Andrea Stewart

I'd describe my writing as a little bit strange, fantastical, set in worlds that are new and different, dark but not bleak, ultimately hopeful. Generally the characters are trying their very bests! I try to treat each character with compassion and dignity, even the ones who have done wrong.

I grew up in a number of different places. We moved around a lot when I was young, so I can't say any one place had an influence on my writing. But seeing different landscapes, different people, different microcosms of culture--I do think it broadened some of my understanding of the world. And my memories of each place are distinct, distilled down into very particular details. So I try to bring that sense of the small things we notice, that stick with us, to each of my settings.

Voracious! We went to the library on a weekly basis and I tore through their fantasy and sci-fi section, as well as anything to do with animals. I would read during break time at school while the other kids played; I read under my desk while the teacher was lecturing.

Octavia Butler, hands down. I have so much admiration for her. She was such a visionary, who not only wrote ideas that were fresh and original, but that had a deep understanding of character and human nature.

Hah! This question is torture for writers. Five? Only five? Top?

Octavia Butler, Brandon Sanderson, Gillian Flynn, Robin Hobb, Richard Adams. I don't know, this probably changes depending on who pops into my head at the time!

I can't think of any one book! It really depends on the person and their tastes, and what I've been enjoying recently. I adore gifting books, though. The acts of writing and reading are acts of human connection, so gifting a book feels like a way to say, "I want you to feel what I did when I read this."

I really can't say! I think there are pieces of me in each of my characters, and then a lot of extrapolation as well. Quite a lot!

Probably the most recent one! In this case, the sequel to The Gods Below. I was able to really dig in to the relationships between the characters, their foibles, the reasons behind the way things were. I just feel like it has a lot of heart, and I'm excited to share it.

Oh no. Well, it's a terrible chaotic mess at the moment. I write mostly at a desk in an office I share with my spouse. I've got an enormous 50" television screen as my monitor, which I find really helpful for revising, as I'm often trying to tackle a lot of threads at once. There's usually an empty mug of coffee or tea, stacks of books, manuscripts, post it tabs...look, I really need to clean it.

I have it! It's this massive, cushion-y armchair by the window with a footrest and a couple of throw pillow. Plenty of room for my cats to cuddle. I'll oftentimes have a mug on the windowsill and a very soft blanket on my lap, depending on the weather.