Celaena Cuico is taking the bookstagram and booktok worlds by storm with her debut novel Glass and Bone. Ever since reading it myself, I have been completely and utterly obsessed! Celaena says, “Authors have to perfect one skill: in order to make a reader feel the pain, triumph, devastation, and euphoria that a character feels, an author must be exceptional at the art of manipulation. I hope you’ll join me on my journey to master that craft.” And join her, I will!
Be sure to read to the very end for a teaser for book 2 in The Diadem series!
Congratulations on your upcoming release of Glass and Bone! How are you feeling?
Thank you so much! I am feeling so many things right now, but the most pressing emotion is disbelief. Disbelief that I actually wrote a book, and disbelief that people actually want to read it!
How did you come up with the concept for Glass and Bone? Was it a simple case of a Eureka! Moment or was it more calculated?
A little of both, I think? It started with a dream, or more of a nightmare I like to say. It was March of 2022 and the night before my girlfriend and I drove up to the mountains to go camping for her birthday. I had a dream about a palace blown to pieces, glass and rubble everywhere. I saw bare feet forced to walk across bones and glass, blood pooling beneath her. I woke up the next day with the inspiration to write a novel. I wrote 100 pages the next day during the drive. Inspiration just kept flowing and I kept writing. It was a long year before it was finished!
As this is your first novel, how did you find the writing process for Glass and Bone?
It was definitely nerve-wracking. I actually stopped writing last year because I didn’t think it was good enough. I picked it back up in February of this year and finished it off. It was hard to write about a story so close to my own, but it was also therapeutic. However, I am a perfectionist and so it was hard for me to finally stop editing and leave it be.
I think Eleanor is a fantastic character, the strength and courage she shows is incredible and inspiring while still being so relatable and human. How did you navigate writing such a character?
It was not without difficulty, I’ll tell you that. I focused a lot on hope, naivety, and innocence. Elaenor’s story is a fictional version of my own and I just thought of how I would have felt, or did feel, in those situations. I focused on real and raw emotions. I focused on confusion, helplessness, but also the neverending desire to be loved, regardless of the consequences. It was a really hard story to write, but I’m glad I did. I think it was easier for me to write because I experienced a lot of what she went through. Not that it was easy in any sense, but it came naturally to write about.
Glass and Bone is set in a fictional world. How did you go about world-building, and were there any real-world inspirations that influenced you?
Yes, and no. The actual world itself kind of just came out of dreams and spurts of inspiration. I tried to think of the type of people who will be in Elaenor’s life, where they came from, and how their home kingdom would have shaped them into that person. When I thought of the countries, I tried to just picture what each one would sound like, as weird as that sounds, and then started putting letters together until I liked it. The actual world-building was super light in this book, but only because the readers were seeing it through Elaenor’s eyes. Book two will have a lot more world-building and a ton of info-dumping to make up for it. As far as real-world experiences, I did take some inspiration from TV shows such as Reign to get certain images in my head about buildings and territories, but everything else my brain gave to me in the form of nightmares and dreams.
The book explores the impact of trauma and abuse on its characters, specifically Nora. How did you approach writing these sensitive themes while ensuring the story remains accessible to readers and looking after yourself in the process?
It took a lot of inner convincing to allow myself to write about her trauma and the abuse she endured. It helped that I already liked dark books, such as Haunting Adeline, but it didn’t necessarily make it easier. I wanted to make sure I did every scene, every moment justice in how it was portrayed. I didn’t want to be light in how I approached it, I wanted it to be dirty and raw, because that’s what trauma and abuse are. I took A LOT of breaks while writing, and honestly most of the abuse scenes were written at the very end. Mostly because I dreaded it. I knew it was important, so I took my time and made sure that whatever I wrote was real and not something I just threw on paper. I wanted my readers to understand and connect to it.
I HAVE to ask this - the ending. Did you know before you even started writing that you wanted to break all of our hearts or was it something that just happened?
As much as I’d love to say I didn’t plan it, I did. I apologize in advance to any of my new readers! Honestly, I have written every single last chapter for all five books, including the very last book. I know exactly how it’s going to end and who exactly will be there after everything. I don’t believe in happy endings because they aren’t real, but I believe in hopeful endings, and that is what everyone will get at the end.
Without giving away any spoilers, obviously. Can you share a quote or a scene that is your favourite of the book?
My favorite quote is actually the one I put on the back cover: “Agreeing to something means nothing if no was never an option.” This just alludes to the feeling of helplessness and lack of control a victim has when undergoing abuse. Just because they are complacent, doesn’t mean they were willing.
Readers often connect with books on a personal level. Is there a particular message or takeaway you hope readers will find in Glass and Bone?
I want these readers to know, whether they are victims, survivors, or neither, that they aren’t alone. That there is someone out there who understands and if they are in a position right now that I genuinely hope they aren’t in, to fight for yourself. You may feel scared and lost and alone, but you aren’t. Fight like hell.
Glass and Bone has gained quite a bit of attention and anticipation from readers on social media. Can you share any memorable reader interactions or feedback that have stood out to you?
