Rachel Handley interview

AUTHOR INTERVIEW


A little introduction:

Hi everyone! I’m Rachel Handley. I’m a speculative fiction/SFF author, poet, and academic philosopher. I’m originally from the north of England. I’m currently based in Dublin, Ireland where I get to teach my favourite topic, ethics, to my heart’s content. My debut short story collection, Possible Worlds and Other Stories was published in December 2022 by Ellipsis Imprints.


When did your love of books begin?

I remember visiting the library when I was little and feeling such a deep sense of wonder about how each book contained a brand-new world for me to explore. So, I think whatever age I was when I learnt to read, my love of books followed soon after.


When did you start to have the wish to become an author?

Probably when I was about 12 or 13, I really loved writing by then. I tried to write my first book when I was that age. I got three chapters in then gave up haha, but the writing bug stayed with me.


How have you found the process for becoming an author?

It’s both wonderful and horribly tough. Rejection is hard, but you do get used to it. I started by publishing short stories in magazines, and that was a good way to get used to the publication process. My debut coming out still feels very surreal. Other people reading your work is an act of vulnerability and I’m deeply grateful for every reader!


What would you say to those wanting to become an author?

Write the damn thing! Finish whatever it is, then move to the next thing. Keep going, keep going, send stories out if you want to, don’t if you don’t. Most importantly: write for yourself.


Tell us about your book/books:

My debut short story collection Possible Worlds and Other Stories is a collection of 24 stories. Inside you’ll find weird worlds about corrupt angels, the afterlife, a sentient spaceship, the end of time, guinea pig invaders, and a world entirely made of crabs. I’m a philosopher by day, so my fiction often has philosophical themes. For example, many of the stories have themes of friendship, the meaning of life, and trust. Some of the stories are flash length, others are almost novella length, plus everything in-between.

The stories sometimes interlink, so I’m hoping readers will spot some of the connections, but each story can be read on its own too. Happily, two writers I greatly admire, Gareth L. Powell and Adam Roberts gave lovely blurbs for the book. Recently two of the stories in the collection were nominated for awards, The Man of the Sand (Pushcart nominated) and The Sound (BSFA longlisted for the best short fiction award). You can read both stories (and a few others from the collection) for free, here: https://rachelhandleywriting.wordpress.com/short-stories-2/



What do you love about the writing/reading community?

The immense level of support and joy! Everyone is so nice and helpful; I love engaging with fellow writers and readers.


If you could say anything to your readers what would it be?

THANK YOU! Thank you for reading my early work, thank you for reading my book, thank you for getting a kick out of Possible Worlds as much as I do!


Where can people connect with you?

Twitter: @_RachelHandley

IG: @_RachelHandley

Mastodon: @_RachelHandley@Eldritch.Cafe

Writing website: https://rachelhandleywriting.wordpress.com/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58971577-possible-worlds-and-other-stories

Buy links: https://books2read.com/possible-worlds-by-rachel-handley


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