As part of our ongoing support for our supporters and Ireland’s thriving SFF scene, we’ve been interviewing the people who are right behind us with a Bid to host the Worldcon in Dublin, 2019. Paul is one of our steadfast supporters – and he’s currently got an Indigogo up for the third part of his Lady Raven series (we featured the first on Irish Fiction Friday a while ago when he launched book two – you can swoop in and read it here)

How would you describe your work to people who may be unfamiliar with you?

I write rock and roll! I’d never claim to be a literary genius. I just know what fun stories I enjoyed as a kid, and what stories I enjoy telling. My stories are adventure and excitement; tales of dark villains and troubled heroes just trying to do the right thing. I believe stories can change the world, and that people look for heroes wherever they can find them. So I want to show people that, no matter how bad things get, no matter how hopeless the world might seem, there are always people who’ll stand up and make a difference. Monsters can be beaten.

It is said that learning to write well is like experiencing a series of never ending writing related epiphanies. If you had to pick one, what is the most important lesson you have learned, so far?

Honesty. The media is built around telling people what’s acceptable, and more often than not, what we’re told is good is actually the furthest thing from it. I think authors have a responsibility to be aware of the work they create, and accept whatever praise and criticism they get for it. The world is changing. It NEEDS to change. And art has to reflect that change. We can’t look to works produced 50 years ago and expect the same cultural norms to fly today, not if we want our work to matter. So if we write something that lacks diversity, or depicts women, or any other marginalised group, poorly, we have to ask ourselves why we chose to do that. Nothing exists within a story without a decision from the author, and the author owes their readers, and themselves, the courtesy of owning those choices.

What are you working on now? Any new projects, novels, or stories that will be out soon?

I have just finished Blackened Wings. This is the third book in my Lady Raven series, which sees Cora Ravenell, the daughter of a noble, forced into poverty when her father dies. When her mother is accused of treason, she decides to fight back against the Empire that has made her into a monster, and embraces heretical magic to turn herself into something her enemies will truly fear. Blackened Wings will be out this summer, and sets the scene for the fourth and final book in the series, The White Raven.

As an author or creator, why is attending conventions important, and what do you love most about them?

It’s difficult for new authors to learn to network. People can spot insincerity a mile off, but at conventions, it’s so easy to simply chat and make new friends, it’s not really ‘networking,’ and yet there is so much you can learn from them. I’ve made great friends at conventions, and learned more than I can mention here about the industry and about the kind of writer I want to become. Writing is such a solitary activity, and conventions bring a much-needed human connection.

If I had to pick just one thing that I love most, it would be getting the chance to engage in deep conversations with some truly incredible people about a range of topics. I love getting all geeky about storytelling, and it’s a true joy to have a whole event dedicated to doing just that.

Why do you support the Dublin 2019 Worldcon bid?

Irish conventions are some of the best in the world. We love great stories. We love to support great causes. And we love to have a great time. Irish conventions embody my “Monsters can be beaten” mantra!

Paul Anthony Shortt believes in magic and monsters; in ghosts and fairies, the creatures that lurk under the bed and inside the closet. The things that live in the dark, and the heroes who stand against them. Above all, he believes that stories have the power to change the world, and the most important stories are the ones which show that monsters can be beaten.

Website: www.paulanthonyshortt.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pashortt

Twitter: twitter.com/PAShortt

The post An Comhrá / The Chat with Paul Anthony Shortt appeared first on Dublin 2019.

Today it’s time for The Chat with the fantastically talented Susan E Connolly!

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?
I am currently working with the BBC on a potential near-future SF TV show. It has everything! Gore! Emotion! Love! Challenges of prejudice! Intricate discussions of medical economics and insurance system complexities! (no, really)

Do you have a mentor or another writer who helped to guide you through your writing process or with developing your career? Who do you turn to for advice?

I have a ‘writing crew’ of three fabulous Irish ladies: Sarah Rees Brennan, C.E. Murphy and R.F. Long. Their work is amazing, their capacity for advice and support unsurpassed, and their baked goods to die for. I also rely upon my sister, Carol, for sage advice and her cruel red pen on first drafts.

From a fan perspective, what upcoming book, film, TV show, or comic are you most looking forward to seeing/reading

I am excited for any of the Marvel Cinematic Universe projects that will have a woman protagonist. Marvel has so many wonderful complex women in their canon. They keep teasing but not releasing, but I live in hope! Although they have at least set dates for Jessica Jones and Captain Marvel.

Do you have any advice for first time convention attendees?

Don’t be frightened. You will never meet a more welcoming group of people. George R.R. Martin was very kind to me when I ran into him at LonCon (literally. I was in a hurry and bounced off this poor man when running down a corridor. When I looked up from the floor I realised it was George R.R. Martin. After some panicked apologies and a stammering ‘I love your work’ he spent a moment chatting to me before heading off to his engagement).

Why do you support the Dublin 2019 Worldcon bid?

Dublin 2019 will be a tour de force. The amazing organizational talent, wonderful city (Best City in the World, fact), and craic-loving vibe that we saw at Shamrokon will only be more evident!

BIO

Susan E. Connolly’s first novel, the children’s fantasy Damsel, was published in 2009. Her historical comic book, Gráinne O’Malley: Queen’s Gambit, was released in 2015. She was a winner of the 2014 BBC Scriptroom initiative. Her short fiction has appeared in DailyScienceFiction and her non-fiction in Clarkesworld, Strange Horizons, The Center For Digital Ethics and the fanzine Journey Planet. Susan lives in Ireland, near the mountains. Also near the sea. Also near the forest (Ireland is a small country).

