Celia (C.S.) Friedman is one of the most respected names in SFF, her novels have received multiple award nominations and many current writers point to her work as foundational. Celia was kind enough to take time out of her schedule to conduct this interview as her second Young Adult novel, Dreamseeker is about to publish.
Your newest series is aimed at the Young Adult market, yet it still retains your voice and confident storytelling on full display. What was most challenging writing the Dreamseeker novels compared to your earlier Dark Fantasy and Science Fiction work?
Surprisingly, the length of the books turned out to be the biggest challenge. YA books are traditionally a little shorter than my usual works, and that impacted not only obvious elements of pacing, but a thousand and one little details of character and thematic development along the way. It was a learning experience, to be sure.
The second installment is nearing publication, will this be a “standard” trilogy or do you envision this story being more open ended?
Well, nothing I write is “standard” 🙂
I’ve decided to make this work a trilogy. The universe it’s set in has the potential for future stories, but this one will wrap up in three volumes.
You tapped into some mythic elements (Changeling Myth), does the second novel tap into other mythic tropes / elements?
Of course, that’s half the fun of the series! The premise of the Dreamwalker saga is that communication between parallel worlds is responsible for many of the myths, legends, and even religious events in our own world. Part of the fun of the series is discovering the “real life” events that gave rise to legends of vampires, changelings, and even space aliens.
As one character explains to my heroine in Dreamwalker, “We are your legends.”
The first novel was told in two narrative voices, reading Jesse’s voice helped to impart a great deal of empathy with me as the reader, while the more omniscient views of the story allowed for a greater scope. Will Dreamseeker bounce between those two POVs.
Yes, but with more time devoted to the third person narrative. Dreamseeker follows the story of two main characters whose fates have now become intertwined: Jesse, who is from our world, and Isaac, a young apprentice from a Guild of undead necromancers known as Shadows, who helped Jesse escape from captivity in Dreamwalker. In Dreamseeker, Isaac attempts to return home and make peace with his family, but his human soul cannot accept what undead demand of him.
Was it a challenge to tell the story from two types of narrative perspectives or did it just seem to be the only way to tell it?
My second novel, The Madness Season, alternated between first-person and third-person storytelling as well, so this is not something new for me. The combination is particularly powerful when dealing with a rite of passage story like Dreamwalker, as it allows the reader to experience an intimate connection with the main character, while leaving me free to explore facets of the narrative that she is not aware of.
The balance in Dreamseeker and the third book, Dreamweaver, will be more 50-50 than Dreamwalker was, in part because other characters are now coming to the fore.
Dominion, a prequel novella to your landmark Coldfire Trilogy published a couple of years ago. Any other plans to revisit Gerald Tarrant’s realm and/or other past works?
No plans for Gerald Tarrant at the moment. After this trilogy is done I am planning to set a novel in the universe of “This Alien Shore.”
With the popularity and legacy of “The Coldfire Trilogy” would you ever invite other writers to play in that sandbox?
Nope.
DAW is one of those publishers who is very loyal to their authors/writers, all of your work has been published under their auspices. What makes them such a great publisher, from your perspective as one of their long-time authors?
I have been blessed with an awesome editor in Betsy Wollheim, who truly understands my writing, and whose artistic assistance has been invaluable. I can’t imagine writing a book without her input. Other than that, it’s an intimate family-style company that takes pride in supporting its authors, professionally and personally.
You’ve had some incredible cover art over the years, which is your favorite cover? (Is this an easier question than which of your published books is your favorite?)
IT’s really a question I can’t answer. Black Sun Rising blew me away with its depiction of the fae, and all the art from the “Coldfire Trilogy” is breathtaking; I have copies of those covers hanging in my office. Palencar’s depiction of Kamala for the Feast of Souls paperback was amazing. And I love the art for the Dreamwalker series. DAW has chosen amazing artists for me throughout my career and most of my cover paintings sent chills up my spine when I first saw them.
Which of your works would you say best represents who you are as a writer, what book would you put in a new reader in order to make them (as Stephen King coined) one of your Constant Readers?
For readers who prefer fantasy, I recommend them Black Sun Rising. “The Coldfire Trilogy” is my most popular work by far, and is considered by many readers to be one of the best dark fantasies out there. For science fiction readers, I recommend This Alien Shore.
Will you be attending any SFF conventions or doing book signings in the near future?
I am attending Chessiecon in Baltimore on Thanksgiving weekend. It’s a great con and everyone should come!
