Kara Jorgensen
Getting to talk to an author I reviewed, research, teaching, and writing historical worlds
Hey folks,
I will definitely not be expecting this to be a regular occurrence, but it turns out that reviewing cool books also SOMETIMES means I get to talk to cool authors. The wonderful Kara Jorgensen joined me to talk about their work, writing underrepresented characters in historical settings, and the fun bits of research!
Kara Jorgensen (they/them) is a queer, nonbinary author of nine queer, paranormal-historical romances set in the late 1800s. One of these, Kinship and Kindness was recently reviewed in this very space by yours truly, and now you get to hear from the expert.
Chaos Gays: So, I’ve been starting with most people on pretty generic questions and then delving deeper as we go further, so for the first thing, can you talk about the books that you write and what they mean to you?
KJ: So most of the books I write are what I like to call queer historical fantasies set in the 1890s, though they can definitely fall into gaslamp or paranormal fantasy since there is magic, creatures like werewolves or selkies, etc. It might sound funny, but when I was writing my first book, I didn't know what era to put it in while doing research, but when I heard the 1890s were called "The Gay Nineties," my baby queer brain refused to let it go. More importantly, the era often feels very like our own times. It was a time of massive advancement but countering it were things like censorship laws, "ugly laws," continued racism and colonization, Oscar Wilde's gross indecency trial. I find a lot of parallels between our time and theirs while writing, and it's fun to poke at it using queer, trans, and disabled characters.
Chaos Gays: I absolutely love this. Being a weird little history nerd definitely endears all of this to me! So when you're writing all of this, how do you feel about the practise of writing historical fantasy with themes that are still going on today? Is it something that feels very natural, or was there anything difficult about looking back into those periods of history with knowledge of the present?
KJ: It's very hard knowing giant steps backwards are coming. Part of the reason I stick to the 1890s is that I know my characters, who are usually 20-40 year olds, won't be drafted into the horrors of WWI. I also often think about the relative freedom of queer people from the 1890s to the mid 1930s and how that was all snatched away when the Hayes Code was enforced and the Lavender Scare that followed. As much as I like to illuminate those pockets in time, there's definitely a pain that comes with it, knowing things get worse or they can't have the visibility they would have today. More than anything, I just want to remind people queer and trans people existed and lived good lives decades and centuries ago.
Chaos Gays: I like that! So, having read your work, one thing I know for myself already is that you write characters that despite the historical setting, feel VERY relatable. Is there anything difficult about writing characters that would often be less accepted, understood, and recorded in your historical spaces, whether that be in writing them or in research for worldbuilding?
KJ: I think the hardest part is actually getting people to believe they existed. I know we shouldn't read reviews as authors, but I know on Kinship and Kindness, I have a review where someone mentions it being ahistorical to have a trans man, even though I actually included a recommended reading section at the end with a list of books on gay and trans people existing before the mid-20th century. When I get into a new project, I do a lot of digging through books by academics on queer or trans history, disability history, etc. The worst part is that many of the more blatantly obvious records are tragic, and that's why they were written down, usually due to something punitive happening, but it's the empty spaces or within in the personal narratives of common people where queer and trans history hides. We're starting to see it more as black and white photographs appear online of two bachelors who were lifelong roommates or women who were spinsters together. It's all there, but it will more than likely not have a giant neon sign saying queer on it, especially since so much of our modern vocabulary didn't even exist. When I'm working on my characters, I treat them in my head as real people and think how they would have navigated this historical space, what clues would they have left behind for a modern scholar.
Chaos Gays: You do a lot of research for the historical settings in your books, what’s your favourite bit of research you found out?
KJ: Oh, god, that's like asking me which of my dogs is my favorite. I was blown away by the way New York City in the late 1800s was a hub for gay men. There were clubs, baths, and same sex apartments (for varying income levels) that would allow for a gay culture to flourish. I expected to find crumbs rather than a fairly substantial paper trail. Another favorite research tidbit is how much street food there used to be in 1890s NYC. We love food trucks today, but the Victorian street food culture is closer to what we see in modern Japanese and Korean night markets.
Chaos Gays: Here at Chaos Gays, we ask the difficult questions! Also does this mean outside of an interview context I can get dog pictures? :P In actual interview questions, I'm curious whether there are specific things (other than the magic elements, of course) that you've had to adjust historically in order to tell the stories you want to tell? Or have you managed to mesh your world fully with the historical one in real life?
