We chat with author Carrie Vaughn about The Naturalist Society, which follows a young widow taps into the power that will change the world—if the man’s world she lives in doesn’t destroy her and her newfound friends first.
Hi, Carrie! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Certainly! I’m Carrie Vaughn, I’ve been a professional author for more than twenty years, writing science fiction, fantasy, a bit of horror, some historical, some superheroes — a little bit of everything, really, but I’m probably best known for my series of urban fantasy novels about a werewolf named Kitty who hosts a talk radio advice show for supernatural creatures. My post-apocalyptic murder mystery, Bannerless, won the Philip K. Dick Award in 2018.
What else… I’m an Air Force brat and grew up all over the country. I have a masters in English Lit, and dabble in birding, scuba diving, horseback riding, costuming, knitting…hobbies. I collect hobbies. I live in Colorado, about halfway between Denver and Rocky Mountain National Park, which means I have the best of both worlds.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
Very early on, when I discovered books and movies could make me cry, could affect my emotions, and could stay with me forever. I wrote my first story when I was 8 years old. It was basically genderflipped Black Stallion fanfiction, because while I loved The Black Stallion it clearly didn’t have enough girls in it and I wanted a version with girls. I’ve been writing my own versions of stories ever since.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The very first one was Dr. Seuss’s “Hop on Pop.” But the first novel I read was Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. I cried like a freaking baby and immediately went straight back to the beginning and read it all over again.
- The one that made you want to become an author: Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. That book made me smell sneakers. I wanted to learn how to do that with just words.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Oof, so many. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley is the one I read over and over again. On the Beach by Neville Shute got under my skin. Almost everything by Joseph Conrad sticks with me. Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy. A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter J. Miller. How much time do we have?
Your latest novel, The Naturalist Society, is out November 1st! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Birds, science, awkward love triangles.
What can readers expect?
An immersive historical novel with a fair bit of fantasy, about the magic of nature and the power of scientific names, as seen through three main characters who develop a friendship that pits them against the world.
Where did the inspiration for The Naturalist Society come from?
It’s hard for me to remember the initial inspiration, since so many different threads came together in this. I love birds and birding, and I think a friend suggested I should write a book about them. Next I wanted to play with love triangle tropes, maybe upending a few of them in the process. The nineneenth century, when science transitioned from being an aristocratic hobby to an actual profession seemed like such an enticing setting. I put all these bits in the mix and The Naturalist Society is what came out.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
So many. The whole thing, really. I got to do a lot of fun research, into the history of the natural sciences, arctic exploration, and I learned so much. The novel has historical interludes, where I explore the alternate history of this world, where scientific names have actual magical implications, and that was a lot of fun. I drew on a lot of actual history for that, and enjoyed figuring out how to tweak it to fit my world.
The Naturalist Society is set in 1880. Can you tell us about your research process in building the world in which your story is set?
I did quite a bit of reading about that time period. Mostly what was happening in the sciences, but also some cultural history. Just as important were the primary sources I found — scientific journals from the period, memoirs, and so on. Actually reading Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, but also discovering books like conservationist Florence Merriam Bailey’s 1896 book Birds Through an Opera Glass and Arctic explorer Matthew Henson’s A Negro Explorer at the North Pole about the 1909 Peary North Pole expedition. I think these really help capture the flavor and voice of a historical period. Also, I really did acquire a set of opera glasses and try them out for birding. Not quite as good as a modern pair of binoculars, alas!
With more than twenty novels and over a hundred short stories to your name, how do you stay motivated and inspired when it comes to writing?
Staying motivated has never really been a problem for me. At this point, writing is my job. But I have so many stories and ideas I want to write, I’ve never run out of inspiration. I journal when I travel, I’m constantly spinning out “what if” scenarios. I have so many characters running around in my head, my problem is usually figuring out which thing to work on next. I got in the habit of writing every day early on, so now it feels weird not to write.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on a sequel to The Naturalist Society, called The Glass Slide World. Microscopes instead of opera glasses this time!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey, Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi — both these authors push the boundaries of the genres they’re working in, and it’s just great to watch. I can’t wait to get my hands on Amy Tan’s The Backyard Bird Chronicles, for obvious reasons. I look forward to her take on the subject.
