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Interview with R.A. Clarke


Rachael Clarke is an author/illustrator living in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. When not writing, she's enjoying family time, acting in community theatre, or relaxing at the lake. 

Her multi-genre fiction has won international competitions such as the Write Fighters 3-Day Novella Challenge, The Writer's Workout's 'Writer’s Games', the Writers Weekly 24-Hour Contest, and Red Penguin Books’ Humour Contest

She was a 2021 Futurescapes Award finalist, and a 2022 Dark Sire Awards finalist, and her children’s book The Big Ol’ Bike was a Hindi’s Libraries finalist in 2021. Her debut sci-fi novel Race to Novus was released in April 2024. 


Q.1 Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
A.
I climbed a live volcano (Volcan Pacaya) in Guatemala and ate lunch so close to the crater—just below that I smelled the sulphur escaping from scalding rock fissures and saw hot magma spitting up only about forty feet away.

Q.2 Race to Novus combines elements of adventure, redemption, and mystery on an alien planet. What inspired you to create this unique blend of themes?
A.
I’m a huge movie nerd, and for this book, I gained bits and bites of inspiration from several incredible films/shows, such as Hidalgo, Avatar, Firefly, Aliens, and Far & Away, all of which play with some or all of those themes. 

Mix that with my love of word building and science fiction overall, and it was only natural for me to write a thrill ride of a tale taking my characters across the galaxy to a planet at the edge of explored space. 

As for the redemption aspect, I struggle with trauma (CPTSD) and damaged familial connections just as my main character, Finn Rucker, does. Though, the root of hers and my struggles differ, of course.

Given the fact there are many other broken, dysfunctional, or estranged families in this world, I felt topics such as atoning, forgiveness, change, growth, emotional abuse, toxicity, obligation, as well as finding confidence and independence were all worth exploring in this novel series.

Q.3 Can you share any details about your next writing project or any upcoming works?
A.
My next books will be the two sequels of Race to Novus. Fight for Varu will pick up where the first book ends, thrusting my rag-tag race survivors into complex and increasingly dangerous situations and looming threats. 

Book two will also take my characters into space more, and you can expect an exciting heist of sorts (I won’t say any more than that, so as not to spoil the fun). 

War for Joya will finish out the series. Additionally, I’m working on illustrating a sequel to my children’s chapter book The Big Ol’ Bike and editing/expanding two sci-fi novellas, one of which won the 2023 Writefighters 3-Day-Novella Challenge (Becoming Grace).

Q.4 Finn Rucker is described as seeking redemption on Joya. Can you tell us more about her character and the journey she embarks on throughout the story?
A.
Finn is a debt-ridden cowgirl who has desperately tried and failed to atone for past romantic and gambling wrongs (which negatively affected her family ranch and her own reputation). 

She’s stuck in a crushing cycle of feeling worthless and unwanted, paired with a hefty dose of personal shame. When she learns her beloved bionic horse, Herc, whom she won during an infamous poker game years earlier, is to be sold, she's out of time and options. 

Desperate, Finn enters the Race to Novus, which offers winners a sizable payout, free land, and a much-needed fresh start. She steals Herc away to the edge of explored space to compete, hoping to repay her debt and win back her family’s respect. 

However, despite Finn's determination and grit, she lacks confidence and experience standing on her own two feet as an independent woman. That all changes during the race, though, as she finds unexpected friendship within an alliance, a new sense of purpose, and learns a lot about who she is and what she wants. She even feels a spark of romance—one that isn’t toxic as she's experienced in the past—while being forced to face unexpected deceptions and peril.

I feel like I have to mention Finn’s brave mount here as well, as the two are kind of a combo deal. Herc (Hercules) is a powerful Friesian stallion who has four prosthetic legs and an ocular implant that changes colour with his moods. She thinks of Herc as a best friend, as he never judged her like her family and community did, and couldn’t stomach letting him get sold and face an uncertain future. 

Once on the planet Joya, however, he proves himself to be an even more loyal and valuable resource to Finn than she could have ever predicted as they race for survival through a sinister jungle.

