Answer: My name is A. L. Slade (real name Amy), and I am the 17-year-old author of The Bloodshed Of The Betrayed, my debut fantasy fiction YA novel about an angel who falls in love with a human. My book is a diverse reimagining of angels and Heaven–Christianity–but with a few twists and more magical realism. My book boasts a diverse cast of characters, as the main characters are Asian and indigenous, and it includes representation for LGBTQ+ people to fight the rampant homophobia prevalent in Christianity. My book is a fast-paced romance fantasy YA, and it is the first in an anticipated series called The Mercy Chronicles and has so far had a widely positive reception!
2. When did you get the thoughts of writing this book? i read the blurb and it looks fantastic.
Answer: When I first got the idea for my book, it was in 2018, and I'd come across a picture of a statue of an angel. I got the idea that "what if angels turn to stone when they make contact with a human," and the main plot was derived from there! It took much more consideration and world-building to develop and bring the story to life, but it was a relatively straightforward and seemingly innocuous origin.
3. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
Answer: Because I want to provide representation for people, I make sure I do immense research for the identities of my characters: for example, I made sure to do extensive research on Cree Indian Indigenous culture when writing and developing Magda (the main human character) and her family, because I wanted to make sure it was respectful, accurate and tasteful. I also researched the Canadian military for Oscar's character, and, of course, I had to do exhaustive research on Christianity and religious aspects in connection with angels, gods and Heaven. I don't have a determined amount of time researching books, but I definitely make sure the research I seek is credible, accurate, and extensive.
4. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
Answer: One of the most surprising things I learned in creating my book was the intricacy of angelic rankings in Christianity and the complexity of the religion. Beforehand, I had no idea there were different rankings of angels beyond angels, archangels and seraphs, and even then, I knew very little. I'd have to say my research about Lucifer and Heaven, God, and angels proved the most surprising as there was still so much I didn't know yet.
5. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
Answer: This is book one in a series, so this book is anticipated as a connection between multiple and will have many works connected to and set in the same universe as The Mercy Chronicles.
6. What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
Answer: My earliest experience learning language has power was when I first began reading the Percy Jackson series. Reading about kids with ADHD and dyslexia and having an openly gay character made me realize how much of an impact seeing that kind of representation had on me, someone who didn't feel represented or accepted based on my identity and mental illnesses. I felt heard, and I felt like I wasn't alone, and I knew what I wanted to do with my life was help others feel the same way.
7. Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
Answer: I try to be very active on social media, and I love interacting with my readers! So far, I've had an overwhelming amount of support and positive feedback, alongside many who are thanking me for telling this story and expressing the significance it has to them and how much they've enjoyed it and et cetera. That's what means the most to me as a writer: representing the underrepresented and giving people comfort and acceptance when they may lack it in their lives.
8. How would you express your journey as an Author?
Answer: My journey as a writer is still very young, as am I, but it has been a predominantly positive and maturing experience. I've been lucky enough to have had primarily encouraging and positive experiences with my peers and those I work with, and it's amazing how much hope that can provide. I've had so many people complimenting my works and supporting me that it makes me feel like I've finally found my place in the world and have the friends I didn't have growing up.
9. What other things do you love than this writing?
Answer: One of my passions that rivals writing is art. As I designed my cover, that should come as no surprise. Still, I also have many other hobbies and interests, such as reading, listening to music, playing video games, singing and dancing (even though I'm terrible at both), and overall being with my friends and family and pets.
10. And last, What advice do you have for writers?
Answer: The biggest piece of advice I can offer to aspiring writers and authors is to TAKE YOUR TIME. My journey began with the idea that I need to release my work as soon as possible because it's more impressive and will be better received, and I'm a naturally impatient person, so that too. But please know that it's better to put all the work you can into your writing before releasing it than rushing to get it out and struggling to make alterations and adjustments. The world will wait for you. Take your time, because good work is better than fast work.
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