From BookTok to Bestseller: Rebecca Thorne’s Journey and the Making of This Gilded Abyss

This week I’m joined by bestselling fantasy author and BookTok favourite, Rebecca Thorne, to talk about her newly republished novel This Gilded Abyss. We get into the origins of the book, how she built its eerie underwater world, and why she wanted to step away from cosy fantasy and write something darker and more intense. Rebecca also speaks honestly about her path from eight years of traditional rejection to rapid indie success, and what it has been like navigating both sides of the industry.

We dig into her fast drafting process, her love of editing, and how she manages the pressure of a growing readership while staying focused on the work. As always, you will hear The Book That Saved Your Life and Their Darkest Hour, with Rebecca sharing the very real turning points that shaped her writing career.

In the Episode

• How This Gilded Abyss began life as an indie release
• BioShock, art deco cities and world building with history as a guide
• The appeal of writing darker stories after cosy fantasy
• Her eight year struggle in trad publishing
• The sudden rise of Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea and documenting the indie process
• Why she still feels the pull of indie freedom
• Writing routines, drafting speed and learning to switch between projects
• The Book That Saved Your Life: Legends and Lattes
• Their Darkest Hour: reassessing her publishing path
• What’s next, including her cosy sci-fi, Moss'd in Space

About Rebecca Thorne

Rebecca Thorne is an American fantasy author known for her character-driven novels and strong online presence. Her books include Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea, A Pirate’s Life for Tea and her latest release, This Gilded Abyss, now out from Tor. She lives in Colorado and shares regular updates on Instagram and TikTok.

Find Rebecca Online

rebeccathorne.net
Instagram: @rebeccathornewrites