Q.5 Can you share any challenges you faced while writing this book?
A.
Does maintaining my sanity while editing across multiple drafts count? Just kidding. Well, mostly. Overall, there weren’t any huge roadblocks—just that the novel was way too long from the outset. 

As I planned to query the book to literary agents, I had to really streamline and focus the story in order to get it closer to a “marketable” length. That ended up being about seventeen thousand words worth of cuts. 

Adding to that, since I wrote Race to Novus in two sittings a year apart (for NaNoWriMo), I also had to get strict with myself and note every world-building element or new character detail I created as I went along, for cohesion’s sake. I certainly didn’t want readers to find glaring inconsistencies because I changed some things and then forgot.

Q.6 Science fiction often offers commentary on contemporary issues through allegory or speculation. What themes or messages do you hope readers will take away from this book?
A.
I’m not really the type of writer who expressly pre-plan for a story to have a clear takeaway, per se. I enjoy letting the story flow and inform the characters, discovering whatever tension and conflict might come from that. Then, if something I write ends up resonating with and entertaining a reader, my mission for creating the book has been accomplished. 

Having said that, I did end up exploring a few issues in Race to Novus, such as, what happens when unethical governments or corporation(s) abuse their power, deciding to lie, cheat, steal, or even kill to further their aims or goals? How might those affected react—will they take a stand and fight back, cower, submit, deny the oppression, join the perpetrators, or take advantage of it? 

I dipped a toe into exploring the myriad of effects, considerations, and inevitable fallout revolving around colonization, as well as how it might go (in one possible imagining) when a newly discovered Indigenous population is regarded as equal—even if not everyone agrees and the situation itself is, frantic, dangerous, and slathered in shades of grey. 

Lastly, given what Finn goes through in her past and how toxic/manipulative relationships (whether familial or romantic) abound in our current society—which is something I have some personal experience dealing with—it made sense to me that my protagonist might struggle with this kind of personal turmoil.

Q.7 How many books have you written? Which one is your favourite?
A.
I’ve written several books now. My first book was a children’s chapter book—the first in a series called The Big Ol’ Bike

I also have a speculative fiction writing prompt series called Oh, That’s Good, a humorous and heartwarming collection of short fiction titled, Let Your Lips Twitch, and started a quirky romantic urban fantasy novella series with Two Idol Hearts

Finally, my debut sci-fi Western novel Race to Novus recently released, and that will be a trilogy. I have two other sci-fi novellas in the works, two more short story collections, and plenty more exciting novel ideas waiting in the wings.

As for my favourite… gosh, that’s so hard, because they all claim space in my heart for different reasons. It’s so hard to pick just one! I’ll say The Big Ol’ Bike because it was my first ever published book, and then Race to Novus because it’s my first full-length novel. I just really love the world and its characters. They’ve become a part of me.

Q.8 When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?
A.
I’ve always dreamed of pursuing my creative talents from a very young age, wanting to write a book, become an artist, or an actor, and even get hired by Disney as an illustrator. Now, everyone knows not all our dreams will come true. However, when given the chance, I’ll always try to chase them and see if they can.

My parents dissuaded me from using a scholarship I won and going to art school, emphasizing that the arts don’t make people money. I was encouraged to seek a more practical, stable career. 

Not horrid advice, really, as having financial stability is important in life. But sometimes I’ve mused on what might’ve happened if I’d faced my fear of stepping out on my own and rebuked the naysayers, giving it a real go. 

Anyway, I ended up taking some post-secondary schooling and becoming a police officer—a career I was good at and very proud of—but sadly, it eventually took a heavy toll on me. 

After about ten years, I was diagnosed with severe CPTSD with panic and had to quit. Since being a police officer had become a part of who I was, to lose that was a huge life upheaval and a substantial blow to my confidence, as well as my sense of value/identity.

I had a toddler at home and stepped into the role of stay-at-home mom. Then we had another baby, and I was (and still am) fulfilled by raising my children. Slowly, I healed and found my way forward, but eventually, since I’ve always had a strong work ethic, I wanted to find a new career to challenge myself with—a new passion. 

