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Interview - Kim Falconer
Jun. 24th, 2010 10:43 amHi,
My name is Natasha Pearson and I'm Gillian Polack's work experience student this week. We thought it would be a good idea if I interviewed one of my favourite authors Kim Falconer. Kim Falconer's books have every element a fantasy/sci-fi reader could possible want in them. Her series 'The Quantum Enchantment' combines adventure, romance and fantasy with futuristic and historical settings and includes time travel and beast-speaking. It has just the right mix of sword fighting, magic and technology to grab the reader's attention. Here is my interview with Kim Falconer.
I am completely in love with Drayco, what inspired you to make Rosette's familiar a temple cat?
I adore felines, always have. There is something so enigmatic about them, graceful, sensual, dangerous. They were gods once, and they’ve never forgotten. I knew Rosette would need a powerful familiar to meet the challenges she has to face. Drayco was the one. He could handle it! I mean, can you imagine if he’d been a frog or a mouse? Whole different story!
Are the temple cats based off any particular breed or species of cat?
When I’m writing Drayco, and other temple cats that appear in the series, I think of the descedants of Bast, or Ubasti, the ancient cat goddess of Egypt. She was a nurturing deity, protector of all felines but also a representation of both sun and moon. That means she has both masculine and feminine qualities, an image of something whole, complete. The kitties around today that still have a trace of Bast in them are the Egyptian Mau and the Abyssinian. And, a bit of the Siamese and Burmese too. For Scylla, An’ Lawrence’s familiar, I imagined a North American Bobcat. She’s different, wilder, in a way, but also very fun to write.
Can you tell me about the research involved in writing your series?
It’s extensive. There are a lot of technical, philosophical and mystical components to the stories I write and I’ve read more books on quantum physics philosophy, Jung, Tibetan Monks and astrophysics in the last few years than I ever thought possible (for me). That helps me with the broad strokes but there are so many little things too, from how a pre-industrial tattoo gun works to the nature of reality according to Everett’s many-worlds theory. Besides text books, I use the internet for my library research—GoogleBooks and ‘search inside this book’ at amazon.com is very helpful if I can’t get my hands on the physical or ebook, but you really have to check your sources when cruising the net. I always look at who authored the site I’m reading and their qualifications, or biases. If it’s a research paper, I check who sponsored it. (How valid would a study on ‘the benefits of chocolate’ be if it was sponsored by Lindt? It pays to check!) I also go to sources directly if I can. There is a bit of falconry in the books (like my ancestors!) and I run all my ‘bird of prey’ scenes past Dr James Roush, an old friend in California who’s a vet and a falconer. And, when it comes to something speculative, like how to build a steam powered crossbow (in book 2 of Quantum Encryption, the next series) I went to a forum where all these steampunk geeks were talking about what would or wouldn’t work and why. Very instructional. The astrology is also well researched, the archive in my brain. My dad was an astrologer so I’ve had that symbol system around all my life.
How long is your series going to be, and have you planned other books based on the characters from the Quantum Enchantment?
Six books, at this point. There is the Quantum Enchantment series, books 1 -3 and then the Quantum Encryption series coming out over the next 18 months. The first in this series, Path of the Stray, comes out Aug 1 so I’m pretty excited about that. Also, my son, a 2D and 3D artist, has done the cover illustration which is really cool. He’s also my alpha reader so he knows the story, and it shows! Wait until you see Quillian, the Were-fey! He’s on the cover, just like I imaged him!
Both these series are set in Gaela and a future Earth. The second starts as a prequel, spaning time before The Spell of Rosette begins. The end of the series, book three, Journey by Night, (which I’m writing at the moment) is all about Kreshkali and Nell. It goes well beyond the end of Strange Attractors and features everyone in that book (who is still alive!)
Quantum Enchantment Series
Book 1 The Spell of Rosette
Book 2 Arrows of Time
Book 3 Strange Attractors
Quantum Encryption Series
Book 1 Path of the Stray
Book 2 Road to the Soul
Book 3 Journey by Night
My next work after these six books is going to be a new setting with new characters. There is always room to return to Gaela though! I keep that door open.
Do you prefer to write straight onto a computer or to write with paper and pen?
