Interview with Stella Atrium, Author of The Heart Scarab

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Heart Scarab?

The Heart Scarab is Book 2 of a second series that follows the same characters into adulthood and nation-building. For this series, I added characters who wield hedge magic, charms, wards, and hexes, as well as higher magic, such as a glamour that renders one invisible. We revisit favorite characters like Bybiis the beastmaster, while Kore emerges as a teen testing her privileges as the heiress of the treasure of Kyle Rula. She gains allies in her half-brother Karisma and her adoptive father, Rufus el Arrivi. Kore’s worldview is shaped by her unwavering confidence, and I vividly remember those years of bravado and taking unnecessary risks.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I like to read history and biography. I feel that trends in history are influenced by the personalities making decisions in the moment, decisions that can impact entire populations. I find inspiration for plotlines by observing how nation-building unfolds in our world.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

The TBR pile is so high! I’ve been digging into Victor Davis Hanson and Gordon Chang, exploring topics like migration and the tech wars with China. I’m always interested in projecting what may happen in five years, and I often find ways to incorporate the urgency of managing change into my plotlines.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Stuben is a secondary character in previous books. In The Heart Scarab, Stuben grows into his adult roles and butts heads with his boss, Rufus el Arrivi. He strikes out on his own but, of course, gets into trouble and wonders why he ever thought to leave his earlier job. We often have regrets after quitting a job or leaving a place, thinking kindly about that situation while seeing it in the rearview mirror.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I read my own books for entertainment. That’s weird, right?

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

To write well, one must get up early, brew some coffee, and turn on the computer.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Characters speak in their own voices, and the sections work together to present a unified story. Rather than following a hero who sees only his own path, the reader is treated to the perspectives of many characters, even some animals.

Stella Atrium is the author of the new book The Heart Scarab

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