PHOTO: Author Regina Clarke, whose stories blend science, mystery, and metaphysics, reflecting a lifelong quest to explore what lies beyond the known.
A Bold Voice in Speculative Fiction Inspired by Metaphysics, Technology, and Boundless Curiosity
Regina Clarke shares how her academic and IT background, passion for metaphysics, and self-publishing journey fuel her genre-blending stories that explore mystery, fantasy, and the unexplained in life.
Regina Clarke is a speculative fiction author whose work boldly blends mystery, fantasy, and science fiction to explore the realms beyond everyday understanding. Drawing on her varied background in academia and information technology, Clarke infuses her storytelling with intellectual depth and technological intrigue. Her career journey—from teaching English literature to documenting advanced technologies such as virtual reality and military surveillance software—has profoundly influenced her unique narrative voice.
With more than 30 books published across genres, Clarke’s stories have appeared in respected outlets including Etherea, NewMyths.com, Titanic Terastructures Anthology, and MetaStellar, with several of her tales adapted for podcasts. Her writing resists easy categorization, reflecting an insatiable curiosity and a willingness to follow ideas wherever they lead.
Clarke’s writing radiates imagination, depth, and originality, making her a compelling force in speculative fiction and a champion of creative freedom.
Clarke’s diverse interests and experiences shaped the unpredictable evolution of her novels. For example, her book The Magic Hour began as a detective story centered on loss and personal struggle but transformed into a layered mystery and fantasy when the protagonist encounters alien phenomena and enters an alternate world after a car accident. This blending of genres exemplifies how Clarke’s narratives often emerge organically rather than from a strict plan, inviting readers into worlds where the unknown is a central character.
Her time in academia, teaching English literature, provided a foundation of literary knowledge and passion. Yet, Clarke found the constraints of academic rules limiting to her creativity. “There were barriers. I never seemed able to be at ease with that,” she reflected, explaining that she craved the freedom to question and expand the literary canon. Similarly, her IT career, though seemingly unrelated, contributed unexpectedly to her craft. Working as a technical writer in a highly specialized, technical environment taught her how to navigate complex systems and approach problems with persistence and curiosity—skills that translate into her imaginative explorations of the unknown. “It was a bit like being Alice in Wonderland,” Clarke said, capturing how technology constantly forced her to enter new, uncharted territory.
Facing rejection is part of Clarke’s journey, and she offers encouraging advice to aspiring writers: “Write what is in your heart to write. That is what you are here to do. And don’t stop.” Her own path included embracing self-publishing, which she began exploring in 2014 after discovering the traditional publishing route’s limited opportunities. Clarke’s tech-savvy background made adopting indie publishing platforms like Amazon KDP a natural fit. Since then, she has published 34 books independently, embracing the freedom to bring her literary visions to life on her own terms.
Themes of mystery and exploration are central to Clarke’s storytelling, reflecting her personal mission to probe the unknown. Metaphysics and ancient history frequently inspire her work, alongside everyday moments—a passing train, birds in flight, the quiet of fresh snow, or a child’s laughter. Clarke sees these details as portals into deeper truths beyond the five senses, and they fuel her stories with a vivid sense of wonder and possibility.
Regina Clarke’s work exemplifies how curiosity, combined with diverse experiences, can produce literature that challenges boundaries and invites readers to explore uncharted territories alongside the author.
Source: Reader’s House Interview with Regina Clarke
