Marie Brennan

“'Fire and Hemlock' is the reason I'm a writer.”

“I've only written two novels, neither of them published, where the book is dominated by a male point of view; in the 'Onyx Court' series, it's split roughly 50/50.”

“I didn't really distinguish between genre and not-genre as a kid, until I made the transition to adult fantasy via Terry Brooks.”

“Given what I do to my characters, I'm not sure I'd want to meet any of them.”

“Matriarchy is a time-honored staple for any writer looking to invent an exotic society.”

“The lack of a husband was, for some applicants, a selling point. I imagine many of my readers are aware of the awkward position in which governesses often find themselves -- or, rather, the awkward position into which their male employers often put them, for it does no one any service to pretend this happens by some natural and inexorable process, devoid of connection with anyone's behaviour.”

“Jake shrugged, in the way that only nine-year-old children can manage -- and usually male children at that, girls not being permitted the same kind of insouciance.”