Cailean Steed is a writer and teacher living near Glasgow in Scotland with their husband and son. They teach secondary English, and their life revolves a lot around reading and writing!
Cailean wanted to be a writer for as long as they can remember, and used to write stories for their little sister about her rabbits. They did a part-time MLitt at Glasgow University in 2017, which gave them the confidence to finish the first draft of the debut novel Home and send it out to agents.
Home was published in January 2023 from Raven Bloomsbury, and the paperback is out on July 6th 2023 – just in time for the summer holidays!
Meet Cailean Steed
Questions On Writing
What is the hardest part of your writing experience?
Probably finding time to write consistently. Having a job and family to juggle does mean that you just kind of have to snatch time where you can! However, I’ve been lucky lately that I’ve been able to cut back on the day job a bit to free up some time for writing. The absolute best thing is when I’m able to go away on retreats – having an entire week to do nothing but write is just bliss!
What have you learnt about yourself when writing?
That is a tricky question! I’m not sure – maybe that I am, like a Labrador, really motivated by snacks?
Do you make yourself write everyday/regularly, or only when inspiration strikes?
I have regular time during the week that is dedicated to writing, but when I’m coming up to a deadline or the end of a project I also crowbar writing time in where I can – in a leisure centre café while my kid is at a swimming lesson for half an hour, for example. But I much prefer having a dedicated chunk of time.
What does literary success look like to you?
While I wouldn’t say no to a spot on Oprah or Reece’s book club, to me literary success is being able to support myself and my family at least a bit on income from writing. Basically, being paid to write so that I can do more writing is success to me!
How much planning/world building do you do before writing, and how much comes along as you write?
It’s a bit of both for me – I tend to grind to a halt around the 20,000 word mark if I don’t have at least a rough outline of where the story is going after that. Generally I have a vague idea of the main beats of the plot, but there’s a lot of discovery writing in between those elements.
What is it that attracts you to a particular genre?
I don’t know if there is something that attracts me to a particular genre – I think genres are largely marketing categories, and there is huge variety and crossover within them. I just like a good story, and try to read pretty widely.
How do you celebrate when a book is published?
For my debut, the hardback, e-book and audiobook all came out in January. I had an amazing launch at Waterstones Sauchiehall St with friends and family a couple of days before the actual publication date, then on the day itself I think I had takeout and a glass of champagne. The paperback launch on July 6th will probably be takeout and champagne again!
Questions On Books and About You
Firstly, the most important question, what books are currently ‘on your bedside table’?
OH MY GOD SO MANY. Okay. I am rereading The Starless Sky by Erin Morgenstern and Piranesi by Susanna Clarke because they are both inspirations for my book two, which I’m currently editing. I am also reading Lucy Ashe’s debut Clara and Olivia, Carrie Marshall’s Autobiography Carrie Kills a Man, Heather Parry’s short story collection This is My Body, Given For You, and Pim Wangtechawat’s debut The Moon Represents My Heart. I am also reading an early draft of a novel from my friend Joma West, whose first book Face was absolutely brilliant. I am a complete goblin and have an awful habit of reading about five books at a time, which means I take much longer than I should to finish anything.
What children’s book would you suggest every adult read?
Jamie by LD Lapinski is about a non-binary kid who realises their only options for secondary school are a girls’ or boys’ school, and what happens when they try to change things. It’s a sweet, inspiring and relevant story, with a fun cast of characters and lots of straightforward information about what it means to be non-binary. As a queer writer who grew up during Section 28, I just can’t express how much this book would have meant to me as a kid. I think a lot of adults who are perhaps a bit confused or unsure about trans identities would benefit from reading this story.
What does your writing space look like?
It is my couch, so it is mainly blue and squashy. There is a table nearby for books, notepads and – most importantly – snacks.
How many books do you think you own?
NOT ENOUGH. Honestly, probably around two hundred…ish? I have had to start keeping some in my classroom at work because I am not allowed any more bookshelves in my house. I dream of a home library.
Who is your literary icon?
I have a tattoo of the last line of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas on my forearm, so probably him! I just love the audacious scope of his writing, along with how intensely real and multifaceted his characters are. His books all exist as parts of a kind of shared universe, which is something I’d love to do!
If you could own one rare/1st edition copy of a book, which would it be?
I used to have a copy of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens by James Barrie, which I loved because of the beautiful Arthur Rackham illustrations. I don’t know what happened to it; if I could find another copy I’d love that!
Is there an author who you always read?
There’s a few that I’d get whatever they published without knowing anything else about it other than it was written by them. David Mitchell, Scarlett Thomas, NK Jemison, Ruth Ozeki, Anthony Doerr, and RF Kuang.
And finally, are there any plans for any new books? If so, what teasers can you give us?
I am currently editing my second novel, a magical realist story about one woman’s search for a mythical drowned village in the Scottish Highlands, where it is said that lost things may be found. Also, I was very lucky this year to be awarded a Creative Scotland grant, which has allowed me to cut back a little on teaching and have a bit more time to research and write my third book, which is going to be a historical novel set in a travelling carnival in early 1900s US.
Thank you so much Cailean for your honesty😊I am definitely going to look up Jamie by LD Lapinski
Cailean Steed Books
Books By Your Bedside 