Website:  http://seconnolly.co.uk/

The post An Comhrá / The Chat with Susan E Connolly appeared first on Dublin 2019.

Can you spot Bekka in this picture ;)!

Today we continue our series of chats with authors and creatives who support our Bid for a Worldcon in Ireland for the first time. Bekka King is an author who lives in Seattle but is of Irish descent. Her work is features Irish mythology and is often set in Ireland itself. We caught up with Bekka to ask her some questions about her work!

QUESTION:

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?

ANSWER:

I’m currently working on a series of varied “creative fiction” spun off from a brief memoir called “Tales of a Tone-Deaf Walrus.”  Each novella is a semi-biographic reflection on topics of my choice, allowing me to flirt with an assortment of life fantasies.  The first – and already published – spin off, titled “Uncharted Passage: Toward New Realms,” is about a North American college student who visits Ireland as an exchange student who is also tracing her family roots in Counties Wicklow and Sligo (i.e., a semi-biographical me). In the course of her family research, she is approached by an Irish mythological being who informs her that she’s on a life mission that will serve humanity in a significant way. Numerous Irish mythological and supernatural beings of old (and present) have already been working ‘behind the scenes’ to support her pending mission and they now come forward ‘in person’ to support her in moving forward. Her secret superpower includes a family with various physical disabilities counterbalanced with several extra-sensory abilities – including her own ability to ‘see’ friends and relatives ‘pass by’ when they depart from this life. She is also growing into an inter-connected ability as an academic to provide world leadership (semi-biographic wishful thinking). The sequel is currently underway.

MENTORS:

QUESTION: (Please answer one of these questions.)

It is said that learning to write well is like experiencing a series of never ending writing related epiphanies. If you had to pick one, what is the most important lesson you have learned, so far?

ANSWER:

The most important lesson I’ve learned so far is that the most interesting part of a story for readers is in the sharing of the most deeply personal thoughts I have about whatever it is I’m writing about. In other words, I can most deeply engage readers by telling them those things that I least want to disclose on a personal level. This isn’t “sharing dirty laundry.” Rather, it’s about getting to – and writing about – the deepest parts of what make us human.

If I can add “the most interesting” lesson I’ve learned about writing, it’s that I actually learn a great deal about writing by listening deeply and carefully to music. For me at the moment, I’m learning a great deal about writing by listening to CDs by Hozier and Andrea Bocelli.

LITERATURE/ART/MUSIC/COMICS/ETC:

QUESTION:

What would you like to see more of from the science fiction genre–either in print, film or television?

ANSWER:

I’d like to see the writer’s community develop more consensus on the biological and behavioral characteristics of certain beings. Take vampires, for example. If you look for information about vampire characteristics in literature, conflicting descriptions emerge. There are conflicting literary references, for example, about whether vampires grow facial hair and whether vampires can see their reflection in mirrors. See this Wikipedia entry outlining the varied and conflicting characteristics of vampires in literature:

CONVENTIONS:

QUESTION:

As an author or creator, why is attending conventions important, and what do you love most about them?

ANSWER:

Connecting with readers! It’s easy for writers to get caught up in the world of writing – in the form of writing content, engaging with other writers, and learning to improve one’s writing style. Attending conventions, though, is a great opportunity to be reminded by readers what matters to YOU when you read a book. What is it you like about characters and stories? What turns you away from a story? You are the reason books get written, after all!

DUBLIN 2019:

What special or unique experiences do you think the Dublin 2019 Worldcon bid has to offer?

ANSWER:

Ireland has a rich literary and fantasy history dating back through many centuries. Where else in the world could convention attendees be on the lookout for a lycanthrope, nymphs, leprechauns, and descendants of Tuatha De Danann to magically appear together from the ether?

BIO:  Bekka King writes memoir and memoir-supported content. Her current “creative fiction” novellas are a semi-biographic reflection on topics of her choice, allowing her to flirt publicly with an assortment of life fantasies.  Some of this content grew out of extensive genealogical research involving her Irish roots (i.e., Irish fantasy).

Website: http://www.bekkakingblog.wordpress.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BekkaKingMemoirAuthor/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/bekkakingauthor

The post An Comhrá / The Chat with Bekka King appeared first on Dublin 2019.

RELEASE THE KRAKEN!

You may have noticed Iain’s work already; on our flyers and posters, at our tables, or maybe you were lucky enough to get one of our postcards of Mae Jemison; the first black female astronaut. He’s everywhere, and we love his work! Iain’s our chosen one for The Chat today!

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?

I’m currently providing artwork to support the Dublin WorldCon bid. It’s been a creative kick in the pants in the best way. I’ve always found it easiest to create pictures for a purpose, and supporting Dublin’s bid has been a great muse. My work has always had a genre slant and WorldCon is surely the ultimate genre convention so I’m delighted to be able to illustrate the bid.

A moody shot of Dublin at night…complete with a bit of Stokerism!

The trickiest part is representing Dublin and Ireland in a recognisable way without resorting to cliché. That, and getting the Kraken to sit still in the bath while I sketch it. I asked an Irish friend what defined Ireland and he said “irreverence”. I went with spaceships.

