Interview With Author Andy Darcy Theo
Hello Everyone!
I’m so excited to share this post! I had the incredible opportunity to sit down and chat with the talented author Andy Darcy Theo on video call to talk about his work and much-anticipated upcoming release, The Dark That Hides Us.
I had the chance to chat with Andy about his writing journey, from the creation of his debut book, The Light That Blinds Us, to what’s next on the horizon. We also talked all about his upcoming release, The Dark That Hides Us, hitting shelves on April 24th, 2025. It’s going to be an exciting year ahead!
Andy Darcy Theo is a British-Greek Cypriot author with an educational and occupational background in clinical psychology and teaching.
General Q & A:
Q: Was there a certain influence or individual that inspired you to begin writing?
A: Andy’s writing journey began with a school English project where he had to write a short story that ends with a cliff-hanger. This project sparked his interest in storytelling and Andy’s debut novel, is a story he had been working on for over 10 years.
Q: Who are some of your favourite authors?
A: Cassandra Clare - Clare’s series is the only series he still has that he didn’t giveaway.
Holly Jackson author of A Good Girls Guide To Murder series, who he’s met several times.
R. F. Kuang - Babel wasn’t his favourite book however he enjoyed reading YellowFace.
He enjoys books like Legendborn and Percy Jackson. Andy also mentioned The Definition of Us, a book he hasn’t seen much of on BookTok, but one he really enjoyed reading.
Q: If you could pick one of your favourite books to be turned into a film/tv show which one would you choose?
A: Infernal Devices By Cassandra Clare.
Q: Are there any parts of your own work that you were inspired by - I.e. other published authors or books?
A: Yes, there are elements that may have been inspired by other works, such as Avengers: Endgame and the Marvel movies, as well as Avatar with its elemental tribes.
Q: What is your least favourite thing about writing?
A: Line writing/Editing - Trying to reduce the word count can be difficult. Andy said he had to cut back on a lot of words and a lot of the Greek mythology elements.
Q: Do you have any advice for future writers and readers?
A: It’s easy to compare yourself to others, but it’s important to take time for yourself. He also discussed how you can draw inspiration from others, as long as you don’t copy them and instead make it your own. A good writer needs to appreciate a variety of genres and be able to analyse them effectively.
Q: Aside from your current series, are there any other stories you would like to publish or you may be working on?
A: He’s considering creating a prequel focused on the other characters from his series. Additionally, he’s working on a love story centered around Alzheimer’s, a topic that’s very close to his heart. He didn’t want to go into too much detail about this, but I mentioned that it would be interesting to see him writing in a different genre, stepping outside of the fantasy world.
Q: How involved are you within the audiobook production process?
A: Andy wasn’t too involved in the audiobook production process, but he did get to choose a very talented narrator. He also created a pronunciation guide for some of the character names. However, for future projects, he plans to create a more comprehensive guide, as he’s noticed a few names in the audio that aren’t pronounced as he would say them.
Q: Are there any fan theories you’ve seen that you have found interesting?
A: There have been a few theories he’s come across, but he hasn’t commented on them. So far, no one has figured out a key part of the book, which he’s pleased about. Since he shares sections of the book on his social media, it’s harder for people to form theories, as they already have a clear view of the characters.
Q: Will you include chapter headings again like you did in TLTBU & do you have a playlist for your books?
A: Chapter headers will be included in the book, and he’s already shared a few on his social media. There’s also a playlist available in his Instagram highlights and on Spotify, and he plans to create one for The Dark That Hides Us. On his socials, he pairs each post with a song and a meme that ties into the narrative and I’ve found the memes absolutely hilarious!
Q: I think it’s important to talk about any struggles you may have faced. Is there any advice you would give to other writers that they may not be aware of during the process of writing?
A: Time limit - Timings of writing and getting things done can be a bit of a struggle. We also spoke about how taking care of your mental health is important so you don’t get into burnout.
The light that blinds us questions:
Q: What was it like to create the elemental creatures?
A: Andy really enjoyed creating these elements and wanted each one to make sense for its specific area. For the air element, he chose a dragon to represent it, specifically a Chinese dragon, since the air element is rooted in Chinese origins.
Q: Which character would you like to see more of?
A: Initially, he wanted to focus more on Blaise. However, he now finds Valentina to be a particularly intriguing character, and we’ll get to see more of her by book three. It promises to be very interesting. Andy has already started working on book 3, though he doesn’t have a contract for it yet.
Q: If you were to relate to one of your own characters, who would you choose and why?
A: He relates to all four characters in different ways. His girlfriend believes he’s most like Alexis, but he also feels a strong connection to Caeli. We’ll get to see more of Caeli in book two, which I’m really excited about.
Q: You have woven themes of mental health, psychosis and found family into Alexis’s story, what did that feel like to write?
A: It was good to write about these themes, especially finding ways to weave them naturally into the story while making them relatable. When it comes to the theme of found family, most people think of it as simply a group coming together, but it’s really about the deeper relationships between the individuals.
The Dark That Hides Us Questions:
Q: Are there any secrets you could give away regarding Blaise’s book that no one else knows?
A: There will be about 5-6 chapters that will be Blaise’s POV and the book will include 5 other character POVs.
Q: Are we going to see the backstory/childhood to Blaise within this book like we did with Alexis?
A: Yes, within the prologue.
Q: Will there be any hidden references or Easter eggs within your books that readers might not catch onto at first?
A: There will be Easter eggs within the book, especially between Mortem and Alexis.
Q: I know there’s quite a few authors at the moment who are beginning to have their work made into shows and movies. Do you see your work potentially becoming a movie/tv show?
A: Don’t want to say no, but if it were to happen, it would need a Marvel-level budget to make it work. The story would require green screens and CGI for the elemental creatures and the various locations the characters visit.
We discussed his first visit to Stonehenge, which he made right after signing his book deal. He shared how intrigued he was by the site, especially how it aligns with the solstice and we both wondered how such an ancient structure came to be. This fascination inspired him to include Stonehenge in his book, with the solstice playing a significant role throughout its pages.
Andy studied psychology and worked as a healthcare assistant in a psychiatric ward for patients with schizophrenia, personality disorders, OCD, anxiety and, depression. He worked closely with an individual who experiences hallucinations, which inspired the creation of his ‘shadow man’ character. We also touched on the subject of psychosis, a condition present in his family, making it a deeply personal topic for him. While he’s careful not to speak too much about it, as it’s not entirely his story to tell, the subject holds significant meaning in his work.
I did record our conversation for a YouTube video, but unfortunately, the audio didn’t record. Thankfully, I remembered most of what we talked about to create this post and I’m currently working on incorporating the footage into a video for you all to enjoy!
I had such a great time chatting with Andy for my first ever author interview. Andy kindly invited me to celebrate the release of his second book The Dark That Hides Us back in April. I had the most incredible time & it was my first ever invited book event. Watch my vlog here: YouTube: Andy Darcy Theo Event Vlog
Check Out Andy’s Socials Here:
Spotify - Andy Darcy Theo TLTBU Audiobook
Thanks For Reading,
🕮 Just one more chapter…
Eden
♡
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