Interview with Jacqueline Carey

Q: In past interviews, which question that you were asked surprised you the most? Why?

JC: The one that comes to mind is "Would you consider Phèdre to be a Christ-like figure, especially in terms of being a ‘pain-bearer’?" It surprised me because I’d never considered it; and yet one could make an argument for it. Some parallels – themes of faith, sacrifice and redemption – are certainly there to be drawn. But I was so wholly immersed in my own mythos, it never occurred to me.

Q: If you could offer a word of advice to first time readers of your novels, what would it be?

JC: This may sound odd, but I’d say, "Don’t work too hard." Especially if they start with Kushiel’s Dart. It’s heavy with intrigue and it has an intricate plot and a huge cast of characters. Some twists I set up don’t play out for hundreds of pages. I’ve heard from readers who found it daunting at first that once they stopped worrying about keeping everything straight and just focused on the protagonist’s journey, it began to flow and everything fell into place. I think the second trilogy, Imriel’s story, is actually more accessible.

Q: Given the choice, would you take a New York Times bestseller, or a World Fantasy Award? Why, exactly?

JC: Show me the money! Seriously, peer accolades are a wonderful affirmation and I’d be delighted to win a WFA award, but this is my livelihood, too. And while I’m honored whenever a fellow writer admires my work, none of them have ever moved me to tears. My fans have. I’ve heard from abuse survivors who found self-acceptance in Phèdre’s story; from a mother who found a few hours of respite reading beside the hospital bed of a seriously ill child; from a lonely military husband stationed in the Middle East who felt closer to his wife reading my books; from a young woman who told me they helped get her through the grief of her mother’s death.Being able to do what I love for a living is a huge gift, but having people share these stories, whether they found something resonant in my work or just a much-needed escape from a harsh reality, makes it all the more worthwhile. It’s humbling. And more sales means more readers. So yes, for reasons pragmatic and personal, I’ll take the bestseller.

Q: Have there been any challenges, external, to writing a fantasy series with strong, intelligent, sexually realized female lead character? Has this, in your opinion, affected your readership?

JC: No, I was fortunate, I think the timing was good and the climate was right for it. A lot of girls who grew up reading fantasy are now adults eager for books with strong female characters, books that reflect the whole of human experience including, yes, sex. As are a lot of men, for that matter.

Q: Honestly, do you believe that the fantasy genre will ever come to be recognized as veritable literature? Truth be told, in my opinion there has never been this many good books/series as we have right now, and yet there is still very little respect (not to say none) associated with the genre.

JC: I hope so. I think the fantasy genre’s growing and expanding in all different directions, and so is its readership and its perception in popular culture. But when I look into my Magic 8-Ball, I get "Reply hazy, try again."

Q: What author makes you shake your head in admiration? Many fantasy authors don't read much inside the genre. Is it the case with you?

JC: I try to keep up with the genre, although I read widely outside it, too.

I admire Guy Gavriel Kay, and he’s the writer I recommend most to my own readers. There are a lot of fantasy authors I read for pleasure and to keep tabs on what’s happening in the industry, but when it comes down to the ones who make me shiver, it’s often books I read in my early teens. Richard Adams’ Shardik bowled me over with its world-building and religious themes that were at once fantastic and familiar. Patricia McKillip’s Riddle-Master trilogy showed me what lyrical writing could be. My all-time favorite is probably John Crowley’s Little, Big, which to me is seamless and perfect.

I think it gets harder to reclaim that effortless sense of wonder as one gets older. I also think the desire to do so is a large part of what drives me to write.

Q: Without giving too much away, give us a taste of the story that is KUSHIEL'S SCION."

JC: Angst! Sex! Adventure! Intrigue! Philosophy!

Anyone interested in learning more can check out this link (http://www.jacquelinecarey.com/scion_synopsis.htm) for a synopsis and this one (http://www.jacquelinecarey.com/scion.htm) to read the first chapter.

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Interview by Patrick
fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com