I’ve drawn extensively since I was kid in the 1970s. My drawing (much like my writing) started as homages to things like Doctor Who and Star Trek and developed into original work. I grew up reading the Doctor Who Target novelisations and apeing the Doctor Who art of Chris Achilleos, Frank Bellamy and Andrew Skilleter. At one stage I think I was convinced that illustrating Doctor Who would be the perfect career. Later I went through a productive phase of fantasy and Tim Bradstreet­ influenced vampire art for local and national Live Action Role­playing events, which feels like it sits somewhere in WorldCon’s family tree. If I’m honest, I find writing much easier than art. Writing is logic, art is emotion: a tempestuous rollercoaster of highs and lows. But I love it.

It is said that learning to write well is like experiencing a series of never ending writing related epiphanies. If you had to pick one, what is the most important lesson you have learned, so far?

Oddly one thing that really helps me when I’m stuck with a design is to ask myself the (faintly self-deprecating) question “what would a GOOD artist do?” It’s a helpful trick for getting off the conveyer belt of being you and trying to think differently about a creative problem. We all know good drawing and writing when it’s in front of us. Sometimes we just need to get our own habits and preconceptions out of the way.

Mae Jemison, the first female black astronaut in space

If you could recommend a book to your teenage ­self, what book would you recommend?

‘The Demon­Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark’ by the great Carl Sagan. There are many other pop science books out there debunking pseudo­science and logical fallacies, but this was the first one I read. I don’t think any non­fiction book had ever chimed with me so completely. It clarified a lot of things I already thought about the world, science and rationality but had never properly articulated. I think cultivating an effective bullshit detector is so helpful in life, not least navigating the stormy seas of internet debate and spotting logical fallacies as they sail over the horizon.

What would you like to see more of from the science fiction genre ­either in print, film or television?

More diversity, although at this stage that feels a bit like asking for world peace. More women in stories; a greater variety of different types of women. You watch so many dramas;­ SF or otherwise ­and there’s maybe one female character. If there’s two, it’s mainly so they can run the full gamut of hair colours. The same goes for racial diversity, diversity of sexuality and gender.

Just do it. Difference exists, so represent it, and in doing so you give people the gift of seeing their own experience in fiction, you’re more realistic, and you gradually change the mainstream perception of what’s ‘normal’. Shows like Orphan Black are remarkable exceptions, but I don’t see the default white, male, straight paradigm of TV and Movies changing very quickly. Statistically the lead character in an SF movie is far more likely to be a wisecracking white male jerk than anything else, which is a little bit depressing. Does that make me a Social Justice Warrior? Well okay then.

Third Rock from the Sun? Or just the CCD…?

Do you have any advice for first time convention attendees?

My first WorldCon was way back in the heady days of London in 2014, which means that I basically *am* a first time convention attendee. It was an immersive hug of an experience (http://iainjclark.livejournal.com/234980.html) and I can’t wait to do it again.

My main advice would be to stop and enjoy it! My wife and I went in with a detailed itinerary of must­ attend panels, signings and events that left (almost literally) no time to eat, drink or sleep. It gets to the point where you feel a vague sense of injustice at all the cool­ sounding events you can’t fit in. It didn’t take too long to realise that unless we dropped out of a few things we’d never survive. Doing that is what led us stop, breathe, browse, socialise, reflect and actually experience the convention.

Why do you support the Dublin 2019 WorldCon bid?

I think WorldCon should be a worldwide convention, and that means striking a balance between the US, Europe and all the other places in the world where fandom flourishes. I think it’s surprising that WorldCon has never been to Ireland in all its venerable history. Dublin has the perfect mix of rich cultural heritage, a European setting and strong ties to the US. I can’t wait to visit. (At this point I’ve drawn the conference centre so often I imagine it’ll be like Roy Neary seeing Devil’s Tower for the first time in Close Encounters of the Third Kind.)

Mystic roots for this wonderful image of one of the Sidhe

BIO:

Iain Clark watched the Apollo 11 moon landing from the womb (or so his mother claims) in the same year that Star Trek was cancelled and Patrick Troughton left Doctor Who. Despite these not insignificant setbacks he somehow became a lifelong fan of science fiction. (On one notable occasion his “What I did over the summer holiday” school report consisted entirely of a ten page synopsis of Star Wars.) He has reviewed TV and film for Strange Horizons, and was a panel member at LonCon 2014 discussing the Hugo Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form). He currently fits drawing and blogging around the capricious whims of his young daughters.

Website: iainjclark.livejournal.com

Twitter: @iainjclark

The post An Comhrá / The Chat with Iain Clark appeared first on Dublin 2019.

Russell got eaten by Fluff Cthulhu at Eastercon this year! Tasty brains!

How would you describe your work to people who may be unfamiliar with you?

My current work I would class as urban fantasy action adventures, so in world styles possibly familiar to Jim Butcher or Neil Gaiman readers, though suitably different from those things.

What is it about speculative fiction that you love or that inspires you most to write?

I actually just like to tell a good story. Though in addition, I am also fond of reading or watching one. Having said that, my influences include spy novels and sci-fi movies alike.

Speculative fiction is a large part of your writing life. Who have been some of your most important influences as a reader or as a writer?

As mentioned above, Jim Butcher and Neil Gaiman can certainly take some responsibility for setting me on the path I walk now. Ben Aaronovitch and Paul Cornell have been strong recent inspirations.

