Carrie Vaughn Quotes

Powerful Carrie Vaughn for Daily Growth

About Carrie Vaughn

Carrie Vaughn, an accomplished American writer, was born on August 19, 1971, in Connecticut, United States. Raised primarily in Boulder, Colorado, her love for storytelling was nurtured early, with influences coming from a variety of sources, including the works of Ray Bradbury and Stephen King, as well as classic mythology. Vaughn attended the University of Kansas where she studied creative writing and journalism. Her professional writing career began in earnest in 1997 when her short story "Requiem for a Species" was published in Strange Horizons. This marked the start of a prolific career that has spanned over two decades. In 2003, Vaughn made her mark on the literary world with the publication of her debut novel, "Kitty and the Midnight Hour", introducing readers to Kittie Jones, a werewolf DJ living in Denver. This was the first installment in the critically acclaimed "Kitty Norville" urban fantasy series, which has grown to include 18 books. Vaughn's work often explores themes of identity, community, and the human condition, frequently set against a backdrop of fantasy or science fiction. Her other notable works include "Discord's Apple", a standalone novel set in a post-apocalyptic world, and "The Calculating Stars" (co-written with Martha Wells), which was a Nebula Award finalist for Best Novel in 2019. Carrie Vaughn continues to be an influential figure in the realm of speculative fiction, her compelling narratives and complex characters resonating with readers worldwide.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Sometimes you have to let go of the life you planned to live so you can find the one you're supposed to live."

This quote emphasizes the importance of flexibility and adaptability in life. It suggests that sometimes, our preconceived plans for our lives may not align with what is truly meant for us. The journey of life may present unexpected challenges or opportunities that require us to let go of our initial aspirations and embrace new paths. These unexpected turns can lead us to discover the purpose and fulfillment we are destined to find in a life that might be different from what we initially imagined, but ultimately more meaningful and satisfying.


"It doesn't matter how much you know if you can't remember it when it counts."

This quote underscores the importance of memory in applying knowledge effectively, particularly in critical or timely situations. Knowledge without the ability to recall it at the right moment is essentially useless, as practical application requires immediate access to information. This emphasizes the need for both accumulation and retention of knowledge in our personal and professional lives.


"The important things never wait. They happen now, whether we're ready or not."

This quote underscores that life doesn't pause for our readiness; significant moments often occur spontaneously and immediately. It encourages us to be prepared and seize opportunities when they present themselves, instead of waiting for the perfect moment which may never come. In essence, it's a call to action and a reminder that procrastination can lead to missed chances.


"Sometimes, the only way to figure out what's truly important is by losing everything else."

This quote suggests that understanding one's true priorities in life often requires experiencing loss or significant change, as it forces an individual to re-evaluate their values and focus on what really matters. In other words, when we lose the non-essential aspects of our lives, we are forced to confront and appreciate the most important things.


"You can't force destiny; you can only choose how to respond when it comes calling."

This quote by Carrie Vaughn highlights the idea that one cannot control or manipulate fate, but rather has the power to make choices in response to the events life presents. Essentially, it emphasizes personal agency and resilience in the face of uncertainty or change. It suggests that while destiny may have a course, our reactions and responses play a crucial role in determining our journey through life.


Robin McKinley's 'The Blue Sword' was a defining book of my teen years, and I'd love to have more books like that in the world.

- Carrie Vaughn

Love, More, Like, Sword

Writers can feel pretty powerless in the big corporate world of publishing, but sometimes our greatest power is the ability to say 'no.'

- Carrie Vaughn

Big, Pretty, Corporate World, Powerless

I wanted to be Carrie Vaughn the awesome writer, not the chick who writes the 'Kitty' books.

- Carrie Vaughn

Awesome, Books, Wanted, Writes

My parents are both huge science-fiction and fantasy fans - I was fed it.

- Carrie Vaughn

Fantasy, Fed, Huge, Science-Fiction

I would ask, 'Have you read '1984'? Have you read 'Brave New World'? If so, I'm sorry, but you read science fiction.'

- Carrie Vaughn

New, Fiction, Read, Science Fiction

I was born on Mather Air Force Base near Sacramento, but we moved around a lot.

- Carrie Vaughn

Born, I Was Born, Moved, Sacramento

I got into an argument with my original publisher. They wanted me to do 'Kitty' and nothing else. I wanted to do lots of things, not just 'Kitty' books.

- Carrie Vaughn

Nothing, Original, Argument, Kitty

Grand Central really didn't want me doing anything under my own name but the 'Kitty' novels.

- Carrie Vaughn

Doing, Want, My Own, Kitty

When aspiring writers ask me about how they should target their writing, I tell them to pay no attention to that kind of thing. It will restrict you. You will end up falling into stereotypes in an effort to tailor your work toward a perceived genre category.

- Carrie Vaughn

Tell, About, Aspiring, Category

Don't hold back in your writing. Take risks. Go ahead and tackle that crazy idea that you think will never fly, because that may be the one that makes you stand out from the crowd. Keep pushing the envelope.

- Carrie Vaughn

Crowd, Ahead, Idea, Envelope

I had a few really bad years in school, just from not fitting in and being bullied. It was kind of brilliant being a military brat, though, because when you're in that kind of situation, you just think, 'I only have to hang on for another year, because then we'll move. It'll be fine if I can just get out of here.'

- Carrie Vaughn

Bad, Here, Hang, Bullied

What's interesting to me is how many vampire/urban fantasy authors are writing young adult series as well, often set in the same world as their adult books, but focused on a younger audience.

- Carrie Vaughn

Audience, Fantasy, Set, Authors

Have a picture in mind of the kind of career you want, the kind of writer you want to be. This will help you make tough decisions when you reach crossroads - choosing an agent, deciding to accept deals.

- Carrie Vaughn

Mind, Career, Agent, Decisions

I admit, I'm suspicious of any career planning that involves chasing the next 'big thing,' just because it's so hard to predict what the next big thing is going to be a couple of years - or even six months - out.

- Carrie Vaughn

Career, Big, Next, Big Thing

If you sell yourself short before you even start, you'll never know how far you could have gone. Ambition is a wonderful thing and has gotten me farther than I ever thought I'd go.

- Carrie Vaughn

Thought, How Far, Gotten, Wonderful Thing

All writing and publishing is very difficult, regardless of genre. There are going to be obstacles no matter what.

- Carrie Vaughn

Writing, Going, Very, Regardless

I didn't plan to write YA - I had a story that simply wasn't working as a straight-up fantasy novel.

- Carrie Vaughn

Working, Fantasy, Had, Ya

I got a crash-course education in urban fantasy. I suddenly had to look up all these other writers I was supposed to be in a genre with. I instantly had to become an expert in this genre I knew almost nothing about.

- Carrie Vaughn

Education, Expert, Other, Genre

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.