I'm Christiane [she/they] and I'm disabled, queer, and several flavors of neurospicy. I live right outside the city of Baltimore, MD, near the Chesapeake Bay. I'm an author and poet, concentrating on contemporary fantasy and speculative fiction that centers on stories about hope and community. That's my big WHY when it comes to everything in life: inspiring hope, building community.
I’m up to something fun! I am going to make a reoccurring series where I “interview” the characters from ISYK/CASOD and see what they have to say. Questions will range from ridiculous to deadly serious.
And YOU will get to play a part in this, if you like! You can leave suggestions for future questions to ask the entire cast or just one of the characters here – https://freesuggestionbox.com/pub/gnxfwvl
Our first question is already here and ready for you! Today, we have a question for Lucee Fearney, your favorite waffle-loving guitarist and once-mortal Fae leader!
Lucee, the readers want to know: how did you learn to play guitar?
Lucee: Wow, that’s a cool question! Actually, you can blame it on Merrick, just like most of the best things that’ve happened in my life. Back in ninth grade he decided that he wanted to learn how to play guitar. He kept telling me that he knew he was destined to be in a band and he wanted me to be in that band too. He also knew that my father would never go for any of that, so he used his “I have rich parents” connections and pulled some strings with the dean to get us a private guitar teacher. He managed to make it so that it was listed on our curriculum as required, so Da would have no reason to be pissed that I was taking a music class instead of an academic class.
Funny thing was that Merrick struggled with guitar, but I picked it up like I was born to play. It just made sense to me, you know? Our teacher Max (Mr. Max, we used to call him) is the one that suggested to Merrick that he should try switching to the bass, and pointed out that if he wanted to sing, that might make it easier. He was a great teacher! He made us both feel like we could do anything. He’s the one who taught me what makes an instrument sound good, and how to develop my own style and tone. Everything else I learned from trial and error, like you do!
Lucee, you’re the best! Guess I owe you a waffle now, right?
Enjoy this? Expect another Q&A next week! And don’t forget to submit your questions!
One of the things that gets mentioned in Cast a Shadow of Doubt is love languages. First, before I go any further: I am NOT referencing the book written by Gary Chapman. He certainly wasn’t the first one to come up with the concept of love languages, and I don’t support the way he frames the idea. [Or any of his other ideas.]
Firstly: people can speak or perform multiple love languages, and need different things at different times. They may even need different languages depending on the relationship to that person. Second: there are MANY more than five love languages. You’ll see that in my characters for sure.
Cullen demonstrates his love languages to Lucee regularly. He does his best to give her a safe place where she can express her thoughts and fears, and his quiet and unwavering belief in her is just what she needs. He also expresses his support through food, which is demonstrated several times in Cast a Shadow of Doubt!
Lucee, on the other hand, is a tireless cheerleader for her friends, and is quick with a compliment or a word of encouragement. She goes out of her way to be there for Merrick, and also her other friends when they need her. Oh, and Lucee’s a big ol’ hugger, so touch is important, too.
One of Sousa’s love languages is thoughtful gifts, given with careful consideration to how he knows the future recipient, and what he thinks will bring them the most happiness. He doesn’t do it often, so his gifts make an impact.
Vali expresses her love through service – to The Maithe, the community around her, and The Lady of the City. She is also quick with a kind and supportive word, and slow to judge, which makes her a nurturing sort of person to be around. Vali spends a lot of time volunteering and when people she loves join her, she feels the most complete.
Merrick is another acts of service person. He finds his true calling through joining something bigger than himself, and he is eager to support his Fae family by taking on his role as the Blackbird, champion of House Mirabilis. He also affirms Aisling’s importance in his world and is ready to defend her whenever she needs it.
Aisling’s is dedication. She is fiercely loyal and supportive of those she loves, and goes out of her way to show it. When Merrick runs away from the Eleriannan, she doggedly tracks him down and won’t leave him to suffer alone until he is able to rejoin the Fae.
Want to hear about some of the other characters? What about you – what are yours? Mine are touch and supportive words with a minor in service. And I love touch and gifts!
I’m still enjoying a post-launch high! On Sunday I had my official Launch Party live on my Facebook page, which–despite some technical difficulties, thanks FB– went well and was a LOT of fun. The technical difficulties included Facebook glitching and deciding that I was spamming my own broadcast, which led to me being kicked off and having to restart it… so there will be a delay before I have the video stitched together to repost elsewhere.