Computer, computer computer! I love my computer! Having said that, I am constantly jotting down notes on a pad. I have a notebook for each title and all my fixes, questions to self, and ideas go there, written in black ink. Sometimes I can’t read my own notes, which is a worry but sooner or later I work out what I meant. My brainstorming is done on large sheets of art paper. I like a lot of room to go wild with it. But the day to day, get the story down process, the first re-writes and edits, are all on computer. When the publisher sends me copyedits or final pages to proof, they are on hardcopy, which is a good thing. Otherwise I’d be tempted to add too much!
How do you develop your characters?
They pretty much develop themselves. The story line, the environment, the challenges, the social paradigms, these all shape my people into who they are. Just like ‘real’ life. But I start with a feeling of them, their strengths and weaknesses. Even their names begin to shape them! I also give my main characters astrological charts which helps define their nature—Fire signs are feisty, Water signs are emotional. Air signs are philosophical thinkers and Earth signs are practical. Those are sweeping generalisations, of course. But fill out a whole chart, with all the signs, planets, aspects and houses, and you have a very good personality profile. Throw in a wild card and they are as real as you or me! For example, I might start with a young Lupin named Teg, a Capricorn who’s in a whole lot of trouble with his elders. Already, with just that, his character begins to grow.
If you were in that world, who would be your closest friend?
I have a relationship with all the people in my books, but if I had to choose, it would be Rosette and Dray. That’s where I feel most understood. They’re like my best friends.
What's your favourite word?
Imagine, from the Latin imaginary- to form a mental picture, to suppose . . .
What is the hardest thing about being an author?
There are a lot of ‘hard’ things -- the discipline to write every day of the year, meeting deadlines, taking critique and editorial direction, saying ‘no’ to people who think, because you work at home, you are always available for coffee. It’s also hard to let the manuscript go. I know that sounds strange but it’s a really big deal when it goes off to my publisher. I feel like I’m missing a limb for a while afterwards. But in a way these things are what make the job so rewarding. Stepping up to what is required leaves me feeling accomplished. Listening to other’s opinions makes me more open. Saying ‘no’ without feeling guilty is a very good trait to develop! And letting go is what makes space for the next work to come in. The hard stuff is really the good stuff. Mostly I feel privileged to be an author. It’s the life of my dreams!
Thank you, Natasha, for dropping by and asking me these thoughtful questions! I’ve so enjoyed them.
My name is Natasha Pearson and I'm Gillian Polack's work experience student this week. We thought it would be a good idea if I interviewed one of my favourite authors Kim Falconer. Kim Falconer's books have every element a fantasy/sci-fi reader could possible want in them. Her series 'The Quantum Enchantment' combines adventure, romance and fantasy with futuristic and historical settings and includes time travel and beast-speaking. It has just the right mix of sword fighting, magic and technology to grab the reader's attention. Here is my interview with Kim Falconer.
I am completely in love with Drayco, what inspired you to make Rosette's familiar a temple cat?
I adore felines, always have. There is something so enigmatic about them, graceful, sensual, dangerous. They were gods once, and they’ve never forgotten. I knew Rosette would need a powerful familiar to meet the challenges she has to face. Drayco was the one. He could handle it! I mean, can you imagine if he’d been a frog or a mouse? Whole different story!
Are the temple cats based off any particular breed or species of cat?
When I’m writing Drayco, and other temple cats that appear in the series, I think of the descedants of Bast, or Ubasti, the ancient cat goddess of Egypt. She was a nurturing deity, protector of all felines but also a representation of both sun and moon. That means she has both masculine and feminine qualities, an image of something whole, complete. The kitties around today that still have a trace of Bast in them are the Egyptian Mau and the Abyssinian. And, a bit of the Siamese and Burmese too. For Scylla, An’ Lawrence’s familiar, I imagined a North American Bobcat. She’s different, wilder, in a way, but also very fun to write.
Can you tell me about the research involved in writing your series?