We all make mistakes as writers. Some good, some bad. What was the best or worst writing mistake you ever made? What was it about that mistake that qualifies it for the best/worst title?

I’m not sure how far into this gig I am for that question to have its most entertaining answer yet. That said, I should like to tweak my chosen author name just a little, so that you can see more of it.

In a world where everyone has a secret superpower what would be yours and what would be your superhero name?

A secret superpower should probably hold up as just that. Though I am always keen on sensible and rapid powers of flight. Perhaps I could be known as ‘XH558’ or something?

Social media has revolutionized publishing for everyone involved by collapsing the space between creator and consumer. Has the rise in social media affected you in any way?

I’m finding it difficult to quantify in that I wasn’t really around as a writer before the social media revolution. It’s great in that you can now talk to just about anybody, challenging in there are a lot of people vying alongside you to have their voices heard. I think overall it is a good thing, though I do have to develop some mastery of being in the right place at the right time, certainly compared to where I am now.

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?

That’s an easy one—I’m working on Book Three of the Grenshall Manor Chronicles. The biggest challenge has been the rest of the year. It has been a tough one for me which has disrupted my writing like nothing else I can think of. In terms of excitement, there’s plenty. I’ve got to think very carefully about certain things as I have a more ordinary protagonist in terms of raw power than for the previous two. But that provides options as well as setbacks, which makes this very exciting as a prospect to write!

It is said that learning to write well is like experiencing a series of never ending writing related epiphanies. If you had to pick one, what is the most important lesson you have learned, so far?

Probably being able to focus your main question of the story in an early chapter. It gives the audience and the writer direction in which both should reasonably expect to be led.

Do you have a mentor or another writer who helped to guide you through your writing process or with developing your career? Who do you turn to for advice?

I have several. Like-minded writing friends who ideas can be exchanged with, and my own editorial team, most of whom are writers themselves! The advice part depends upon what I’m needing to ask. How to make a sentence work the way I want it to is a very different question to what kind of medium sized firearm would be appropriate for a particular scenario and/or country.

What event or experience stands out as one of the ‘defining moments’ that shaped who you are today?

LonCon3 was not only my first WorldCon, but also my first real sci-fi/fantasy convention of that ilk. It opened doors, allowed me to cut my teeth on several panels and most importantly, gave me the bug to keep doing this sort of thing!

Over the course of the Grenshall Manor Chronicles, which character has surprised you the most or developed furthest beyond your original concept?

Of the main focal trio, each one of them springs a surprise on me in every new adventure they go on. Sometimes they develop fresh powers, other times they hone existing skills, and other times they just react in a way I have to rewrite the scene around when I finally notice…

What would you like to see more of from the science fiction genre–either in print, film or television?

Mad Max: Fury Road set a high bar for many things in the film world. Action, character development arcs, believable characters you could get behind regardless of gender. Worth anybody’s time.

What do you love most about attending Worldcons?

So much to do, so many people to see, so many new things to discover. A great time to be had.

As an author or creator, why is attending conventions important, and what do you love most about them?

It’s definitely about getting in touch with both your peers and your fanbase, potential or current. It gives all parties a chance to get to know each other better, which is vital for getting your name as an author out there.

Do you have any advice for first time convention attendees?

Chill out, don’t try to do too much, be where you want to be and above all, enjoy yourself. That’s what it’s all about, after all.

Why do you support the Dublin 2019 Worldcon bid?

It’s a nice easy hop for me in a city that is great for a convention such as this. Also, the Bid Team are great people!

What special or unique experiences do you think the Dublin 2019 Worldcon bid has to offer?

Tasteful green attire and an atmosphere you won’t get anywhere else, meant in the best way possible.

About Russell A. Smith:

Author of the Grenshall Manor Chronicles, Russell A. Smith has enjoyed many an adventure both with pencil, paper and dice, and also in real life. Each has been a formative experience for him. A keen petrolhead, he has a long list of things he wants to drive, and the list grows longer every day. Russell has enjoyed an eclectic career so far, with more interesting past jobs including editing newsletters and magazines, and spending a small part of the year as a Tudor soldier and time traveller. These days Russell spends a lot of time on tour across the UK investigating various houses and even more drinking tea. As well as writing, he enjoys a semi-regular presence on the Book Worm podcast on Fab Radio International.

Website: www.projectshadowlondon.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mister.R.A.Smith?ref=hl

Twitter: @RASmithPSL

The post An Comhrá / The Chat with Russell Smith appeared first on Dublin 2019.

Time for another Chat with one of our supporters, where we pester authors to answer some quick fire questions and tell us why they think a Worldcon in Ireland is a great idea! Adrian Tchaikovsky is a familiar face at many UK conventions, and we were delighted to catch him at this years’ Octocon in Dublin as well! Adrian’s new fantasy series Guns of the Dawn – which he describes as ‘Pride and Prejudice meets Sharpe’s Rifles head on (or “Pride and Extreme Prejudice” as a friend described it)’ will be released in paperback TOMORROW on the 19th November (so after you’ve read this, get ye gone and reserve your copy!), and his new series starts in March next year with The Tiger and The Wolf. Adrian is also best known for his long running series ‘Shadows of the Apt’, which ran to ten books, and included many more short stories and discussions on his webpage.

How would you describe your work to people who may be unfamiliar with you?

