With First Light (hardcover, Kindle), writer Liz Kerin is concluding the vampiric duology she started earlier this year with her horror / family drama novel Night’s Edge.
In the following email, Kerin discusses what inspired and influenced this second half, how it differs from Night’s, as well as her plans for more stories about blood suckers.
For people who didn’t read the first book, or the interview we did about it, what is Night’s Edge about, and when and where did it take place?
Night’s Edge is about a young woman whose mother is infected with a vampiric illness, and the conflicts that arise when she puts aside her own needs and growth in the name of protecting her mother.
It’s body horror, it’s coming-of-age, it’s a family drama, and also a queer romance.
The story takes place in modern-day Tucson, Arizona, in a world very much like our own that has just suffered through a pandemic (albeit in this world, the virus in question is a particularly grotesque form of vampirism). Our protagonist, Mia, must decide whether she’s ready to break free and live her own life when she meets a young woman who sweeps her off her feet.
All the while, her mother is breaking all their carefully constructed rules and committing gruesome acts of violence with her unhinged ex-boyfriend, who first turned her into a monster thirteen years ago.
And then what is First Light about, and when does it take place in relation to Night’s Edge?
First Light takes place in two alternating timelines following the events of Night’s Edge.
One timeline takes place nine months after the catastrophe in Tucson (a flash forward, if you will), in which Mia is in hot pursuit of the ADAPT group: a violent gang of Saras (a.k.a. vampires) led by her mother’s ex-boyfriend Devon.
The second timeline takes place immediately after the end of Night’s Edge, which sees Mia leaving her home and trying to start anew in New York, all the while aching to seek retribution for what happened to her mom.
The two timelines intertwine and eventually catch up to one another, resulting in a revenge arc that I hope feels tense and satisfying for fans of Mia’s first journey.
When in relation to writing Night’s Edge did you come up with the idea for First Light, and where did you get the idea for the second book’s plot?
Night’s Edge was actually intended to be a stand-alone. It was only when Tor [the publisher] suggested a sequel that I embraced the idea and forged a clear path forward for these characters.
That said, once I knew where the story would go, it all unfolded quickly and ended up being a one of the most fulfilling, exciting creative journeys I’ve ever had. I had no idea how badly I needed to write this second book. I experienced so much personal catharsis and closure during this writing process.
As you said, Night’s Edge is a horror story, but also a family drama. Is First Light one as well?
First Light is definitely still horror as well as a family drama, but this time it also takes a cat-and-mouse thriller angle. It’s a revenge story, as Mia’s goal is to make Devon pay for what he did to her mother. He’s the reason their lives burned to the ground. But, like any good psychological chase, the closer Mia gets to her target, the more she realizes she might have been the prey all along.
Not only that, but she and her enemy might have more in common than she ever thought. She’ll have to carefully sift through the all lies, deception, and violence to try to figure out who’s on her side and who’s hungry for her blood. In this sense, I drew a lot of inspiration from high-stakes thrillers and film noir. While Night’s Edge was very self-contained, this book is unapologetically sprawling. But I think that’s what makes it fun and different.
And is First Light as scary as Night’s Edge? I know “scary” is a subjective term, but intention matters…
Personally, I think it’s scarier. Mia’s world opens up in all sorts of unexpected ways, and because she was so stunted growing up and lacks a lot of social awareness, she gets into several dangerous situations that she isn’t prepared for.
In this duology, the scary characters aren’t necessarily scary because they’re vampires…they’re scary because they’re unpredictable sociopaths who don’t like hearing the word “no.” They’re scary because they might be actual people you know in real life.
So then, as far as influences go, are there any writers, or stories, that were a big influence on First Light but not on Night’s Edge?
Like I said, I drew a lot of inspiration from classic revenge stories and film noir for this one. The Kill Bill duology has been a huge influence on me since I was a teen, and I’ve been dying to crack a deeply personal, female-driven revenge tale for years. It’s so visceral and bloody and angry, but it never forgets to have fun and keep the audience on its toes. That was also my goal for this story.
I was also very inspired by Gillian Flynn’s angsty, whip-smart, brooding female characters in all of her thrillers. I wanted Mia and her new friends to feel like they belonged in an adjacent universe.
What about non-literary influences; was First Light influenced by any movies, TV shows, or games?
I already spoiled this one by talking about Kill Bill, but I can’t leave without also tipping my hat to the film Near Dark (the perfect grounded-yet-vibey vampire flick), and such shows as True Detective, Mare Of Easttown, Russian Doll, and Sharp Objects .
And how about your dogs, Clementine, Avery, and Sydney? How did they influence Night’s Edge?
Sadly, Avery and Sydney are no longer with us, but will always be a part of Night’s Edge because they sat next to me every morning while I was writing it. They’re in my acknowledgements, and it gives me so much peace and comfort to know that all my readers know who they were.
Clementine is doing great. She’s almost two, and now she’s the one who sits under my desk and listens to me type all day.
Corgis are the best. When you’re writing the darkest, most gruesome sequence, they’ll chuck a tennis ball at you and make you smile, reminding you to come up for air. I totally understand why Stephen King has had so many of them throughout his life.
As we’ve been discussing, Night’s Edge and First Light form a duology…
Yup, it’s a duology and that’s the end of the rainbow. There isn’t going to be a third book.
However, I have been writing a few short stories in this universe, focused on other supporting characters. So some sort of anthology could always pop up in the future.
So, would you suggest people read Night’s Edge and First Light back-to-back?
I think reading them back to back is a great idea! You certainly do not have to, but I have talked to readers who did just that, and they all said it was a really fun, deeply engaging experience. So I think that would be an amazing way to read them, if you have the time.
If you don’t read them back to back, I tried to give enough of a “Last Time On” recap in the first 25% of First Light that readers will hopefully remember who everyone is and where we left things.
We talked in the Night’s Edge interview about how that book was being adapted into a TV show. But, at the time, the WGA was on strike, so you couldn’t say much. Since the strike is over, can you say anything now?
Unfortunately, the show is not moving forward due to some really big shifts at the corporate level after the strike. It’s a bummer, as we were pleased with our script and ready to rock when the strike was called. But that’s how the cookie crumbled, and it was out of our hands.
As of now, I once again retain the film / TV rights. If the right team comes together in the future, I’d be delighted to try to crack it again.
So, is there anything else you think people need to know about First Light?
Honestly, go in blind! Don’t read too many interviews or try to decode spoilers in my podcast episodes. The less you know the better. I swear.
If you are looking for content warnings, they’re listed on the book’s Goodreads page.
Finally, if someone enjoys First Light, and they’ve already read Night’s Edge, what novella of someone else’s, which is vampiric in nature, would you suggest they read next?
I really loved a book called Hear The Branches Rattle, which is a vampire novella by Frederick Niles. It’s short, it’s devastating, and it’s grounded in an emotional conflict that really resonated for me. It’s an amazing read-in-one-sitting kind of book. More people need to be yelling about this one, so please join me in this endeavor.
