Leon Stevens's Blog, page 15
May 4, 2025
Songs for a Sunday: Eurovision 2025 (Silver Suit Edition)
Two more hopefuls in the Eurovision title race:
VÆB (pronounced ‘vibe’) are a duo made up of brothers Matthías Davíð Matthíasson and Hálfdán Helgi Matthíasson.
The pair have been involved in music since they were young, having come from a very musical family. Their father, Matthías, is an organist, saxophone teacher and choir director. Their mother, Áslaug, is a singer and singing teacher.
After the group KAJ, I think they might come in second.
EMMY is a 24-year-old singer-songwriter from Norway. She was born and raised in a family that loves music and she has been singing her whole life.
Her career got a kick-start in 2015 when, aged 15, she participated in Melodi Grand Prix Junior, one of the biggest music competitions in her country. 6 years later, in 2021, she participated in Melodi Grand Prix, Norway’s pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. The song she performed was Witch Woods and it made it to the final of the competition.
If you missed my previous Eurovision hopefuls:
Weird Wednesday: Addicted to…Eurovision?
Songs for a Sunday: Eurovision 2025 (Part Deux)
-Leon
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words, and his latest sci-fi mystery, Euphrates Vanished.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Free books? Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and choose one or more!
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May 3, 2025
Weekend Wrap-up May 3: Time Management
Every wonder what indie authors do with their time? Write? Sometimes. Plot? Yeah. Edit? Most definitely. Look at their sales dashboard?
Bingo…
This is what my part of my KDP sales page looks like for this year so far:
As you can see (if you squint a bit, sorry), book one of my latest series is the top seller, followed by book two which came out on March. Hopefully, readers will continue the series and those two totals will begin to equal out.
I do like that my sci-fi trilogy is still attracting readers and I do get the occasional poetry book sale, but I admit I don’t promote my poetry enough.
I also spend time perusing news and social sites to find interesting content to share and comment on here on my blog.
Speaking of interesting content, did you know that the US government just launched their own news service, The White House Wire? Don’t go there unless you feel like reading about all the good and positive things the government has accomplished, unmarred by the traditional “fake news” media outlets.
A rosy outlook? For sure. Spin? Yes. Propaganda? You decide. No, don’t bother, I’ve done it for you.
-Leon
In case you missed my blog:Weekend Wrap-up May 3: Time ManagementFree Book Friday: In Conversation with Ronit J.Weird Wednesday: Seeing DoubleTuesday Tidbits: Whew…Monday Music: Saya Gray
Hope you enjoyed the recap! Feel free to share it with others.
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words, and his latest sci-fi mystery, Euphrates Vanished.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Free books? Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and choose one or more!
books.linesbyleon.com/Newslettersignup
May 2, 2025
Free Book Friday: In Conversation with Ronit J.
Ronit J is a fantasy nerd with big dreams and bigger anxieties, all struggling to make themselves be heard within the existential maelstrom that is his mind. Fantasy – and by extension – the whole speculative fiction genre is how he chooses to escape reality.
In Conversation With: Ronit J.
Today, I have the pleasure of sitting down with author Ronit J. Can I offer you anything to drink before we start?
Would it be too much to ask for a beer? A nice, dark stout would be perfect right now.
It’s a little early…but what the heck, I’ll join ya.
You are from Mumbai. There’s a lot of people there.
Far too many people. And not enough roads. You can’t even imagine the traffic, let alone every other issue that stems from a rampant population explosion.
What’s the best and worst thing about living there?
Best part? Well, I was born and raised here. So, no matter what, this place feels like home. Plus, the area I live in is pretty green, sorta quiet, and with loads of dogs and dog parents. That kinda makes up for the negatives.
The worst part? The noise. You’d expect the population to be a problem, but nope. It’s the noise. Construction noises. Traffic noises. Even in the quietest quarters of the city, you’ll still hear the infuriating beat of a jackhammer breaking concrete somewhere in the distance.
I know you have a new book out, but what started you on your writing journey?
It all started with Eragon by Christopher Paolini. I don’t know what it was about that Dragon Rider book, but the creative spark ignited a lifelong passion that is burning to this date. I was 11 when I read the book, and within a month or so, I started writing my first-ever manuscript. I wrote 100 pages before my hard drive crashed.
Since then, I’ve written 3-4 unpublished manuscripts (totalling some 400-500k words). All this before finally publishing my debut novel, Help! My Dog Is The Chosen One! in 2023.
What authors have influenced you?
Steven Erikson and Eiichiro Oda are two major influences. Both are known for their epic-scale storytelling. You can particularly see Oda’s influence on my debut novel, Help! My Dog Is The Chosen One! with all the absurd elements that come together. Erikson’s exploration of mature themes is what really fascinated me, and I aspire to write books as profound and thought-provoking as his. I wonder if that shows in Island of the Dying Goddess.
