V.E. Schwab is a bestselling fantasy author, which means she divides her time between touring to promote her books–all of which deal in some way with the lines between things: good and evil, hero and villain, alive and dead, reality and magic–and sitting at home writing new ones.
Beyond the Boundaries
x V.E. Schwab
May Capsule Spotlight
Tell us a little about yourself!
When I’m not on the road, I spend my days in Edinburgh, Scotland–more specifically, its beachside neighborhood, Portobello–where I can usually be found tucked in the corner of a cafe or wandering along the prom, searching for inspiration…and cute dogs. This town has an abundance of both.
What first drew you to writing?
I’ve always had a love of language, growing up on poetry my parents read to me before bed, from Silverstein to Blake. But it was disappearing into a work of fiction in my early teens, when I realized the ability words could have to transport a reader, make them forget who and when and where they were. It seemed liked a superpower, one I wanted to have.
“...when I realized the ability words could have to transport a reader, make them forget who and when and where they were. It seemed liked a superpower, one I wanted to have. ”
Was it a conscious choice to mainly focus on fantasy/sci fi?
It’s always been a conscious decision, born out of a desire to see the world as stranger and more wondrous than it’s assumed to be. Fantasy doesn’t require a total disconnection from reality. It can be as simple as taking a single step off the path of the known. I want to make my readers wonder if there’s always been more, and they’ve simply never noticed it–and now, perhaps, they will.
What is something that you didn’t expect to be a part of the career path of being an author?
I obviously didn’t consider that my readers would look to me as well as my work, that they would follow me, be interested in my thoughts, my mind, my life. It’s one of the greatest honors, though, that level of investment and community. The way it extends beyond the boundaries of any one thing I’ve written. And it gives me permission to try new things every time.
What is your greatest inspiration in approaching a new story to tell?
I don’t think of inspiration as a single thing. More accurately, inspirations or ideas are individual ingredients that combine to form a meal: the story. So the ingredients change, and the meal changes. The only constant is my desire to explore “what if” – what if the world looked like it did, BUT.
What role did education play in your life?
Haha, well, I have two degrees, and neither relates to my work. But I’ve always been relentlessly curious, and I think education is a place that fosters that curiosity, allows you to explore beyond the presumed edges of your own interests. Being a writer means being, in many ways, a permanent student, wandering down different avenues of learning for each and every book.
How/does style and dressing impact your experience as an author? How would you describe your personal style?
I never anticipated how public my job would become. But these days, I spend a great deal of time on the road, doing events, giving talks, being filmed and photographed, and so I’ve come to find my style, ways to authentically present myself to my readers. I certainly have a “brand” – I wear all black, I like to balance the masculine and the feminine, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that my suitcase these days is almost entirely comprised of Marcella. Gauzy black sleeves, shoulder cut outs, pieces that feel fitted and stylish and comfortable and timeless.
What is your favorite piece from your Marcella Capsule?
It would have to be the black Carter top with the layered shoulder piece. It’s so lightweight, and I feel like it perfectly balances structure and simplicity. It’s definitely now a staple in my touring set.
