Ink in the Blood (Ink in The Blood #1)
by Kim Smejkal
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Release Date: February 11th 2020
Genre: Young Adult, LGBT, Fantasy
Synopsis:
A lush, dark YA fantasy debut that weaves together tattoo magic, faith, and eccentric theater in a world where lies are currency and ink is a weapon, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kendare Blake.
Celia Sand and her best friend, Anya Burtoni, are inklings for the esteemed religion of Profeta. Using magic, they tattoo followers with beautiful images that represent the Divine’s will and guide the actions of the recipients. It’s considered a noble calling, but ten years into their servitude Celia and Anya know the truth: Profeta is built on lies, the tattooed orders strip away freedom, and the revered temple is actually a brutal, torturous prison.
Their opportunity to escape arrives with the Rabble Mob, a traveling theater troupe. Using their inkling abilities for performance instead of propaganda, Celia and Anya are content for the first time . . . until they realize who followed them. The Divine they never believed in is very real, very angry, and determined to use Celia, Anya, and the Rabble Mob’s now-infamous stage to spread her deceitful influence even further.
To protect their new family from the wrath of a malicious deity and the zealots who work in her name, Celia and Anya must unmask the biggest lie of all—Profeta itself.
Can you briefly describe INK IN THE BLOOD and its characters?
Thanks for having me! INK IN THE BLOOD is a YA dark fantasy that features fierce friendships, tattoo magic, found family, and lots of theatre. It was originally pitched as Grisha at the Moulin Rouge, which I still think is a great description! The story follows Celia and Anya, best friends who serve the religion of Profeta by tattooing divine messages onto the skin of believers. They yearn to escape their servitude, and are finally able to sneak away with the help of a traveling theatre troupe. Unfortunately, the deity they never believed in has other plans for them…
Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?
I have so many favorites! Celia is the most like me as a young adult, so it was difficult and wonderful to write her because it meant tapping into a lot of the insecurities and issues I once struggled with. Lupita was an absolute joy to write, because she’s so broken and yet still so strong. And, of course, I love the plague doctor. He was the character who changed the least during revisions: his riddles and strange, upside-down way of seeing the world came relatively easily to me, and I feel I know him the best.
How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?
I’m usually a pantser—I write by the seat of my pants and don't truly know where the story is going until the characters show me the way—but Ink in the Blood was unique in that I had a very clear picture of the climax scene in my mind from the beginning. The elements of the story—tattoo magic, a malicious deity, and a traveling theatre troupe—seemed to flow organically as I wrote towards that ending. Although it still took many revision rounds to get to the final product, it was one of the easier books I’ve ever written because it felt like it was already there inside me and just needed to be let out.
If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?
Picking just one song is so difficult, but I’ll go with Seven Devils by Florence + the Machine. Thematically, it’s quite perfect. :)
If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?
I’m terrible at fancasting! Instead of choosing actors, here are some images from my pinterest board that I used for inspiration for a few of the main characters. They’re perfect!
(left to right are Celia, Anya, Vincent, and the plague doctor)
What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?
What a great question. I’d have to say the perfect date would be an unhealthy dose of absinthe paired with a raucous broadway show!
Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish INK IN THE BLOOD?
Of course! I love giving book recommendations. Recently, I’ve really enjoyed The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis, Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan, The Waking Forest by Alyssa Wees, Enchantée by Gita Trelease, The Bones Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones, Belle Révolte by Linsey Miller, and Ghost Wood Song by Erica Waters (this last one isn't out for a few months, but it should definitely go on every tbr!)
And of course, the sequel to Ink in the Blood—CURSE OF THE DIVINE—is coming out in early 2021. ;)
What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a book?
Usually whichever part I’m in the middle of, haha. But seriously, I find that first real revision to be the most difficult part. My first drafts are pretty clean because I revise as I go, and by the time I get to the end, it’s usually as good as I can make it myself. Once I send it out to my agent, critique partners, and beta readers, I have to sit down and reconsider the story in light of their feedback. It’s not always a huge job, but there are always things that come up that I hadn't considered!
What’s next for you?
CURSE OF THE DIVINE is the sequel to INK IN THE BLOOD, and it’s coming out in February 2021. CURSE has a little less blood but a lot more ink (!), and I’m excited to finish that one up and maaaaybe even see ARCs soon!
Thanks so much for having me on your blog!
Kim Smejkal lives with her family on muse-satiating Vancouver Island, which means she’s often lost in the woods or wandering a beach. She writes dark fantasy for young adults and not-so-young adults, always with a touch of magic. Her debut novel, INK IN THE BLOOD, will release from HMH in early 2020, with a sequel to follow in 2021. She is represented by Daniel Lazar of Writers House.
I'm not so keen on tattoos, but if they're in a magical dark fantasy, that sounds great!
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