Carrie Vaughn
Robin McKinley's 'The Blue Sword' was a defining book of my teen years, and I'd love to have more books like that in the world.Collection: Teen
When aspiring writers ask me about how they should target their writing, I tell them to pay no attention to that kind of thing. It will restrict you. You will end up falling into stereotypes in an effort to tailor your work toward a perceived genre category.
I got a crash-course education in urban fantasy. I suddenly had to look up all these other writers I was supposed to be in a genre with. I instantly had to become an expert in this genre I knew almost nothing about.
I got into an argument with my original publisher. They wanted me to do 'Kitty' and nothing else. I wanted to do lots of things, not just 'Kitty' books.
I wanted to be Carrie Vaughn the awesome writer, not the chick who writes the 'Kitty' books.
I was born on Mather Air Force Base near Sacramento, but we moved around a lot.
I had a few really bad years in school, just from not fitting in and being bullied. It was kind of brilliant being a military brat, though, because when you're in that kind of situation, you just think, 'I only have to hang on for another year, because then we'll move. It'll be fine if I can just get out of here.'
My parents are both huge science-fiction and fantasy fans - I was fed it.
I admit, I'm suspicious of any career planning that involves chasing the next 'big thing,' just because it's so hard to predict what the next big thing is going to be a couple of years - or even six months - out.
I didn't plan to write YA - I had a story that simply wasn't working as a straight-up fantasy novel.
What's interesting to me is how many vampire/urban fantasy authors are writing young adult series as well, often set in the same world as their adult books, but focused on a younger audience.
All writing and publishing is very difficult, regardless of genre. There are going to be obstacles no matter what.
I would ask, 'Have you read '1984'? Have you read 'Brave New World'? If so, I'm sorry, but you read science fiction.'
Have a picture in mind of the kind of career you want, the kind of writer you want to be. This will help you make tough decisions when you reach crossroads - choosing an agent, deciding to accept deals.
Writers can feel pretty powerless in the big corporate world of publishing, but sometimes our greatest power is the ability to say 'no.'
Don't hold back in your writing. Take risks. Go ahead and tackle that crazy idea that you think will never fly, because that may be the one that makes you stand out from the crowd. Keep pushing the envelope.
If you sell yourself short before you even start, you'll never know how far you could have gone. Ambition is a wonderful thing and has gotten me farther than I ever thought I'd go.
Grand Central really didn't want me doing anything under my own name but the 'Kitty' novels.
All you know is what you think you know, but that isn't always what's real.Collection: Real
What the hell kind of name is Kitty for a werewolf?Collection: Names
He's a bully. I love bullies. They have such big, shiny red buttons to push.Collection: Bully
Stupid, fragile mortals.Collection: Stupid
It’s only a scratch, don’t cut my arm off!Collection: Cutting
A lot of what we're doing here deals with perception rather than truth. Many would argue that reality depends more on the former than the latter.Collection: Reality
Then I realized that most of the world's problems stemmed from macho dickheadism, and if I cold defeat that I could save the world.Collection: World
I looked at my two wolves. When I knelt they came to me rubbed against me smelling me and I stroked them. "Thank you for believing in me " I said and maybe they understood and maybe they didn't.Collection: Believe
Hey, Cormac. You ever have to deal with a PMSing werewolf?Collection: Hey
1980's: not a time period but a state of mind.Collection: Mind
Don't underestimate her ability to talk, it's her superpower.Collection: Underestimate
I punched to line. "Yes? What?" "Norville. It's Cormac. If you don't change the subject right now, I'm going to have to go over there and have a word with you.Collection: Lines
I imagined calling in to my own radio show: Yeah hi, I'm a werewolf, and I'm stuck in a cabin in the woods with another werewolf and a werewolf hunter.Collection: Cabins
To be a DJ was to be God. To be a DJ at an alternative public radio station ? That was being God with a mission. It was thinking you were the first person to discover The Clash and you had to spread the word.Collection: Thinking
One inch at a time, that was how her father had taught her. You can't do anything but worry about the few inches right in front of you.Collection: Father
Just so you know, I'm straight. Totally straight. As an arrow." Her voice held a smile. "So am ICollection: Voice
Apparently it was unethical for lawyers to sleep with their clients. This from a man who offered legal representation to assassins.Collection: Sleep
I'm a werewolf trapped in a human body." "Well, yeah, that's kind of the definition." "No, really. I'm trapped." "Oh? When was the last time you shape-shifted?" "That's just it - I've never shape-shifted." "So you're not really a werewolf." "Not yet. But I was meant to be one, I just know it. How do I get a werewolf to attack me?" Stand in the middle of a forest under a full moon with a raw steak tied to your face, holding a sign that says, 'Eat me; I'm stupid'?Collection: Stupid
Cormac interrupted. 'Maybe I oughta shoot you both, put you both out of your misery.Collection: Misery
You know, I'm sick and tired of people pointing rifles at me.Collection: Tired
If vampires ever spend less time playing theatrics and living down to their stereotypes, they might actually take over the world somedayCollection: Vampire
... We're werewolves. We don't get to judge 'crazy.Collection: Crazy
Why vampires? You write centuries-long family sagas—why not write historical epics without any hint of the supernatural?" "Well, that would be boring, wouldn't it?" "Yeah, God only knows what Tolstoy was thinking.Collection: Writing
You're lucky to have a friend who will kill for you." So. I once had a friend who died for me, and now one who killed for me. Why didn't I feel lucky?Collection: Lucky
I grinned at him. 'Jealous?' He grinned right back. 'That's a trick question. If I say yes you'll accuse me of being paranoid and unreasonable, and if I say no you'll make some defensive crack about how I don't think you're worth getting jealous over.' This is what I got for hooking up with a lawyer.Collection: Jealous
Now, what does a vampire do with a computer? Keep track of investments? Send e-mail to other vampires as you all plot to take over the world?” “I spend a lot of time on Wikipedia making corrections to the entries of historical figures I’ve known.” I blinked at him. “Really?” “No, Kitty. That was a joke.Collection: Track
It doesn’t bother you that your canine brethren are being paraded around show rings like slaves?” “My canine brethren?” I said. “I don’thave any canine brethren.” “How can you say that! You’re a werewolf.” “That’s right. I’m a werewolf, not a poodle. What makes you think I have any kinship with dogs?Collection: Dog
Next caller. Betty, you're on the air. What's your question ?" "Hi, Kitty. I just wanted to know, are you going out with that Cormac guy from last month?" My jaw dropped. "What?" "Are you going out with that Cormac guy?" "We are talking about the same Cormac who tried to kill me on the air, yes? the guy who hunts werewolves for a living ?" "Uh-huh." "And you want to know if I'm dating him ? Why on earth do you think that's a good idea?Collection: Thinking