1. Welcome! First of all, let's have a chat about your fairy tales. You've contributed to multiple NSP anthologies with queer retellings of fairy tales, and you've also published 'Fairest'.
What inspired you to write these stories? Which of the fairy tale appropriations is your favourite.
Many sources of inspiration flowed together, becoming a gushing river which poured into Fairest. Another trickled off into At Her Service. There will be other trickles. I'm only just beginning to identify certain stories, songs, and imagery which fed the flow. They seeped into my imagination without me noticing how much they were effecting my own story process. One of the sources was Carmilla, that beautiful love story between a vampire and her mortal descendant which began with a dream. My imagination is still playing with the story potential of that dream. Another is Revolutionary Girl Utena, a stunningly beautiful anime, steeped in symbolism, ritual, and a powerful f/f relationship which ends up challenging the entire concept of the prince on a white horse. A line from that anime haunted me, "Princesses who aren't saved by princes become witches." It turns out I got the line wrong, but it already flowered and bloomed in my imagination. Songs and music are constantly inspiring me in various ways. I don't have a favorite appropriation, although I adore the song, Snow White Queen by Evanescence. I'm constantly seeking how to dig deeper in these myths and legends, how to figure out way to unearth their cores in ways that will inspire other readers in turn, allow them to think and express themselves, just as others once inspired me.
2. What's a fairy tale retelling/appropriation written by someone else that you'd recommend? What did you like about it?
I'd recommend Revolutionary Girl Utena if you like anime. It doesn't center on one particular fairy tale, but the myth of the prince himself in so many of them. The main character falls in love with the prince and tries to become a prince herself. She ends up truly exploring the very heart of what that means and how it's effected girls (and boys). At the same time, it's very symbolic and doesn't offer easy answers to events which are often surreal and dreamlike. I doubt anything has ever inspired me quite as much as this particular anime. The manga is gorgeous, too, although it doesn't delve quite as deep into the surreal world created around Otori Academy as the anime does.
3. Do you have any favourite snacks or beverages that you tend to have close-by when you're writing?
Coffee. Breakfast of novelists, at least this novelist.
4. Has there been a TV show you've been really interested in lately? Tell us about it.
Tokyo Ghoul, although I'm more interested in the manga than the anime. The first season was amazing. The second season cut a lot of Kaneki (the main character) and Tsukiyama (his stalker and former enemy) from the series. It's an urban fantasy world where ghouls live among humans, often preying upon their flesh. Kaneki, the main character almost becomes a ghoul's prey, but an accident leads to him being turned into a ghoul himself. He needs to eat flesh, but he's oddly human in certain ways, including smelling delicious to other ghouls. This attracts the attention of Tsukiyama, the Gourmet, whose fussy tastes in flesh often draw unwelcome attention. He decided he wants Kaneki. He does some fairly villainous things to get him in the beginning. Later, he tries to become Kaneki's ally in order to get close to Kaneki and eat him. Tsukiyama ends up coming to truly care about Kaneki, though. It's been fascinating to watch this character arc.
5. Do you listen to music when you're writing? Personally, I prefer as much quiet as my kids will let me have!
I prefer quiet, too, when I'm actually writing. Music is one of my favorite tools for getting inspired, though.
6. Favourite Star Wars movie? Or if you're not a fan, what major series would you rather discuss?
Return of the Jedi. I love how Luke sets out to try to redeem Darth Vader, the journey of trying to pull him from the dark side while the Emperor and Vader are trying to pull him in. It struck me as being very powerful, leaving me with a fascination for characters with sinister family members and/or loved ones, along with redemption arcs.
7. What ways have you gone about promoting your books? What do you think has been the most effective?
Twitter, Google+, tumblr, Facebook, Goodreads, wordpress, blogger, livejournal, dreamwidth, and handing out business cards when an opportunity presents itself. I'm not sure which has been the most effective. (wry grin)
You can connect with K.S. TRENTEN here.
What inspired you to write these stories? Which of the fairy tale appropriations is your favourite.
Many sources of inspiration flowed together, becoming a gushing river which poured into Fairest. Another trickled off into At Her Service. There will be other trickles. I'm only just beginning to identify certain stories, songs, and imagery which fed the flow. They seeped into my imagination without me noticing how much they were effecting my own story process. One of the sources was Carmilla, that beautiful love story between a vampire and her mortal descendant which began with a dream. My imagination is still playing with the story potential of that dream. Another is Revolutionary Girl Utena, a stunningly beautiful anime, steeped in symbolism, ritual, and a powerful f/f relationship which ends up challenging the entire concept of the prince on a white horse. A line from that anime haunted me, "Princesses who aren't saved by princes become witches." It turns out I got the line wrong, but it already flowered and bloomed in my imagination. Songs and music are constantly inspiring me in various ways. I don't have a favorite appropriation, although I adore the song, Snow White Queen by Evanescence. I'm constantly seeking how to dig deeper in these myths and legends, how to figure out way to unearth their cores in ways that will inspire other readers in turn, allow them to think and express themselves, just as others once inspired me.
2. What's a fairy tale retelling/appropriation written by someone else that you'd recommend? What did you like about it?
I'd recommend Revolutionary Girl Utena if you like anime. It doesn't center on one particular fairy tale, but the myth of the prince himself in so many of them. The main character falls in love with the prince and tries to become a prince herself. She ends up truly exploring the very heart of what that means and how it's effected girls (and boys). At the same time, it's very symbolic and doesn't offer easy answers to events which are often surreal and dreamlike. I doubt anything has ever inspired me quite as much as this particular anime. The manga is gorgeous, too, although it doesn't delve quite as deep into the surreal world created around Otori Academy as the anime does.
3. Do you have any favourite snacks or beverages that you tend to have close-by when you're writing?
Coffee. Breakfast of novelists, at least this novelist.
4. Has there been a TV show you've been really interested in lately? Tell us about it.
Tokyo Ghoul, although I'm more interested in the manga than the anime. The first season was amazing. The second season cut a lot of Kaneki (the main character) and Tsukiyama (his stalker and former enemy) from the series. It's an urban fantasy world where ghouls live among humans, often preying upon their flesh. Kaneki, the main character almost becomes a ghoul's prey, but an accident leads to him being turned into a ghoul himself. He needs to eat flesh, but he's oddly human in certain ways, including smelling delicious to other ghouls. This attracts the attention of Tsukiyama, the Gourmet, whose fussy tastes in flesh often draw unwelcome attention. He decided he wants Kaneki. He does some fairly villainous things to get him in the beginning. Later, he tries to become Kaneki's ally in order to get close to Kaneki and eat him. Tsukiyama ends up coming to truly care about Kaneki, though. It's been fascinating to watch this character arc.
5. Do you listen to music when you're writing? Personally, I prefer as much quiet as my kids will let me have!
I prefer quiet, too, when I'm actually writing. Music is one of my favorite tools for getting inspired, though.
6. Favourite Star Wars movie? Or if you're not a fan, what major series would you rather discuss?
Return of the Jedi. I love how Luke sets out to try to redeem Darth Vader, the journey of trying to pull him from the dark side while the Emperor and Vader are trying to pull him in. It struck me as being very powerful, leaving me with a fascination for characters with sinister family members and/or loved ones, along with redemption arcs.
7. What ways have you gone about promoting your books? What do you think has been the most effective?
Twitter, Google+, tumblr, Facebook, Goodreads, wordpress, blogger, livejournal, dreamwidth, and handing out business cards when an opportunity presents itself. I'm not sure which has been the most effective. (wry grin)
You can connect with K.S. TRENTEN here.
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