In the meantime, you can check out the two parts via Facebook: here’s part one and here’s part two.
I am SO excited about this!
The next interview that I’ve got coming up is one that I’m really looking forward to — I’ll be on Subculture Talk, the live interview show hosted by DJ Pat 626 of Subculture Shock. Pat and I go waaaayyyy back! Before they were the host of SubShock, back on FM radio in Charlottesville VA, I hosted that show. So we know each other very well and we are both extremely silly with a similar sense of humor. It should prove to be a great time!
From their event page:
“On February 17th, PAT 626 sits Christiane Knight down in the virtual studio to talk about her previous book, In Sleep You Know, her new book, Cast a Shadow of Doubt, Radio Xiane, and the past, present, and future of the goth scene. There will probably also be a lot of sickening moments where they compliment each other. They do that.
Subculture Talk airs Thursday nights on twitch.tv/djpat626 at 9pm EST, followed by The Afterparty, a 2-hour mixshow, at 10pm! The chat is open for you questions and comments!”
After Subculture Talk, I don’t have anything on the schedule until Baltimore Faerie Faire in April. [details are in the sidebar 🔜] I’ll make sure to keep you updated as things change, however! Or you can sign up for the mailing list, and you’ll always be the first to know where I’ll be and when.
I’ll leave this blog post with a pic of the official proof copy of Cast a Shadow of Doubt! I will have the copies in my hands for signed copy orders in just a few days — yours will look like this without that ugly ribbon across the design. I can’t wait to get them into your hands!
Cast a Shadow of Doubt is LIVE to order now, and as part of the Launch Day celebrations, I’ve been doing fun meme collections and AMAs about the characters and story! I’ve been having a great time with it so far.
Someone asked me what songs I’d say are the favorites of each of the major characters. Well obviously this is one of the best questions ever! So with no further ado, here are your favorite song choices!
Just like anyone’s favorite tracks, most of these songs will give you real insight into the character it represents.
Lucee Fearney
Curve – Coming Up Roses
Cullen
Nick Drake – Cello Song
Merrick Moore
Joy Division – The Sound of Music
Aisling
Mors Syphilitica – A Lullaby of Sorts
Vali Dawe
Skeletal Family – Promised Land
Sousa
New Model Army – The Hunt
If you find this fun, I’ve got more I can lay on you! Let me know if you listened and if you are enjoying my AMAs!
I’ve talked about the soundtracks [aka mixtapes] to my books a couple of times here, and how the music is part and parcel of the atmosphere and story — integral, if you ask me. You could read the stories and never listen to the tracks I chose to go with each chapter, but you’d be missing out on some of the nuance and thematic references. I mean…it’s up to you, I guess…
Seriously though, the concept of a soundtrack for my stories comes in part from the longstanding tradition in visual media, sure, but even more so from my longstanding tradition to make mixtapes for people I care about, or who I want to care about. I’ve been making mixtapes since I was about ten years old; at first, I used one of those old cassette recorders with a condenser mic and buttons that would make a loud CLUNK every time I would stop the player. My very first foray into learning how to make a proper mix was figuring out how to eradicate that CLUNK from the recording.
[The secret sauce was using a pencil to roll back the tape just enough to start the next recording over the bit of tape where the terrible noise had been. That trick served me well for years of making mix tapes without a fancy mixer!]
Mixtapes are my love language. Even though I make them these days using CDs or Spotify, the general aesthetic and motivation is still the same. I make them for people I care about, or that I’m really into. Often they’ll have a theme or mood, and I choose every song carefully to match that. The songs build and ebb and flow, creating a journey that needs to be followed from beginning to end in order to get the overall effect properly. It’s funny, because I approach DJing in the same way, and it’s served me well. There’s a real art to building the energy of a dancefloor, and the same with a weekly show, though the energies are generally different between them.
The same applies to my book soundtracks, and it makes sense, because the plot of a book has that same sort of organization: rise and fall, ebb and flow, with an overall theme and direction. And the best mixtapes I’ve made, like my favorite novels, have covers that I can’t forget. I am a firm believer in making cool covers for my mixes. That’s part of the aesthetic, too.
