Emma Hamm has a fascination with old school magic, and hence wrote "The Deathless One."
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
I've always had a fascination with old school magic. Not the stuff we usually see on TV with wands and glowing magic, but the real kind of witchcraft that was viewed as evil or corrupt. There's something so interesting about the idea of a woman sacrificing a chicken, or working entirely with her own blood, with bones and snakeskin. It calls to this very visceral part of me that really wanted to deep dive into those old magics.
This book was really an answer to all those desires for me. I loved researching all the pagan mythology, the rituals that had once been performed almost entirely by female hands. And also, of course, experimenting with feminine rage.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
Reading Rainbow has always been making sure that I read diverse words from all around the country and world. I grew up in very small town, rural Maine, and I've seen first hand how important it is to read from another person's perspective. I know how important it is to talk with people from all different backgrounds, sexualities, and religions. Limiting yourself to an echo chamber limits the mind so much. So Reading Rainbow will always be taking the time to not only read what diverse populations have to say, but also to promote those books. Who cares if your aunt is scandalized you're reading a book about a gay vampire couple? She should read that too.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
Everyone deserves to see themselves in books, and for a long time, "seeing" yourself has been up to the imagination. But the world is big, wide, and wonderful, and there are so many more people than just one population.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
"The Deathless One" is a book about feminine rage at its core. The book is about a princess murdered at the altar, and all the lengths she is willing to go to get her revenge. Even selling her soul to a very questionable god who would do anything to be reincarnated.
I think my favorite part about "The Deathless One" is the unconventional hero. Our Deathless God is not what everyone else would expect. He has a very traumatic past of his own, and that trauma has led him to what he is today. Maybe that's not entirely a good thing, but humanizing a god was a challenge I really adored taking on.
What can fans expect from your book?
WORLD BUILDING! Magic. Anger. Frustration. Failure. All the things that we see in real life. This is not a book where the princess comes in, already knowing how to fight and capable of taking on the world. This is a pampered princess thrown into a very tough kingdom, without realizing at all what to expect.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
Oh, I don't know if I can tell you that! My other books are mostly monster romances. You might recognize me as the woman with merman who have two of everything, or perhaps my trolls who are pierced... everywhere. But I can maybe make some mention that there will be fire breathers coming soon. Ish.
