Author and screenwriter Arianna Burt has released her debut novel Despite the Gods, available now on Amazon Kindle. A dark fantasy set in a world where gods, ancients, and mortals compete for control of destiny, the book is drawing attention for its blend of lyrical prose, high-stakes drama, and richly developed characters.
The novel follows Rhekran, a warrior feared as the God Killer. Bound to the whispers of ancients and the demands of gods, Rhekran fights to preserve her autonomy in a world where even the threads of fate threaten to consume her. The book debuted at #3 on the Amazon charts in its respective fantasy category.
The book is Burt’s second Amazon bestseller in the last 18 months and her first full novel. While Burt celebrates the launch of her novel, she is also advancing work on her first feature-length screenplay, The Prince, the Sister and the Serpent. Backed by two million dollars in financing, the film draws on the myth of Cadmus, the Phoenician prince considered the grandfather of Greek mythology. Burt traveled extensively across Greece and the Mediterranean during the research phase, studying the cultures and landscapes that will anchor the script.
“Researching on the ground was essential,” she said. “You cannot capture the atmosphere of a place without spending time in it, listening to people, and letting the environment tell its own story. That experience has shaped every page of this screenplay.”
Burt acknowledges the challenge of moving from novels to screenwriting, especially when it comes to worldbuilding. “Books allow you space to explore every corner of a character’s world. In film, you have to suggest depth with fewer strokes,” she said. “It has forced me to sharpen my storytelling tools in a way that excites me.”
Her literary and cinematic pursuits build on a decade of experience as Director of Creative at Egerton Crescent Productions. Since 2015, Burt has helped shepherd scripts and projects that have been showcased at Cannes, Sundance, and other international festivals, with several later acquired by studios including Amazon and Paramount. Her role has spanned script development, production oversight, and creative strategy.
Burt’s writing style is strongly character-driven, a quality she credits to her background in English studies at Montana State University and her lifelong fascination with the ways people shape and are shaped by their environments. Influences include fantasy writers such as Robin Hobb and Brandon Sanderson, as well as literary voices like Cormac McCarthy and Carlos Ruiz Zafón.
Though her projects have garnered professional recognition, Burt measures success by the impact her stories have on readers and audiences. “If someone walks away from my work feeling understood, entertained, or even just able to escape for a few hours, then I have done my job,” she said. “Awards are wonderful, but the real goal is connection.”
Looking ahead, Burt envisions continuing to develop stories across both print and screen. “In ten years, I want to be known as a storyteller who can move between mediums seamlessly,” she said. “The tools may differ, but the purpose remains the same: to tell stories that endure.”
Despite the Gods is available now on Amazon Kindle. It can be found at https://www.amazon.com/Despite-Gods-Arianna-Burt-ebook/dp/B0FMPR3J5
About Arianna Burt
Arianna Burt is an American author, screenwriter, and producer. She is the Director of Creative at Egerton Crescent Productions, where she has overseen the development of projects screened at major international festivals and acquired by leading distributors. Inspired by both her upbringing in the mountain west and her international travels, Burt continues to explore the intersection of myth, identity, and culture in her work.
