USA TODAY bestselling author I.V. Ophelia is known for her gothic vampire series The Poisoner. Born in small-town New England, she now haunts the streets of New York City, writing the most unhinged tales she can conjure. When not crafting gothic romance, she works as a full-time artist, hoards 19th-century gowns and antique furniture, dotes on her menagerie of pets, and plots her next literary transgression.

I had the opportunity to interview IV Ophelia, which you can read below

First of all, welcome to Geeks OUT! Could you tell us a little about yourself?

Hello! My name is I.V. Ophelia and I’m a gothic romance author in NYC. When I’m not writing I’m either taking care of my animals, gardening, or taking photographs!

What can you tell us about your Poisoner trilogy series?  What was the inspiration for it?

I’m heavily inspired by the gothics I grew up with. Penny Dreadful used to be my favorite show, which makes sense since my favorite directors are Guillermo Del Toro, Mike Flanagan and Robert Eggers. I also pull from my love of science, as someone who was in a pre-med program until the pandemic hit. 

As a creative, what drew you to the art of storytelling, especially romance and speculative fiction?

I’ve always been a writer. I used to make up stories in my head to fall asleep to. My parents called me “imaginative” from all the tales I’d spin. When I was younger, I thought being an author was a dream job of mine. I couldn’t imagine being able to write stories for a living and sharing them with a community like the one I’ve built today. Like many people, I’ve been moved by stories all my life. I love listening to them, watching them, telling them. It was my hope that I could create stories that moved others in the same ways they did for myself. 

How would you describe your creative process?

I assign myself homework. Movies, museum visits, tc shows, other books. I love to study because I feel like a detective trying to solve my own plots. A well balanced creative diet makes for great work of your own. Some say they avoid reading or consuming art in fear of accidental replication – but I say the more you consume, the more likely you are to spin something seemingly new. You have to learn the rules to bend them, as they say.

What are some of your favorite elements of writing? What do you consider some of the most frustrating and/or difficult? 

My favorite parts are the idea stage. I love getting a little moodboard together and a playlist. It helps me think of motifs to focus on, which lead to what type of art I’d like to commission. I’d say the art is my most favorite. It’s like a reward. I try to make myself wait until I have a draft done – but I am 100% guilty of getting art before I start the project. It’s an addiction, yes, but it doesn’t hurt anyone (except my wallet)!

As a creative, who or what would you say are some of your greatest creative influences and/or sources of inspiration in general?

Museums are my favorite place to go when I need to refill my creative well. I make up stories for paintings. I take pictures of my favorites and add them to my moodboards. Many states have reduced or “pay what you want” ticket prices for locals – which I highly suggest everyone take advantage of! Though there is one room in the MET that is my favorite. It’s a corner room with walls filled to the ceiling with paintings of horses. It’s like my zen room.

Aside from your work, what are some things you would want readers to know about you?

I’m an internationally awarded photographer! I actually took the photograph that was on my indie cover of The Poisoner. The model, Bailey, was my roommate who I paid in sushi to let me put a snake on her (sourced from a local new yorker). I actually began writing because I was feeling burnt out after traveling the world for my photography work. I have the unfortunate habit of making careers out of hobbies.

What’s a question you haven’t been asked yet but that you wish you were asked (as well as the answer to that question)?

What made you want to put sound effects for the clicking noises the vampires make in the Audiobooks for The Poisoner?

One thing people must understand about me is I’m a monster LOVER. I love this specific sound effect used in Alien v. Predator, Last of Us, and other horrific creatures. Something about a man who purrs made me kick my feet. I’m happy my team let me put it in the audiobook because people tell me all the time how much it elevated the duet narration!

What advice might you have to give for aspiring storytellers out there?

Finish the draft! Let it be bad! The draft is the framework, you make it pretty in the next passes (and there will be more passes than you think). What’s important is that you finish. Many people have ideas for books in their lives, but very few finish them. 

Are there any other projects you are working on and at liberty to speak about?

The thing about me is that I always have another project cooking. I like to work on multiple at the same time! So right now I have 3 projects I’m working on, some have full outlines, some have pages written, and another has just a synopsis. Just like there are mood readers, I’m for sure a mood writer.

Finally, what books/authors would you recommend to the readers of GeeksOUT? 

Ruby Rune, the author of A Game of Cat and Witch. Lexie Axelson, author of Mariposa. Ophelia Reign, author of Before We Burn.