Interview with Gail Carriger (one of my favorite authors)
- Kaylee Croft
- Sep 28, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 1, 2023
Hello Lovelies,
If you are new to my blog, you will not know that Gail Carriger is one of my favorite authors. I discussed her book in my top-shelf post. She has written one of my favorite series, and if you're interested in reading it, please go see that blog post. I was fortunate enough to have correspondence with her on Instagram previously, I had reached out because I really enjoyed her books and had bought them a while ago when I was in JR high school and had fallen in love with them. When I got older, I went back and reread them, realizing just how much I was obsessed with her characters; I searched out for more books that she had written only to be happily surprised that she had written an adult spinoff series about the characters in her YA series that I was in love with. I reached out via Instagram and told her how much I loved her books, and a few weeks ago, I reached out again asking if she would be willing to do an interview with me. I had an assignment for one of the English classes that I'm taking for my bachelor's degree in English literature that required an interview with someone connected to the literacy space. Gail was gracious enough to agree to an interview, and I am forever grateful and feel extremely special you have gotten the opportunity. With her permission, I am sharing her interview with you all!
1. “What prompted you to become a writer? Is there a story behind your desire to write?”
I always wanted to be an archaeologist, writing was rather more like breathing, just something I did. A year after Soulless released, I realized I might actually have a career as a writer. I still haven't recovered from the shock.
2. “What book have you read that has stayed with you that you always recommend? Why?”
Everyone should read the YA SciFi novel Feed by M.T. Anderson – brilliant because it could happen, and terrifying for exactly the same reason.
3. “How did you discover you were good at writing and that you had a knack for telling stories?”
My Mum used to read to me in bed and if I didn’t like the end of the book I would explain to her very carefully that the author got it wrong and then inform her of the real ending.
4. “What was the process of finding a literary agent like? Did you have any fear going into the process?”
I was in the enviable position of first having to choose between two agents, and then having to choose between two houses. I had a deal on the table when I started looking (not the one I eventually signed). But that was over a decade ago, things were different.
5. “What was the reaction to publishing your first book, how did you feel, and what were some of your motivations at the time?”
Mostly just shock. I really didn't think anyone would want to publish it because it was so cross genre I thought it would be too difficult to market. Mostly I was pretty game, I didn't think I was going to be a career author so I was willing to try anything and take risks that authors with more skin in the game might not have taken.
6. “How did the people around you and closest to you react when you decided to pursue writing?”
I’m surrounded by support from all manner of loved ones. Mostly they weren't even slightly surprised, and generally we proud and kind.
7. “Going off the previous question, how did those people react when you become successful?”
Depends on the person of course, doesn't it always?
8. “Do you think writing success has changed anything about you and how you approach projects?”
Of course, it has changed everything.
9. “What was your experience with writing before you published your first book? Did you have any formal training in English or literacy?”
Only if you count many years as an academic, which taught me to respect deadlines. And growing up around poets, which taught me that it was impossible to make a living writing. (Turns out that was wrong, but that's half of all knowledge.. wrong.)
10. “Last question: is there anything you would change about your journey or your way to becoming an author?
The correct answer is almost always, "I can't commit let me talk to my agent first." Also, it is easier to change a no to a yes, than a yes to a no.
I hope you enjoyed reading a bit about one of my favorite authors and if you’d like more information on Gail here is the link to her new book and her website!
Happy reading!
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