KJ: I've taken liberties with language, occasionally, to make sure things sound right or avoid offense despite a phrase being more "historically accurate." Some things can and should stay in the past, and writing something historically doesn't mean I need to fixate on or cause pain. I've also rushed the timeline a little on electric lighting, made dirigibles more of a thing than they were, and added steamers (early cars) because, frankly, I don't want to deal with horses or gas explosions. It smooths things along for readers without ruining the historical air. I do draw the line at complete anachronisms. I had people ask why Oliver, the main character of The Reanimator's Heart, doesn't say he's autistic in the text, but autism wasn't a diagnosis until several decades later and only for those who had very high support needs.
Chaos Gays: That makes a lot of sense. So, research seems to be a big part of your writing. Is there anything you’d really love the chance to research/understand if you had all the money/resources and access in the world?
KJ: If I could, I would be an eternal student. I would love to study paleontology, archaeology, art history, and culinary history more. I'm one of those people who is fascinated by everything, and writing books gives me a good excuse to dive head-first into research, even if it's just for a throwaway line. There's a book/duology that I have simmering on the backburner that will require me to do a deep dive on the history of paleontology, but sadly, I need to finish my current series to have the time and space to do that.
Chaos Gays: I love that, though! It sounds like so much fun. That actually brings me to another thing. So, you are a writer but you also TEACH creative writing. Is there anything that you find you take from your work and bring into your OWN creativity?
KJ: I think the biggest thing I take away from my creative writing students is how they continually teach me to think outside the box. Often, when I get stuck with my writing it's because I'm trying to do something that isn't working, yet I keep trying to do it that specific way. After reading their work and giving feedback on it, I see the ways they take things in totally different directions than I would. I always say to them that creative writing has no rules, just suggestions and some best practices. All of which can be broken. Sometimes, I need that reminder for myself.
Chaos Gays: I guess it's always far easier to see when it's someone else! So, this is slightly more craft-ish, but for you personally, when you start thinking of a project, what is it about that project that then makes you decide it's worth the work, that it needs to be on a page?
KJ: I'm not one of those people who has a hundred ideas at once, so once I have an inkling of something, usually a character or two, I start to turn the pieces over in mind to figure out who they are, how their wants and needs fit with the other character. Once I have those, I start to feel out more details and plot, and at that point, it's either on the docket or the backburner until I can work on it. If the characters can pass the fit test, that's usually when they end up on my writing line up. Currently, I have a book on the backburner for two side characters were never meant to be together when I started the original project they appear in. Once I started working with them and fleshing them out, I saw how they could compliment each other and the desire to write them grew. They're on the backburner until I can hammer out their book's plot in a more concrete way and while I write my current project.
Chaos Gays: I love that. Sometimes the stories almost discover themselves! Though usually never at times when I'm figuring out a plot hole... So the last thing I wanted to ask... Is there anything you want for these books, for your career? I personally always think of this not in the context of 'I want everything' but instead 'here's this weird little thing that could come from my writing that would make me very happy'. In fact... has it already happened at all for you?
KJ: Fan art. I always wanted fan art, and readers actually sent me fan art with my last few books. It is the most exhilarating feeling know that my books inspired someone's art, that they took the time to draw my characters. I have one piece saved as my phone lock screen because I love it so much. I'd love to make enough money to commission artists to make art of my characters more regularly since it's one of my favorite aspects of marketing as it allows me to support my favorite artists. My pie in the sky type dream is to have someone make a mini series done of my books and be involved with the process.
Chaos Gays: Oh I love that. Fan art is the best, yes! I will send hopes to the universe. Fanart-shaped hopes! Thank you for talking to me, and for anyone who is now very curious, there will be links and such below. I also wrote a positive, non-spoilery review of Kinship and Kindness a couple of weeks back! I loved it, so... *hint, hint*
I always love talking to creatives of all kinds, and my hope is that one day this space will act as an entire archive of queer creators for people to find! As such, if you see something you like, don’t be afraid to go find out more! The links for Kara Jorgensen are below.
Links:
Website: http://karajorgensen.com
Books: https://books2read.com/ap/nAkLmr/Kara-Jorgensen
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/karajorgensen
Chaos Gays’ Kinship and Kindness review: https://chaosgaysandteatrays.substack.com/p/kinship-and-kindness-kara-jorgensen
