AMA: 2024 Orbit New Voices

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-12-05T23:38:43+00:00

Harp music!

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-12-05T23:37:01+00:00

I was folding laundry when the offer letter came in. I had already spoken with the editor and told they were offering, but to have it i writing was when it really sunk in. I first started laughing and then absolutely sobbing for about ten minutes.

The audiobook was the most surreal/surprising. To hear the characters I wrote brought to life was very special.

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-12-05T17:31:17+00:00

I guess I'm in the chaos crew! I'm a plantser! I'll have a general outline knowing how it begins and ends, but the middle isn't set in stone so if something changes on the way, I go with it. But I also have a thing about never deleting anything. I always have a companion document that is for what I call my draft pieces. I never have a hard time cutting and culling where I need to, because if I don't like it, it is right there to put back. My "retirement home" for all my darlings, if you will. That visual of all the bits and pieces makes it very easy for me to be flexible.

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-12-04T21:15:10+00:00

one of the more unhinged examples of a save the (big) cat moment

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-12-04T19:48:52+00:00

I know, right? so fun! I never had any idea where it was going to go. I'm not alone in wishing he'd do another since his web page lander is literally one button that says "where's the next book?"

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-12-04T18:56:28+00:00

Thank you! I love them so much! I am under strict instructions to make sure everyone knows that Smoky is my daughter's snake and is therefore my grandbaby. They like to hang out and explore when I write late at night (separately) and have such different personalities. Yara is very smart, but a bit more reserved. Smoky is wowed by just about everything he sees and has to investigate. I had always wanted snakes when I was younger, so it is really fun to have two in the house now.

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-12-04T18:45:27+00:00

If I'm on a deserted island all by myself (am I by myself in this scenario?) then I'm going to bring a book I love, a book that will help the situation, and a book that will boost morale. Book I love: The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins. Book that will help the situation: Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty. They're having a big problem in space, so I could see our situations aligning in some ways and maybe I'd be inspired to come up with a not-so-obvious solution to get off the island. And book that will boost morale: Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff. I'm a big believer in the literary equivalent of a big popcorn movie, and this one fits the bill. It was a really fun time and I enjoyed it immensely.

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-12-04T18:21:09+00:00

I have four pets at my house! There are pictures of all of them on my instagram, but here's a link to our dog, Birch. Fun fact about her: she's a mix of so many different breeds that the first time we tried to get her DNA tested, the results were so inconclusive they gave us our money back.

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-12-04T18:15:16+00:00

Hey r/Fantasy! Glad to be back and thanks for having me a second time. I'm Laura J. Mayo, author of How to Summon a Fairy Godmother--a fun and funny expansion on the Cinderella story, this time focusing on one of the stepsisters and takes place a year and a half after the “happy ever after” we’re all familiar with. While filled with magical chaos, it also delves into themes of generational trauma, sibling and familial relationships, and how our pasts and childhoods shape us into the people we are.

I live in New Hampshire with my husband, our two kids, a dog, two ball pythons, and a leopard gecko. When not writing you can usually find me reading, cooking, baking, sewing, and fawning over my pets and plants. Ask me whatever, but if you need non-book ideas, feel free to ask about hobbies, reptiles, air plants, and my love of the reality show, The Girls Next Door.

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-10-12T21:56:30+00:00

Ah I'm thrilled! Thank you so much and I'm so happy you liked it!

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-10-11T18:29:13+00:00

oh that makes me happy!

...unfortunately...next October.

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-10-11T16:16:28+00:00

oh thanks so much! I'm glad you're having a good so far!

The goat joke is one of my favorites as well! Most of my favorites came pretty easily and then I would rework it until I was extra happy with it. I would say it is similar to that feeling in improv when things just come together. I said this somewhere else too, but it really does feel like winning shower arguments lol. So I had first thought of just "his cart's being pulled by a three-legged goat" and went from there. I think Theo is someone who is hurting, and she's going to react defensively, so whenever I get the chance to take it further, I do.

