I wanted to write a story about someone slowly losing themselves to something beyond their control—where the changes start small, creeping in until they become undeniable. That slow transformation, both for the characters and the reader, made it incredibly fun to write. And while it leans into supernatural elements, “The Lavender Blade” doesn’t take itself too seriously. 

E.L. Deards – 8 July 2025

The Back Flap

What happens when a successful con becomes an unexpected reality?

Colton and Lucian have a lot in common: both late-twenties, clever, have struggled with substance abuse, and find themselves penniless in Valencia. When Lucian discovers Colton’s fake exorcism con, he devises a scheme to turn that con into a business that can sustain them both.

The work is successful, despite unsavory characters they meet along the way: from a woman who murdered her own staff member to a man who pretends to murder Lucian. They even manage to continue their professional relationship while venturing into more personal, romantic possibilities. But when a real, powerful demon possesses Lucian, will they have what it takes to vanquish it to save their relationship—and Lucian’s life?

About the book

What is the book about?

The Lavender Blade is a light fantasy novel—almost a romantasy—about two con artist exorcists making a fortune scamming the nation’s wealthiest. With charm, theatrics, and a little sleight of hand, they rid nobles of their so-called demons—until one of them actually gets possessed.

It plays with themes of class struggle, media manipulation, and the power of perception—how appearances can be a weapon, and how knowing exactly how to shape a narrative can make or break you. But at its core, this is a story about trust, love, and respect. Colton and Lucian might be frauds in their profession, but with each other, they’re the real deal. They bring out the best in one another, and they actually have healthy relationship boundaries—rare for a duo caught up in this much chaos. They’re protective, soft, and playful in ways they aren’t with anyone else, which makes their relationship feel like solid ground even as everything around them starts unraveling.

I wanted to write a story about someone slowly losing themselves to something beyond their control—where the changes start small, creeping in until they become undeniable. That slow transformation, both for the characters and the reader, made it incredibly fun to write. And while it leans into supernatural elements, The Lavender Blade doesn’t take itself too seriously. At its heart, it’s about the spectacle, the thrill of deception, and what happens when you blur the line between illusion and reality—until you’re not sure which side you’re on anymore.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing The Lavender Blade in the spring of 2022. I saw a concept on an RP forum about a con artist exorcist getting possessed for real, and I immediately knew I wanted to do something with it.

How long did it take you to write it?

The first draft came together in about three months, but getting it to the final version took about two years. There were a lot of rewrites—mostly to refine the way the story unfolded and make sure everything fit together in the best way possible.

Where did you get the idea from?

It all started with that RP forum post. I saw the premise and thought, I want to write that. From there, the characters took over, and the story grew into something much bigger.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Sometimes I struggle with moving the story from point A to point B in a way that feels logical. In a movie, characters might just be somewhere without much explanation, but in a book, you have to actually account for how they get there. And since my characters aren’t complete idiots, I have to make sure everything lines up. Like, if Colton needs to get into a party, how do I make that work in a way that also lets me use this letter I foreshadowed twenty chapters ago? Stuff like that takes effort.

What came easily?

Dialogue and character dynamics. I’m autistic, and writing is how I explore human relationships, so I’d like to think I’ve gotten pretty good at it. Worldbuilding, on the other hand, is something I have to be more intentional about. I tend to fill in the blanks in my head rather than put them on the page, so I have to remind myself that the reader isn’t inside my brain.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

Completely fictitious—except for the pig, who is very loosely based on a horse I know at work.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I like any narrative that challenges me or surprises me. I’ve always been drawn to Japanese media because I think it strikes a really nice balance of aesthetic, tone (funny vs. serious), and character- in particular Hajime Isayama and Gege Akutami. I’m also really drawn to books that make me feel something—Kazuo Ishiguro and Jamie O’Neill are big ones for me. Also Mackenzi Lee, V.E. Schwab, and Isabel Sterling have all been huge inspirations for me.

Do you have a target reader? 

