Interview with Stephanie Santone

I was delighted when author Stephanie Santone agreed to sit down with me to discuss her new book Tangled Magic. Fantasy is not a genre of fiction that I know much about, so I'm more that happy to learn from an expert. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Stephanie, what inspired you to write Tangled Magic?

Tangled Magic had two starts. The first is when the concept came to me. I was working at Walden Books in 2004 or so--I know I’m dating myself here--and the phone was ringing off the hook, to the point where I was frazzled. I imagined myself answering and saying funny/weird things, to make the day a little more fun, which morphed into a character doing it. I’m not sure where “Goddesses, Inc.” itself came from, I think it was just what I thought sounded funny at the time and I ran with it.

The second start is that in 2022 my Aunt Ruth, who was extremely supportive of me, died suddenly from cancer. It hit me while I was grieving; she had never read a book of mine, and that my greatest goal to be a published author was never fulfilled for her to see. It was my reality check on time, and by the end of 2022 I had a first draft ready.

Who is your favourite character in your book and why?

Why do you make me choose my babies? Okay, it’s either Nana, the main character’s grandmother, who may not be quite as crazy as she seems. Maybe. Or Charlie the receptionist, and the first character that I created for the book. Even before there was a main character, Charlie existed, answering the phones and making the characters sigh, laugh, and yell.

How is this an Own Voices book?

I struggle with my mental health, sometimes a lot, sometimes a little, much like Aspen does. She has bipolar disorder and anxiety, which I do as well, the second being something that I think everyone has a little experience with. Her anxiety is the worst for her, sending her into a panic at one point. Her struggles make her doubt herself, and if she is the right person to do what she’s been tasked to do.

I can’t say that everyone has doubted themselves, but I think most of us have. I think everyone has that little voice that nags us and tries to make us not move forward in life because it’s scary. But if we don’t do the scary things, we just remain stuck and there’s no progress.

What was the first story you had published?

“Tangled Magic” was the first story I've published, but not the first thing I’ve published. When I was in college, one of my professors’ interests piqued from my passion in the Japanese mediums of manga and anime. To be blunt, I’m a nerd and she tasked me with proving manga to be a legitimate literary genre. I applied for a grant at my school, and was given a semester to write the paper and come to my conclusions. According to both her and several others who read the paper and came to the talk, I was successful with my argument, or I at least had them doubting what they thought they knew about manga and other comics.

Do you have another story planned or in progress? When can we expect to see that?

I do! The second book of “Goddesses, Inc.” is currently fully plotted and being written. Due to me booking my editor in the wrong month, which is fully my fault, the rebook was much later than I planned. I’m trying to rush certain things in the meantime, so I honestly don’t know if it will be Spring or early Summer.

Who is your favourite author?

Probably Christopher Moore. I love his humor, and his takes on topics, events, and sometimes even Shakespeare. I’m also a big fan of Lois Lowry as her books “The Giver”,  “Number the Stars”, and even “A Summer To Die” were all in my life at turning points, and I can remember reading them for the first time, and even giving a quick talk on “A Summer To Die” and its impact on me as a reader as part of a project.

What do you like to do when you’re not planning or writing your next book?

I love to play Dungeons & Dragons, read (of course), and I also paint when I’m able. Nothing really serious, all of it is just for fun, and we should always have things we do for fun.

Do you write novels in other genres, Stephanie?

Not yet.

What do you like most about being an author?

After the fact that I get to do what I love, it’s probably that I get to set my own hours. In addition to anxiety and bipolar, I have physical limitations from migraines and fibromyalgia. Sometimes I’m laid up for days, or even weeks, from my pain. I have to play catch up when I’m feeling better, but I don’t have to risk my job to take care of myself. Having that means a lot to me right now.

Do you have a specific routine for writing?  Is there a special place or particular tool you use?

My writing routine is pretty lax compared to some people. I know writers who pull tarot cards and light candles each time they write. It’s a way of setting the mood and getting into a different head space. I generally just have to be in a quiet space with my own music on. I listen to anything from classical music to the soundtrack of “KPop Demon Hunters” which is basically on repeat these days.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Never stop writing. And if you haven’t started and are afraid: Don’t let the blank page stop you. Start. You can edit a full page into beauty, but you can’t polish the white into words.

If your book were to be made into an Audiobook, who would you choose to read it?

Actually, I’m looking into Audiobook options right now, and I may be the one who reads the book. I’m not a professional, but I hope to put out a decent product.

The Blurb

Wild pixies in churches and bargaining with my soul probably weren't what my parents pictured when I told them about my new job. And that was just day one! Here I am at Goddesses, Inc.—a perfectly normal PI agency. Except it's run by literal goddesses. That’s right, I'm a (reborn) goddess. Pretty sure, anyway. Maybe? And these wild cases are my responsibility. Unfortunately, there's something causing those fae pest control issues and the overflow just got deadly. Something is drowning swimmers days after they've left Oak Creek. Can Goddesses, Inc. get to the bottom of the mysteries before more people, or even a probable goddess, die?

The Author

Stefanie Santone woke up at the age of 13 and decided to be a writer. For some reason, she thought a Literature BA looked less pretentious on paper than a Creative Writing one (which she got at Arizona State, so did she really need to worry?). She puts it to good use at her home in Mesa, Arizona, where she spends much of her time (not) writing. When her editor isn’t whipping her into top form, one can find her either reading, journaling, or playing Dungeons & Dragons while sipping coffee day or night.