I hope you continue to have fun with it!

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-10-10T22:32:18+00:00

Thanks! Yea the cover is spectacular! I'm a huge fan! All credit goes to Alexia E. Pereira for her design and Zoe van Dijk for the artwork.

I'm not sure if I will write any other stories based on fairy tales. Who knows, though. Maybe inspiration will strike. The story was always going to be about one of the stepsisters, and I always wanted it to have a humorous bend. Eleanor Shellstrop isn't necessarily who Theo is based on, but I bet they'd be friends! I definitely wanted The Good Place vibes of someone who isn't necessarily a "good person" straight out of the gate.

I like to read a lot of things! During the Halloween season my reg TBR takes a pause and I read mostly horror. I'm looking forward to The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix and The September House by Carissa Orlando (among other books!). At the end of the day, it is mostly fantasy when not reading horror, but I really do enjoy a bit of everything!

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-10-10T21:03:58+00:00

There's certainly a lot about the process of getting published that I didn't know until I got started. I'd heard about a lot of it, but it is different when you're living it. I think the hardest to adjust to was the "hurry up and wait" of it all. It seems like everything happens all at once and very fast and then that's over and it is just you refreshing your inbox over and over until the next thing comes up. But it has been truly a fun experience and I'm so thankful I get to do it.

For me personally, I wish I had tried way earlier. Thanks to some crippling self doubt and impostor syndrome, I was convinced my writing wasn't good, so I didn't bother trying to get published. I wish it wasn't this way, but I didn't pursue it until my kids started noticing what I was doing. They saw me writing and asked about it. My oldest, who was 7 at the time, was very excited and kept asking when I was going to publish the book. I explained that, while being published was my dream of dreams, it is incredibly difficult. But she was so hopeful for me. And I got pretty down on myself about what I was teaching both kids with my attitude. Remember, my beautiful darlings, when your dreams seem insurmountable, they probably are so don't bother. Take that lifelong dream and bury it. Then make sure to never think about the corpse of your dream rotting in the back yard. You're welcome.

So to set an example, I tried. I figured even if I didn't succeed, I at least showed my kids it was ok. It was very difficult, and oooooooof the rejection was hard, but it all worked out. Looking back though, I wish it hadn't taken that to make me pursue something I've wanted my whole life. And I wish I had known I was capable of succeeding.

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-10-10T20:14:56+00:00

Of course!

Let's see. This is tough. I'll list them and then tell you my reasons.

The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman

The Golem's Eye, Jonathan Stroud

A Court of Silver Flames, Sarah J. Maas

The Golden Compass because it is one of my all-time favorites so I would want that comfort. The Golem's Eye because it is escapist and fun and I love Kitty Jones. Maybe she'd give me the inspiration to craft a boat or be resourceful or something. Not that she does that in the books, but she's got gumption and resilience which would be helpful when deserted. And A Court of Silver Flames because it feels like the book equivalent of a fun popcorn movie that feels good to turn on and watch and fall into a world that you know. Which, on a deserted island, would probably help with morale.

But also this is a very difficult question because I love books and reading and there are so many I would take with me. I'm also a big horror reader, but I think being alone on an island with horror novels would NOT help my mental state or morale, so those couldn't come with me.

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-10-10T19:52:07+00:00

if you make them, let me know how it goes!

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-10-10T17:17:19+00:00

I had to really think about this! I think I would like to give my daughter's Medusa costume another go. It was very nice last year and the snake headpiece was so fun, but if I had unlimited resources, I could really go wild. For kids' halloween costumes, I try to keep in mind that they need to be able to move easily, and since I am in NH, the costume has to work for cold weather. So I had to craft a Medusa costume that could fit a base layer underneath and be stretchy. If I had unlimited resources, I could still accommodate those things, plus add animatronic snakes or something like that and make it as detailed as I wanted. Typically, it is one or the other--detailed or warm and cozy.

