When I first set up my blog one of my aims was to highlight inspirational women to show young girls they could aspire to achieve something that society, their school, friends or even their parents perhaps said they couldn’t. With that in mind, I interviewed authors, a charity CEO, and a friend who could best be described as a nomad, amongst others. I’m going to be re-running those interviews, with updates as to where they are now. To start us off, I’m catching up with Adele Wearing, founder of Fox Spirit Books.
I first interviewed Adele in 2012. She’d recently set up the ‘Girls Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse‘, was reviewing books for un:bound and was planning to edit an anthology called ‘Tales of the Nun & Dragon‘ which would help launch Fox Spirit Books. Over the last four years Fox Spirit Books have published over 50 titles, been shortlisted for a number of awards and won the BFS best indie press in 2015, had a launch event at Forbidden Planet London (African Monsters) and generally been insanely busy. Coming up they have the Pocket Party to celebrate finally finishing the Fox Pocket series (details here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fox-pocket-party-tickets-25343708715) and an event as part of the Everybody’s Reading Festival in Leicester in October. Beyond that of course they are going live this year with their first titles for both the Fennec kids and the FoxGloves martial arts lines. Busy times but Adele continues in her aim for world domination, with a very fluffy tail. You can find out more at Fox Spirit Books and on twitter.
And here’s the original interview!
You’ve been described as a feral leader, a muse who kicks people in the face as well as blogger, reviewer and publisher. That’s a lot of alter egos. Are you a secret agent in disguise?
No. I’m actually a changeling. Hagelrat is the closest translation I
could find of my species name in your languages, even then I had to go
half dutch. Knowing that you are a changeling can lead to multiple
personality issues. It’s ok though, you’ll never have to deal with all
the voices in my head, some of them aren’t safe in public.
When are you happiest?
When I’m right in the middle of something I love. That could be
kickboxing, working on the books, having coffee with friends and
sometimes there is nothing better than curling up with a book, a
coffee and my cats. It doesn’t take much to make me happy.
Which living person do you admire most and why?
Oh it sounds horribly trite but it’s true, so it’s my mum. I know what
she’s handled over the years and just how tough she can be when she
has to be.
So you’ve established and organised the Apocalypse Girls, Fox Spirit, Un:Bound, Alt.Fiction and more. Can you tell us a little about each project and your plans for the future (although world domination seems to be a given).
The Girls Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse was just a bit of fun
really, somewhere for a whole bunch of us to blow off steam thinking
about the end of the world. It took off far beyond what any of us
expected and we have been working on a pitch for it.
Fox Spirit is a new venture, things seem to have aligned and now I’m
an indie publisher which is a little unexpected. I love the books I’ve
got on board and the authors, it’s slightly terrifying and very
exciting. The first books will come out in July.
Un:Bound was where I started with it all really, it started as me
talking to myself, then I discovered the blogging community, events,
got a team on board and ten video editions happened. It’s a little
slower these days but still running and I still try to review
everything I read, which shows how much less i’ve been reading I
suppose, or at least how few finished books.
Alt.Fiction was an established event, run by Alex Davis for Writing
East Midlands and last year when Alex stepped down I took the reigns.
It’s a wonderful event with fantastic people involved and it was
wonderful to see it come together this year. Can’t wait for next year.
What’s next? oh umm, well let’s get the books out and the next
alt.fiction event (Leicester Central Library, 6th October) done and
umm a couple more tournaments under my belt, do the unbound fantasy
movie and take it from there? In spite of my claims to the contrary
i’m not really seeking world domination, I just want to see what I can
do. I guess the plan is to keep pushing until something stops me. Then
push harder.
Given all of the above, what do you consider your greatest achievement?
All in all I’d have to say getting to here from there. A couple of years ago I was unfit, unhappy, and facing the collapse of my supposed to be shiny new marriage. Now i’m training regularly, and well we’ve been through the rest but I’ve never been happier. So much has changed in a relatively short time.
And what would be your biggest disappointment?
Stopping. That’s it really. You try a lot of things, some work some
don’t, that’s fine, but to stop trying stuff, to settle for how things
are and not push to do more, or do things better would bother me. I’m
also very conscious of the fact that people are trusting me with their
work. Vince doesn’t let go of things any easier than I do but is
trusting me to do what I need to for the movie and the authors and
editors involved in Fox Spirit are putting their babies in my hands
and I have to make sure they grow and you know, not shake them.
When do you find time to sleep?
Ah, well biologically we only need a four hour cycle of REM sleep, so
it’s fine. Actually I am usually up around 5:20am and crash around
10pm so I get plenty of sleep usually.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
I embarrass easily and forget it just as fast. The last one I remember
was having to get a pair of swimming trunks at the gym because I’d
packed a shortish dress for work and forgotten to pack knickers.
Ooops.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Hmmm, people who only treat people well when they can do something for them. I fully recognise I am rubbish and unreliable when it comes to
doing social things or calling regularly, but I hope how I treat
people has nothing to do with what they can do for me.
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
Nothing. Oh I have regrets, but I’m happy with where I am now and
changing anything might bring the law of unintended consequences into play so I’d leave well alone.
Do you have any superstitions/quirks/unique qualities others would call odd?
Ha, I’ve been called on the fact that I talk to myself and other
things (I got spotted explaining to a snail why I was moving it the
other day). I also compulsively check the doors before bed.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Awesome, but everything is at the moment. I expect there are lots that I am happily oblivious too. I probably over use ‘when I take over the world’, but you know.
What is your most unappealing habit?
I snore, like a log cutter. Only when I’m unsettled but if I leave a
window open you can hear it down the street.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Angel delight or jello pudding. Butterscotch. I’ll mix it up with a
fork in a measuring jug and instantly eat it straight from the jug.
It’s not classy and I don’t care.
What’s your favourite movie?
Ooh, tough one. I must have seen The Lost Boys a bazillion times and when I recently saw it at the pictures for an 80’s event was lip
syncing line for line. Serenity is a regular re-watch, and The
Princess Bride will always be special. There are probably a dozen
films that I would always have to have whatever format we move into.
Ones I had on VHS and quickly replaced on DVD.
If you could be a character in any movie, TV show, or book who would it be and why?
She Hulk. I covered her for Know You Idols and face it, if I could
spend a chunk of my time being 6ft 7 of muscular awesome and the rest of it being a badass lawyer and self defence expert I totally would.
She Hulk loves being a Hulk, fully embraces it and makes it her own.
Although Hawkgirl is also very cool, can fly has big hammer. You may
be seeing a pattern emerge.
What is your earliest memory?
I’m actually not sure. I have blurry recollections of holidays and
things from when I was very small but i’m no longer entirely certain
what’s memory and what i’ve been told about. I remember going to buy fish with Grandpa when I was very small. He kept tropical fish and an
outdoor pond.
Tell us a secret.
Ah, should this be where I revealed I am a changeling? Rats. Something else then. I can’t buy cheese anymore, because I love it and if I have it in I will eat the whole lot in a day. I don’t even pretend to be using it as real food I just cut slices and scoff it down. So now I
only buy it when I have guests.
Thank you, that was fun. 
Thanks Adele, I’m sure we’ll be bugging you again for more updates in your quest for World Domination!