Since this gender-swapped reimagining of The Count of Monte Cristo was announced, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Want to know a secret? I’ve never read The Count of Monte Cristo. *Cue shocked gasps*
So why did I pick it up?
For years, I’ve been slowly swapping my secular reads for books written by other Christians. I still read books by other authors, but I’ve been craving books with themes I agree with on a deeper level. I’ve have great success, and one of the authors that really stuck out to me is Erin Phillips. Her stories are filled with Christian themes, but don’t shy away from darker topics or plot beats.
Finally, I’ve found my happy medium.
After devouring her book, even with a busy schedule, you can imagine how excited I was to have the chance to interview her! She’s written two standalone biblical retellings which can be found on her website.
1. What was different about writing this retelling vs writing your other retellings?
Not doing a Biblical retelling has certainly given me a larger sense of release with the story and my reimagining of it. I feel less tied down to research and more free to explore the characters, plot, and themes without worrying that anyone will think I’m trying to change the original story.
2. Was there a particular scene in The Count of Monte Cristo that inspired this book?
Nope! This book was actually largely inspired by a friend of mine who passed away some years ago. He really loved TCOMC and hated that so many of the characters were always pushed to the side (if not completely cut) in adaptations, so I initially read the book in his memory, and then the Lord just kept reminding me about it until I finally surrendered to writing a reimagining.
3. What are some highlights to writing a series instead of a standalone? Have you encountered many challenges?
It has definitely been so fun to live with these characters in their world for a longer period of time than one book. I have gotten to really dig into nuance a lot more, and explore larger character and plot arcs than a standalone allows for. However, it is a beast to wrap my head around! I literally have one of those crazy red thread mystery boards just to keep track of everything in hopes of bringing readers a satisfying conclusion in Book 3!
4. Your world feels historical, yet subtly magical. What are things that inspired this world?
I love being inspired by real places when creating fantasy locations! Cartier City was very largely inspired by Montreal, Quebec, where my husband is from, which is also why there are hints of Quebecois French throughout the book as well. The South Bout end was a bit more inspired by downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, one of my favorite little getaway spots.
5. Both Eden and Hunter have POV chapters. Did you have a favorite between the two?
Honestly, I really enjoy writing both of them equally. They feel like two ends of the same string, different but tied together.
6. What are three “no context” things we can expect in book two?
- The Best Sheep In The Accord.
- Langue Des Signes Française.
- “Am I going to be the only one without someone to smooch on this ship now?!”
I don’t know about you, but I am certainly excited to find out where that quote is from in book two! To find out more about Erin Phillips and her books, visit her website or Instagram!
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