Featured Interview With O.E. Tearmann
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
O.E. Tearmann is a pen name for a writing duo: Olivia Wylie and E.S. Argentum. When we decided that we were going to work together, we adopted this pen name. Why?
Both Olivia and E.S. study the Irish language. In Irish, ‘tearmann’ is defined as: noun. A refuge, place of asylum, home or sanctuary. When these two authors decided to write a series centering healthy social bonds as the best way to deal with traumatic events, and giving agency to marginalized characters, it seemed only fitting to use a name that means ‘a sanctuary’.
The O. in O.E. Tearmann, Olivia Wylie (she/her), is a professional horticulturist and business owner who specializes in the restoration of neglected gardens. When the weather keeps her indoors, she enjoys researching and writing about the plant world, the future, and the complexities of being human. Her solo work is in illustrated non-fiction works of ethnobotany, intended to make the intersection of human history and plant evolution accessible to a wider audience. Born in the deep woods of upper Wisconsin, she lives in Colorado these days with a very patient husband and a rather impatient cat.
As the “E” in the O.E. Tearmann writing duo, E.S. Argentum (they/them) brings to a life a cast of eccentric, loveable characters. They bring the same passion for diverse, character-driven stories seen in Aces High, Jokers Wild to their solo work. E.S Argentum’s fantasy and scifi romances center on GLBTQ+ relationships with the emotional comfort of your favorite puff piece, layered with rich, unique twists. They have short stories published in multiple anthologies under the pseudonym of Emily Singer, including Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Crossing Colfax and Ultimate Power, from Northwest press. When they’re not writing, they’re generally found playing video games, having existential crises, or napping with their cat.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
E.S. has been in love with writing since they were twelve years old. They used to escape classroom boredom by creating their own stories.
Olivia came to writing down the stories she grew up hearing as folktales much, much later: it was meeting E.S. that got her to start writing fiction. But she has loved books since she was big enough to hold them, and her library has many old and much loved (not to mention, taped) copies of her folktale books and plant-folklore books from childhood.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
E.S. has always adored Tamora Pierce, Neil Gaiman, and Gail Carson Levine. They share a love of Terry Pratchett's work with Olivia, who also adores Anne Block, Charles DeLint, and was definitely influenced by watching far, far too many episodes of the TV show MASH 4077 as a child. But what inspires us to write the Aces High, Jokers Wild series is this: so many people in 2016 were saying 'we're screwed' that we started to feel hopeless, more and more isolated and powerless. So we said 'okay, fine. Let's posit 'we're screwed'. Let's write the darkest version of America we can imagine. And then let's write our way out of it and into a better world. This way, we prove to ourselves and others that no matter how dark it gets, we really can turn it around.'
This is how the Wildcards and their world came to be imagined.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
Our most recent book, 'Aces High, Jokers Wild Book 5: Draw Dead' is the most recent installment in the Aces High, Jokers Wild series. It's one of the most tense stories in the series, but it was also our first chance to write through the eyes of a side character we've always loved to portray.
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