Fun fact: I used to be the person that people brought their cassettes to for repairing. Photo by Dan-Cristian Pădureț on Unsplash
When I started dating my partner, I gave him a mix CD on our very first date. [We’re coming up on six years together, and I would put money on the mix being part of that.] One of my friends digitized a mixtape that I made for him back in 1986, and it’s just as good now. The music isn’t new but it feels fresh. It’s a testimony to the power of mix tapes that he’s kept it for 36 years and cared enough to rip it to newer formats.
Want to win me over? Make me a mixtape. Bare a little of your soul with it. Create a cover that says something about the mix — it can be a drawing, a collage, something digitally manipulated. Whatever feels most honest.
That’s what I did for all of you with my books. I put together a couple of mixtapes and gave you stories to go with them, and pretty covers that reflect what’s inside. The mixes are as important as the novels. The stories are as important as the music. It’s all full of love.
BTW, if you want to read more about the philosophy of making mixtapes, you can’t do much better than going to one of the masters of talking about music and its importance, Nick Hornby. High Fidelity, of course, but Songbook not only goes into great detail but has its own mixtape to listen to.
I’m so pleased to reveal the official cover for Cast a Shadow of Doubt, the sequel to In Sleep You Know! The novel will be available in ebook and paperback for purchase through my website and Amazon, and of course all the other important places.
Lucee Fearney legitimately inherited the leadership of the Fae faction known as Eleriannan, but what will happen when they find out that she still only has the magical skills of a Mortal?
When unexpected, dangerous visitors show up at the door of Maithe House, they bring word of an enemy that none of the Fae know how to fight. Even if Lucee can learn to trust herself and lean on her friends for help, will it be enough to take down the powerful and mysterious foe known as the Mealladhan?
Rejoin Lucee, Cullen, Merrick, Vali, Sousa, and all the other Mortal-born and Fae of Baltimore in another magical, musical adventure!
Now with 100% more outdoor summer music festivals, uncanny graffiti, and shadowy forces.
Stay tuned for more release info, including giveaways and other fun activities, and make sure that you’re signed up for my mailing list so that you’re among the first to know when the book goes live on February 1st, 2022!
Things are happening, even though the year is almost over!
You’d think that December should be a downtime sort of month, what with the holidays and the end of the year quickly approaching. But you’d be wrong! I have been diligently working away in the background on a bunch of different things: events and appearances for 2022, new upcoming projects, goals for the new year, and oh yeah… all of the details surrounding putting together Cast a Shadow of Doubt!
Let me start with CASOD updates first, because they’re exciting! I’ve moved through the editing process and have the finished text. Formatting is almost done, and the next steps are cover, blurb, and technical background details.
All cover images you’ve seen so far have been placeholders, created by me. The central image is a reference to a plot point that is integral to the storyline, and that’s all I’ll say about that. Will the official cover look similar? You will have to wait and see! There will be a cover reveal when I’m ready and I’ll make sure you know all about it.
I feel good about the blurb as it stands, and you’ll see that SOON. And technical background details are things like setting up preorders, ISBNs, registering with the Library of Congress, etc. If you’d like to learn more about what is entailed with these tasks as a self-published author, you can join my Ko-fi as a member of the “A Writer’s Life and Craft” level.
Let’s talk events!
I have started setting up events for 2022, and although it isn’t confirmed yet, I can whisper in your ear that I’ll definitely be at Baltimore Faerie Faire again — and this time, IN PERSON! Yay!
Other places I’ll be, although I’m not sure if it’ll be in an official capacity or just as an attendee, include the 2022 Nebula Conference, Balticon and the Summer Solstice Faerie Festival. I’ll have a section up soon with all of these events listed, and I hope to meet some of you there!
Are there other events where you’d like to see me? Please leave a comment here with suggestions!
New projects in the works
Once CASOD launches on Imbolc [which is February 1st] 2022, I will be turning my hand to some related projects. I am currently working on story #3 set in the world of the Eleriannan. It remains to be seen if it will be a novel or something shorter, but it will be my first published story that features an LGBTQ+ main character. Considering how quickly–at least for a newbie author– I put out two novels, I’m taking a little more time with this story. It has characters really close to my heart, and I think you will love it.
Another thing that I have been discussing is starting a podcast that features theatrical readings from my stories. I can’t afford to make audiobooks [yet] so this might be a fun way to create something folks can listen to in the car or at home. I can’t guarantee that this will happen yet! It’ll take some money for equipment upgrades, for one thing. But if this interests you, and you want to help, supporting me on Ko-fi is the best way to do that.
