GVN Interview 'These Deadly Prophecies' Author Andrea Tang

In this exclusive interview with Andrea Tang, the brilliant mind behind the captivating novel ‘These Deadly Prophecies,’ readers are granted a glimpse into the intricate tapestry of her literary creation. As Tang weaves together a tale of suspense, magic, and the profound consequences of destiny, she invites us to explore the depths of her imagination and the inspirations that fueled the narrative. From the intricacies of world-building to the characters’ emotional journeys, Tang sheds light on the creative process that brought ‘These Deadly Prophecies’ to life, leaving readers eager to delve into the pages of this spellbinding work.

GVN: Hello Andrea! Thank you so much for speaking with Geek Vibes Nation about your new book. Could you start by telling our audience about yourself and your career?

Hello, Geek Vibes Nation! I’m an author of science fiction, fantasy, and young adult novels, and These Deadly Prophecies is my fourth book. I love character-driven speculative fiction, genre mashups, and messy family stories. Lucky for me, Prophecies gets to be all three!

GNV: How did you develop the idea for your latest novel, These Deadly Prophecies? What were some of your inspirations?

I’ve always been really fond of quirky whodunnits in the vein of Rian Johnson’s movies. My agent, Thao Le, who loved Knives Out as much as I did, encouraged me to plot a murder mystery in a fantasy setting – and the rest is history.

GVN: How was the process of writing this novel different from when you’ve written your previous books?

Writing a first person POV – and an unreliable narrator, at that! – was probably the biggest deviation from the tight third person of my previous novels. I really loved getting to immerse myself so fully in Tabatha’s voice, though, and her own anxiety and lack of certainty really helped me nail down the tension that drives the whole plot.

GVN: This novel masterfully blends teen drama, murder mystery, and supernatural intrigue. What do you think is the key to balancing all those elements successfully? Did it take multiple drafts to execute that balancing act?

SO many drafts – but that’s true of pretty much all my books, in fairness! I think the key for me was ensuring that each genre element supported the other – the murder mystery at the center of the plot doesn’t really work without the supernatural intrigue, and the amateur sleuthing that goes into solving the murder naturally gives rise to a lot of teen drama. I love building plots where each of those genre blocks really lends support to the other, and vice versa.

GVN: Speaking of the balancing act, I love how you balanced the supernatural and modern worlds. What was your worldbuilding process like? Was it easy or difficult to construct the ins and outs of the story’s world?

The world actually came to me pretty organically – I think because it’s essentially a contemporary setting, so that world came mostly pre-made. The main question I had to ask myself was how “our” world changes if sorcery is a legitimate profession, same as law or medicine or engineering. Everything else is sort of built off that question, when it comes to constructing the world of Prophecies.

GVN: Not only is Tabatha an intriguing and engaging heroine, but I also fell in love with her supporting cast. What’s your process when it comes to creating characters? How do you go about infusing your supporting characters with such life?

Memorable supporting characters have always been my favorites in fiction I consume, so I want to give them their due in my own work for sure! Even though they get less page time than the leads, I do try to think of them as fully developed people in their own right – so despite their limited appearances, I usually have some idea of what they’re doing behind the scenes, and where they’re coming from.

GVN: Do you have a favorite scene or character from the book?

That’s like asking to pick a favorite child! I will say that I loved writing the self-defense class that Tabatha and Callum attend. As a jiu-jitsu athlete and coach who’s used my knowledge of BJJ to defend myself in real life, I enjoyed getting to infuse the story with a little bit of what I love – maybe I’ll even get some readers interested in the martial art!

GVN: Many writers state that they learn something while writing each book. Is there a lesson you learned while writing this one that you’ll utilize while writing your next book?

Don’t forget to have fun! A lot of my favorite moments in this book were written after being stuck on a scene for a while, saying “oh, what the hell,” and just deciding to write something that I’d enjoy. Later, I needed to edit for, you know, plot coherence and whatnot, but it got words on the page that I needed. And it was, at the end of the day, because I made a choice to have fun.

GVN: Can you tell us what you’re working on next?

At the time of this interview, I’m afraid that’s still a secret! But I can tell you that it’s another contemporary fantasy novel for YA audiences – and that it’ll once again contain some spooky thriller elements.

GVN: Where can our readers connect with you online?

My main social media home these days is Instagram, where you can say hello over at @atangwrites! You can also find me on Twitter at the same handle, or visit me at andreatangwrites.com.

GVN: Bonus Question: Please assign yearbook superlatives to three of your characters.

Most Likely to Become an Accidental Social Media Heartthrob: Felix Solomon

Best Sweater Game: Callum Solomon

Most Likely to Inspire a Salaciously Controversial Biopic: Angelique Reed