I want to wish a very happy pub day to L.A. Riemenschneider and her debut novel Her Writhing Crown!
L.A. Riemenschneider is a multi-genre author of all things fantasy and romance, using her books to stand in solidarity with those overcoming PTSD, trauma, endometriosis, and other life physical and mental health matters. Today I’m excited to have her on the blog to talk about her debut novel Her Writhing Crown! Find her online: Facebook, Insta and Tiktok: @L.A. Riemenschneider, and Twitter: @authorLAR
Title: Her Writhing Crown
Author: L.A. Riemenschneider
Publisher: Vulpine Press
Length: ~450 pages
Synopsis
The deadliest snakes have the prettiest of skins…
The youngest sister in a coven of gorgons, Medusa spends her youth training to be a devout priestess, content with a life that will one day give her purpose.
Until one horrific night…
Enraged by an act of betrayal, the goddess Athena grants Medusa an ability that no gorgon has had before: to be able to transform between mortal and gorgon.
But it’s more curse than blessing. Medusa’s sisters now crave her gift and will stop at nothing to obtain it.
Years later, Medusa has sought shelter in the mortal city of Iydara, forsaking her beliefs for protection from a cruel, bloodthirsty mage known as The Collectress. But her safety is soon threatened when she is framed for transforming her statues into frightening, murderous creatures known as golems.
Medusa soon finds herself vengefully fighting back against a magic so ancient and dark that it threatens to tear down the fragile life she has built for herself…
My debut novel by L.A. Riemenschneider
My debut novel titled Her Writhing Crown is a new adult retelling of the legend of
Medusa. Featuring mayhem, mystery, magic, and of course Medusa, it is a tale that is sure to keep readers on their toes.
Going into Her Writhing Crown I wanted to create a story that focused on the why of
Medusa. We know in the original legend she was transformed from a maiden into a gorgon by Athena.
This legend created Medusa’s villain arc that spans centuries, painting her as a cruel monster, when in reality, she just needed a hug, love, and someone in her corner shouting ‘I believe you!’
Her Writhing Crown is the why Medusa chose to turn innocent and not-so-innocent people into stone.
It’s her villain origin story.
Was it revenge? Loneliness? Heartbreak? Boredom?
Despite Her Writhing Crown being a villain origin story, it contains instances of found family, healing from sexual assault, love, and strength.
Healing from unwanted touch is a topic that I always like to bring to light when I am creating. Whether that be through my writing, photography, or metalsmithing. Having open and vulnerable conversations about being a survivor of sexual assault is often seen as ‘dirty, shameful, or vulgar’, which is quite the opposite of the reality. Survivors are strong, and so damn brave. There is nothing ‘dirty or shameful’ about talking about a lifechanging experience that occurred at the cruel hands of another human.
Hard conversations promote healing, unlike shoving them beneath the rug like the media, assailants, or even our loved ones prefer to do. It’s painful. It’s uncomfortable. It isn’t easy.
But survivors are warriors that are capable of so much when given love, time, space, and support. And more importantly, when we believe them.
And even if it’s just from me, a stranger that you’ll never meet, and in case no one has told you: I believe, I see you, and it was never your fault.
Survivors are so damn strong. Even if we didn’t ask to be.
Here is a snippet of what to expect while diving into Medusa’s world:
Medusa spends her early life living in the glittering mountains of Kilmarn with her gorgon coven, consisting of her older sisters and mother, as well as dozens of other friends that have snakes for hair.
As the youngest daughter in her immediate family, ruling her coven is the last thing on her mind, and her family is happy to let her train as a priestess for the Goddess Athena.
Medusa is thrilled to live a life full of purpose and meaning.
Until one horrific night, the God of the Sea rips it all from Medusa’s hands, leaving her shattered, blood-stained, and without a sense of purpose.
Athena, enraged by the act of betrayal from Poseidon and Medusa, grants Medusa an ability that no gorgon has had before…
One that is more curse than blessing.
Now, as the only gorgon with the ability to transform between gorgon and mortal, Medusa’s sisters now crave her gift and will do anything to obtain it…
Even if it means sacrificing Medusa beneath a full moon to Athena herself.
Years later, Medusa “Usa” is on the run from her coven and has sought shelter in the strange mortal city of Iydara, forsaking her beliefs for protection and work beneath a cruel and bloodthirsty mage known as The Collectress.
Acting as a personal assassin of sorts, a chunk of Medusa’s soul is ripped away every time she transforms a mortal into stone, but working for The Collectress keeps Medusa protected and alive, instead of tortured and bleeding beneath a full moon.
But when the fragile life she has built for herself is threatened by an unknown force, Medusa is once again thrown into a life full of peril, dark magic, and the unknown.
When Medusa is framed for transforming her statues into frightening, murderous creatures known as golems, she is forced to hunt down who is responsible or be turned over to her coven to be sacrificed.
Medusa soon finds herself vengefully fighting back against a magic so ancient and dark that it threatens to tear down the fragile life she has built for herself.
And unfortunately for Medusa, the only way to stop the madness from spreading is to work with an infuriating detective who has only one thing on his mind: revenge for the disappearances of his older sisters.
And revenge and magic never mix…
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