S.1 Ep. 13: Unlock the Dark: Magic, Monsters, and Morally Gray Choices with Sasa Hawk

🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where myths intertwine with reality, legends come to life, and fantasy is more than just a story! In this episode, host Bethany Amanda sits down with debut author Sasa Hawk, whose YA romantasy Unlock the Dark delivers monsters, morally gray heroines, and magic born from grief and hope alike.Unlock the Dark follows Elia Tallis, a girl who can conjure keys to unlock doors to any place—except the one land she’s been banished from on pain of death. When a desperate prince asks her to break that very law, she’s pulled into a journey of curses, creatures, and choices that blur the line between love and survival.Sasa shares her road to publication (including the unforgettable phone call that changed her life), her creative process as a writer and mom, and the real-life inspiration behind Elia’s key-based magic. We also dive into themes of resilience, rest, and rediscovering creativity after burnout.🔑 What if you could open any door—but one could destroy you?💀 What if the god of death demanded your brother’s soul as payment for mercy?🔥 And what if saving your family meant breaking every rule of magic and morality?This conversation is packed with heartfelt advice for writers, hilarious behind-the-scenes moments, and insights into the publishing world you won’t want to miss.🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT…✨ How Sasa’s publishing dream came true (and the wild phone call that announced her book deal!)✨ What Unlock the Dark is really about — guilt, love, and impossible choices✨ Crafting a unique magic system inspired by pandemic wish fulfillment and the desire to escape✨ Why creative rest is vital and why not writing can sometimes be the most productive thing✨ Navigating debut life with HarperCollins and learning the business behind the books✨ Reader favorites: the beloved lemur “Cuddles,” grumpy witches, and libraries full of monsters✨ The challenge of writing a complete story in one book—and the dream of returning to the world✨ Sneak peek into her next standalone about a girl who can cancel magic✨ Rapid-fire fun: The God of Death’s Swiftie playlist, magical dating app bios, and “Library of Doom” theme park rides 🎢CONNECT WITH US:📖 Follow Sasa Hawk – IG: @SasaHawkAuthor🎙️ Follow host Bethany Amanda – IG: @BethanyinFantasyland🎧 Follow The Mythic Mic Podcast – IG: @MythicMicPod💫 Don’t forget to rate & review! If this episode made you laugh, rethink what rest really means, or add Unlock the Dark to your TBR, leave us a review — it helps more fantasy lovers find The Mythic Mic!