“Holy crap, spiders!” Or, more seriously, taking the road less travelled in epic fantasy (and, more recently SF). In Shadows of the Apt I’ve tried to take the traditional clash of empires and blend it with steampunk and a Sci-fi march of technology and all sorts of weird insect people rather than elves and orcs and the like. Guns of the Dawn takes a lot of the tropes of regency fiction, and the Polly Oliver story of a woman going to war, and takes Jane Austen to the Vietnam War. Children of Time is hard SF showcasing a very new and different alien culture and what happens when it runs headlong into humanity. I’m all about going to new and strange places.

It is said that learning to write well is like experiencing a series of never ending writing related epiphanies. If you had to pick one, what is the most important lesson you have learned, so far?

I recently went back to an older manuscript, from about 3 years before I got published, to see if it could be salvaged, and although the answer was “yes” it really brought home to me the bad habits I still have with my writing – mostly to do with how I tend to over-write if not checked. I’m hoping that will stand as a lesson for my future work, and start to cure me of them.

Over the course of your writing, which character has surprised you the most or developed furthest beyond your original concept?

In Shadows of the Apt there’s a character named Drephos. He is a villain – he’s a mad scientist type, basically, whose portfolio includes weapons of mass destruction. This is a bit of a spoiler, but he was supposed to die at the end of a relatively early book – he’d been the mentor to one of the heroes, and they clashed, and of course the hero was meant to finish him off. Except he didn’t. In fact the hero pretty much got talked round, because Drephos turned out to have some really scary, really persuasive (and very horrible) rhetoric. And so he lived, and he went on living, and continued to do terrible things in the world for the rest of the series. For someone who was supposed to just be a bad guy, he turned out to have a lot of mileage in him.

As an author or creator, why is attending conventions important, and what do you love most about them?

Writing is a very solitary pursuit. Conventions are really the only time I get to meet up with most of the other writers and industry types I know. Writing is a tough game, and the publishing industry is always shifting ground, and being reminded that you’re not alone, and that there are plenty of people in the same boat, is enormously mentally stabilising.

Why do you support the Dublin 2019 Worldcon bid?

Having been to both sides of Ireland a few times now, I’ve discovered that there’s a really strong and energetic fan community there that has a lot to offer. I’ve always been made very welcome, and Ireland itself has such a rich heritage of literature, history and legend.

Adrian Tchaikovsky was born in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire before heading  off to Reading to study psychology and zoology. He is a keen role-player and has trained  in medieval combat. He’s the author of the critically acclaimed  Shadows of the Apt series as well as standalone works Guns of the Dawn and Children of Time, and numerous short stories.

Website:  www.shadowsoftheapt.com

Facebook:  Adrian Tchaikovsky

Twitter: @aptshadow

Fan Art of Shadows of the Apt by David Mumford

The post An Comhrá / The Chat: Adrian Tchaikovsky appeared first on Dublin 2019.

Social media has revolutionized publishing for everyone involved by collapsing the space between creator and consumer. Has the rise in social media affected you in any way (good or bad)?

I don’t think I would have a writing career without social media. Twitter directly led me to my first book deal and my first short story commission. Of course, I had to do the work too – opportunities are worthless if you don’t have something you’ve written and want to get published – but I wouldn’t have had those opportunities to get my first work out there without social media.

Now that I have a few books out there, social media is the main way I stay connected to several communities and also communicate with readers. It allows me to participate in global conversations with geographically disparate groups of people who care passionately about all kinds of things. It can be a time and energy drain, yes, but I think the benefits far outweigh the costs for me.

It is said that learning to write well is like experiencing a series of never-ending writing related epiphanies. If you had to pick one, what is the most important lesson you have learned, so far?

That no-one can tell anyone else how to write. I’m not talking about the craft itself – I’m talking about cranking those words out and filling pages. I’ve seen people say you should write every day, you should write anything between 1000-2000 words per day, you should write in silence, you should write to music, you should plan everything first, you should never outline – URGH! The list of ‘shoulds’ goes on and on. I am a firm believer that the worst people in the world to give writing advice are writers. All we really know is what works for us. Not anyone else. I think the best thing I realised was that it was okay to experiment and discover my own process. Searching for some elusive secret to getting books written is just an exercise in misery and procrastination. You have to find it for yourself.

What are you working on now? Any new projects, novels, or stories that will be out soon?

I’m editing my second novel for Ace/Roc at the moment, having just finished writing a novelette for Abaddon Books for the ‘Monstrous Little Voices’ anthology which was a lot of fun. That comes out in March 2016, I think. The next novel to be published is ‘Planetfall’ which comes out on November 3rd 2015 and is my first science-fiction novel (my previous series was urban fantasy). I am very excited about it. Ace/Roc have been so supportive and have given the book an amazing cover which I absolutely love!

Do you have any advice for first time convention attendees?

If you’re anything like me, and massively intimidated by large social groups and crowds, that aspect can be tough. And if you find meeting new people hard (like me!) that can also seem intimidating. Happily, I can report from lots of experience that it’s so much easier to make new friends at cons than at the other social events we experience. People are there because they love something, and a shared love of something is a great way to break the ice.

I guess my advice would be to find people who are going to the con on Twitter beforehand and then chat on there first. It makes meeting them in real life a million times easier! And if you’re not on Twitter, see if the con has any newbie welcoming events (I’ve run them for Nine Worlds and will be for Bristolcon this year too) and if they don’t, contact the organisers and suggest it. They can really help make the event less intimidating. Lastly, I would say that if you can, remember that about 99% of the people there are feeling pretty much the same as you!

