Katherine Arden is a Vermont author known for works such as the Small Spaces quarter and the Winternight trilogy. She writes with a focus on horror and fantasy elements, fusing the two to craft books for both middle schoolers and adults. The Mercury recently had the opportunity to interview her and learn more about her as both a writer and a person.
Q: What inspired you to become a writer?
A: I would say that I was more inspired to write my first novel than to become a writer. I went to Middlebury College with the aspiration of becoming an interpreter. After college, I moved to Hawaii and worked on a farm. I was living in a tent, and I was bored so I started writing as a way to pass the time.
Q: How did your time living abroad influence your storytelling voice?
A: I lived in France for a year to teach English, and I lived in Moscow and Hawaii as well. I think that anything you know and any kind of experiences you have goes into your brain and comes out in strange ways.
Q: What does your writing process look like?
A: I draft with a pen and notebook. I use fountain pens, so I have a big collection of ink. Then I put it into Microsoft Word, print it out, and put it aside for usually a week to get a second pair of eyes on it from my editor or agent.
Q: In what ways are writing horror for adults and middle schoolers different? In what ways are they similar?
A: When I write books for adults, I usually blend fantasy with horror. But when I write for kids, I usually do full-on horror. The challenge is to find the voice that works for each age group.
Q: Do you have a favorite book or author?
A: I have so many! My all-time favorite book is The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett. Most people who read it love it with a passion. For horror, I’m a huge fan of Stephen Graham Jones. And for young readers, I like Lindsay Currie.
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
A: I think it is so important to finish what you start. For young writers especially, forcing everything to a conclusion is important for training your brain to force its way through difficulties.
Q: Who is your favorite character from the Small Spaces quartet?
A: I really like the main kid trio, and then I also had a lot of fun writing Ollie’s dad and the Smiling Man.
Q: Do you have a favorite place in Vermont?
A: I like Duxbury Falls, and I also like Little River State Park, which is right near where I live.
Q: What do you love most about living in Vermont?
I love the seasons in Vermont. I grew up in Texas, so we didn’t really have seasons. Fall is my favorite season. I love an October day in Vermont to go hiking.
