Bookanista Feature: Tessa Gratton's BLOOD MAGIC

BLOOD MAGIC by Tessa Gratton is a hard book to describe. It's beautiful--but also disturbing. It's like goblin fruit, if that makes sense. There's magic and blood and kissing and a dark history and doubtful future. So, basically, you should read it.

I actually really love the way the book's described in GoodReads: "Tessa Gratton's intoxicating first novel will keep pulses racing, minds reeling, and pages turning right up to the very last drop of blood."

Of course, I had to ask Tessa for an interview. I was lucky enough to meet Tessa earlier this year at the Branson retreat and, well, she's effing awesome and way cooler than me.

Need proof? Read her interview:

YOU

We can read all about your life from your bio in the jacket flap of your book. So, what's a completely random fact about you that most people don't know?

My dentist told me I am genetically superior to most humans because I have no wisdom teeth. This fact did nothing to help my ego remain modest.


As a kid, what was your favorite book? Have your tastes changed since growing up?

BEAUTY by Robin McKinley, definitely, with JURASSIC PARK as a close runner-up. And… Beauty is still one of my favorites of all time, and I adore most fairy tale retellings, especially when they’re done do delicately and simply. I don’t reread Jurassic Park, but I am still somewhat obsessed with dinosaurs.


You're one-third of the awesome that is The Merry Sisters of Fate. Can you tell us a little bit about how the group formed? 

Maggie and I met online, and about 6 months later we were critiquing each other’s work. One day she said “Tessa, this is Brenna, and the two of you will be friends!” TA DA! We started Merry Fates in May of 2008, in an effort to quickly improve our writing with the challenge of writing a short story every week.

YOUR BOOK

It's the inevitable question: what inspired BLOOD MAGIC?

Originally, a vision of a brother and sister who could switch bodies, and the body-snatching witch who stalked them… but Maggie and Brenna told me it needed to be more monstrous… more “Tessa.” Then came the copious amounts of blood.


One of the great things about BLOOD MAGIC is that magic has a very real and present cost: blood. Can you tell us a little bit about why you chose to use blood in your magic?

I wanted the magic to have an immediate, physical consequence, something to represent the energetic sacrifice necessary for power. AND blood is such a strong piece of so many religions and mythology. It has power in just about every culture – magical power to grant everlasting life. Plus, I like red.


Can you tell us a little bit about the process--particularly the timeline--of writing BLOOD MAGIC?

I wrote the first (boring, bloodless) draft in 6 weeks, then spent 4 months rewriting it into something I actually thought was awesome. Signed with my agent, rewrote again, and then a second time after editorial feedback… and almost a year exactly after beginning that very first draft, it sold to Random House. I had 6 drafts total, because when I rewrite, I tend to TOTALLY rewrite.

If your reader could only take away one emotion, theme, or idea from BLOOD MAGIC, what would you want it to be?

Killing bunnies is good for the soul. (Ok, seriously, I guess the most important theme is that we have to choose who we want to be.)

YOUR WRITING

What's the most surprising thing you've learned since becoming a writer?

How long you have to wait for everything.

Beyond the typical--never give up, believe in yourself--what would be the single best advice you'd like to give another writer?

HAVE ADVENTURES!

What do you think are your strongest and weakest points in writing?

Strongest: world-building and kissing scenes (yeah, I went there.) Weakest: occasionally I forget to pay attention and write on auto-pilot.

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Check out what the other Bookanistas are Reading this week:

• Elana Johnson and  Stasia Ward Kehoe savor Bad Taste in Boys
• LiLa Roecker celebrates The Summer of the Bear
• Christine Fonseca has got a surprise for a Bookanista buddy (ooh—curious?)
• Beth Revis  interviews Blood Magic author Teresa Gratton
• Carolina Valdez Miller enjoys a special celebration
• Jessi Kirby and Megan Miranda gush about Imaginary Girls
• Bethany Wiggins is crazy about Delirium
• Shana Silver sings praises for Starcrossed
• Jen Hayley applauds Possession
• Veronica Rossi hails Hereafter
• Carrie Harris glories in Texas Gothic