Skyla Arndt

Skyla Arndt has always loved the creepy, crawly side of life. When she was younger, she thought that love might translate to hunting Bigfoot, but luckily for him, writing proved easier. These days, you can catch her writing stories by candlelight, splurging on candles for her office, and continuing to keep an eye out for Bigfoot (because you never know). She lives with her husband and three cats by the perpetually frozen Great Lakes.

Arndt's new novel is House of Hearts.

Recently I asked the author about what she was reading. Her reply:

How much work does your title do to take readers into the story?

I’m not sure what strange book magic is involved, but for the most part, the book’s title comes to me first! I knew I wanted this story to be called House of Hearts before I even fully incorporated Alice of Wonderland into the book…which is wild considering how heavy an influence the Queen of Hearts plays in this finished novel! In the end, it was a perfect fit.

What's in a name?

While Violet and Calvin’s names were both chosen on a vibe-based whim, the name of the boarding school they attend was intentional. Hart Academy is an obvious tie-in to the title and it helps to create the pun for my Wonderland-inspired bogeyman, the Queen of Hart’s.

How surprised would your teenage reader self be by your novel?

I don’t feel like she would be surprised! I’ve wanted to be an author since I was a kid, so it was always a dream of mine that I wanted to make a reality. On top of that, I’ve always been into stories that are equal halves spooky and swoony! Being a horromance author was a natural fit.

Do you find it harder to write beginnings or endings? Which do you change more?

Beginnings, 100%! There is something so unbelievably daunting about staring at a blank page. It’s also challenging on a psychological level. Knowing that a majority of readers will judge a book off its opening definitely applies a ton of pressure.

Do you see much of yourself in your characters? Do they have any connection to your personality, or are they a world apart?

Definitely! In this particular book, I was navigating my own personal grief alongside that of my main protagonist. In an odd twist of fate, I experienced loss in the middle of revision. While it was challenging to work on the book in the beginning (to put it lightly), it ended up being extremely therapeutic to include my own feelings. My not-so-fun fact is that I went through all the stages of grief alongside my MC.

What non-literary inspirations have influenced your writing?

TV/Movies influence me a lot! For this book, there’s inspiration drawn from The Ring and Maxton Hall (a bizarre combo, I know).

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Writers Read: Skyla Arndt.

--Marshal Zeringue