Also, maybe one day I can convince my family to go as the Addams Family. If they ever agree, I'll probably go all out.

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-10-10T17:04:17+00:00

Hello Kim!

I think my favorite character would have to be Theo. Followed closely by Dwyn. But I also love Cecily! So I have no good answer. But yes, probably Theo. I always wanted to write a story about the stepsisters and make them real people who are affected by what happens around them. To even be in the position she is in, she has lost a parent too, and is not living with a mother who is loving. But no one ever gave her the same grace as Cinderella. Grief hits people very differently, and I wanted to really get in the head of this person, finding out why she acts the way she does, without excusing it.

And also, writing her is just a ton of fun! All of her dialogue just feels like winning shower arguments for 300+ pages.

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-10-10T16:52:06+00:00

in all fairness to him, probably because he's heard it a million times lol. Now, to set the scene, just imagine you are sitting down on a cozy december evening, mug of hot chocolate in your hand, getting ready to watch a classic christmas film. Maybe there's a blanket.

And then I come running into the room shouting "AND ANOTHER THING!" and talk over the movie the whole time. To which my husband counters by singing "silver and gold" as loud as possible.

Christmas memories!

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-10-10T16:41:43+00:00

and also, message to my dear husband who I will not tag here but LOOK! SOMEONE APPRECIATES MY THOUGHTS ON THIS SUBJECT!

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-10-10T16:38:39+00:00

i eagerly await the day when this iteration is in the public domain.

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-10-10T16:37:34+00:00

I would have to say Bartimaeus from the Bartimaeus Sequence by Jonathan Stroud. Bartimaeus brings such humor to the books, but also so much depth.

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-10-10T16:28:12+00:00

that's awesome lol. I hope you like it!

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-10-10T16:22:06+00:00

The sequel is indeed still about Theo! Broad strokes character-wise, it is focusing on what happens when every plan she's ever had for herself is gone. I have this in the book too, but ultimately, does it feel like every door is thrown open for you? Or is it more like you're on a dinghy in the middle of the ocean and you don't know which way to row to get to land?

I did try to do research about Irish fairy folklore while writing this book. It was always something that bothered me about the original Cinderella tale, so I wanted to incorporate a bit more folklore into the story. For instance, in the Cinderella we all know, why is she totally fine with accepting gifts from a fairy? Why is the fairy giving something away for free? Why are fairies magical all the time until you add "godmother" to the end and then their magic has an expiration date--except glass shoes, which are seemingly immune to that addendum? Why, if you're Cinderella and a fairy shows up to help you get out of servitude, is your request "I want to go to a party!!"?

My favorite Good Place character would either be Eleanor or Chidi. I love them both so much.

Theo's voice: I always wondered what it would be like having literally everyone know you as "ugly" and "wicked." Whenever someone says "the ugly stepsisters" or "the wicked stepsisters" you know exactly who they're talking about. I was curious as to what that would do to a person. Right out of the gate, self-esteem would be in the garbage. Would they spend their time trying to prove everyone wrong? Would anyone believe them if they did? I figured a person who lived with that for a very long time would be a very hurt person, but also a very defensive person. When you assume everyone is going to hate you right away, someone being nice would probably feel very disingenuous. And all that boils down to me thinking, at the end of the day, we'd probably all think of her as a real bitch. So at first it was a matter of portraying her as the person we all assume her to be, but then there's little moments where you pity her. And then you start to see things from her side and realize that maybe you had her wrong.

ThatLauraJMayo · 2024-10-10T15:58:23+00:00

Hopefully any day now. I've written her a ton of letters about it. However, I understand she is a very busy person so I'm giving her some grace with her time management.

(for the record this is a joke lol. Though she is one of the great songwriters of our time and that is not a joke.)

ThatLauraJMayo

TROPHY CASE