one author and their upcoming release in a series of posts. For the month of February, we feel so privileged to welcome Tricia Levenseller to Stuck in Stacks

About The Book

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
Published by Feiwel and Friends on February 25, 2020
Pages: 336
Goodreads

Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:
1) Woo the Shadow King.2) Marry him.3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.
No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.
But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?

About The Author

Initially from a small town in Oregon, Tricia now lives next to the Rocky Mountains with her bossy dog, Rosy. She received her degree in English Language and editing and is thrilled that she never has to read a textbook again. When she’s not writing or reading, Tricia enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles, playing volleyball, playing OVERWATCH, and watching shows while eating extra-buttered popcorn.

The Interview

So by now you’ve written quite a few books. How did the process of writing The Shadows Between Us compare to your other novels?

Tricia: It was very different. I heavily outline all my books, but I discovery-wrote TSBU. The main plot is romance, as opposed to all my other novels which have romantic subplots surrounding a bigger plotline. I discover my characters and their relationships as I write, so when I set out to work on this book, I didn’t realize it would require discovering the whole thing!

That said, some things do get easier. I’m better at recognizing when I need a break or when I need to take a day to think over a scene before I start writing it—things like that. Still, every book is so different that it feels like I have to learn to write all over again with each new idea.

You begin the book with a quote from Damon Salvatore. Can you share some of your inspirations for the Shadow King’s character?

Tricia: Of course. I took inspiration from all my favorite bad boys in order to create my own. Some of my favorites are Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Darkling from The Grisha Trilogy, Logan Eckles from Veronica Mars, Guy from BBC’s Robin Hood, and Damon from The Vampire Diaries.

There is extensive discussion about fashion and clothing in the book. Did this come from a lot of research or do you know how to sew and tailor clothing?

Tricia: I know nothing about sewing! My mother is the seamstress in the family. She was actually a sewing major in school. She helped with questions I had about sewing, and I relied a little on Pinterest to find gorgeous dresses to describe. The rest is just me imagining pretty things to wear.

Were there any scenes cut from the book that you wish would have made the final edit?

Tricia: There actually weren’t. I tend to write really short drafts that I then have to add on to. Some things that were added include the orchard scene near the beginning of the book, and the entire plotline with Myron.

Since The Shadows Between Us is a standalone, can you share anything about your current project(s)?

Tricia: Yes! I’m contracted for another duology with my publisher. It’s about a magically-gifted blacksmith with social anxiety. When she accidently forges an all-powerful blade that can extract secrets from those it cuts, she has to leave behind everything she knows to protect it all costs. This one is set for publication Feb 2021 with the sequel to follow in Feb 2022.

Which authors inspire your writing? Anyone you would love to co-author a book with?

Tricia: I take inspiration from everything I read (good and bad)! My favorite authors include Charlie N. Holmberg, Sarah J. Maas, Kiersten White, Richelle Mead, and Leigh Bardugo. I don’t think I could ever co-author something. It honestly seems like so much more work! Maybe if someone else did the drafting while I did the editing, since I enjoy that part of the process more.

Do you have any reading or writing quirks?

Tricia: I have an hourglass on my desk that I like to turn over before I begin writing. I don’t do it every time, but sometimes I like the sound of the sand grains falling. I also often have my dog on my lap, since she refuses to give me space when I’m working.

When you are not reading or writing what do you enjoy doing?

Tricia: Video games! I’m obsessed with Overwatch and Sea of Thieves currently. I’m also kind of crafty. I do things like crochet and cross-stitch. I like playing sports: volleyball and basketball are super fun, but it’s difficult to get enough people together to play.