Angie Dickinson is a lifelong lover of magical stories that point to truth, hope, and redemption. She received a B.A. in English Literature and is now a fantasy writer, living in the woods of Michigan with her husband and four children. Angie is saved by grace alone and is in awe of her Savior’s unrestrained love. She is blessed by her big, boisterous family and is fond of Earl Grey tea, reading too late at night, and taking every opportunity to share her passion for fantasy and fairy tales.
FF: What inspired the story in your book?
I was inspired, in part, by struggles that I faced while trying to navigate various situations as an introverted, self-conscious person, especially during the embarrassment-ridden teen years. More generally speaking, I love stories with adventure and a hint of magic that plunge the reader into an unusual mystery, and have always been inspired to create stories like these. I am always moved by characters that grapple with relatable struggles that result in growth. In the case of Truth Cursed, my main character faces a predicament that affects every area of her life – the predicament itself (or “curse”) is not possible in our world, but the side effects bring on very relatable difficulties.
FF: What can you tell us about the main characters in your book?
My main character is named Cressida Hoth, and she desires to be free of her curse and avenge the death of loved ones. More subconsciously, she wants to have agency over her life and relationships and prove her worth to herself and others. She finds fulfillment in training to investigate the murders that changed the course of her life, and in honing her skills in combat and defense. Cressida is often lonely, yet mistrustful and exasperated by those who could be her friends. She feels the need to act alone rather than trusting others, and this can lead to recklessness and lessons learned the hard way.
FF: Which character surprised you the most?
There were a couple of side characters that I found unexpectedly fun or interesting as they developed in ways I hadn’t originally planned. The two that specifically come to mind are Rosalie Montshire and Iris Rush. One of these characters developed a backbone and interests that influenced the course of the story, and the other unexpectedly made me laugh.
FF: Why do you think storytelling is such a powerful way to share truth?
I believe that storytelling is powerful because through it there are endless paths to an individual’s heart. I have been touched over and over again by piercing, poignant truths either buried or laid bare in stories. I might not have grown to love the Lord the way I do today if I hadn’t first understood his sacrifice through the painful relatability of characters such as Edmund, Jill, and Eustace, and the deep, unshakable love of Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia.
FF: What can you tell us about your next book?
Not much yet – except that it is very different from Truth Cursed, and is heavily influenced by my love for fairy tales. (Also, readers of Truth Cursed may not be surprised to hear that there are more swords…)
FF: What kind of research did you do for this book?
While Truth Cursed is not based on a specific historical setting, I researched clothing, weapons, and fighting styles from the early Renaissance to the Regency time periods. I also researched mountain terrain, castle architecture, the fatality probability of various stab wounds, how extended time traveling in the cold might affect a body, and, among other things, how greenhouses work efficiently in the dead of winter.
FF: What do you want readers to take away after reading your book?
I want my readers to reflect on themes of honor, friendship, grace, and trust. I want to hold up a mirror that shows my readers that even though each of us are inflicted with our own individual struggles, we are not absolved of responsibility for our actions. We are capable of acting with honor and love in spite of what it may cost us. No matter who we are, what we have done, or what has been done to us, we can all give and receive forgiveness. I also want anyone who struggles with loneliness or feeling that they are set apart from others to feel emboldened to walk through doubts and insecurities and be open to true love in all its forms.
FF: What are the biggest challenges for you as an author writing in young adult fiction?
My biggest challenge in writing for young adults is in mentally staying aware of the rapidly-changing landscape of YA fiction. I believe it is important to know what teens are reading right now, while also keeping my eyes on my own work. However, I have a tendency to burrow into writing my own stories and reading my old favorites, and can find it difficult to keep my finger on the pulse of current YA!
FF: What authors or books have inspired you as an author?
Authors whose books I’ve returned to again and again because there was a depth, beauty, and cleverness that kept drawing me back are: C.S. Lewis, Gail Carson Levine, Lucy Maud Montgomery, J.R.R. Tolkien, Naomi Novik, Shannon Hale, and J.K. Rowling, among many others!
FF: How has your faith or world view impacted the way you tell stories?
While my stories do not hold overt faith threads, it is important to me to depict the sort of growth that is only possible through the redemptive love and grace of Christ and constancy of the Holy Spirit. While themes in my stories will vary, I believe that it is important to highlight values that reflect Scripture, to be careful not to glorify self-centered motivation, and, when possible, to create characters who learn to understand the power of sacrifice and forgiveness.
Truth Cursed
Author: Angie Dickinson
Publisher: Enclave Escape
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Release Date: February 18, 2025
ISBN-13: 979-8886051742
Book Summary:
Cressida Hoth is alone in the world. Orphaned and unwanted, she is inflicted with a peculiar curse by her mischievous aunts and banished to a finishing school in the secluded kingdom of Dernmont. Students train in every accomplishment suitable for young ladies: music, dancing, etiquette…and strangely, poison-making, fencing, and lock picking.
The school is a front for a rebel spy ring, and when her training is complete, Cressida is selected to join a mission to infiltrate the kingdom’s royal court. She has been thrown unceremoniously into a world of ball gowns and espionage, but she is still under a curse, and it threatens to expose them all.
Defending her teammates and her secret, Cressida discovers that the kingdom’s buried history and the truth behind her curse run far deeper than she imagined.
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