Q&A with Author, Emma Space

Emma Space – Author Bio

Emma Space is a recent graduate student of the UNC Charlotte’s Creative Writing Master’s program. She grew up in New England and developed her love of the outdoors underneath the changing colors of the leaves. Currently she enjoys working on farms and writing science fiction and fantasy. 

Q&A

What is it about dragons that you love so much?

When I was about seven years old, I received the Dragonology book as a present, and I thought it was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. I had always loved animals as a kid, especially the classification of animals, and this book that gave classification to a previously mysterious creature was fantastic. Using the information in the book, I figured out the dragons that lived in my region (unfortunately, it was only the flightless Lindwurm), the habitat that they would most likely reside in (forest), and the best place to find one (in the well above our community garden). I had a foolproof plan for finding a dragon, and when I found it, I knew I would be able to convince it to live in my basement.

So, the reason why I love dragons is that intersection of reality and mythology, and the time I spent in my life when I believed that they were real. Dragons are real to me in a way no other magical creatures are, because of the time I spent learning about them.

Why do you enjoy writing about dragons?

For a long time, dragons were vividly and truly real to me, and writing and creating about
dragons is a window into the worldview I had as a child. They are at the very intersection of
magical realism for me: A creature that is so fantastical and wonderful, and yet can be
understood in terms of anatomy, species, habitat, ecological impact, and cultural impact. Writing about a dragon from all of these viewpoints makes them infinitely more interesting to me.

What are some of your favorite books to read featuring dragons?

Of course, the first book I read that I loved featuring dragons was Dragonology, but I also dearly loved the Eragon book series. I think Paolini’s series really focused on the impacts of dragons on a society, which is something I was interested in, even if I didn’t know how to speak about that at the time. Dragons were a manifestation of power, and how that physical power shaped the world.

The next time I found a book that I truly loved about dragons was the Temeraire series, by
Naomi Novik, which is a perfect blend of historical fiction and magical realism that explores all of my favorite things about dragons. Their anatomy, the logistics of keeping a dragon fed, a dragon’s role in society, and how dragons can represent both the physical manifestations of power but are also vulnerable to exploitation. The series makes dragons seem more physical and more human, which is the most fascinating part of any story.

What got you into writing?

I have always longed for others to see the world from my perspective. I remember being very young and walking down the sidewalk and realizing that no one else would be able to see this moment in the same way I could, and feeling very angry about that. I also really liked Harry Potter, and the word “author” sounds a lot like the word “auror,” so I figured it was basically the same thing, and if Harry Potter could do it, why couldn’t I?

If there was one piece of advice you could give to other writers, what would it be?

I know it’s a cliche, but to never edit your first draft. Just don’t look at it. Write it, finish it, don’t look at it until two weeks after you’re done. First drafts are like digging clay from a riverbed. You don’t try to shape it while you’re pulling the material out from the ground. You have to acquire the mud first, and lay it out so you can see what you have to work with. Then, you can truly begin to work.

Where can readers follow your writer platform?

Learn more about Emma at: Author Website | Instagram