(The Lesser Snuffle-Nosed Emma hides behind some of our flyers at Bristolcon to protect us from perfidious germs)

Why do you support the Dublin 2019 Worldcon Bid?

Aside from Dublin being a beautiful city and the people being warm, friendly and hospitable? Well, I’m GoH for Octocon in Dublin this year and I’ve been utterly bowled over by the enthusiasm and warmth shown by the organisers and the convention attendees before I have even arrived! Honestly, there are a lot of passionate, friendly and downright lovely people in Irish fandom and I really do think that the Dublin 2019 team would put on a fantastic Worldcon for everyone to enjoy.

Emma is an author, audiobook narrator and also co-writes and hosts the Hugo-nominated podcast ‘Tea and Jeopardy‘. ‘Between Two Thorns’ was shortlisted for the BFS Best Novel and Best Newcomer awards. Her next book, Planetfall, is a standalone science fiction novel. Her hobbies include dressmaking and playing RPGs.

Website:  www.enewman.co.uk

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/EJNewman

Twitter:  @emapocalyptic

The post Emma Newman: An Comhrá / The Chat appeared first on Dublin 2019.

(Brian Showers)

As part of our regular features showcasing aspects of Irish SFF culture and fandom, Erin Underwood caught up with some of the leading lights in Irish publishing. Publishing is thriving in Ireland, with several presses, small and large, as well as a number of independent bookshops. Erin spoke to them about their work, publishing in Ireland, authors we should look out for and the allure of Dublin as a centre of literary culture.

Bob Neilson is the founding editor of Albedo One and is currently managing editor of the magazine and Aeon Press. He has had short fiction published  in several countries and radio plays performed on Irish National Radio. He has also written a graphic novel and several comics.

Website:  bobneilson.org

.

Brian Showers: The Swan River Press is Ireland’s only press dedicated to literature of the fantastic. Named for the now subterranean waterway that flows through the bustling neighbourhood of Rathmines, Dublin’s Swan River Press was founded in 2003 by author and editor Brian J. Showers. Since its inception, the press has specialised in literature of the Gothic, strange, and supernatural, with an emphasis on Ireland’s past and present contributions to the genre.

• Website:  swanriverpress.ie
• Facebook: facebook.com/swanriverpress
• Twitter:  @SwanRiverPress

What is it about editing that you enjoy most? And at what point did you realize that you wanted a career in editing?

Bob Neilson: Finding that next great short story – the one you want to get on the roof and shout about. I never really intended getting into editing. In the early nineties I was involved with the Irish SF Association and their magazine, FTL. When it folded there was no similar magazine in Ireland so, with some friends, I started Albedo One. Twenty-two years later I’m still going and we have a book publishing arm, Aeon Press and publish original fiction on our website www.albedo1.com, though this is edited by my colleague Frank Ludlow.

Brian Showers:  I originally started Swan River Press as a sort of joke—it was the name I attached to the hand-bound chapbooks I wrote and sent to friends and family as holiday gifts. The chapbooks became so popular that I eventually had people asking me if I would publish their stories in this format. Needless to say, the production process for these chapbooks was insanely time-consuming, so I had to decline. But I did realise I wanted to work with other writers. What sort of tipped me over towards doing it (instead of just thinking about it) were my own bad experiences with established published. Really reprehensible behaviour from supposed professionals. My thought was “I can do better than this”.

Which Irish speculative fiction inspired you most as a young reader?

Bob Neilson: I went through a fantasy phase in my teens and read some Lord Dunsany. In SF it has to be Jim White and Bob Shaw who were the inspirations for Irish writers.

Brian Showers:  Probably Dunsany, Le Fanu, Stoker, O’Brien. I encountered them all in various anthologies at the library. Though I did not at the time recognise them as necessarily being Irish. I didn’t think to myself, “I am now reading Irish speculative fiction”. They were writers who simply wrote what I liked to read.

Which new up-and-coming Irish speculative fiction writers or artists should we be watching over the next few years? 

Brian Showers:  Well, I wouldn’t call them up-and-coming, as they’ve both already established themselves as excellent writers, but I enjoy the stories of Lynda E. Rucker and Derek John.

Lynda’s already had published a collection of her short stories called The Moon Will Look Strange. Derek’s work is mainly uncollected, something that needs to be rectified. I also think Martin Hayes’s comics are worth having a look at, particularly his fictionalised biography of Aleister Crowley, Wandering the Waste.

As a follow up to the last question, are there any future publications that you are particularly excited about in 2015-2016?

Bob Neilson: Only our own. Though there may be a wonderful collection coming out from Liberty Press, edited by Brian J. Showers, including stories from some very talented local writers.

Brian Showers:  Swan River Press has a good few exciting publications scheduled by both types of writers: Irish and non-Irish. But those will be announced in due course. I never like to announce things until they’re nearly ready to go to the printer. Call it superstition.

With the rise of social media and inter-connectivity between readers, authors, and publishers, have you have any special publishing challenges or accomplishments as an Irish publisher in a global market? If so, what have they been?

Bob Neilson: Bruce McAllister’s novel, The Village Sang to the Sea, published by Aeon Press in 2013, was nominated for the World Fantasy Award. I’m pretty proud of that.

