Sometimes life happens too fast and we need to just stop and breathe—enjoy the beauty around us. Even the subway is beautiful if you take a second look. It’s full of innovation and history, unique people with completely different backgrounds blending together in a sea of sounds and color. Every voice a different tone, every expression an exclusive look into an individual.
In publishing, the books we used to hold and cherish are now on our phones and e-readers. They allow us to carry our entire library everywhere we go. Yet for some readers, the loss of a library in their home, hits deep in the heart. They want the hardback books with those glorious covers. They also want the return of the art between the pages, when chapter headings didn’t just read CHAPTER ONE, but rather gave us a piece of the author’s dream in the form of art within each chapter heading.
Authors share both cravings with readers, and fantasy authors have been on the front lines of addressing both desires. That’s why I wanted to interview A.N. Sage specifically about her special edition of her young adult fantasy mystery, THE DEAD WE KEEP.
Kym: Welcome back to the Cozy Corner Inessa!
Inessa: Thank you so much for having me again, Kym! It’s always such a joy to chat with you and your wonderful readers. I’m thrilled to be back, especially to talk about this very special edition of THE DEAD WE KEEP.
Kym: I don’t normally interview the same author twice in one year, but you have had a very busy and special year in 2025! With some special book releases. This year you’ve had a special of your 2024 release, THE DEAD WE KEEP. For fantasy mystery fans this is a must read. For lovers of books as a piece of art, in the words and pages and cover, this is a must purchase! What made you take this route with a book you had already released?
Inessa: That’s such a great question. When THE DEAD WE KEEP first came out, it really connected with readers in an unexpected way. I knew right away this story was something a bit different and that it deserved to be honored in a special way. The special edition isn’t just about a reprint, it’s a celebration of the dark atmosphere, the folklore, and Nastya’s story. I wanted to create something readers could hold and feel like they were holding a piece of art. It’s for those who still treasure the magic of physical books and the craft behind storytelling. And those of us who can’t help but gravitate toward pretty foiling!
Kym: THE DEAD WE KEEP is a pretty special award-winning story which crosses boundaries of young adult dark fantasy and mystery. What inspired you to write about Cherry Cove and Nastya Sokolov, a young woman trapped by her own abilities?
Inessa: Nastya’s story started with a single image: a girl standing at the edge of a frozen blood-soaked lake, her breath fogging the air, knowing she had to hide a part of herself or risk destroying everything. That visual stayed with me. I was really interested in exploring the tension between power and vulnerability and how the things that make us different can also isolate us. Cherry Cove, with its eerie charm and haunting past, became the perfect setting to explore that theme. It’s a town filled with secrets, much like Nastya herself. And I wanted to ask: what happens when someone who’s spent their whole life hiding starts uncovering the lies around her?
Kym: Will Nastya’s story continue with another book?
Inessa: Without giving too much away—possibly. There’s more to explore, not just with Nastya but with the world around her. I won’t say there’s a direct sequel or a companion story just yet, but readers who loved the atmosphere and emotional depth of THE DEAD WE KEEP will definitely have more to sink into soon. At least books exploring similar themes and folklores.
Kym: For people who may not be familiar with your work, who is the creative genius behind the artwork on this special edition?
Inessa: I’m so glad you asked! As part of my creative background, I am actually a cover and graphic designer and got to design this edition myself. Since I knew the story inside out, it made the most sense for me to handle the project. And I got to pour my heart into it in an entire new way which was amazing!
Kym: You are talented in so many ways. I love everything about this book! How much time is involved in a project like this?
Inessa: Months, truly. From planning the edition, sourcing the right materials, approving proofs, to hand-checking, it’s a labor of love. But it’s so worth it when readers send photos or messages about how much they love holding this book in their hands.
Kym: There is definitely something magical about holding a book like this. Why do you think special editions like THE DEAD WE KEEP have become so popular with readers in today’s culture when e-books are the current trend?
Inessa: I think readers crave connection more than ever: connection to stories, to tangible experiences, to beauty in regular moments. Special editions give them that. They’re not just books; they’re keepsakes. In an age of digital everything, there’s something incredibly grounding about holding a physical object that was created with intention and love. It’s like art you can read.
Kym: A museum in your own library;) Have you painted the pages of any books in your personal library that have been written by other authors?
Inessa: I actually haven’t but now I must! That’s an excellent idea. I actually have a collector’s edition of KARTEGA out on Kickstarter soon so you can say the bug of gorgeous edges has bit me.
Kym: OMG, that’s awesome! You publish through a small publishing house, Oliver Heber Books. Do you see this becoming a trend with New York publishing houses as well?
Inessa: I think so. Readers are showing that they want thoughtful, unique editions of their favorite stories and that demand is shifting how even the big houses approach design and packaging. Smaller presses like Oliver Heber Books have the flexibility to take risks and innovate, and I think traditional publishers are paying attention. We’re already seeing more special editions coming out, especially in fantasy and YA.
Kym: The small houses and indy authors are the cutting edge of the industry. THE DEAD WE KEEP is available in e-book and paperback at most book sellers, but where can readers purchase the special edition of THE DEAD WE KEEP?
Inessa: The special edition is available exclusively through the Oliver Heber Books website: https://oliverheberbooks.myshopify.com/
Kym: Will you be doing any more special editions to your other books?
Inessa: Yes! I mentioned before but Kartega is out on Kickstarter on August 4th as a massive collector’s edition. It’s being rereleased as a tome of a book in a complete stand alone. The edition is really stunning too with special art, edges, endpapers, holographic foil, and a lot of add on’s.
Kym: I feel like I need to have search lights crossing in the sky to alert readers to the return of beautiful libraries holding treasures within instead of e-books to sign out. What is your next release?
Inessa: My next big release is for City of Beasts, the first in a gothic romantasy that’s very dark and swoony. It’s a slight departure in genre for me but for everyone who loves my mysteries, I made sure to have a mystery core in the center of the story. The magic system in this series is one of my favorites too.
Kym: What are you working on Now?
Inessa: Right now, I’m working on the second book of BEASTS OF HEDGE END. I am completely enthralled in this world and don’t want to leave it for a while.
Kym: I’m hooked, thank you again for joining us at the Cozy Corner!
Inessa: Thank you so much, Kym! It’s always a pleasure. I’m so grateful to the Cozy Corner community for supporting stories that walk the line between beauty and darkness. Until next time!
Get Cozy and read on—but pick up a special edition and experience the magic one again.
A.N. Sage is a bestselling, award-winning author of mystery and fantasy novels. She has spent most of her life waiting to meet a witch, vampire, or at least get haunted by a ghost. In between failed seances and many questionable outfit choices, she has developed a keen eye for the extra-ordinary.
A.N. spends her free time reading and binge-watching television shows in her pajamas. Currently, she resides in Toronto, Canada with her husband who is not a creature of the night and their daughter who just might be.
Kym Roberts writes by day and is a pro-surfer in her dreams by night. Her humor is often raunchy, her jokes are often bad, but her hunger for a story keeps the adventures coming fast. Experience the thrill & catch the wave of passion, mystery, and suspense with her on her website, on Facebook, and on Twitter.
THE RUINED DUCHESS released in April under the pseudonym Helene Matheson. Watch for her second book in the series, THE REBELLIOUS COUNTESS, August 19, 2025!
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