Feathers That Bleed-Sana Khatri
Q1. Welcome, Sana! To start off, tell us a little about yourself. What first drew you into writing, and how did you find your way into dark romance in particular?
= Uh, wow. I am such an awkward person, so every time I'm asked to talk about myself, I go 
I know you can't see me right now, but that emoji is the perfection representation of my current reaction. As they say: it's not you, it's me 
I know you can't see me right now, but that emoji is the perfection representation of my current reaction. As they say: it's not you, it's me
Jokes aside, I am from Mumbai, India, and I've been reading and writing since I was six. My mum got me Alice in Wonderland when I was four, I think, and ever since, I've been addicted to fictional worlds and storytelling. As a kid, you'd always find me scribbling random characters on the back of my notebooks as I imagined traveling to fantastical worlds and what not. A purebred nerd, as some might say.
Before I wrote FTB, I wrote and published sexy contemporaries and romcoms. But then (TW: loss of a loved one) my aunt passed away suddenly, and the flipped my entire world on its axis. She was the pillar of my family, and after she passed, all her responsibilities fell onto my shoulders. Feathers That Bleed is basically my medium of expressing my pain, anger, and grief towards the harsh chapter life dealt me and my family with. I'm sorry if it got too heavy, but life ain't always fair, eh.
Q2. Feathers That Bleed introduces us to Dorran, the “Bloody Prince,” and Cignette, the “Flawed Princess.” Their lives couldn’t be more different, yet they collide so intensely. What inspired these characters and their dynamic?
= Cignette was the very first character I designed for this dark romance duet. She was the catalyst for everything else in my head while plotting the first book. I knew from the get go that she'd be sassy, talented, dedicated, HEAVILY misunderstood, but a complete badass. She is everything I wish I was, and I'm so happy that my readers adore her just as much as I do.
Dorran is quite literally the apple of my eye. When I created him, I wasn't sure he'd be as loved by the readers as he is now, so that's a blessing. A lot of Dorran's personality is based off of Damon Salvatore from TVD. His physical appearance is heavily inspired by Taylor Zakhar Perez, and while we're at it, can we please manifest a Feathers That Bleed movie with TZP playing Dorran and Samara Weaving as my Cignette. Because Samara IS my Cignette.
Q3. Dark romance often balances on that razor-thin line between fear and fascination. What do you love most about writing in this genre, and what do you hope readers take away from your stories?
= I just ADORE writing banters in my books, no matter the genre, and with FTB, you'll notice that Dor and Cigs' banter is such a vibe.
I also thoroughly enjoy writing the intense plot twists in my books. It's because I know something my readers don't, and that makes the little devil in me so happy I love freaking out my readers by sprinkling in insanity in my books whenever I can.
I love freaking out my readers by sprinkling in insanity in my books whenever I can.Q4. The imagery in your book is striking—the city of Riverside itself almost feels like a character. How do you approach worldbuilding in such a gritty, emotionally charged setting?
= My initial idea for the backdrop of this book was the weather, because that is the one factor that helps me set the mood in my head while I'm weaving the chapters. I know the factors of Riverside in my book vary from reality, but that's the beauty of fiction, isn't it? I wanted something gloomy, modern, a little rustic, and my editor suggested Riverside, so that's what I went with!
Q5. If you had to describe Dorran and Cignette’s love story using only three words, what would they be?
= Unfiltered, raw madness.
Q6. Every author has a writing quirk or ritual—whether it’s a favorite snack, a playlist, or a lucky pen. What’s something unique about your writing process?
= I write on my phone. Like, every single word of every single chapter. So for me, it's my phone, Bad Omens playing on repeat on Spotify, and my characters.
Q7. Feathers That Bleed is a powerful title. Can you share the story behind it and what it means to you in the context of the novel?
= Yes, of course! So, my logic for the title of course came from my Cignette. Her name is inspired by a swan, and so is her personality — elegant, beautiful, and deadly. Dorran calls Cignette "Little Swan" because he knows what her name signifies. And also because she has a GORGEOUS swan tattoo on her back. You can see it on full display in book 2's cover!
So, anyway, Feathers That Bleed simply resembles Cignette's layers as a human being, and her growth throughout the story as a character. Every time she stands up for herself, does what makes her happy, is a layer of who she is; a feather that bleeds out of her because of her raw strength and determination.
Q8. If Feathers That Bleed was adapted into a film or series, who would be your dream cast for Dorran and Cignette?
= I have answered this already, but (screams) Taylor Zakhar Perez as Dorran, and Samara Weaving as Cignette.
Q9. Your book deals with themes of power, freedom, and sacrifice. Which of these themes resonates the most with you personally, and why?
= Sacrifice and freedom for sure. I've lost a lot; had to give up a lot in life. And because my entire family has been supporting me since the very beginning of my career, I've had the freedom to create stories that make me happy, and help me grow as an author every single day.
Q10. Outside of writing, what are some of your passions or hobbies that fuel your creativity?
= This may sound bland, but all I do is write. If I'm not writing, I plot. If I'm not plotting, I am on Pinterest finding inspiration for my books. Writing is basically all I do, and if I want to unwind, I'll sometimes sketch a Disney character or two, because that's all I can draw, lol.
Lightning Round!
Let’s wrap things up with some fun quick-fire questions:
- Coffee, tea, or something stronger? COFFEE!
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What’s your go-to comfort read? Sherlock Holmes
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Villain you secretly root for? Damon Salvatore
- A trope you’ll never get tired of? Insta lust
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One word your friends would use to describe you? Worrier
Q11. Finally, what’s next for you? Can readers expect more stories set in Riverside—or are you exploring new worlds and characters?
= Of Blood So Cold explores more of Cignette & Dorran, but I can't say anything at all since everything is a spoiler if you haven't read Feathers That Bleed. Of Blood So Cold is out and available worldwide in ebook and paperback formats. The ebook is available on KU.
As for what I'm going to release next, let's just say that the MMC I'm writing right now would definitely give Dorran a run for his money 
