Friday, June 22, 2012

Random Interview Question: Kim Lakin-Smith



After writing several short stories that I enjoyed, Kim Lakin-Smith's novel Cyber Circus was recently published by NewCon Press.

Q. If you ran away to the circus, what act would you join?

A. If I could be any act in the circus, I would be an animal tamer. Wielding everyday household objects like a wooden chair or a bullwhip, I would commune with Vermicious Knids, take my vorpal sword in hand against the Jabberwocky, and set monsters off on a wild rumpus. The top hat is rather dapper too.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Random Interview Question: Adam Roberts

Adam Roberts has produced several entertaining and varied novels, including the Gulliver's Travels fantasy sequel Swiftly.

Q. Would you rather move to Lilliput or Brobdingnag?

A. I'm a shade below 6'2". My wife is 5'0", my 10-year old daughter approaching that height, my son 4 years old. I'm already living Gulliver's life in Lilliput. So the answer to your question is: I suppose I should probably give Brobdingnag a go, just to see what that's like. And, actually, if you've read Swift's novel you'll know that the Brobdingnagians are a much more civilised, reasonable bunch of people than the petty, belligerent Liliputians.


Friday, June 08, 2012

Random Interview Question: Gareth L Powell

I've been following Gareth L Powell's writing for a few years now, since we appeared in the same TOC in Aphelion magazine. Gareth's enjoyable space opera novel The Recollection was published last year. This question may not make much sense if you haven't read the book, but I don't want to spoil anything by explaining.

Q. If you were swallowed up by The Recollection, who (from anywhere or anywhen) would you hang out with?

A. If I were swallowed up by The Recollection, I’d get Jack Kerouac, Philip K Dick, Walt Whitman and Hunter S Thompson together for a night of wild talk; I’d argue about science fiction with JG Ballard, Douglas Coupland, Cordwainer Smith and Samuel Delany; and I’d get Stephen Hawking, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Marguerite Hay Drummond-Hay, and Brian Cox around a table and hang on their every word.





Thursday, June 07, 2012

Promising Start

Several monts after finishing Gap Years, I've started work on Promised Land, my third novel. I've been working on the synopsis, plot summary and other supporting nformation on and off for several months, but the concept for the story has been developingin my head for so many years I don't remember when it started.

First 1000 words complete, 99,000 to go.

Friday, June 01, 2012

Random Interview Question: Aliette De Bodard

Aliette De Bodard has written numerous short stories that I've enjoyed, several of which have been nomianted for or won awards or been included in Year's Best anthologies. Her Aztec fantasy trilogy Obsidian and Blood concludes with Master of the House of Darts.

Q. If you didn't like darts, what House would you be Master of?

A. House of Flames, definitely! I like setting random things on fire on the internet, and reducing people's preconceptions to ashes (aka write rants on genre on my blog and monitor healthy discussion. I swear; I'm just keeping the flamethrower handy in case something breaks down :) ). Plus, I don't like cold climates, so having flames in the chimney is a nice bonus...