The Interrogation Room:

Q: What inspired you to write The Devil Spawn?

BA: Well... I got into reading two years ago and fell in love with some books and, of course, wanted someone to fall in love with mine. I then began writing my own story, mythological/historical based, inspired by another author from the early/mid 1900s. It was then that I realised I needed to find my own voice, my own genre, something me. That's when I read 'The Silent Patient'. No matter the number of mystery or thriller books I read, I had never been left as speechless by a book as I was with 'The Silent Patient'. I wanted to write a book that would be just as addicting, and so, thought of TDS. Though they fall somewhere in the same genre, the stories are completely different, and that's what makes it all the more interesting to write.

Q: How did you come up with the title?

BA: Long story, really. Originally, somewhere in the middle of brainstorming for a plot, I was going to write a story about a girl making a deal with a devil to get another chance of life after her death. It was supposed to be a little inclined towards romance and contemporary themes revolving around love, rejection, etc. The girl was supposed to reject the devil at the end of the day, claiming herself to be too much of a 'sinner' (the original title I was going for). Later when I came up with the current storyline for TDS, I thought that the last line from the prologue 'If only I hadn't been a devil spawn' had a better ring to it compared to '...a sinner' which, in my opinion, wouldn't leave the exact impact I wanted the readers to have.

Q: What's Adrian's real name?

BA: I can't tell you that. Yet.

Q: What does Evelyn drink?

BA: Assuming this is about 68% from Chapter 2, the answer is Absinthe. It's an alcoholic spirit, known for its high alcohol content. It's borderline unsafe to consume directly, and is usually diluted with water or sugar, yet we see Evelyn doing the opposite, and notice the effects in Chapter 3 while she's onstage.

Q: Which character was the most interesting to write?

BA: That's a good question. I think maybe, in the beginning it was Evelyn, then Jules, then Evelyn again, so I guess we'll have to see who's my favourite when Chapter 5 comes out.

Q: What's your writing routine?

BA: I spend an hour or so every day writing. I first start by writing the outline of a plot; usually the first ideas that pop up to my head. When my mind blanks, I work on it the next day. I slowly start developing each of those ideas, usually with dialogues because they're easier, and move on to writing the sequence of events that take place. Most of the time I finish the final draft 2-3 days before my publishing day (Saturday) and begin working on the next chapter right after scheduling a release.

Q: Why were Evelyn’s eyes red?

BA: Evelyn had taken recreational drugs, some of which can increase blood pressure and lead to an expansion or inflammation of the blood vessels in the eyes, causing them to look ‘bloodshot.’ These effects were enhanced in Evelyn’s case as she’d consumed alcohol beforehand, which already causes dilation, and can be made worse due to sleep deprivation.

Q: Why did you choose to write a non-linear story instead of a linear story?

BA: I'd say it's quite a simple reason. Uhm, since this is my first time writing a full-length book, or aiming to do so, I needed a way to keep my readers hooked, which I think requires a lot of skill when working with a linear story, where everything is hidden and well-planned; the story, the characters, every single dialogue. That's the sort of predictability or structure I don't currently have with my plots. A non-linear story gives me the freedom to change things around, build red-herrings, notable twists in the story, and keep the reader hooked, which is something, I believe, is easier to achieve when you're not working with a set timeline.

Q: How did you come up with the character Jules? You mentioned she's inspired by your friends, can you elaborate on that?

BA: Honestly, it's a bit silly, but, in the friend group that I'm part of, all my friends have studied biology - except me. All of them. So, I always joke about how I'm clueless when something related to the subject comes up, therefore, I thought, "why not incorporate a 'biology student' in me through Jules?"

Q: What songs or playlists fit The Devil Spawn?

BA: Probably a mix of 'Control' by Halsey and 'Seven Devils' by Florence + The Machine, there's so many more songs I can think of but I wouldn't want to risk giving any hints ;)

Q: Is Kevin a major character for the plot later on and if so is he good or bad?

BA: Well, yes, Kevin is a major character, not as important as Jules or Evelyn, of course, but he is. As for whether he's good or bad...? Well, I'm not a fan of spoilers, given or taken.

Thank you!