Meet Stefanie Barnfather
Indie Author Spotlight
Welcome to Indie Author Spotlight where I interview indie authors I’ve met through the interwebs whose online ramblings have inspired me to break down and read their books. It is truly a unique opportunity to be able to talk directly to the author about a book you’ve read. I thought I might as well share that conversation with you, reader. You’re welcome. Let’s get on with the interview, shall we?
Stefanie Barnfather is the speculative fiction author of the dystopian romance We Call Her Rose. She made the Calgary Herald’s Bestselling Fiction List of 2023 for her short story collection You Know What I Think. Her newest short story collection You Didn’t Have To is out now! Stefanie lives in Canada with her husband and pug.
How did you initially get into writing fiction?
As an arts educator, transitioning from teaching performative storytelling to written storytelling made sense. I was immersed in the fictitious arts world at a very young age, so making things up is as much my area of expertise as a non-fiction writer’s topic of exploration is theirs.
Your short stories are highly original and offbeat, to say the least. How do you come up with such quirky ideas?
I have a process. A secret process. I’d reveal my process, but then I’d have to kill you. All of you… (this is a joke, please sense the tone, J.B. JUST SAID I write things that are offbeat)
You Know What I Think?, which I believe is your first published book, ranked first on the Calgary Herald's bestselling fiction list in 2023. What was that like?
Wild. Unexpected. I don’t check bestselling lists, but my dad sent me a pic of the local newspaper; which he’d flukily flipped through the morning the list was published. The recognition of my brilliance obviously went straight to my head so I’m shocked—and devastated—it hasn’t happened with the two books I’ve published since.
I loved We Call Her Rose! What character do you identify with the most?
Thank you so much! I identify with Piper: the strange, leggy woman behind the scenes who passive-aggressively directs her team whilst casually insulting them. I’d share the other reason I identify with Piper, but it would wreck the plot so y’all will have to read the book to find out my fatal flaw.
Tell us about your writing routine. Do you have any creative rituals or a favorite place to write?
When I’m writing draft one, I surround myself with patient, compassionate people in calm, non-distracting places. I write every day until the draft is complete, then revise revise revise until I’m happy. FYI, I’m never 100% happy with my work, but I trust my Alpha/Beta readers to tell me when my pieces are ‘done.’ I play instrumental music when I write—mostly classical music—and I exercise A LOT. And clean my house A LOT. And do puzzles A LOT. And I cut out alcohol and caffeine, because they are bad for my brain. And body. And general wellbeing. These habits help me place better words in a better order more efficiently. And I love to write, so when I efficiently complete one project, I get to move onto the next. I have so many stories in my noggin there’s no way I’ll ever get them all out but, fortunately, I’m a process-lover, so the best part of this craft is the “doing," not the “succeeding”—although, by that logic, I suppose I succeed every day I put marks on a page.
What criticism have you received that has helped you grow as a writer?
I’m lazy. I’m sloppy. I don’t include enough information. My stories are predictable and, therefore, boring. My stories are too weird. My stories are too cerebral: I don’t understand how real people think. Niche art equals bad business. I have all the tools to be exceptional, but I waste my talents writing things nobody wants to read. These comments scared the poop out of me—and absolutely could have been framed/phrased differently—but they forced me to take hard looks at my work to either prove or disprove the criticism. Ultimately, the effort I put into analyzing my text—and my behaviours—for these so-called errors only grew, and reinforced, my certainty in my authorial abilities and artistic agenda.
What are some of your writing influences? Favorite books?
Guy Gavriel Kay. Agatha Christie. Phillip Schott. Anne McCaffrey. Julia Quinn. Stuart McLean. Ray Bradbury. Christopher Moore. There are a bunch more, but these are the authors I’ve read over and over until my heart hurts from the strain of overflowing inspiration. I’ve read Tigana too many times to count: my paperback copy is a mess (the cover is falling off and I’ve had to tape pages together).
I first heard of you on Twitter and you’ve since abandoned that platform and are focusing on Instagram and TikTok. Can you talk about the role of social media for indie authors?
Social media is a contentious and fickle beast. You have to love it and respect it to be able to use it. Ha! Here’s a simile for you: Social media is like the ocean; she’ll kill you without remorse if you don’t—and do—know how to sail her seas. But!—if you find a platform that allows you to navigate her choppy, inclement waters, you won't care if she drowns you. I DON’T want my career to be destroyed by the terrifying tides of Twitter. I like my writing feet firmly on the ground. But I begrudgingly accept that having social accounts can help authors connect with readers and peers, so I’ve cast off from Shore of Privacy and am floating in the relatively harmless Bay of Meta. And TikTok. Emphasis on relatively.
You publish under the imprint, Barnfather Books. Why might it be beneficial for self-published authors to establish their own imprint rather than publishing under their name?
Boundaries. Peace. Objectivity. Legal protections. Tax things. Or, a more interesting answer: my artistic agenda doesn’t align with a capitalist agenda, but I need money to retire. When I’m ninety. So I use a business banner to run an operation that my soul despises. Drama drama drama.
What’s your vision for the future of Barnfather Books? Where do you see yourself in, say five or ten years?
Uhhhhhhhhh… oof. Those are good questions. Artistically I have a ten year plan (which I won’t reveal because it spoils the fun), but for Barnfather Books? Hmmm. I’m open to guidance from the universe—aka opportunity and suggestion—but I'm currently content just trucking along as is, hoping my screams of READ THESE BOOKS are heard by people who might like to… read my books.
What are you working on now?
A novel: a romantic tragedy. MUAHAHAHAHA. Hoping to release in the fall of 2024.
Where can readers find you?
…in the Bay of Meta. And TikTok. Specifically Instagram, and my website: barnfatherbooks.com. Readers can also join my mailing list which includes a monthly newsletter with info and other stuff. If readers live in Calgary, AB, Canada, they can pick up my stories at Slow Burn Books, Owl’s Nest Books, Shelf Life Books, and Meadows Mile Pharmacy. I’m currently chatting with Indigo/Chapters to stock local (can I say that?—y’all, I do NOT know the Rules of Business Communication, eughhhhhh) AND you can go to any library and request they bring in my work. They’ll do it. I promise. Readers can also directly email info@barnfatherbooks.com if they have a question, but it takes me anywhere from one day to a gazillion to respond, so it’s better to reach out on Insta. If you DM me naughty things, I’ll block you. Butts are nice, but not in my phone-face at 6am when I’m trying to select winter-themed music for my latest story series.
You heard her. No butts in her DMs! That’s the interview. Isn’t she great? Pick up her latest collection of short stories You Didn’t Have To, or any of her previous releases (linked above)!