Apart from these two, Abercrombie and Sanderson are two more names that all fantasy fans will know of. They have influenced me as well; Abercrombie with his unique character work and Sanderson with his world-building and writing lectures.
Do you have a favorite book?
Not really. I have books that I rank highly, but I don’t have one particular book I’d call my favourite. Malazan is naturally on top of my list. So is One Piece. They’re tied. Right below them in no particular order, I’d include The First Law (haven’t read the Age of Madness yet), Berserk, Cosmere, Foundation, and the Murderbot Diaries.
Some non-SFF titles here would be War & Peace, Crime & Punishment, The Stranger, and Metamorphosis.
Let’s talk about your new book, Island of the Dying Goddess. Was it a new idea or one you have been mulling about for a while?
It was a purely new idea. In fact, I wasn’t planning on writing this one at all. I started to discovery-write the rough draft in November 2023, for NaNoWriMo. At the time, I was dealing with a personal tragedy that unwittingly made its way into my draft, influencing the plot and themes.
A few months before this, my father had a stroke. He was hospitalised for months, and as you can expect, it was a terrible time. My family and I were all mentally and physically drained in dealing with this ordeal. He did not succumb, but he was rendered paralysed on one side with his speech completely impeded. While dealing with all this, I had more difficult philosophical questions haunt me, which I ended up exploring through Island of the Dying Goddess. The book’s themes include grief, loss, mercy, and coping.
I’ve talked about this in the book’s preface. My father is alive and well at the time of this interview, but he hasn’t still fully recovered from the stroke. I’ve dedicated the book to him.
Who does your cover art?
My debut novel’s cover was done by The Hyphn. They’re a graphic design company run by my friend who I used to work with. I really love the quality of their artwork and 3D renders.
However, for Abandoned by the Gods and Island of the Dying Goddess, I did the covers myself. I have some experience with graphic design, and I reached out to my designer friends for honest feedback to help improve the covers. I try and stick to free resources (Figma, stock images, sketchbook app), mostly because I’m not yet in a position to invest a lot of money in cover art.
That being said, if you can afford it, please pay for it. It will be worth it.
I’m not familiar with any music bands from India. Care to share some of your favourites?
I don’t really listen to music all that much nowadays. But, back when I used to, I really enjoyed Scribe (Heavy Metal) and Avial (Rock).
Any other bands you like to listen to?
I love System of a Down, the Beatles, Megadeth, and Nile. I used to listen to a lot of metal when I was younger. Like I said, I don’t really listen to music much these days. When I do, it’s mostly instrumentals or Lo-Fi.
Are you ready for the lightning round?
Let’s do this!
Can you recite any numbers of Pi from memory?
3.1415 (yeah, that’s about it)
Hardest subject in school?
Economics. I still don’t really know how the economy functions; I just know it’s bad. Makes you wonder how many people even understand economics.
Most beautiful place you have stood?
Dalhousie. It’s a hill station in North India, and the hotel we stayed in had a view of the Himalayas. Plus, we visited a bunch of monasteries and valleys, all of which really put into perspective the natural beauty of our world.
Favorite city?
I’ve only ever lived in Mumbai. So, Hanoi. It felt like an upgraded Mumbai.
Oldest thing you own?
I have a small tin with a coin collection that has coins from the early 20th century, including pre-Independence India. It belonged to my grandparents.
Scariest animal you have encountered?
Religious extremists.
I’ve never heard that answer in all my interviews. It’s a good one.
This has been a pleasure. Thanks for chatting. Any links you want to share?
Book Links:Universal Link: https://books2read.com/islandofthedyinggoddess Website: https://ronitjauthor.com/books/island-of-the-dying-goddess/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223663634-island-of-the-dying-goddess StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/caad978a-1ec8-48ee-8520-05769ba3836f-Leon
While you’re here, check out Leon’s books!
Euphrates Vanished (Kindle/KU)A Matter of Sabotage (Kindle/KU)Don’t feel like buying the book?
Sign up to review Euphrates VanishedSign to review A Matter of SabotageSci-fi not your thing?
Try my two poetry collections: Lines by Leon and A Wonder of Words
The story behind Free Book Friday: I’ve met many authors and readers during my time marketing, cross-promoting, and blogging. I think writers have a responsibility to inform readers about all the indie authors out there in the very crowded world of book publishing. You can’t do it alone, and why would you when you have a supportive group available?
Readers don’t just read one author – they stick with their favorite genres. Therein lies the power in cross-promotion. If one of my readers buys a book from an author I promote, then chances are there will be a reciprocal effect, or so is the hope. Do I want to boost sales? Of course I do. Do I want to boost other’s sales? Why not. It’s called karma.
