Author Interview: Seanan McGuire

THE BRIGHTEST FELL, newest in the October Daye series, by Seanan McGuire

I happened upon Seanan McGuire’s books when I was looking at a preliminary review of INTO THE DROWNING DEEP, one of her stories written under the name Mira Grant. The newest in McGuire’s October Daye series, THE BRIGHTEST FELL, also promises a satisfying literary escape.

For once, everything in October “Toby” Daye’s life seems to be going right. There have been no murders or declarations of war for her to deal with, and apart from the looming specter of her Fetch planning her bachelorette party, she’s had no real problems for days. Maybe things are getting better.

Maybe not.

Because suddenly Toby’s mother, Amandine the Liar, appears on her doorstep and demands that Toby find her missing sister, August. But August has been missing for over a hundred years and there are no leads to follow. And Toby really doesn’t owe her mother any favors.

Then Amandine starts taking hostages, and refusal ceases to be an option.

According to your website, you’ve been a full-time author since January 15, 2014. In what ways, if any, did you balance your author life with your previous day job, and what are some time management strategies you still employ?

Well, when I was working a full time day job as well as a full time slate of publication commitments, I slept an average of three hours a night, had no social life, regularly broke down crying for no apparent reason, screamed at my friends for even implying that it might be acceptable to take a break, considered suicide daily, and eventually had a nervous breakdown culminating in my spending three weeks on the couch watching Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and dozing.

I don’t do those things anymore.

As for time management strategies, I have a daily to-do list, and I try to finish everything on it before I go downstairs to play Overwatch.

Sounds like a nice way to unwind–and I’m glad you’ve found some balance! In THE BRIGHTEST FELL, the newest in the October Daye series, readers finally get to meet Amandine the Liar. What did you enjoy most about writing Amandine and why?

There’s a sort of flawed central conceit to this question, which is the idea that I enjoy characters rather than plots and storylines. I adored getting the chance to finally tell more of Amandine’s story, which has been brewing in the background for a very long time, but writing Amandine herself was no better or worse than writing anyone else.

That makes sense. The second book in the Wayward Children series, DOWN AMONG THE STICKS AND BONES, actually takes place before EVERY HEART A DOORWAY. What led to this decision, and in what ways do you feel time influences plot?

In this case, the plan has always been to alternate between “present” stories–the time period that began with “Every Heart a Doorway,” and continues forward from there–with “past” stories, showing the actual worlds the various students went to visit. Each is intended to interrogate the other, and show that all the kids, good or bad or neutral in the present, were heroes in their own way and time. It’s important to the text that we not forget that all of them were once sure.

Indeed. In July, you announced that you will be penning an upcoming Star Wars novel. There’s probably not a lot you can say specifically yet, but is there anything that has you most excited about it?

I’m one of the four authors writing a novella for Canto Bight, an awesome look at one of the exciting new settings introduced in The Last Jedi. I adore working in other people’s worlds. It’s freeing and constricting all at the same time, and that’s just delightful.

Sounds exciting! You also write horror novels under the name Mira Grant. INTO THE DROWNING DEEP comes out this November–is there anything you can tell us about it yet?

Mermaids! So many mermaids. I’m hoping to do for Ariel what Alien did for domestic xenomorphs.

THE BRIGHTEST FELL