If readers like The Thorn and the Blossom, which I would call literary fantasy, I think they would like books such as Elizabeth Hand's Mortal Love, Catherynne Valente's The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, and Kelly Link's Stranger Things Happen.

That sort of effort has to come not only from the writer but also from a really innovative publisher like Quirk.

Nature inspires me continually. Today, I can look out my window and see the entire world covered with snow. It's like Narnia under the White Witch.

If you look at the natural world, really look at it, it's always magical.

I'm used to writing fairy tales that can be somewhat dark, and the truth is that in fairy tales, romances are always problematic. They may end happily ever after, but someone's getting pushed into an oven or has blood in her shoe.

Art inspires me. Looking at art in a museum, listening to music, reading the works of other writers.

It's very difficult to put in the work unless you believe that what you're doing is significant in some way.