How did “Learning Letters” originate? What inspirations did you draw on?

This is set in the same world as my short story “Amaryllis” (also published on Lightspeed) and my Philip K Dick Award-winning novel Bannerless. In fact, it features the same main character as Bannerless. I love writing about Enid, and this setting still has lots of corners I haven’t explored. Short fiction is a good way to do that. One of the questions I always wanted to tackle: what are other parts of the country like? What other technology might have survived elsewhere? What happens when those cultures meet? I try to answer some of that here.

What is your writing space like? What do you like to have around for optimal creativity?

Oh, it’s messy! Piles of notebooks, paperwork, my bullet journal telling me what I haven’t gotten done yet. That’s my desktop computer/workspace. I don’t really have anything specifically promoting creativity in my office. Rather, for that I’ll often head out of the office, grab my tablet and write on the sofa, or in another location entirely. I’ve found that if the words aren’t coming, moving to a whole new space can get me out of a rut.

What led you into writing genre fiction?

It’s what I always read and watched. My favorite stories have always been science fiction and fantasy. My parents also read and watch a lot of science fiction—Star Trek reruns were a staple, growing up. I’ve always been immersed in genre so it’s natural that it’s what I want to write.

Other than writing, do you have any other creative pursuits? What do you do to relax?

I do all kinds of things to relax. I’ve found that having crafts and hobbies where I use my hands is a great balance for all the time I spend inside my head with the writing. I also do a lot of birdwatching because it gets me out of the house.

What trends in speculative fiction would you like to see gain popularity in the next few years?

More kindness and less grimdark. It’s not that I don’t want tragedy, and stories about terrible things happening are fine, if they have other threads to hold on to. Lately, I’m really gravitating toward stories of found family, people who are working and fighting together because they genuinely care about each other, who aren’t stabbing each other in the back all the time. Stories that tackle questions of community and hope.

What are you working on lately? Where else can fans look for your work?

I’m between projects at the moment. I just released The Cormac and Amelia Case Files, a collection of novellas that ties in with my Kitty urban fantasy series. I’ve got a couple of novel manuscripts making the rounds. I’m in a bit of an R&D phase, noodling with ideas to see what’s next. My website’s a bit out of date, but it can get people started with where to find my work: carrievaughn.com.