It’s extensive. There are a lot of technical, philosophical and mystical components to the stories I write and I’ve read more books on quantum physics philosophy, Jung, Tibetan Monks and astrophysics in the last few years than I ever thought possible (for me). That helps me with the broad strokes but there are so many little things too, from how a pre-industrial tattoo gun works to the nature of reality according to Everett’s many-worlds theory. Besides text books, I use the internet for my library research—GoogleBooks and ‘search inside this book’ at amazon.com is very helpful if I can’t get my hands on the physical or ebook, but you really have to check your sources when cruising the net. I always look at who authored the site I’m reading and their qualifications, or biases. If it’s a research paper, I check who sponsored it. (How valid would a study on ‘the benefits of chocolate’ be if it was sponsored by Lindt? It pays to check!) I also go to sources directly if I can. There is a bit of falconry in the books (like my ancestors!) and I run all my ‘bird of prey’ scenes past Dr James Roush, an old friend in California who’s a vet and a falconer. And, when it comes to something speculative, like how to build a steam powered crossbow (in book 2 of Quantum Encryption, the next series) I went to a forum where all these steampunk geeks were talking about what would or wouldn’t work and why. Very instructional. The astrology is also well researched, the archive in my brain. My dad was an astrologer so I’ve had that symbol system around all my life.
How long is your series going to be, and have you planned other books based on the characters from the Quantum Enchantment?
Six books, at this point. There is the Quantum Enchantment series, books 1 -3 and then the Quantum Encryption series coming out over the next 18 months. The first in this series, Path of the Stray, comes out Aug 1 so I’m pretty excited about that. Also, my son, a 2D and 3D artist, has done the cover illustration which is really cool. He’s also my alpha reader so he knows the story, and it shows! Wait until you see Quillian, the Were-fey! He’s on the cover, just like I imaged him!
Both these series are set in Gaela and a future Earth. The second starts as a prequel, spaning time before The Spell of Rosette begins. The end of the series, book three, Journey by Night, (which I’m writing at the moment) is all about Kreshkali and Nell. It goes well beyond the end of Strange Attractors and features everyone in that book (who is still alive!)
Quantum Enchantment Series
Book 1 The Spell of Rosette
Book 2 Arrows of Time
Book 3 Strange Attractors
Quantum Encryption Series
Book 1 Path of the Stray
Book 2 Road to the Soul
Book 3 Journey by Night
My next work after these six books is going to be a new setting with new characters. There is always room to return to Gaela though! I keep that door open.
Do you prefer to write straight onto a computer or to write with paper and pen?
Computer, computer computer! I love my computer! Having said that, I am constantly jotting down notes on a pad. I have a notebook for each title and all my fixes, questions to self, and ideas go there, written in black ink. Sometimes I can’t read my own notes, which is a worry but sooner or later I work out what I meant. My brainstorming is done on large sheets of art paper. I like a lot of room to go wild with it. But the day to day, get the story down process, the first re-writes and edits, are all on computer. When the publisher sends me copyedits or final pages to proof, they are on hardcopy, which is a good thing. Otherwise I’d be tempted to add too much!
How do you develop your characters?
They pretty much develop themselves. The story line, the environment, the challenges, the social paradigms, these all shape my people into who they are. Just like ‘real’ life. But I start with a feeling of them, their strengths and weaknesses. Even their names begin to shape them! I also give my main characters astrological charts which helps define their nature—Fire signs are feisty, Water signs are emotional. Air signs are philosophical thinkers and Earth signs are practical. Those are sweeping generalisations, of course. But fill out a whole chart, with all the signs, planets, aspects and houses, and you have a very good personality profile. Throw in a wild card and they are as real as you or me! For example, I might start with a young Lupin named Teg, a Capricorn who’s in a whole lot of trouble with his elders. Already, with just that, his character begins to grow.
If you were in that world, who would be your closest friend?
I have a relationship with all the people in my books, but if I had to choose, it would be Rosette and Dray. That’s where I feel most understood. They’re like my best friends.
What's your favourite word?
Imagine, from the Latin imaginary- to form a mental picture, to suppose . . .
What is the hardest thing about being an author?
There are a lot of ‘hard’ things -- the discipline to write every day of the year, meeting deadlines, taking critique and editorial direction, saying ‘no’ to people who think, because you work at home, you are always available for coffee. It’s also hard to let the manuscript go. I know that sounds strange but it’s a really big deal when it goes off to my publisher. I feel like I’m missing a limb for a while afterwards. But in a way these things are what make the job so rewarding. Stepping up to what is required leaves me feeling accomplished. Listening to other’s opinions makes me more open. Saying ‘no’ without feeling guilty is a very good trait to develop! And letting go is what makes space for the next work to come in. The hard stuff is really the good stuff. Mostly I feel privileged to be an author. It’s the life of my dreams!
Thank you, Natasha, for dropping by and asking me these thoughtful questions! I’ve so enjoyed them.