It didn’t take me long to settle back into my creative gifts. I entered writing contests (a few of which I actually won!), found great writing groups to join, and just felt so inspired and filled with energy to let my creativity flow. I just knew it was where I was meant to be. It felt right. So, I’ve been writing, illustrating, and pursuing this writerly life ever since.

Q.9 What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing this book?
A.
I don’t know about surprising, but the most challenging thing was trying to keep all the different alien species, their backgrounds, abilities, and characteristics straight! 

There was a lot of world-building that went along with this book, and with it being the first novel I’d ever fully completed from start to finish, figuring out my strategy for organizing the plot, world, and character details was a real learning curve for me, too.

Q.10 How do you handle feedback and criticism from readers or editors during the writing process or after the publication?
A.
No two beta readers or editors are alike. You could ask five people to read one piece of writing and odds are, you’d end up with five totally different opinions. 

The best way to go about it for me is to accept all feedback with a thankful heart, as they’re doing me a great kindness by reading my work and sharing their thoughts. I’ll then take the feedback that is helpful into consideration, letting it guide me in tweaking my work wherever applicable. Whatever isn’t helpful or doesn’t ring true for my vision of the story can quietly be set aside. 

If it’s coming from a professional editor I’ve hired, or from an editor who works with a publisher who’s signed me on, then I will, of course, ask questions as needed for any feedback that doesn’t make sense to me to ensure the best end product will be achieved. I think the key is to be a good communicator.

Q.11 Do you have any quirky or interesting writing habits?
A.
I live and die by “to-do” lists and jotting down ideas on post-it notes—or envelopes, napkins, the back of receipts, sale flyers, or update letters from my kids’ teachers. There is no form of scrap paper that is safe from me, really. 

And so, I periodically must embark on these frantic searches for things I’ve notated somewhere at some point in time, then will inevitably wallow when I can’t find what I’m looking for.

Q.12 How do you select the names of your characters?
A.
Sometimes it’s just a name that comes to me and feels right for the character, or I’ve used names of people I know before for fun, as long as the name suits. 

Other times, it’s more calculated, like I’ll use homages from other books/movies that inspire me (e.g.: Finn from Race to Novus was inspired by Finnick in The Hunger Games), or find certain words (with certain meanings) in different languages, then modify them. 

Or I will lean on my very helpful children. This is especially true when it comes to alien or planet names. They have incredible imaginations. There’ve been a few times they’ve spelled randomly great things with alphabet magnets on the fridge and I’ve used those made-up words in a piece of fiction. I note any neat ideas on a whiteboard in our house and share them whenever I use their awesome ideas—we all love them.

Q.13 How do you know when a story is finished?
A.
I don’t think a story is ever 100% finished. No matter how many times I read through a piece, I’ll always find things I could change… so, for me, after many drafts, editing passes, and beta reader passes, once I hit a wall where I just don’t want to read it anymore (but I still love it!) and overall, it flows pretty smoothly for me; I call it done.

Q.14 Who designed your book cover? What was the selection process?
A.
My publisher for Race to Novus (Cloaked Press, LLC.) sourced the cover from their designer Carmilla Mayes. I filled out a form with preferences and ideas I had beforehand, and then I was given a chance to weigh in on the mock-up(s) they sent me, but ultimately, they went with a final cover design and style they wanted. It was neat to experience the process and also to see how it landed in the end.

Q.15 It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your book. Tell us about your marketing campaign.
A.
I try to put my book in front of folks who love sci-fi, westerns, genre mashes, thrillers, slow-burn romances, and horse lovers. My focus is simply on getting it out there as much as I can, earning honest reviews, learning a lot, and generating buzz in the hopes readers will take a chance on this thrill ride of a book. 

As a stay-at-home mom with young kids on the cusp of being in school full time, I do what I can do as efficiently as possible with the free moments I have. I hope to and will keep striving to earn more readers’ interest and trust as time goes on.

Q.16 Do you have a favourite scene or moment from this book, and what inspired it?
A.
Oh man, this question is so hard! I have tons of favourite moments. There’s a toxic air situation involving a rollicking creature roping scene before it goes sideways for several of my characters (once you read it, you’ll understand why it’s a favourite). 

