London Daily Post spoke with author and screenwriter Arianna Burt about her debut fantasy novel Despite the Gods, her upcoming film The Prince, the Sister and the Serpent, and the creative process behind both.
Tell us about your book? What’s it about? How did you come up with the story? Where can we find it?
I originally wrote Despite the Gods during the Covid lockdown. It started as a project to keep me occupied and slowly grew into something I wanted to share. It’s an epic dark fantasy about a warrior who can weave reality itself: the gods call her a weapon, but she’s fighting to prove she belongs to herself. At its heart, it’s a story about reclaiming community, culture, and agency. It’s also my way of showing that characters can be strong and happen to be female—not strong despite being female. It’s available on Amazon.
You’re currently working on penning your first feature with 2 million behind it before it’s even a finished script. Can you tell us more about what it’s been like to work on it? Any details you can share about it? Any challenges moving from book to screen?
The film follows Cadmus, a Phoenician prince who’s essentially the grandfather of all Greek mythology. I spent several weeks in Greece and the Mediterranean researching for the first draft, and I fell in love with the cultures I encountered there. The hardest part of moving from novel writing to screenwriting has been cutting back on the big, layered worldbuilding I love—you don’t get as much time for that on screen—but I’m working to make sure the characters and setting still feel full and immersive.
How would you describe your writing style to someone?
My writing is character-driven. I’m fascinated by how people collide, bond, and change each other. I focus on the tensions of interpersonal drama, and I weave it closely with the culture and environment around the characters so the world feels inseparable from their story.
Did you go to school for writing? If so, where did you attend?
I attended Montana State University, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a focus on secondary education. My dream has always been to be a writer, so alongside my education courses, I made sure to take as many writing classes as I could.
What are your biggest inspirations as an author? Favorite books? Authors?
My biggest inspirations range from fantasy authors like Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson, and Robin Hobb—who all balance world-building with deep character focus—to literary voices like James Joyce and Cormac McCarthy, whose language and restraint shaped how I think about style and silence. Zafón’s Shadow of the Wind was my introduction to and remains my favorite for atmosphere and mystery, and classics like Dune, which taught me how environment and culture can shape every layer of a story.
Do you have any dreams as a writer? What is your big aspiration?
I’m audience-driven. My biggest dream is for my stories to stay with people and make them feel something, even if it’s just a few hours of escape. Awards like an Oscar or Emmy would be amazing, but honestly, what matters to me is the connection between the story and the audience.
How long have you worked at Egerton Crescent Productions? What was your role? How did you land at the company?
I’ve been with ECP since the beginning in 2015. ECP actually started back when we were in university—since I was dating Charles at the time, I was around for the early meetings and offered creative input, and from there it was a natural progression into the role I have now. As Director of Creative, I oversee the development and production of scripts and review material from potential partners.
What’s your funniest ECP memory?
For a short time, we produced and acted in a few promotions for films on social media. Those were some of the most fun projects we did. I specifically remember the day I painted Charles to be Beetlejuice and we blew up a big dinosaur floaty in our apartment before we went down to the pool to get the shot. Our Joker promo worked similarly. The looks people gave us on those shoots were entertaining enough–we knew the videos would hit.
How would you describe your writing process? How does it look from beginning to end?
My process always starts with the characters and their environment. I’ll explore that dynamic until I know what kind of story they belong to, then build out from there. I handwrite my first drafts—whether it’s a novel or a script—and when I type them up, I layer in the gritty details. After that, it’s all about filing down the burrs and filling gaps with the help of my team.
If you could give any advice to yourself as a writer 10 years ago when you started at ECP what would it be?
I’d probably just say: go for it and trust yourself. Back when we started ECP, I thought it would be temporary since I was on track to teach. It took me some time to see that I could actually chase my writing dream here, but once I did, I never looked back.
You’re not just a writer but also a film producer. Tell us a little about the films you’ve produced and your involvement.
Up to now, I’ve mostly been behind the scenes as Director of Creative, making sure the story and vision came together, and I’d step into a forward-facing role when it made sense. Only recently, I decided to take a more active, visible role in the process, expanding beyond the creative oversight I’ve always had.
How do you overcome writer’s block typically?
If I can, I step back and focus on something else for a day–maybe another project or just read. Then I play with my characters in a side scene that may not leave my notebook, just to see what they do. If all else fails, I dive into research because cultural details always spark new ideas.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Ten years from now, I’d love to be known as a writer-producer whose stories really connect with people, whether on the page or on screen. I want the freedom and know-how to create stories that reflect reality but are still fun to get lost in—and for now, I’m just soaking up everything I can to get to that point.
Despite the Gods is available on Amazon and more information about The Prince, the Sister & the Serpent can be found here.
