Olivie Blake Doesn't Mind if You Know Her Secret

The author of the viral Atlas series is stepping away from the fantasy genre with her next book, Gifted & Talented. For our new column The Scroll, she shares an exclusive excerpt and reveals what it's really like to write a bestseller.

- TAMARA FUENTES

When starting a new book like Gifted & Talented, what do you create first: plot, characters, or setting?

I am what's called a pantser, very characterfirst. I also started out as a fan fiction writer, a medium that's 100 percent character.

The book, about three siblings fighting for control of their father's company, officially comes out in April but is already getting a lot of buzz. How do you decide what to share in advance to excite your fans?

I love to keep twists a surprise, but I don't mind showing my hand a little bit. Ideally, readers just get so drawn into the story that even knowing things in advance won't change the experience of the read.