In the lead-up to the release of Hope: The Thing with Feathers, I’m going to be posting mini-interviews with my fellow ToC-mates! You can pre-order Hope: The Thing with Feathers here.
“Queen of Crows” is a haunting story that follows the story of a girl named Mag who lives with three witches deep in the woods. After meeting the queen of crows one evening, Mag begins to chaff at her confinement and the witches grow more dangerous and desperate to keep her. This story will be an instant hit for anyone who enjoys Miyazaki-style fantasies mingled with Angela Carter darkness.
Writing Question: Writing can be a tough profession, and authors of all stages tend to get “no” more often than “yes.” How do you cope with rejection?
I have made a bit of a game out of it. For example, giving myself points for every rejection (more points for longer pieces!) and racing to get a few more submissions out before the rejections come in, so that I still have hope for the others out there when I do receive a rejection.
SpecFic & Hope Question: Is there a book, TV show, or movie you consistently return to because it just makes you happy?
The Good Place. Such a funny, sweet ride, with an amazing cast and a satisfying series arc. The blend of philosophy, humor, and honest emotional moments works for me every time.
Oddball Question: What are you currently reading?
When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi. Nothing like a good Scalzi novel to look at a truly stupid situation, feel some feels, and still get a good laugh out of it.
Rachel Ayers lives in Alaska, where she writes and hosts shows for Sweet Cheeks Cabaret. She has a Master’s in Library and Information Science, which comes in handy at odd hours. She dabbles with oil painting, knitting, and making burlesque costumes. Her fiction appears in Metaphorosis, Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet, Electric Spec, and she is a regular contributor at reactormag.com. She shares speculative poetry and flash fiction (and cat pictures) at patreon.com/richlayers.