We’re back for more Wings of Renewal interview! Before we move on to our seven good ol’ questions, just a reminder than you can now preorder on Nook, Kobo, and iBooks or add the anthology on goodreads!
1. What inspired your short story? Where did the idea come from?
My original idea was marginally different. It came mainly in pictures, and it involved a teenager developping a deep, spiritual bond with a dragon and overcoming a powerful enemy with it. But the more I poked at it, the more I realised I wasn’t really feeling the enemy, and I started thinking more of natural forces.
I’m a big astronomy fan, so something I knew from the start is that I wanted my dragons to be somehow related to stars. One thing I was really into when I started working on the idea was amateur astrophotography. There’s something really awe-inspiring about looking at pictures of solar spots from the comfort of your sofa, and I knew I wanted a little of that in my text.
2. Had you heard of solarpunk before this call for submission? What do you like about the genre?
Yes, I heard about the genre through friends. One thing I really like about the genre is how it doesn’t assume that only the worst can happen. I think it’s really easy to drown in complete cynicism. I know I can be guilty of that. But it’s nice once in a while to remember that while we are capable of terrible, awful actions, we are also capable of making life better for eachother. This might sound a little naive, but I think there’s values in Solarpunk that we need to highlight. Selflessness, sustainability, the welcoming of diversity. I mean, I’m a fan of doom and gloom too. But sometimes you need to move past that.
3. What genre do you usually write in? Talk about your projects!
I mainly write fantasy and horror, with a few other things sprinkled in. And boy do I have projects. So many. Some of them more serious and advanced than others. Some of them all planned out and not written yet. Oups.
I’m presently working on a fantasy novel involving a young woman named Morgan. Morgan has made it her life goal to learn the inner workings of magic and the world. She is a hard worker and a passionate student, at least according to her. Her problem – because of course, there is one – is that her magic doesn’t seem to behave the way it should, and all her spells either fizzle out or explode spectacularly. Which is pretty humiliating, especially since everyone seems to think she’s doing it out of carelessness. She could abandon, of course, and go back to her late mother’s religious order, who would without a doubt offer her support and help – on the condition that she choose something else to do with her life.
Or she could answer that letter she got just after being chased out of class after yet another magical mishap. That very fancy letter from a total stranger who apparently knows just what her problem is, and how to solve it.
We all know she’s totally going to do that.
Anyways, it’s very early scientific discovery themed, there’s tons of characters I just want to introduce to everyone, and I might be biased, but I get all excited every time I think about it.
I’m also working on a multi-generational fantasy series with so many characters and interwinning plotlines I won’t even try to summarize it until it’s done, and a horror novel in which a young girl and her trusty bike try to save the friendly neighbor delinquent from trouble way out of his league. The kind the principal doesn’t warn you about when he summons you into his office for the fifth time this week.
And no, they don’t fall in love and she doesn’t save him from his terrible life choices. That’s just not my jam.
4. What do you love the most about dragons?
There’s so much to love about dragons! Interesting mythology, cool wings, top notch fire breathing, they have it all! When I was a kid I used to answer the “What’s you favourite animal?” question with “Dragons!”. Hey, nobody said it had to be a real animal.
I think one of the things I love about them is that they have so many facets. They can be powerful, destructive, cunning, playful animalistic or wise. All at once, if they want.
I think I’m also really jealous of the fact that they can usually fly and breathe fire. Life goals.
Mjolnir (AKA Mia Mia), her adorable ball of fluff
5. What do you do when you’re not writing? Any day jobs or passion?
I play too much videogames, pick up too many new books and go to work because you need this pesky “money” thing to live. I can generally be found grinding in some game I’ve already played dozens of times when I should be doing other things. No shame.
Okay maybe a little.
6. What’s your favorite book or TV show? Why?
What’s with all the difficult, heart-rending questions? It’s physically impossible for me to pick one, but I’m pretty much in book-love with Les liaisons dangereuses. It’s not really the style I usually enjoy but gosh it makes me want to be a fabulous asshole. Not that I ever would, of course.
I also read a ton of fantasy and just can not pick one. Impossible. Nuh-uh.
Picking a tv show isn’t any easier but I can say with a good degree of certitude that if you put some Adventure Time in front of me I’m gonna have a good time.
7. Where can we find more of your work?
For now most of it lives on my computer ( and in multiple backups, for you fellow backup enthusiasts). Anything I make available in the future will be much tweeted about (@clockfight) so be sure to follow me if that’s something that could eventually interest you!