Oh gosh the first time I got a review from one of my ARC readers I cried. The fact that so many of them resonated with Elaenor and her story made my heart break, but it also felt enlightening. I felt less alone. I felt like there were people out there who understood me, understood what I went through, and didn’t judge me for it. It’s surreal and absolutely amazing and I will never get over this feeling.
On top of the heartfelt messages, I have been getting a lot of fake hate about the ending. Everyone is mad at me, but I am hoping it doesn’t last as I start to tease book two…
Being an author is such a challenging and rewarding career, what made you choose that over every other career and what did the moment look like when you decided it?
I always knew I wanted to be an author. I have been writing since I was young and always knew that I had stories to tell, but I also knew it was a hard career and sometimes not financially stable. So instead, I went to college and grad school and now I hold a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology. I want to be a doctor someday and help those who have gone through the same things as I have. It wasn’t until earlier this year when I picked up Glass and Bone and started writing again, that I realized I could have both. I also realized my degree and knowledge in psychology can help me be a better writer. Now I joke that I am a master manipulator, using my degree for evil (book sales).
How do you handle moments of self-doubt or writer's block, and what advice do you have for fellow writers facing similar challenges?
As someone who has depression and anxiety, let me tell you, it was not easy. One thing I had to do was stop taking myself so seriously and stop putting self-imposed deadlines I can’t stick to. I definitely had some dark times, but I pushed through because I thought of the bigger picture. I thought of my end goal. That would be my one piece of advice. This is supposed to be fun, so enjoy the process. Don’t make it more complicated than it needs to be.
Beyond Glass and Bone, do you have any long-term writing goals or aspirations, such as exploring different genres or themes in your future works?
YES! I have so many WIPs that I cannot wait to get started on. Different intensities in terms of storylines, I do think G&B will be the only book series I write about that includes such a deep, trauma-based storyline. One WIP I am writing is going to be a series too, but it’s more of a dark comedy and honestly one of the best things I have ever played around with. That series would be a collection of stand-alone books that can be read together for a ‘bigger picture’ type of thing, or separately. Each book would be told from a villain’s POV.
You must have done quite a bit of research for Glass and Bone, did you find any odd or unique facts while researching?
Yes! I was looking up different floral poisons and their side effects, or believed side effects. I learned that nearly most flowers can be distilled into some sort of sedative or paralytic. It kind of makes me wonder why so many women loved to garden back in the day when spousal abuse was super common.
I know when I’m reading a book, there’s always that one character that I connect with on a personal level. Was there a character like that for you in Glass and Bone?
Yes! Aside from Elaenor, who I am wholly connected to, I was very attached to Theo on a personal level. My idea for Theo was that he is a metaphor for Elaenor’s innocence. Theo is pure, sweet, calm, and caring. He is everything good in the world and represents innocence and just undiluted love. I was very attached to him and his impact on Elaenor.
When you're not immersed in the world of books and writing, what are your favorite ways to unwind and relax?
The usual of eating some sort of sweet thing, much like Elaenor. I also like playing video games and binge watching my favorite TV shows. Outside of the usual couch potato things, I love training my dogs. I have a service dog trained to apply deep pressure therapy and another dog who is a protection/bite dog. Keeping up with them is hard work, but super rewarding!
I imagine being an indie author brings a whole host of new tasks! Can you share some time management tips or techniques that have helped you stay productive and balanced in your work?
It comes down to self discipline, honestly. I work a full-time job, on top of taking care of myself and my dogs, and sometimes I felt like I didn’t have enough time. So you really need to ask yourself how important it is to you. Is it more important than your TV watching time, or the time you spend scrolling on your phone? Prioritizing tasks based on importance is the best way to go. I stopped reading as much and spending time on social media because I knew that time could be spent writing. It takes a lot of willpower, but everyone is capable of doing it.
Beyond your writing, do you have any dream collaborations or creative endeavors that you're excited about exploring in the future?
Yes! I would love to come out with my own line of merchandise. Candles, apparel, etc. Just fun little things! But if I had to fully step away from my writing and start something unrelated, I have always wanted to start a makeup line. I know that is super farfetched and everyone wants to start a makeup line, but I have always been fascinated with the chemistry behind actual products. Who knows! Cuico Cosmetics could be available in a store near you soon! Oh gosh and a bookstore that has a bakery/coffee shop that turns into a bar at night. That is the dream right there!
Lastly, for those of us who have finished Glass and Bone and are eager for more, can you offer any hints or teasers about the sequel?
Yes! I am working on book 2 right now, and I am honestly so excited about it. My favorite quote from book 2 is “I became the person who would have saved me the time no one did.” I’m pretty sure you can guess who says that! I am hoping for an early summer 2024 release, but I’ll start teasing more things soon! I also have a bonus chapter for Glass and Bone written from Theo’s POV that I’ll be releasing on my website soon…
BONUS QUESTION: If you were stuck on a desert island, what one book or series would you be bringing with you?
Oh gosh! This is hard, but probably Throne of Glass. It’s a complete series (for now), meaning I won’t have any cliffhangers. It fits all the moods: humor, spice, fear, sadness, and euphoria. It would never get old! And I mean, look at my name! It would be a crime if I didn’t pick our girl Celaena/Aelin.
Glass and Bone is out on October 3rd, 2023
Click Here to read my full review of Glass and Bone
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