Some free book offers require a newsletter sign-up, which is a small non-monetary price to pay to try out a new indie author.
Purchase/Sales Links
Free books!
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words, and his latest sci-fi mystery, Euphrates Vanished.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Free books? Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and choose one or more!
books.linesbyleon.com/Newslettersignup
April 30, 2025
Weird Wednesday: Seeing Double
When you get an assignment to cover an accident involving a carjacking, you never know who your eyewitnesses will be. I’m sure this reporter could have ended the interview sooner, but he probably thought it was more interesting than the story itself.
Bridgette and Paula Powers run a pelican and seabird rescue in Australia.
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words, and his latest sci-fi mystery, Euphrates Vanished.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Free books? Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and choose one or more!
books.linesbyleon.com/Newslettersignup
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Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words, and his latest sci-fi mystery, Euphrates Vanished.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Free books? Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and choose one or more!
books.linesbyleon.com/Newslettersignup
April 29, 2025
Tuesday Tidbits: Whew…
Okay, not quite a majority, and the Conservatives won more seats than last time, taking a few previously Liberal held ridings along with stealing some NDP seats. But Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre lost his seat, which might be more telling than his party not winning the election.
What does this all mean?
The Liberal Party has 168 seats in parliament. The four other parties combined have 175, meaning if they wanted to, they could vote no on everything the Liberals wanted to do.
The Liberals had a minority last time but the NDP used this to their advantage by supporting them and giving them enough votes in return for passing several social programs like government dental and prescription plans. Not a bad thing.
In Quebec, the Bloc Québécois, a regional party focused on what’s good for Quebec (Canada’s second most populous province) lost seats to the Liberals, but can now lend their votes in return for favours for Quebec.
So now Canada has a leader who was once in charge of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, and navigated them through the 2008 banking crisis and Brexit. Now he can lend his expertise to figure out how to deal with a worldwide economic disaster brought on by the American president.
He might just be the best person for the job.
-Leon
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words, and his latest sci-fi mystery, Euphrates Vanished.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Free books? Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and choose one or more!
books.linesbyleon.com/Newslettersignup
April 28, 2025
Monday Music: Saya Gray
It pleases me to discover a new artist, especially a Canadian one.
But, is Saya Gray new to the music scene? Well, she worked as a touring bassist for over ten years prior to releasing her own music, most notably for Canadian singer and songwriter Daniel Caesar’s touring band. She has also been a musical director for American singer Willow Smith (Yes, that Willow Smith) and a bassist for English singer and songwriter Liam Payne (Yes, the late Liam ‘One Direction’ Payne).
So, no. Not new.
If you enjoyed those, here are four live tracks:
-Leon
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words, and his latest sci-fi mystery, Euphrates Vanished.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Free books? Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and choose one or more!
books.linesbyleon.com/Newslettersignup
April 27, 2025
Songs for a Sunday: Eurovision 2025 (Part Deux)
As promised, I made it through the 37 finalists in this year’s Eurovision song contest. Here are two more I feel have a chance.
Formed in 2021, the trio Mamagama has by now cemented itself as one of the most innovative bands in Azerbaijan’s music scene.
I get Daft Punk vibes in this song.
A singer and dancer since the age of 7, and a songwriter since his teens, Cyprus’s Theo Evan’s Eurovision Song Contest journey is the latest chapter in this artist’s story.
Feel free to disagree. There are two more coming tomorrow.
-Leon
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words, and his latest sci-fi mystery, Euphrates Vanished.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Free books? Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and choose one or more!
books.linesbyleon.com/Newslettersignup
April 26, 2025
Weekend Wrap-up April 26: Opportunity lost
We missed the boat. Or the plane to be more accurate.
I don’t remember my age when I first leaned about the Avro Arrow. I do remember that it looked damn cool.
That was Canada’s home-grown super-sonic fighter jet designed and built in the 1950 at the height of the cold war. Top engineers created one of the technologically advanced piece of military aircraft in the world at the time.
Then the US offered a handful of magic beans in the form of a bunch of Bomarc missiles to scrap the project and said they would use their military to protect us from the Russians.
So Canada literally cut up the planes with a chainsaw and let the brains behind the plane head down to the States to work for the American aerospace companies.
Yes, building planes are expensive, but who knows where we would be had Canada not be bullied by its southern neighbour. Now the government is having second thoughts about purchasing new F-35s to replace their aging fleet of fighters. Several countries have, in retaliation to the tariff fiasco, but Canada is on the hook for the first 18 and cancelling would cost billions.
Buying fighter jets is not like going out an buying a car. There isn’t a jet lot where you can peruse the models. With all the bureaucracy it took 10 years to come to the decision to buy.
