Q&A with Sarah Raughley, YA fantasy author

Greetings from Isle of Palms, South Carolina 🌴

This weekend I come to you from the Isle of Palms outside of Charleston, SC. A big old crew of VCFA friends and some of their friends have gathered in two adjoining beach houses to spend the Yallfest weekend writing, hanging out, eating good food, and playing games.

And it has been…so glorious.

As I write this, it’s Saturday morning and I’m sitting on the roof. The sun is bright and I’m grimacing at my screen but the air is fresh and there’s a cool breeze and I would not trade this for anything. It’s simply too lovely. I mean, just look at this rooftop picture of last night’s susnset!

Freaking stunning.

It’s been a tough couple of weeks, in the world and more specifically in my own mental health-o-sphere. And I’m just really grateful that I had the chance and opportunity to come see some people I adore in a beautiful place and like…exist. In company. It is everything to me.

Welcome to the interview 🗣️

Q&A with YA fantasy author Sarah Raughley

Sarah Raughley is a writer and academic whose works of YA fantasy are a beautiful contribution to the genre. I was delighted to have the opportunity to email her some questions ahead of the January publication of The Queen’s Spade1, her upcoming historical thriller.

Read on to learn more about Sarah and her books! We also chatted about balancing creative work with academic work, how to get teaching opportunities, and the brilliance of Black fantasy.

Karis Rogerson: What drew you initially to writing publishing YA books?

Sarah Raughley: I love writing books for youth! I think because I’m a kid at heart. A lot of the stuff that’s inspired me over the years to tell stories – anime, manga, SFF books, TV and movies, video games – came into my life when I was young and at such a critical age, they’ve really developed my voice into what it is today. I also love the idea that writing for young people can help develop the adults of the future by getting them to see perspectives different from their own, or allowing them to finally see themselves represented.

KR: Why do you write — what drives you?

SR: I love telling stories. I love escaping. Sometimes the hubbub of the publishing industry can make one forget that, but ultimately, when I have a story to tell, I need to write it and to share it. I’ve always been so imaginative since childhood and the idea that life can be different from the one you’re living has always intrigued me.

KR: What are some pieces of media that inspired The Queen’s Spade?

SR: This book is comped as Bridgerton meets the Count of Monte Cristo. Or, if Queen Charlotte, the TV show, was a revenge thriller. I think all of those media titles work, but I really came up with the idea while I was writing my earlier series, The Bones of Ruin Trilogy, which, like The Queen’s Spade, also stars a Black girl in the 19th century. So much of our history has been buried, so I guess I’m not done with this time period yet!

KR: What is your favorite aspect of The Queen’s Spade?

SR: A Black girl being angry. Yes! We are in our villain era. Feminine rage, especially Black female rage, is often looked down upon, but it’s celebrated in this book. Sally/Ina, the protagonist of the story, is like a little Machiavellian chess master, and I loved being in her head as she devised one scheme after the next.

KR: How do you balance your creative work with your academic work? How do the two different disciplines feed into and amplify each other?

SR: It’s so hard having a day job and writing on top of that, which is a full job in and of itself. But luckily, the research skills I’ve gained in academia really help with the kind of books I write. I did a lot of work researching 19th century Britain through my postcolonial work and a lot of that has found its way into both The Bones of Ruin Trilogy and The Queen’s Spade as both are set in 19th century Britain and really look at the colonial and imperial aspect.

So I definitely think they feed into each other. The more I learn through my studies, the more I want to have that find its own creative expression in my work! But time management is definitely key when it comes to balancing both types of work.

KR: Do you have any advice for authors who would like to start offering writing workshops or finding teaching opportunities?

SR: When it comes to writing workshops, get a sense of who your workshops are for and tailor them to the audience. Is it an advanced adult group or a group of kids in middle school? Also figure out your rates. Know your worth and don’t let anyone short-change you.

In terms of getting teaching opportunities, there are a lot out there. Some people go to different countries, like Korea or Japan to teach English. But whatever you do you need the training. Education and a degree can get you that training, which I think is especially important if you want to make a serious go at having a teaching career.

KR: What is your favorite SFF TV show, and why?

SR: I don’t think I have a favorite! I’m always cycling between shows! Right now, for some reason I’m into the Gundam Series, which is a long and sprawling anime featuring giant robots and a war between space colonies and the Earth. I’m usually more into fantasy, but I love epic stories with love and hate and betrayal and battles and big stakes.

KR: Can you share 1-3 books you’ve read and loved recently, and a little about why?

SR: Bethany Baptiste’s The Poisons We Drink, Kamilah Cole’s So Let Them Burn, Tigest Girma’s Immortal Dark. Black fantasy! We need more of it. Give me all the Black witches, dragon masters, vampires, give me all of it!

KR: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

SR: There are many ways to tell a story. To fall for the myth that you only matter if you get published by a big publisher. Or that your story has value only if it hits some list. Self-publishing, indie publishing, podcasting, oral storytelling – there are so many ways to get your stories out there so don’t box yourself and don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s2.

KR: Is there something you wish I’d asked? And what’s the answer?

SR: What’s my favorite word! Right now it’s RAGE.

Thank you, Sarah! And thank you all for reading!

From the shelf 📚

Those Pink Mountain Nights3, by Jen Ferguson

I know this book came out last year, so it’s absolutely abysmal of me that I only finished reading it this past week. That said — I have to recommend it! Not simply because I love Jen Ferguson and her writing and storytelling ON PRINCIPLE, but also because this book is genuinely so so good.

It follows three teens in a small Canadian town who are trying to save their local pizza shop/employer from being sold to some shady business dudes. There’s so many other storylines, as this book is absolutely rich in depth and complexity. The characters spring to life off the page and their emotions are so so real and palpable.

I really appreciate that Jen is willing to touch on things like anti-Blackness, not just from white people but in non-Black communities of color and Indigenous communities; that she tackled the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and did so with empathy and in a way that can create empathy in others; and that she was unfliching about the ills and evils of capitalism. It all comes together into a beautiful story tapestry that had me crying and giggling within seconds of each other.

This is a book I highly recommend, y’all.

Alla prossima 👋

The days are racing toward the winter holidays and it’s gutting to me that we’re in a place again where we’re gearing up to celebrate our holidays while bombs are raining down upon Palestinians in Gaza. While Palestinians are being forced out of their homes — again — and told they cannot return — again — and we are gathering with families to fill our bellies with food and our hearts with love.

It’s not fair. They should be free, too. One thing we can do is follow the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR) and take action using their forms. It could not be easier for us to email and call our representatives in Congress to demand they stop sending money to Israel. At least $20 billion is on the line and that is…well, it’s an obscene amount, especially when earmarked for destruction of people and lives.

Free Palestine. And may we all know true freedom when Sudan, the Congo, and everywhere other oppressed place and people are free as well.

— Karis xoxo