It’s no secret that RenFaire fans tend to be lovers of literature. Stories, whether told onscreen, in graphic novel or comic, through written word, or whispered around a campfire have captivated humans since we first learned to communicate. Tales of history, fantasy, the supernatural, and spooky things seem especially to resonate with us, the lovers of historical gowns, forged blades, and dense forests. So it’s no wonder that former Renaissance festival performer Chelsea Smith, who’s played both court maiden and elf, found her calling in storytelling.

Chelsea, can you tell us a little about who you are and what you do?

I’m an alternative school teacher specializing in the humanities, with a BA in history and an MA in Creative Writing. I’m also on the front lines in the combined war against the sugar ants and gnats who’ve joined forces in my house. I wish I could pretend my cats were any good backup, but they just kill the spiders who would otherwise be our allies, then puke their remains for the others to see. Due to this, the war is not going well as the spiders have made a tactical retreat.

How did you discover your love and talent for writing?

My fourth grade teacher had a BIG reaction to a story I wrote for a narrative assignment. Once I realized I wasn’t in trouble and learned to separate handwriting from storytelling, I was all in.

What themes are you drawn to when you write?

Definitely themes like found family, the importance of friendship and community building, and what ‘home’ really means in different contexts. I’ve also been edging into more exploration of power dynamics.

How do you work? What research do you do? In other words, just a little about your process.

A lot of stories come during my commute, just brainstorming to music and imagining scenes and character interactions. That’s the fun part. Once I have the bare bones, the rest comes by making a few outlines and researching what will and won’t work in select situations.

Who are your favorite authors?

There are so many, but recently I’ve been working on finishing The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold. I really admire the way she’s able to fold humor into her worldbuilding. 

What books are at the top of your TBR pile at the moment?

I try to read a varied number of things and bounce between them. At the moment, that looks like:

Deceit and Denial by Rosner and Markowitz, Nightwing by Taylor and Redondo, Superman Smashes the Klan by Yang and Gurihiru, A Company of Wayward Saints by Herman, and The Raven Boys by Stiefvater.

Describe a real life situation that inspired you.

Since this is a faire magazine, I think I’ll share a story from my last year as a character performer. I loved being an elf. I loved dressing in my costume and braiding my hair and speaking in my squeaky voice, but I was miserable. Professional and personal issues had me under so much stress I actually looked forward to my math class as a rare reprieve from it all. 

One weekend, I saw this kid out with his grandparents. He was surly and sour. Maybe I was feeling a bit combative but I saw him and thought, “CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.” Through some focused coaxing, I got the kid to come out and dance with me and the other elves. He grumped his way through it, but I swear I saw a smile. His grandparents, by comparison, were delighted. They knew something I didn’t.

A few weeks later, as the season wound to a close and I had to grapple with leaving the faire for my own good, that little boy was back. He was grinning from ear to ear, wearing elf ears of his own, and even helping coax other kids out to dance. 

I don’t know exactly what that interaction did for him. I don’t know what changed in his head or why. All I know is seeing his joy that last weekend was exactly why I love to do what I do, be it acting or writing or teaching.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Far too much. I collect crafts like a dragon. It can be sewing cosplays or baby blankets, crocheting plushies, embroidering expletives, or making little book nooks for the discerning nerd.

Let’s imaging it’s years later and you’re reading your YA novel, Ironspark, which is a dark story with a female heroine defending her town against evil fae. What aspects of the book might surprise your future self?

Well, it has been years since the book came out. I think these days I wouldn’t go as deep into the brutality as I did, but I also know why I wrote it that way during the time. 

We’re excited to be including an excerpt from Beer for My Corpses– what an intriguing title! Where did the idea for this book come from?

It originally started with a BS conversation with a friend about a magical bartender. When my agent put me in touch with Kelly from Cursed Dragonship Publishing, I needed to come up with a story to fit into an existing universe so I dusted this one off, decided it would be much funnier if she was neither magical nor that good of a con-artist, and slapped on a punny title.

What’s next?

Eventually my editor and I will decide on the plot for the third Pick’s Pocket book. Beyond that, I’ll just keep writing books to go in the trunk until another gets published.

You can find Chelsea at Cursed Dragonship Publishing, seemmcguire.com, and Instagram.

Kim Bryant is a veteran performer, educator, and writer. With 25 years teaching experience, an adjunct professorship in Theatre, and twenty years in the festival world, she brings a wealth of experience to LadyFaire Magazine. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Lubbock Christian University, a Master’s degree in Theatre from the University of Houston, and a Master’s degree in Communications from Southern New Hampshire University. Kim has studied at Actor’s Studio of Chicago, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, and at New York’s Lincoln Center, and currently works in leadership for Disney Live Entertainment.