Waterstones hosts ‘An Evening with V.E Schwab to promote their new book series ‘Threads of Power’ and reveals their upcoming publishing timeline.
By Grace Boyle | 23rd November
From left to right: Image 1-Laura Steven and V. E Schwab talking. Image 2- ‘The Fragile Threads of Power’ book. Image 3- Audience of Waterstones event.
“I want it to feel like coming home to the characters you know and love”- V.E Schwab
Taking a tour of the North-East, the New York Times bestselling fantasy and gothic lit author V.E Schwab stopped off on her UK book junket for ‘An Evening with V.E Schwab’ in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Hosted by Waterstones, the event took place in Bewick Hall in Newcastle City Library on the 20th October despite Storm Babet threatening to cancel the evening.
During the hour, Schwab was in discussion with local author Laura Steven, and they spoke of Schwab’s upcoming books, their creative writing process, and having a career in a fast-paced publishing industry.
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Schwab: “It happens as it’s a very fickle business and despite I put the exact same amount of love an energy into each book they don’t perform equally in the marketplace.
I have not put any less into Vicious than I did into Shades. You don’t put a different energy in or the market receives it differently.
If you are trying to write for the market you are always going to be dissatisfied by something, if you write for yourself first then no matter what happens you will not disappoint you“.
For those who don’t know, having written over 20 books, the American author’s most recognised works being The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, a story about a young woman making a Faustian bargain to live forever, was nominated for 2021 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel. Their book Vicious, the first instalment in the Villian’s series, won the Goodreads Choice Award of 2022.
Schwab’s work has been opted for film and television, with the Netflix series First Kill, a YA vampire series is based off her short story.
No spoilers but The Fragile Threads of Power takes place 7 years after the story of Shades of Magic series. Set in the 1820s, the story unfolds of Kell a parallel-world explorer and smuggler and Delilah, a cunning cutpurse, who live in a fantastical world of magic, adventure and other-worldly travel.
7 years later these protagonists make a triumphant return alongside new characters in a thrilling epic fantasy of magic and adventure.
In an interview with ReadsbetweenTheTyne, Steven said
“Schwab inspires me immensely. With every new story she pushes her own abilities and boundaries, constantly improving her craft and growing more ambitious with the narratives she weaves. She’ll go from a quiet horror to a literary character piece, and her readers follow her wherever she goes. That’s the kind of career I would love to have.”
Event organiser Louise Davidson said “We were very lucky to have Victoria Schwab come here. Its not everyday we have a international best selling author come to Newcastle. It was a privilege to have them and Laura, and the atmosphere of the event was enthralling and heart-warming.”
During the event, talking about Threads of Power and the following books in the series, Schwab said “This series shakes it up from Shades of Magic in that I wanted to see if I could make it so that you cannot predict who’s going to become the heroes and whose going to become the villains.”
Schwab on explaining time jump between series said “The reason why I gave them the age gap was because I knew I was going to grow, and I knew I wanted them [the characters] to grow too. Every book is a time capsule of that time. Giving myself and my characters 7 years, they got to mature as I mature.”
Schwab and Steven talked about how they’ve had to navigate the competitive fast-paced sphere in publishing. After feeling like giving up when there seemed to be no opportunity for success, both authors highlighted that writing for the market doesn’t guarantee commercial growth.
Listen below to hear what Schwab had to say to the audience:
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Schwab: “This is a personal philosophy. If you do not turn commerical success into creative ambition. If you let success make you safer instead of more daring. Then that is a squandering of the rarity that is commerical success.”
Laura: “Please tattoo that on my soul!” (audience laughs)
Schwab revealed her exciting publishing timeline of her upcoming book series saying after ‘Threads one, my next standalone novel which is like a reverse anti-dark matter Addie Larue, Threads Two, ‘Victorious’ which is the third book in the Villians series, and then Threads 3. It is designed to anger everyone but me’.
Attendee and book lover Alex Theodosio said, “It was a great opportunity to meet a writer I have always admired and I think the setting made it all that much better. As a book reader, I think attending events like this not only makes you appreciate what you read a lot more and helps you understand the aims of the author better.”
Caption: UK Tour Day 3- Newcastle.
Come with me on tour! I am really missing my animals so today we went to both a dog cafe AND a cat cafe for some snuggles 🙂 Had a great convo (and a cocktail) with @laurasteven! #veschwab #shadesofmagic #addielarue #catcafe #dogcafe #authorlife #bookish #threadsofpower #tourlife #reading #behindthescenes
Video credit V.E Schwab on Instagram
Schwab has now finished on her UK and US tour and is now currently back living in Edinburgh, Scotland. There is no confirmed date on her next release of published works however, on her instagram she confirmed her next standalone novel has been completed.