Today, I am chatting with Laura Daleo about My Name Is Death, a poignant and thought-provoking novel that reimagines Death in a strikingly original way, blending humour, heart, and the supernatural into an unforgettable story.
But first, let's check out My Name Is Death
My Name Is Death presents a very unusual interpretation of one of humanity's oldest figures. What inspired you to reimagine Death as a witty, stylish immortal who prefers Italian suits and coffee to scythes and robes?
I wanted to create a modernized version of the Angel of Death—someone with a more human side who could be put to the test emotionally. Giving Death a witty personality, a love for Italian suits, and a taste for coffee made him feel more relatable and interesting to me than the usual scythe and robe.
Death is often portrayed as something to be feared, yet your version appears compassionate and deeply human. What aspects of his character were most important for you to explore?
It was important for me to show Death as compassionate, caring, and very human-like. I wanted readers to see a different side of him—someone who understands people and feels empathy, even while carrying out his role.
The relationship between Death and Annalise forms the heart of the story. What drew you to pairing an immortal being with a teenager confronting her own mortality?
Meeting Annalise changes everything for Death, how he sees himself, his past, and even how he acts. I was drawn to the idea of pairing an immortal with someone young and facing her own mortality because it let me explore how both characters could grow and change through their connection.
Although the novel deals with difficult subjects, there also seems to be warmth and humour woven throughout the narrative. How did you balance the emotional weight of the story with lighter moments?
Balancing the heavy and lighter moments just comes naturally to me when I’m writing. I think it’s important to include warmth and humor, even in tough stories, because that’s how life is, and it helps the characters feel more real.
Annalise is forced to face realities that many people spend their lives avoiding. What did writing her character teach you about courage, resilience, and the value of time?
Writing Annalise’s character made me reflect on how people respond to difficult situations in their own ways. It wasn’t so much about specific lessons, but more about trying to stay honest in how I wrote her reactions and choices.
Your books often blend supernatural elements with deeply personal human experiences. What is it about this combination that appeals to you as a storyteller?
I was really interested in seeing how someone like Death would deal with real, everyday feelings when faced with someone as honest and vulnerable as Annalise. Putting such different characters together let me play with both the unusual and the ordinary, and that mix is what made me want to keep writing their story.
Readers may come to the novel expecting a story about death, but it also appears to be a story about life. Was that contrast something you consciously set out to explore?
Yes, it absolutely was something I wanted to write. I really wanted to show what it meant for Death to feel alive and to feel human and vulnerable. I wanted him to experience things like loss, love, and family, just like anyone else.
As an author known for creating vampires, supernatural beings, and dark legends, did writing Death himself present any unique challenges or opportunities? No, writing Death didn’t present any unique challenges. He was actually super fun to write. Giving him his own personality and quirks was a great opportunity, and I enjoyed seeing where his story would go.
The novel raises universal questions about mortality, acceptance, and what happens when our time runs out. Were there any particular themes you found yourself reflecting on while writing the book?
I wanted to write about the moments when someone is facing the end of their life and how difficult it can be for their loved ones to accept. Death’s role is to be there for the person who is dying, guiding them through that experience, even as those around them struggle to let go.
For readers picking up My Name Is Death for the first time, what do you hope they take away from Death's unlikely friendship with Annalise and their shared journey?
I hope readers see that family and love can be found in the most unlikely circumstances. Sometimes the strongest connections come from the people you least expect, and I wanted Death and Annalise’s journey to reflect that.
I'd like to thank Laura Daleo for taking the time to chat with me today. It's been a pleasure learning more about the inspiration behind My Name Is Death. I wish Laura every success with the novel and hope readers enjoy getting to know this wonderfully original version of Death as much as I have.
Where ancient myths collide with a modern edge.
A creative writing class in junior high sparked Laura Daleo’s desire to tell stories, but her true inspiration came from the legendary Anne Rice. Following in the footsteps of Interview With The Vampire, Laura fueled her ambition to craft her own dark legends, beginning with the publication of Immortal Kiss.
Today, Laura is the author of nine published works that blend the supernatural with high-stakes suspense. Her portfolio ranges from deep-rooted vampire lore to the chilling sci-fi thriller The Doll and the supernatural reimagining of the Angel of Death in My Name Is Death. Her latest release, The Wolf Experiment (2026), marks a gripping evolution into urban fantasy thriller territory, exploring the dark intersection of military science and forced transformation.
Beyond the keyboard, Laura is an artist and a dog enthusiast living in Tucson, Arizona, with her two dogs, Rose and Cooper.
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See you on your next coffee break!
Take Care,
Mary Anne xxx