Q&A: Amber Hamilton, Author of ‘Seven Deadly Thorns

We chat with author Amber Hamilton about Seven Deadly Thorns, which is a sizzling, irresistible enemies-to-lovers YA romantasy with magic more destructive than your darkest nightmares.

Hi, Amber! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

I’m a former English teacher and single mom living in West Texas. I love Halloween, collecting antique books and typewriters, and being a supernerd. My house is full of books and skulls and fangirl merch.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I was a story addict from the womb, but my love of writing came at nine years old when a teacher unpacked a very basic version of narrative structure for me. It was like being shown the secrets of the universe. I wrote a short story for her class, and she told me I should think about becoming an author some day. She even called my parents to tell them the same! From then on, I was locked in. That teacher’s name was Ms. Hamilton, and I chose my pen name after her.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: I believe I forwent naptime in pre-Kindergarten to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
• The one that made you want to become an author: There were many, but The Scarlet Letter was one of the first.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio. That’s a desert island book for me.

Your debut novel, Seven Deadly Thorns, is out October 28^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Spooky, gothic, swoony, mysterious, deadly

What can readers expect?

They can expect as much mystery and terror and yearning as can be packed into seven days. Also, there’s a cute pet gargoyle.

Where did the inspiration for Seven Deadly Thorns come from?

One day I asked Twitter a question: What if the kiss in Snow White killed instead of resurrected? The story bloomed from there. I wanted to write something with a ticking clock and a contained setting, and I wanted to challenge myself to write a love story that takes place in only seven days.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I think any scene with Cerise or Waffles is going to be a good time. Cerise’s voice is so distinct that she makes it easy. Also, any time I get to write banter or romance is loads of fun.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

I wrote this book so quickly—in just two months! My struggles came during the editing process. I write on vibes and momentum, so in subsequent drafts, I have to go back and make everything make sense. Sometimes I lie face down on my floor with my hands over my face to untangle some problem or another. It also helped to rely on my amazing editor.

This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

Peaks and valleys! The process of finding an agent was so difficult. I wrote one book before Seven Deadly Thorns, and received over a hundred rejections. But I knew Thorns was special. I ended up with five offers of representation from agents. I chose my agent, we did a couple of rounds of revisions, she submitted it to publishers, and six days later we were with Bloomsbury!

What’s next for you?

The next book I’m writing is going to be set in the same universe as Seven Deadly Thorns, but it’ll focus on a different kingdom and different characters. The lore of the world will expand and deepen.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

I loved The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton, V.E. Schwab’s Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, Emily Henry’s Great Big Beautiful Life, and the Red Rising saga by Pierce Brown. I’m excited about Bonds of Hercules, Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl, and Girl Dinner.

Will you be picking up Seven Deadly Thorns? Tell us in the comments below!