7 Questions from The Serrulata Saga Desk: Carmen Loup

​Pen Name: Carmen Loup
Pronouns: They/Them
Book Series/Latest Book Published: The Audacity (Omnibus came  out August 6th!)

Introduce your current favorite character – who are they and why do you prefer them above all others at the moment? 

Xan has been the driving force in The Audacity series, he’s the universe’s laziest sex worker and likes to spend his time lounging around watching I Love Lucy when he can pick it up from orbit. He’s got a strong presence, and this makes him super fun and easy to write. He also shares my love of culture and philosophy, but of course he’s aware of alien cultures and philosophies and I have fun inventing those with him. 

Who is harder to write – an interesting hero or an interesting villain? 

It’s hard to write both because no one is all hero or all villain. As soon as you label a character one or the other, they become dull and lifeless. Real people embody both selfless and selfish qualities, and I find real people the most interesting to write and read!

You’re trapped in an elevator with your main character. What are you discussing?

May is not fond of discussing anything with strangers! But, if you can get her talking by asking her for help fixing something, so if you stick to trying to figure out how to get out of said elevator, you’ll get her talking! 

What is the most challenging aspect of writing for you? How do you conquer it?

I’m a slow writer with a lot of other commitments, so finding the 3-4 hours minimum I need to really get into the flow of writing is tough. I’ve found that if I combine duties like cleaning house, driving, or washing dishes with my daydreaming about what I’m going to write, I’m more likely to be able to sit down and start writing.

If you could write a cross-over with another book/series, what would it be and why? (Or, if cross-overs don’t interest you, why?)

I’d through May and Xan into the Star Trek universe in a minute. May would be a fantastic head engineer (and she looks good in yellow) and Xan’s built for the ship’s counselor job.

In your opinion, what is the purpose of storytelling?

Stories help us understand our world. They point out patterns so we can make better decisions in our lives. They show us what we care about most. Good stories teach us how to transcend the suffering of our realities in some way. Maybe through human connection, maybe through logic, maybe through sacrifice. Stories help us co-create our realities. 

Ok, last but not least… Tell us a bit about what made you want to become a writer and why you write what you write.

It started with The Princess Bride. I picked it up in early middle school by accident, someone had left a copy in a desk, and it grabbed me. The self-aware style was unlike anything I’d ever read. Then The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy mesmerized me for awhile, I had the entire series on my nightstand and I read it through several times in a row. Both series end in sudden tragedy, despite being comedic, and the dissatisfaction I felt with those endings makes me write. 

Here's how to find Carmen:
​Website: carmenloup.com
Twitter: @CarmenLoup
Bluesky: @CarmenLoup
Instagram: @carmen_loup42

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