Elizabeth Hand has been responsible for some of the most amazing works of literary fantasy in recent years: Generation Loss, Illyria, Mortal Love, Bibliomancy, and Black Light are but a few of her novels. Her short stories are finely crafted, glorious slices of strange and her collection Saffron and Brimstone: Strange Stories includes Echo, which won the 2006 Nebula). She won the Shirley Jackson for Generation Loss and the World Fantasy Award for Illyria. She has also written in the Star Wars Universe.
1. If I didn’t write, I would …
… be a professor of ancient history ensconced in some idealized ivory tower at Oxford or Cambridge.
2. I first knew I was a writer when …
… I told ghost stories to amuse fellow campers on long bus trips when I was seven years old. Technically storytelling and not writing, but I knew that’s what I wanted to do with my life.
3. I hate writing to a theme because …
… it takes me too long to come up with an idea, and when I do, it rarely adheres to any assigned notion.
4. The line I regret writing the most is …
Too many to choose from!
5. Donuts or danishes?
Donuts, but only if they’re plain, freshly made, and fried in the proper Maine manner.
Her website is here.