There’s a vicious Seever fight that contains a specific Aliens movie homage—can’t say much more—no spoilers. Note: Seevers are tiger-like creatures that swarm the racers, instantly changing the scope, urgency, and survivability level of the race.

If I have to focus on only one scene, I’ll choose the moment where my heroine and her love interest, Griggs, share a moment of romantic connection. They have a slow-burn romance (friends-to-lovers) which is handled lightly, but the spark that is there gave me such huge smiles to write. 

To give you a brief overview, Finn and Griggs aren’t on the best of terms after a recent argument. However, in a quiet moment after a tense day surviving Seevers in an alien jungle, he speaks to her, hoping to hash things out. They nearly kiss in a butterfly-inducing event that gets comically spoiled by a brash yet likeable fellow racer. 

I used to read a lot of historical romance novels and have a deep love for romantic movies (especially rom-coms) and television series with addicting and tension-filled romantic arcs. 

Remington Steele, Adventures of Superman, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Bridgerton, Farscape, Dirty Dancing, The Notebook, Titanic, Pretty Woman, Ready Player One, Ten Things I Hate About You, Beauty and the Beast, The Mummy, The Sound of Music, and anything by Jane Austen are some examples. 

So, basically, when it came to penning a romantic subplot, I simply let my own preferences and swoony heart guide me.

Q.17 How do you balance the need for scientific accuracy with the creative liberties often taken in science fiction storytelling?
A.
Honestly, I don’t really focus on the balance, but write what I think works for the story within the futuristic world I’ve created. It’s more of an intuitive thing, I suppose. 

I adore creating new technology concepts or tweaking existing tech in ways that suit my tales. That said, I definitely do research when it’s needed to ensure certain things are at least plausible, or if there’s something I don’t know but need to. 

Creating worlds, characters, and narratives that are believable enough that readers will be okay with suspending their disbelief and engaging emotionally is my ultimate goal. 

I’d say my writing is definitely soft vs hard, and I also love a good genre mash, which won’t be a shock to those familiar with my writing. I’m not one to shy away from incorporating some fun fantasy, romance, and/or horror elements in my sci-fi stories as well. At the end of the day, I just want any novel I write to be accessible and unputdownable.

Q.18 How do your friends or family feel about your book or writing venture in general?
A.
I don’t have a sprawling support network outside of my immediate family—meaning, my husband and my two kiddos, who are unfailingly proud and supportive of the work I do (I’m blessed to have them)—but I do have a few book loving friends that cheer me on and actively read or ask about my writing projects, which is an uplifting thing to experience. 

I’ve also found a few wonderful writing groups, both in person and online, and have met lovely people (friends) there who really bolster me and encourage me as a writer.

Q.19 Are there any particular authors or books that have influenced your writing style or the creation of your books?
A.
Well, I absorb bits and pieces of the writing craft from every book I read, just as I learn from every beta read I do for authors I know. 

As such, I can’t say that any specific authors have firmly influenced my writing style, because the way I write has truly been affected by so, so, so many in a variety of ways. 

However, to name some of the authors I’ve enjoyed reading, or who have impacted/inspired me in some way, here’s a short list: Julie Garwood, Sophie Kinsella, Jane Austen, Suzanne Collins, Ransom Riggs, Neil Shusterman, Judy Blume, Joanna Campbell, Stephanie Meyer (Twilight got me back into reading/writing after a long dry spell), Kali Wallace, Hugh Howey, Pierce Brown, Scott Westerfield, and Rachel Aukes.

Q.20 Share the experience of your writing journey so far.
A.
I had to think about how to sum this up best… My writing journey has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. There are exhilarating moments when I soar down the track, on fire and pumping out work during fits of inspiration and motivation. 

But then there are times I’m stuck in a steep climb, feeling dejected by frequent rejection or burnt out, recognizing I’m doing too much and need to rebalance. 

I can get carried away by projects as well, so it’s always important for me to check myself now and then and ensure my love of escapism never steals me too far away from my beloved little family. 

Overall, I find being an author an intricate balancing act of time, effort, expectation, disappointment, and hope management. But despite its challenges, it’s a heck of a unique experience. I wouldn’t change my decision to chase this dream. No way.


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