Behind the Scenes of AVaVW #3

A VILE AND VENOMOUS draws its genesis from a lot of different places. Before I started drafting AVaVW, I was working intently on a YA supernatural romance between a demon and a human girl (original, right?).

And while I loved the concept and characters of that book, I had a hard time sitting down to write it. My heart wasn’t in it. It didn’t light a fire in me. In July of 2022, I started playing a mobile gacha game. As I always tend to do when playing any video game, I created little stories for the characters I collected.

I started to think a little too deeply about the succubus class in this mobile game. They had lots of sexy voice lines, sure, but what if it was a farce? What if they rejected this role they were seemingly made for? Similar thoughts and musings from my World of Warcraft warlock days also came back to me.

Thus, I had the first sketch of Korrie’s character.

Ussu was actually the second character to be created. His appearance is loosely influenced by another species in that mobile game. I have yet to formally introduce him, so here goes! Ussu is a member of a cultural group in Ibredin that worships the pagan human gods not supported by the ruling powers.

He was originally going to be Korrie’s love interest, but as I wrote the story, it became more and more of an analogy for my own experiences as a lesbian who felt forced to sexualize myself for the eyes of men, and having Korrie end up with Ussu—while it would have been a great “enemies to lovers” moment—didn’t feel right.

I started Draft #1 of AVaVW in August of 2022. I’d already grown bored of that mobile game, but my mind was racing with ideas. Draft #1 was done by January of 2023.

All in all, it took me around six drafts to polish AVaVW. Some changes include a complete restructuring of the book’s format, verb tense clarification, elongating fight scenes, characterization adjustments for minor characters, and spicing up the ending. Draft #6 was finished by June of 2023.

One of the hardest parts of searching for AVaVW’s home and partners is thinking of little nitpick-y changes I want to keep making! :)

It’s up to me to try and find a home for AVaVW (and keep my cool) while I work on my next project!