eSpec Books interviews Jody Lynn Nye, contributor to The Best of Bad-Ass Faeries, edited by Danielle Ackley-McPhail, currently funding on Kickstarter as a part of the #Make100 campaign.
eSB: What is your idea of a bad-ass faerie?
JLN: Faeries are tough, because they have to be. They are a part of raw nature, which doesn’t suffer fools or forgive, but at the same time, is entirely impersonal. The fact that faeries have personalities makes it all the more interesting when they intersect with humans. We have all these expectations, of faeries granting wishes, or being a sweet little companion on our travels in the outer wilderness, but what do you do if the faerie in question hasn’t read the story you did?
eSB: Can you tell us a little about your story, “Fifteen Percent”, that was selected for The Best of Bad-Ass Faeries?
JLN: “Fifteen Percent” is about a writer in the French Quarter of New Orleans, and his muse/agent, a filandiere named Ninette. Marcel isn’t the most conscientious person in the world. In a way, he does live for his art, because when he’s not writing, he’s just not taking care of himself. Ninette makes sure that he works and reaps all the benefits of his work. In exchange, she takes the standard agent’s cut of fifteen percent of the gross. In this case, the fifteen percent means a cut from every part of the creative writing. Filandieres consume 
the energy from creative endeavors. Marcel comes to realize that by her nature she diminishes the very work that she is plugging to New York editors, and resents the hell out of it. On the other hand, what choice does he have? It’s a devil’s bargain. Marcel has access to the mystical side of life, which inspires him to write great things. Ninette feeds from his work.
I had never heard of filandieres before I chose them from the list of spirit faeries, but they sounded so interesting. With a French name, the setting just chose itself. It had to take place in New Orleans and the surrounding environs. In Louisiana, all these creatures exist just beneath the surface of normality. In the city, in the bayou, in every small town, there are legends. Some are benevolent, but most are dark and dangerous. Marcel’s and Ninette’s relationship is one of abusive co-dependence, but I found it touching and funny at the same time.
eSB: What would your fae character’s signature drink be and why?
JLN: Hurricane. Of course. Ninette could ride the real whirlwind if she wanted to.
eSB: What kind of challenges did you find writing for this series?
JLN: Finding any information at all about filandieres. They were unfamiliar to me. Danielle gave me a link to Monstropedia.org, but that was the only location I have found the name, and that website has disappeared.
eSB: What is your first recollection of faeries growing up?
JLN: Probably the same as most American kids: Tinkerbell. I thought she was fascinating. She was so jealous of Peter Pan’s relationship with Wendy, or anyone else who took attention away from her. She was adorable, but she could be downright mean. After that, I found lots of references to faeries in literature and the movies. Pinocchio’s Blue Faerie was a benevolent presence. I loved Cinderella’s Faerie Godmother.
eSB: Do you have any plans to expand your story…or write in the same universe? If so, what more can your readers expect?
JLN: I hadn’t thought about it, but following Marcel, a very ordinary human with an extraordinary imagination and talent, able to trip into mystical surroundings with the help of his faerie agent could be a lot of fun.
eSB: What are some of your own works readers can look for?
JLN: My website is www.jodylynnnye.com. I have lots of books. My current series, the Lord Thomas Kinago books from Baen, is like PG Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster, but in space. Thomas is an over-privileged, wealthy aristocrat with a good heart but far too much imagination and time on his hands. Parsons, his ‘aide-de-camp,’ helps to keep him out of trouble, most of the time.
eSB: What projects of your own do you have coming up?
JLN: In July, the first of my collaborations with Travis Taylor is coming out. Moon Beam is a hard SF novel for young adults. Set on the Moon, it follows six young scientists working on awesome projects, like building a space telescope out of an existing crater. We want to get young people thinking they can become involved in STEM projects.
eSB: How can readers find out more about you?
JLN: Visit my website, check in with me on social media, or come up and talk to me at conventions.
Jody Lynn Nye lists her main career activity as ‘spoiling cats.’ When not engaged upon this worthy occupation, she writes fantasy and science fiction books and short stories.
Since 1987 she has published over 45 books and more than 150 short stories.
Her newest series is the Lord Thomas Kinago books, beginning with View From the Imperium (Baen Books), a humorous military SF novel. Her newest books are Rhythm of the Imperium, third in the Lord Thomas Kinago series; an e-collection of cat stories, Cats Triumphant! (Event Horizon), Wishing on a Star, part of the Stellar Guild series, with Angelina Adams, (Arc Manor Press) and a collection of holiday stories, A Circle of Celebrations (WordFire Press) , and her novella in the second in the Clan of the Claw series, Tooth and Claw.
Check out her websites at www.jodynye.com and mythadventures.net. She is on Facebook as Jody Lynn Nye and Twitter @JodyLynnNye.
SOCIAL MEDIA USER IDs
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jodylynn.nye
Twitter – @JodyLynnNye
Goodreads – Jody Lynn Nye
Amazon Author Page – https://www.amazon.com/Jody-Lynn-Nye/e/B000AQ0B5I/
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