Get ready to learn more about the book Shadow Sacrifice in this discussion with sapphic author Julia Crawford.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Julia Crawford about Shadow Sacrifice, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Dark Romance category in the 2025 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write Shadow Sacrifice?
Shadow Sacrifice is the second book in the Hypatia Coven Chronicles. I always intended to write a sequel to Restless Bones, but it took me about ten years to do it. I felt the main character’s story was just beginning with the end of Restless Bones, and there was a lot of growth and challenges ahead for Joss. At the end of the first book, things are left somewhat uncertain with Joss’s love interest, Elena. Their relationship is very complicated, and I wanted Joss to continue to explore that part of herself.
I was also excited to dive into the world of the Hypatia Coven and the characters that come with it.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
I suppose the obvious answer would be Joss since I’ve spent so much time in her head. But another character I’m partial to is Claire Anderson. She is an aging demon hunter with dark secrets and a messy history with the Hypatia Coven. I wrote her origin story about fifteen years ago, and pieces of it will eventually make it into the Hypatia Coven Chronicles. Because her backstory is one of the first things I’ve written, she is one of my favorites.
What inspired the idea for Shadow Sacrifice?
After introducing River and Indigo, two powerful witches from the Hypatia Coven, I became very interested in what their lives in the coven were like. It also seemed important to explore coven life from their perspective, and River is a narrator in Shadow Sacrifice.
While River and Indigo asked Joss to come live with them and join the coven at the end of Restless Bones, I knew that making that transition and being a part of that sisterhood would pose a lot of challenges for her.
Exploring coven life and politics as well as seeing what kind of trouble Joss would get into in this next phase of her life were the main inspirations.
What part of Shadow Sacrifice was the most fun to write?
I really enjoyed building the Hypatia Coven world and seeing the darker side of that life and group of women. We all have contradictions, and I think it’s interesting to explore those contradictions as well as take a hard look at characters who are dangerous even though they think they are working toward a greater good.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
There will be two more books in the Hypatia Coven Chronicles series. The next one is I Go Dark, and it picks up about six months after Shadow Sacrifice ends. Joss is in a difficult situation at the end of Shadow Sacrifice, and I Go Dark will show what is next for her as well as the Hypatia Coven. The fourth and final book will resolve all the storylines in the series, but I may start a spinoff series. We’ll see…
What is your writing process like?
I am a total pantser, and I wish I wasn’t! My first drafts are terrible for this reason, and the bulk of my time is spent on editing and cleaning up the utter mess I’ve made. I typically don’t know what is going to happen in a book until after I’ve written it, which is why I have to be working on multiple books at a time when writing a series.
Do you have a pet who helps/hinders your typing?
My family adopted an 8-year-old white boxer named Guido, and he thinks he is a kitten. He is often leaning against me, climbing onto my lap, or bumping me with his snout for scratches while I’m trying to type. He also chews on my shoes to get my attention.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing, and by whom?
I worked at a writing center when I was in college, and we talked a lot about the importance of a sh*tty first draft. That gave me permission to create my really terrible first drafts.
Another piece of advice that helped me was “just finish something.” I don’t remember who said it, and I think many people have said that or something like it. I could draft or edit forever without feeling like something is ready for public consumption. But you eventually have to let it go and move on to the next thing. For those looking for some inspiration, I found Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott to be very encouraging and comforting.
Have you ever hated one of your characters?
Absolutely. Rana in Shadow Sacrifice fills me with white hot rage, and I hope readers hate her, too. She is very manipulative and arrogant. Her character will be explored more in the last two Hypatia Coven Chronicles books, so if you don’t hate her yet, there will be plenty of opportunities. She will be one of the narrators in I Go Dark.
Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?
The first sapphic book I’d ever read was Unforgettable by Karin Kallmaker, and she is a hero of mine. I discovered her work at a time when I felt very alone, and her books were a great comfort. I didn’t know there were books like that available, and it seemed like kind of a miracle to me.
What books have you read more than once in your life?
There is only one book that I’ve read more than once, and that is Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden. I love the way she describes New York–I can see it clearly in my mind while reading. Also, the story feels very real to me. The characters fall in love before they really understand what that means, and their struggles are relatable.
