What drew you to tell a story about Cait Sidhe, the Great Fire, and such a hollow victory? I understand we can read more about Rand-later-Tybalt in a few more stories; can you tell us a little more about where we may find him?

There’s only one other story about Rand-later-Tybalt that’s currently available; that’s “Forbid the Sea,” which can be downloaded from my website. And of course, Tybalt himself is the romantic lead in my urban fantasy series, so it’s not like there’s a dearth of him around. As to why I wanted to tell the story I told . . . there are two hollow victories here, one over the King, his father, and one over the plague. I wanted to contrast them. I think I did okay.

The image of a King with no Court was particularly powerful; and what a strange position to be stuck in, to be basically holding the balance of power, alone. What prompted this narrative choice?

Rand is a very young man, with a lot of terrible choices between him and the character most of my readers know. Part of what made him the man he is starts in London, when he found himself alone for so long. I really wanted to drive that home.

Rand seems to be more empathetic and moral than his Cait Sidhe family. Do you think he’d be less sympathetic to mortals and his sisters if he were a Kit Marlowe fan?

Possibly! But that’s part of the beauty of Shakespeare. He may have been an arrogant so-and-so, but oh, that man could break your heart if he felt the need. There was no other choice for Rand’s primary fandom. (And make no mistake: Rand is a huge nerd for Shakespeare.)

What’s next for you, Seanan McGuire?

I have a novella coming out from Tor.com in April, titled Every Heart a Doorway, which I am super excited about. And of course there’s the next book in the October Daye series, Once Broken Faith, which comes out in September.