Oh! One last thing!
In Sleep You Know, right next to a T. Kingfisher book! That’s some nice company it’s keeping!
I went the other day to my local library to see one of my books, one that I wrote, with my own two eyes. And there it was, on the shelf with all the new releases, and I may have done a little dance in the aisle when I saw it.
I’ve had a lot of amazing achievements this year as a newly published author, but this one might mean the most to me. Libraries have an important place in my heart. As a young person with a voracious reading appetite and very few friends, libraries were a lifeline for me. They are hallowed ground, in my mind. And now I have a book in one. Actually, more than one, because In Sleep You Know is in three library systems that I’m aware of – maybe more that I’m not!
And that brings up a Big Ask from me.
Folks, did you know that you can request your library to carry specific books? For free! Some library systems require you to log into a library account, but many do not. You’ll have to fill out a form, but that’s easy and the info you’ll need is easy to get from Amazon or Goodreads. And if they approve it, other people will get a chance to read my book. Or other indie authors’ books, because you can do this for any indie or self-published author who has taken the time to make their books available for library systems to purchase!
So if you want to give me or another author a present for the holidays, please take the time to request our books through your library systems. It only takes a moment and will help us so much!
Your support is the best thing in the world, my magic seekers. Expect another blog post before the end of the year, and I appreciate that you took the time to read this one!
On just taking the leap, and what I’ve achieved in 2021
The end of the year is a classic time for reflection and taking stock, and that’s always one of my favorite activities! A lot of writers right now are posting their #AwardsEligibility posts on Twitter, which is a great tag to follow if you’d like to check out new works from authors in SFF. I only have one book published, and I feel a little foolish joining in with just that – but thinking about the whole concept prompted me to compile a list of everything I managed to accomplish as an author in 2021. It’s a lot!
Step right up and claim that [participation] award
First and foremost: I published a book!!
My debut novel, In Sleep You Know, was published in May 2021. It is eligible for any of the awards for fantasy novels including first novel awards.
Tags: fantasy, hope, community, fae, music
Merrick Moore is just a regular guy with dreams of making it big with his garage band, but not much else – until he crashes a party thrown by reclusive eccentrics. He gets more than he bargained for: new powers, a girlfriend who can visit him in his dreams, and a seven year bond with the local Fae court. When the mortal enemies of his new friends show up to his band’s first gig, Merrick finds himself trying to prevent the start of a war that will have consequences for everyone, Fae and human alike. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1736850318
Get on the other side of fear.
Here’s the thing: I don’t expect to win an award, not in the least. That’s not keeping me from listing this accomplishment, though! It doesn’t matter if I win anything at all. The win was getting this story into the hands and minds of readers!
This whole year has been a series of leaps of faith for me. I started the work on publishing ISYK in 2020, because it takes a while to publish a book, especially a debut book. And especially one that’s being self-published by someone who is a hard taskmaster on herself and desperately wanted to get it right.
I have—quite publicly—suffered from impostor syndrome. I have been really open and public about it, because I know that I’m not the only one who goes through this or will in the future, and I think it’s really important to normalize talking about things that make us uncomfortable or make us feel weak or vulnerable. [I recommend my Twitter feed if you want to catch posts about those subjects. I am openly oversharing there!] I’m scared all the time, but I close my eyes and jump, or hit enter, or make the call. If I don’t, I won’t even get the chance to get the things that I want.
I decided that although it’s ridiculous for me to expect to win anything for ISYK [and that’s okay!] it is a powerful thing to compile and share a list of everything I achieved in 2021. So without further ado, here’s my list!
2021 Author Successes
Writing
💜 published In Sleep You Know, my debut fantasy novel
💜 wrote, edited, in the printing process for Cast a Shadow of Doubt, the sequel for ISYK. [launch date 02/2022]
💜 started work on my third novel, A Third Kind of Madness
💜 Joined Broad Universe and Maryland Writers’ Association
💜 Became a member of The Badasses writing/support group
💜 My books are now available to borrow in Maryland at Baltimore County Public Libraries, the Enoch Pratt library system of Baltimore City, and the Washington, D.C. library system
💜 My book will be available to purchase in person at The Ivy Bookshop in Baltimore, MD
…whoa. That’s a lot for my very first year as an author officially!
Here are my questions for you, readers: where would you love to see me show up next year? What is a new book that you read in 2021 that you would recommend? [Piranesi by Susanna Clarke is amazing] And what’s something that you achieved this year that you’re especially proud of and want to share?
