An Interview with Beth Overmyer, author of Brittle

Beth Overmyer is the author of the fantasy trilogy The Goblets Immortal. Booklist describes book one as ‘packed full of adventure’ with an ending that leaves readers ‘anxiously awaiting a sequel.’ Beth’s works can also be found in various magazines and anthologies. You can find more information at bethovermyer.com.

You can buy Brittle here.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always been making up stories, whether it was in my head during naptime or pounding out words on a typewriter (and, later, a computer.) The books that got me interested in the written word were by John R. Erickson, but the author who got me hooked on fantasy was J.R.R. Tolkien. His novel The Hobbit in particular captured my imagination.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

The title for this book came to me right as I thought up the gist for the plot. Brittle refers to my main character’s fragile, human state as compared to the tough, invincible fae that show up in the story. The title for the series took a wee bit longer to think of. At first the trilogy was going to be a duology, so I was calling it A Duet in Blade and Bone, but once I figured out there was another book, I dropped the first three words, and here we are. The blade part of the title refers to a magical weapon the main character wants to get her hands on, and the bone part is a nod back to her fragility.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

When I first saw the cover for Brittle, I probably screamed and fist-pumped toward the sky. The artist (Broci) did a fabulous job, and I am excited to say they did the cover for book two as well.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

“Starcrusher” and “Love” by Cellar Darling, “Soldier, Poet, King” by the Oh Hellos, and “Ruins of Illusion” by Leah.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I hope my readers will take away that it’s okay to be weak, it’s okay to have a temper. It’s what you do with the hand you’re dealt that matters most.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

The most rewarding part of publishing has been the occasional email telling me how much my book is being enjoyed. Knowing that my book is out there being read and loved by some has been amazing, and I wouldn’t trade that feeling for anything.

What new writing projects are you currently working on? Or, other projects that are not writing?

Right now, I’m working on a shape-shifter fantasy novel set in Victorian London. It follows a young American woman caught up in a decades-old feud between her family and a jinni, which spills over into the magical and non-magical societies. As far as already finished projects, book two of Blade & Bone (Tempered Glass) comes out June 11 of this year (2024).

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.