Check out this author spotlight for Wren Handman!
You can find all her links furthest down the page, and don’t forget to check out her books!
1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!
I’m a novelist and screenwriter from Vancouver, Canada. All of my stories are connected by one thing: the magical blended with the everyday…probably because I secretly wish magic was real. I’m a firm believer in showing diversity in every project I take on, and because I’m pansexual I particularly love writing strong queer characters just living their lives.
2. To get to know you just a little bit better, I’d like to ask you some this or that questions. Answer 5 of these and explain why you chose this or that, or maybe an entirely different alternative!
Winter, spring, summer or autumn? Autumn! I adore the changing weather as the cold winds begin to blow, bringing a promise of adventure and change. I love Halloween and fuzzy sweaters and tea and the feeling of being warm and cozy inside while the weather howls outside.
Hunter or gatherer? I’m vegetarian, and have been since I was 12 years old, so I’m a gatherer all the way. I also love to collect things and take pride in always having weird things that people need just in my house, sort of like the world’s most practical magpie, so I think I’m a gatherer in many ways!
Witches or wizards? This one grabs me because I’m curious how we divide the difference between witches and wizards. Men vs women? Natural world vs academia? Black robes vs sparkly ones? I’m drawn to the connection to the natural world that witches imply, but I also adore books and learning and love the idea of drawing complex sigils to make magic.
Pen and paper or computer/phone? I love the romance of writing by pen in a notebook, but practically, nothing beats a computer. I can edit as I go, cut and paste and move things around, and get to the next draft without having to transcribe everything, which just feels like doing the work twice!
Standalone or series? Duology is my new favourite thing. I want more than just one story can give me, but I often find a series goes on too long and I just want my poor battered characters to get their happy ever after. So a duology is a perfect middle ground.
3. When you look for books to read, what trope or type of story will always catch your attention?
I tend to read books from authors I know and love or recommendations from friends, but a new book will almost always hook me if it’s a fairytale retelling or a new interpretation of a story I know and love. Austen with magic? Les Mis as a scifi? Sign me up!
4. What do you write? Tell us about your current projects and the latest happenings!
I write in the intersection of genre and diversity, and I love a story that has humour as well as heart. A good romance is always a nice addition, with a sprinkling of wonder and awe. I like to look on the positive side for the most part, though if I can make a reader cry at least one time, that always feels like a victory!
5. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!
My most recent release is I Walk Alone, which is the sequel to In Restless Dreams. It was my first time writing a sequel, and I had so much fun expanding the world and seeing where Sylvia’s story went. It was immensely satisfying to draw the world out and give readers more of what they loved while also improving my craft as a writer.
6. What real-life inspiration do you draw from, and what are your primary fictional sources of inspiration (books, authors, films, music, etc.)? Name a few!
I read about 50 books a year, which is a small number in comparison to some! But I love reading and I try to read as many comparable books as possible, to see what people are doing and what I love and what I hate. I’m currently obsessed with Naomi Novik, V.E. Schwab, Cathrynne Valente, and N. K Jemisin, among others. I also watch TV non-stop and love seeing book adaptations on the silver screen!
7. What is your writing routine? If you have one, give us the run-down!
I’m not a big fan of routine in general – I like to write when the feeling strikes me. I do write for work as well, so I’m at my computer 9-5 most days, and pick what projects to work on based on deadlines. Not very romantic stuff!
8. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice as you started out on the path to becoming an author, what would it be?
Don’t submit until you’re ready! Edit, edit, edit, then put the book away and come back in a month or two and edit again! You want people to see the best possible version of your writing, not the first draft that’s exciting because it’s finished. You can make it better, and you will! Keep going.
9. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wrenhandman