Brian Showers:  Believe it or not, Swan River’s biggest challenge is finding an Irish audience. Even for my overtly Irish books the interest comes from mainly the America and the UK. For example, I publish a journal called The Green Book, which specifically focuses on Irish fantastic fiction. That publication has more readers in Italy and Spain than it does in Ireland. I’m not entirely sure why.

Irish literature is known for breaking new ground, including in the area of speculative fiction. Given Ireland’s past contributions to the development of speculative fiction in all of its forms from authors such as Bram Stoker, Jonathan Swift, William Butler Yeats, and C.S. Lewis, who might you point to as having a significant impact on the development of the genre today? 

Brian Showers:  The only Irish genre writers I can think of who have a truly international/bestseller reach are John Connolly and perhaps Garth Ennis. As to how influential they are, I think that will be decided in the coming decades.

There is currently a bid to hold Worldcon in Dublin in August 2019. Worldcons generally offer regional flavour in the programming that is offered. From your unique perspective in the Irish publishing industry, what might a Dublin Worldcon in 2019 have to offer that is specific to Ireland or Irish culture?

Bob Neilson: A con in Dublin will guarantee the best time the attendees have had at a science fiction event. As long as they are prepared to let their hair down.

Brian Showers:  Dublin’s streets are filled with sites of literary and historical interest, both genre and non-genre alike. There’s the hospital where Lord Dunsany was taken after a piece of shrapnel lodged in his face during the Easter Uprising, and just behind Busáras is the boyhood home of Lafcadio Hearn. And in the suburban streets of Rathgar is the house where the poet AE held his salons and helped birth Ireland’s twentieth-century literary scene. Dublin is like a book and its streets are quite readable.

If there was one thing you could say to someone who is still undecided about whether or not Dublin could support a world class Worldcon in 2019, what would you say?

Bob Neilson: You obviously haven’t been here. Come and see; go away convinced.

Brian Showers:  There are some really great Indian restaurants here, plus a few new vegan places that are worth trying. The coffee in Dublin is also good, something to do with the composition of the water, I’m told.

Where can readers go to learn more about your authors and your upcoming publications?

Bob Neilson: The best places are our website and our Facebook.

Brian Showers:  We normally do limited and numbered special editions of most our books, and for the same price as the standard edition (while supplies last). So it’s always good to place your order quickly if you want things like signed postcards, bonus CDs, free booklets. Keep an eye on our Twitter feed, Facebook page, and most importantly, join our mailing list.

The post Interview: Irish Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishers appeared first on Dublin 2019.

We continue our series of An Comhrá / The Chat with Christopher Golden, who sat down with us to discuss all things Dublin 2019, as well as to talk about his recent work.  Christopher is is the New York Times bestselling author of SNOWBLIND, TIN MEN, DEAD RINGERS, and many other novels. A comic book writer, screenwriter, and editor, he is also the co-creator (with Mike Mignola) of the long-running Dark Horse Comics series BALTIMORE. He was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family.

How would you describe your work to people who may be unfamiliar with you?

CG: I’m a storyteller first and a genre writer second. I love horror, fantasy, SF, mystery, thriller, westerns, classics, mainstream fiction…and I’ve written in many different genres for both adults and teens. I write comics and screenplays and I’ve written video games and radio plays and an online animated series. Sometimes varying genres has been a boon to my career, and sometimes it’s been the bane. Growing up I had a particular passion for horror (I still do, though my interest are more diverse), so I understand and connect with readers of horror and supernatural fiction on a fundamental level. But I find that most genre fiction has roots that have spread into other genres’ gardens, and we have more in common than we once thought.

Do you have a mentor or another writer who helped to guide you through your writing process or with developing your career? Who do you turn to for advice?

CG: When I was quite young, I had a meaningful phone call from Charles L. Grant, who was rejecting a couple of stories I had submitted for his SHADOWS anthology series, but who was very kind. I think I was a high school senior or a freshman in college at that point. Other writers who were very kind and who took an interest or extended themselves on my behalf – even if just for a few hours – included Craig Shaw Gardner, Philip Nutman, Clive Barker, Harlan Ellison, Rex Miller, Ray Garton, Peter Straub, John Skipp, Craig Spector, Matthew Costello, Joe Lansdale, Stephen King (later on), and most importantly, the late Rick Hautala. Rick had been one of the writers I looked up to in high school and college. Over time, we became very close friends. Even though half the time it was me counseling him rather than the other way around, his knowledge and experience and wisdom were indispensable to me.

I’m fortunate enough to have a lot of writers I can bounce ideas or concerns off of these days, including Thomas Sniegoski, Tim Lebbon, James A. Moore, Charlaine Harris, Jonathan Maberry, Cherie Priest, Amber Benson, Mike Mignola, and people who will be irritated that I forgot to include them. When talking about mentors, though, I’d be remiss not to mention the wonderful editors I’ve had over the past couple of decades, including Anne Groell, GInjer Buchanan, Laura Anne Gilman, Michael Homler, Mark Tavani, Ed Schlesinger, Jennifer Heddle, Diana Gill, Lisa Clancy, Liesa Abrams, Scott Allie, Michelle Nagler…and again, I’ll get in trouble here. I’m grateful to all of them, and to both Lori Perkins, who was my first agent, and Howard Morhaim, who I hope will be my last. I should also say, let’s be clear, there are plenty of people out there who are the opposite – who would rather undermine you and see you fail – but those folks are vastly outnumbered by the ones who want friendship and alliance and who want to succeed together.