Not really. I just want someone who likes fun books, LGBT fiction, and my sense of humor. I think this book can be for a lot of different people.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Yes! I love to take a walk, find a café, order an oat chai latte (and maybe a pesto mozzarella panini), and settle into a comfy corner chair to write until I’m happy. That’s my ideal setup. It helps me get into the right headspace and makes the process feel enjoyable rather than like a chore.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

Not really. I usually have a vague idea of where things are going, but I tend to let the story unfold naturally. My last book, Wild With All Regrets, had more structure because the narrative was out of chronological order, so I needed to be careful about how the different years flowed. But generally, I just go with the characters and see where they take me.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I wait until I’ve finished—otherwise, I’d never finish. If I started picking at things too soon, I’d get stuck trying to perfect every little sentence instead of actually moving forward.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes! I worked with Mary Kole, and she’s fantastic. She gets my sense of humor, encourages me, but also isn’t afraid to call me out when I can do better. I’d say my book is at least 50% better because of her input.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Yes, but only instrumental or soundtracks—otherwise, I get distracted. I try to find music that matches the tone of what I’m writing at the moment. Hiroyuki Sawano is a favorite (he can’t be beat), and I’ve recently gotten into Viking nu metal—whatever that is. The one exception is my demon character, Lucere. If I was writing about him, I had to listen to Beautiful Is Boring by Bones UK.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes! I have a super organized spreadsheet of every agent and agency I submitted to—probably more than a hundred in total. This time around, I actually got way more requests to read and a lot of very kind rejections, with agents saying things like, I would take this, but it’s too similar to something else on my list! That gave me more confidence in the work, but the traditional publishing route is really discouraging.

I’d had a positive experience with She Writes Press before, so I wanted to give The Lavender Blade one last chance before deciding how to move forward.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process? 

Honestly, just the rejections—and also the realization that I wasn’t a priority. Waiting months to hear back, not getting responses to emails, and knowing that even if I did get an agent, I probably wouldn’t be high on their list of clients. With an indie press, I felt like I’d have more autonomy while still getting the industry know-how to make the book successful.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

Yes! She Writes found a wonderful artist for me, and I couldn’t be happier. I can’t imagine a better cover—it perfectly captures the book.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I definitely have a plan—because I am terrible at marketing and need all the help I can get! In fact, this interview was set up by my marketing team, so thank you very much, Simone.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors? 

Write! Write as much as you can. Writing is a skill, and the more you do it, the better you’ll get. And read! Read as much as you can. It helps you grow as a writer.

Also—come in with low expectations. It’s really unlikely that any given book will get picked up by an agent, let alone a big publisher. Even if it does, commercial success is never guaranteed. Once I accepted that, the rejections didn’t sting as much, and it made it easier to keep trying. I want my book to succeed, and I’m doing everything I can to make that happen, but so much of it comes down to luck. I try not to think about that part too much.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Manhattan, which was an incredible place to be as a kid. There was always something happening, always somewhere interesting to go, and I think that naturally made me curious about people. There’s also a certain directness to New Yorkers that probably shaped the way I write dialogue and character interactions. Some of my favorite memories are from summers in Central Park—finding a shady spot with a matcha latte and a copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray, people-watching between chapters.

Where do you live now?

I live in Chester now, but I’ve moved around the UK quite a bit—starting in Edinburgh, then Glasgow, then Manchester before finally settling here. It’s been a journey, but I love it. There’s something very charming about the UK, like curling up by the fire with tea and scones while I read, especially on a rainy day. It’s a different pace of life from Manhattan, but I’ve really enjoyed getting to experience so many different places along the way.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I’m a veterinarian training to be a surgical specialist, which is pretty exciting (and exhausting). Writing has always been my creative escape—something to balance out the intensity of my day job. I’m also autistic, which definitely shapes the way I write. I get very attached to my characters, to the point where I’ll catch myself fussing over what their favorite tea might be or whether they’d be the type to always carry a pen but never have paper.

I also fixate on sensory details that feel important to them—what kind of pillows they’d have, whether their house would smell like old books or fresh linen, or if they always keep a window open, even in winter. I might not go all in on heavy worldbuilding, but I care deeply about how a space feels to the characters living in it.

I think being autistic also makes me really attuned to relationship dynamics—what’s said, what’s not said, the small shifts in body language. Writing is how I process all of that, and I like to think it helps make my character interactions feel layered and real. Plus, it’s just fun. I love figuring out how people work, fictional or otherwise.

What are you working on now?

Right now, I’m focused on my surgical residency, but when I have more time, I’m planning a sequel to The Lavender Blade. I have a lot of ideas for where the story could go next—I just need a little breathing room to get them on the page.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of The Lavender Blade from Amazon US.