AMoRaR Interview – Oleander Craw

A Month of Rain and Reads Interviews7 months ago7 min readAdd comment

Welcome to A Month of Rain and Reads, a celebration of self-published and indie SFF throughout the entire month of November. To find out how you can take part and view the whole list of content, visit our introduction post.

Today, we have an interview with Oleander Craw, author of the recently launched serial novel The Wards Will Fall.

Our theme for November is A Month of Rain & Reads. Do you subscribe to the idea of curling up with a good book while the rain pours down outside? What book would you read? Would you bring tea and a blanket? What would make the moment perfect?

There’s nothing more indulgent than curling up next to a murmuring fire while the most disgustingly cold and wet weather you’ve ever seen thrashes the windows. I am a huge fan. For moments like this I always want to read a book that is nostalgic and familiar, that allows me to reminisce and sink into deep feelings. If I had to choose a book in particular, it might be one of my well loved Robin Hobb books, or maybe a book in the Earthsea series by Ursula K. Le Guin.

Your first novel The Wards Will Fall will be released as a free serial, with one new chapter per week. Why did you choose this approach of publishing, and what advantages and disadvantages do you expect to see with it?

Publishing The Wards Will Fall serially in this way is a bit of an experiment for me. I wanted to give myself some space to have fun with a story that is pretty meaningful to me, while also creating some momentum to ensure I have time to focus on the next books in the series after TWWF given my other standalone writing projects. After way too much time spent researching, releasing the novel serially through my newsletter seemed like the best way forward for me.

Given the rising challenges with large serial/publishing platforms regarding AI, censorship pressure, and lack of author control, it was important to me to publish through my own newsletter that I have control over.

Ultimately there is some strategy here—I wanted to experiment in the serial space while building my newsletter and giving people who want the type of stories I write the opportunity to find my work. It’s also a fun challenge for myself to show up weekly. I can tend to be a bit of a recluse.

Once TWWF wraps up I’ll be publishing it as an ebook and physical copy as well after a round of professional editing. I’m also offering paid subscription tiers to read ahead or get access to art and other work in advance.

What can readers expect from The Wards Will Fall?

At its heart, this is a story about self-discovery, belonging and what we’re willing to sacrifice to rebuild what’s been lost. The protagonist, Maxwell Darrow, is a bi man struggling with overwhelming grief while on a journey that feels enormous and futile. At the same time he is managing his own slow loss of humanity due to the monstrous spirit possessing him and coming to terms with the reality of his life in the past. Readers who enjoy deep emotional moments and a character-driven story set against complicated political maneuverings will enjoy this one.

What themes are important to you, and how are they reflected in your writing?

A consistent theme I keep coming back to is examining the concept of cycles and the non-linearity of progress—The abruptness of collapse after a long gestation of decay, followed by the possibility of different foundations for better futures. I feel like I could write paragraphs and paragraphs about this, but to me this comes down to: What does it mean to take up a cause while seeing the work of those that came before, and knowing the totality of your work won’t be fulfilled in a lifetime?

As a result I tend to write about societies that are teetering on the brink, and the flawed people within those societies who are navigating towards different possible futures.

Another theme that is present in my writing, that is heavily influenced by navigating the world as a trans person, is that of illuminating transformation and what it means to be both sacred and profane. I have a deep fascination for dissecting the monstrous. All my protagonists struggle with their own relationship to humanity in some form.

You also have other books in the works. Will they also be released as serials?

The Wards Will Fall is the first book in a series that will be published serially, but I don’t plan to serialize my other books. They’ll be self-published as physical books and ebooks with initial funding through Kickstarter campaigns. Devouring Fortune is the first, with a tentative release date of June 2026.

And a few quick questions. What’s your favourite…

…book, in recent times?

This was a hard toss up but either The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez or Rakesfall by Vajra Chandrasekera. Both are absolutely incredible books.

…game, in recent times?

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I cried so much playing this game and it really brought me back to that sense of delighted wonder I felt playing Final Fantasy X or Shadow of the Colossus.

…writing advice?

Read widely and don’t be afraid to get really weird with it. Ultimately writing is a form of communication, and your passion for what you’re writing will always show on the pages. Show up for yourself and your own desire to have a meaningful conversation with others through your work.

…advice for someone who wants to publish their own book?

Your path to publishing is probably not going to look how you imagined. Expect it to wander. You’ll also come across a lot of well-intentioned people who have strong opinions about how you should approach this whole process that will absolutely not work for you.

…source of inspiration?

A good long walk or shower always shakes the ideas loose for me.

…way to clear your mind when everything gets a bit much?

Put the phone away. Nothing provides more clarity to me than connecting with new people in person who have their own life stories and perspectives to share.

Do you have any last words? Any shoutouts to authors who have supported you or whose books have inspired you?

A big shoutout to my writing friends, especially Whalley, who has been a strong and ever present source of support. And thanks so much for hosting A Month of Rain & Reads, and having me for this interview!

Oleander Craw

Oleander Craw (they/he) writes science fiction, fantasy and horror. Their work often revolves around themes of identity and power, featuring complex and flawed queer characters with a focus on queer masculinity. They’re a big fan of examining the monstrous while getting weird with it. Originally from Texas, Oleander can be found lurking around the New England area of the United States or devoting their time to an ever growing garden.