It’s one of my well-known quantities as both a writer and a human that I’m extremely transparent and unafraid to share my struggles and joys. Yesterday, that showed up in a small piece of writing that I shared on my Facebook personal page.
After I posted it, and I re-read it a few times as I responded to comments, I decided that I really liked it. It does a good job of describing how I see myself, and how I’m often conflicted by opposing desires: to soar, and to go to ground.
There are people who revel in ordinariness, in walking in step with the crowd, in fitting in perfectly - or at least trying their best to do so. They take comfort in it, and stepping outside of their concept of what's normal would make them very uncomfortable.
They actively flourish in that role, and it is home for them.
There are others who seem destined to stand out, to innovate or ground-break, to inspire. They feel confined when held to an ordinary life, however that is defined by them. They dream of leaving a mark, a legacy, a story that can never be forgotten.
And then there are people like me.
I want to fly a little closer to the sky, but not so high that my hubris sends me crashing to the ground. I want to leave something of importance, but it doesn't have to be grandiose and life-changing for millions.
I'm not meant to be a superstar - I'm not that kind of smart or clever, I'm not the kind of beauty that sends men to war over me [thank goodness for that], and I don't have power or money that I could use to change the world.
But... I don't know how to move through the ordinary world, either. I wish sometimes that I did, that I could be content there, but it doesn't work well for me.
I'm like some fragile woodland species, the kind that you find when you move the leaves around on the forest floor. Not showy, but still interesting. The ecosystem won't collapse if you take me home, but you probably still shouldn't uproot me.
I know, the metaphor's getting weird. That's also appropriate.
Anyway, none of those roles are inherently better or worse than the other. I just have always wanted more, but I don't seem very adept at succeeding in creating my own level between these others. I keep doing my own thing, hoping that at some point a curious hiker will wander from the path and lift the undergrowth to discover that I've been hiding under the leaves all along.
Becoming an author is an exercise in hope.
You write the words, and craft the story, trusting that it will be good enough to share with the world. You have to believe so strongly that your writing is Good Enough, Relevant Enough, Meaningful Enough. You give your time and energy and sleep and dreams to this work. Oh, and don’t forget your money, so much money is needed to create the book, and get it in front of potential readers. Editing, layout, cover art, advertising, and all the other little details.
It’s a wonder that any books get written at all.
The hope keeps us going. We write–late at night, at lunch, early in the morning–piling words and imagery like a treasure hoard. We scour websites for tips on how to market ourselves better, and send pitches with our fingers crossed. And we read the books that made it, from our colleagues and contemporaries and classic authors, and let their words and worlds inspire us. We look at their success and think, “Maybe one day, it’ll be me.”
And we never stop writing. We can’t. The words never stop coming.
A moodboard [or mood board, I’ve seen it used both ways] is a collection of images that are often used in interior and fashion design – and now have spread into many creative endeavors – as a way to build ideas and share concepts on a project. For those of us who like or need visuals to go along with our brainstorming, this is an ideal way to gather them together in a cohesive whole and see how they work together.
When I’m conceptualizing my storylines, I collect as many images as I can to help me clearly see characters, places, and concepts. I have a huge folder full of these images, broken down into subfolders, and it can be a giant pain to navigate them all! Moodboards help collect those visual thoughts into something I can glace over quickly and attain the focus I need in that moment.
They’re also a great way to share glimpses into what’s going to happen in a story, or background details about a character or concept! So I decided to share some of these with you as we get closer to the release of Cast A Shadow Of Doubt, because they might offer some context… and it will definitely be fun!
I love playing with tools like Picrew to make character mockups, like this attempt at showing Lucee ☺️ Do you know how difficult it is to find a set of skins that both offers the option for Black hairstyles AND green hair? Near impossible!
The images in this Moodboard include: an image that made me think of the Ar Donnath, a Summer festival, a concept for a new character [Emmaline], an exciting concert image, some magical yet creepy looking fungi, a community garden, an attempt to visualize one of The Ladies. What does it all mean? You will find out soon!
Want to stay in the loop about when Cast A Shadow Of Doubt will be released, and where you’ll be able to buy it? Sign up for my newsletter or support me over on Ko-fi! [btw, Ko-fi supporters have more access, see things before anyone else, and get exclusive content!]
