Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with LJ Thomas
Book Title: The Bloody Key
Released: 04/25/23
Genre: YA Gothic Retelling
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “The Bloody Key”?
Thomas: I love Gothic stories and had wanted to retell Bluebeard--the most terrifying story from my childhood book of fairy tales--for ages. I also wanted to play with the trope of "girl falling in love with a monster" which is so common in fairy tales--Beauty and the Beast, the Princess and the Frog, etc. While I love those stories and the message of looking beyond the superficial, I think there's also a lot to be said for trusting your instincts and being cautious. Bluebeard seems to go against the grain of the others and has always read as a cautionary tale to me--a warning message to young women during the time when arranged marriages were common.
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
Thomas: In Charles Perrault's version of Bluebeard, the younger sister is named Anne, so that one was easy! For the other names, I tried to look for Germanic names that would have been common a few hundred years ago.
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?
Thomas: I generally write books that I would have liked or needed when I was younger, and I just hope other people enjoy reading them as well!
If "The Bloody Key" was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Thomas: This is such a hard question! I imagined Liesl looked a bit like a young Anne Hathaway, but I'm not sure who would be her equivalent these days. I have a harder time trying to cast Anne. Madeleine Arthur might be close, but she'd need some freckles and a different hair and eye color. Milly Alcock could perhaps do her justice too. Hopefully if it were adapted into a movie, I'd have a great casting director to help me as it definitely isn't one of my strengths!
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Thomas: I'm all for taking breaks and doing other things to get the creative juices flowing! Visit a museum, read books for research, or go for a walk. If I get really stuck, I like to take a break from that project and work on something else. Having your subconscious work on it for a while can really help, and eventually things will click into place.
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Thomas: Never stop writing! Read widely, across different genres, time periods, and countries. Seek feedback on your stories through critique groups and beta readers, and critique others' work as well--you can learn so much from other writers.
What is your favorite genre, book, and/or author?
Thomas: I read many different genres, but I always come back to fantasy! It would be incredibly hard to pick just one favorite author, but one of my favorites who I feel is underappreciated is Eva Ibbotson.
What are you working on next?
Thomas: I have another book coming out in June! This one is a YA fantasy inspired by Icelandic mythology titled Songs of Snow. It's about a reluctant sorceress-in-training and an ambitious bounty huntress, and it's perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson's Sorcery of Thorns or Naomi Novik's Spinning Silver.
Learn More About the Author and The Bloody Key:
Instagram (same user on Threads too): https://www.instagram.com/ljthomasbooks/
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ljthomasbooks
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Find it for purchase here
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