What are you working on now? Any new projects, novels, or stories that will be out soon?

CG: My SF thriller TIN MEN came out from Ballantine in June. In October, my horror anthology SEIZE THE NIGHT will be out from Gallery and the second graphic novel in my CEMETERY GIRL trilogy with Charlaine Harris from Penguin. In November, St. Martin’s will pub my new horror thriller, DEAD RINGERS. In January, Dark Horse will publish the hardcover of BALTIMORE: THE CULT OF THE RED KING, which is the sixth volume of that series. After that…nothing for a long stretch of months. It’s a lot at once, but much of that work has been done for a long time and just happens to be arriving in close proximity. I’m working on a new novel called ARARAT and a screenplay for a film franchise that I can’t reveal.

As an author or creator, why is attending conventions important, and what do you love most about them?

CG: It’s probably clear that I love meeting other writers, as well as editors and artists, and of course readers! Conventions are where and how we do that. Yes, it’s important for your career as a writer, but more importantly, it’s how we become part of the fabric of each other’s careers and lives. Meeting someone new with whom you really click is so valuable in life. If it’s a writer whose work you’ve admired, even better. And if it’s someone you’ve never read and whom you then discover is a brilliant writer…that’s the best of all. (Of course, if you discover they’re not, that can be awkward.) Going to a convention at this level is important to your career, yes. But it’s also about that feeling you only ever get when you’re surrounded by people who share your passions – that feeling that says “these are my people.” And then you’re home.

Why do you support the Dublin 2019 Worldcon bid?

CG: The simplest, most selfish reason is that I’m half Irish. I spent three days in Ireland once, at the age of twenty-one, and I’ve longed to return ever since. But heritage is only one part of it. Worldcon in Dublin means writers, editors, and other professionals from Ireland, the UK, and continental Europe will find it easier to attend, and the opportunity to meet them — especially in a place as beautiful as Dublin — is a huge draw.

For more information about Christopher Golden, please visit his web site, Facebook, and Twitter.

The post An Comhrá / The Chat with Christopher Golden appeared first on Dublin 2019.

How would you describe your work to people who may be unfamiliar with you?

I have an extremely varied CV! I guess I’m primarily known for writing much of the background and character material for 7TV, the cult TV skirmish/roleplaying game. I also spent a ridiculous amount of effort creating and casting non-existent movies and TV shows from the 60s and 70s for the music album The Sequel That Never Was. I was ideally suited to both projects as I rarely took my eyes off the telly at home between the ages of 8 and 23.

I’ve dabbled in lightly comedic articles of the sort you might flick through in a Sunday supplement, writing comics, designing Grandville miniatures based on Bryan Talbot’s graphic novels, and contributing to publications like Miniature Wargames and Journey Planet. I also created an unofficial mini-deck of tarot cards based on a well-loved set of children’s books.

I like to think that rather than making a big impact in any one field, I’m making multiple simultaneous ripples in many fields. Ponds. Boggy meadows.

It is said that learning to write well is like experiencing a series of never ending writing related epiphanies – the same for the creative process. If you had to pick one, what is the most important lesson you have learned, so far?

Focus on your writing. Eliminate distractions. The internet is your enemy and DVD boxsets are its evil henchperson. If you get stuck or hit a writer’s block, go out for a nice walk or take a long bath; it may not provide you with the breakthrough you need, but at least you’ll be marginally healthier or cleaner.

If you could recommend a book to your teenage-self, what book would you recommend? Why did you pick that book?

World War Z, by Max Brooks. I love that book – so many different voices and story viewpoints. And so intelligently thought out, from the non-effect of artillery shells on the living dead to the difficulties of making root beer in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. The all-star cast audio book is even better (make sure you get the unabridged version!) – I still can’t get through the bit about the Queen without choking up. Yes, my teenage self would love it.

Only… I was a teenager back in the 80s but the book didn’t come out until 2006. So if I went back in time and showed it to teenage me, what’s to stop me stealing the idea 20 years before it was even written? Teenage Me would absolutely do that, the scamp. And then Teenage Me would become awesomely famous and there’d be a World War Z movie made in the 80s starring ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper and Kelly LeBrock. But then Max Brooks would never write the book in 2006 in the first place, and I’d never be able to take it back in time and we’d all be caught in a terrible intellectual property theft temporal paradox! Fool! Why did I meddle with time? Why?

Do you have any advice for first time convention attendees?

Comfortable shoes. And a backpack to hold snacks and books to thrust in the face of your favourite author for signing. Before raising your hand in a Q&A, ask yourself ‘Will History judge me a colossal tool for asking this?’ Try to resist the urge to ask a world-famous anthology editor if you could be in their next collection. Unlike me.

Why do you support the Dublin 2019 Worldcon bid?

Here’s a (crappy) haiku I composed about the Convention Centre Dublin:

Curious venue,

neon barrel intersects.

Transporter mishap?

Helena Nash is a writer for Crooked Dice’s cult 7TV game and spin-offs, writer on Rich Morton’s speculative TV and movie theme album The Sequel That Never Was, designer of Bryan Talbot’s Grandville miniatures, and contributor to various geekish publications. She was born and lives in Hertfordshire, UK.

Website:  http://chocolate-ocelot.blogspot.co.uk/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/helena.nash.71

Twitter:  See above about distractions…

The post An Comhrá / The Chat with Helena Nash appeared first on Dublin 2019.