That second place SAAB Gripon is looking pretty good now, isn’t it.
Here’s some more political commentary:
-Leon
In case you missed my blog:Weekend Wrap-up April 26: Opportunity lostWeird Wednesday: Addicted to…Eurovision?In Conversation with M.K. Weaving: RevisitedTuesday Top 10: Earth Day ThoughtsMusic Monday: LOONY
Hope you enjoyed the recap! Feel free to share it with others.
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words, and his latest sci-fi mystery, Euphrates Vanished.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Free books? Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and choose one or more!
books.linesbyleon.com/Newslettersignup
April 23, 2025
Weird Wednesday: Addicted to…Eurovision?
I’ve known about Eurovision for a long time but never paid much heed to it since last year when I discovered Croatian singer, Baby Lasagna and Dutch singer, Joost Klein.
How do you win the Eurovision Song Contest? Being the best musicians? It helps. Being outside the box? That helps to. Avant Garde? Weird? Over the top? It doesn’t hurt.
I decided to get a jump on the competition and listen to all 37 finalists. And I’ll share a few with you over the coming weeks.
KAJ is an early frontrunner in my opinion.
KAJ were formed in Vörå, Finland, in 2009 and have been making comedy and music together ever since. The trio quickly earned a reputation for their witty, nostalgic songs celebrating Finnish and Swedish culture; infused with Nordic folk melodies, modern pop and theatrical performances.
Go-Jo on the other hand…
Go-Jo is the music project of artist Marty Zambotto. The magnetic musician, who can play guitar and unicycle at the same time, is now based in Sydney after being raised off-grid in rural Western Australia.
Only 35 more to go.
Here’s what got me going down the rabbit hole:
Songs for a Sunday: Eurovision 2024
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Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words, and his latest sci-fi mystery, Euphrates Vanished.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Free books? Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and choose one or more!
books.linesbyleon.com/Newslettersignup
Join my email list
RECEIVE A FREE EBOOK WHEN YOU SUBCRIBE TO MY WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words, and his latest sci-fi mystery, Euphrates Vanished.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Free books? Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and choose one or more!
books.linesbyleon.com/Newslettersignup
In Conversation with M.K. Weaving: Revisited
I started interviewing authors three years ago and I thought it was time to contact them and invite them to revisit our conversation. Two interviews for the price of one? Can’t beat that!
Here is the sixth in the series.
In Conversation With (Revisited): M. K. Weaving
[Leon: Can you believe it’s been over two years since we did the first interview?]
[Minna: I definitely would have guessed it was only a year ago!]
[Leon: I heard you have a new book out. I’m sure we’ll get a chance to talk about it. I also realized that last time I didn’t offer you something to drink. That was rude of me. What will you have?][Minna: Thanks, I would be happy to talk about my new book. And, thank you, I’ll have a cup of java please.]
[Leon: Let’s see what was going on 2 years ago.]
Today I have the pleasure of sitting down with author M. K. Weaving. Thanks for dropping by.
[Leon: Glad to have you back.]
[Minna: Thank you, Leon! Glad to be here again!]
I try to do some research on my guests, but you have a very limited online footprint. Is this on purpose?
Yes. I do spend a lot of time online and I guess that’s why I want to limit my footprint. I was there when the internet was a baby and quickly realised that everything online is forever, but I’ve always loved technology, and I had the great fortune of being there when the Internet became a thing!
[Leon: Still no website. Your IG is full of doodles—labradoodles that is—but I see you still have a Substack newsletter.]
[Minna: My Substack, Cabinet of Curiosities, really is where all my current writing takes place. That’s also where my deepest online footprint is located. I write a lot of sci-fi short stories, but also essays on various human related topics. I belong to a group of creatives and writers called, The Soaring Twenties Social Club, and we publish a monthly Symposium on Substack. ]
Seeing that I can only base my questions on rumors and hearsay, let’s begin.
Fun!
What was the first book you remember reading on your own?
Nils Karlsson Pyssling by Astrid Lindgren (who also wrote the Pippi Longstocking books). I grew up speaking Swedish, so all my childhood books were in Swedish. This book is about a boy who discovers a tiny boy under his bed. This tiny boy lives in the wall of the house and through a magical word he helps the larger boy become small so they can play together. There is a wonderful scene where they share a gigantic meat ball! I loved the feeling of magic mixed with reality, and the fact that the little boy still was a human being. Just smaller, but still human.
The only thing I remember about the Pippi Longstocking books was that her pigtails stuck straight out.
I always wondered how the pigtails were able to stay that way!
What got you into science fiction?
The original TV series Battlestar Galactica! I was still too young to understand English, but loved watching Apollo and Starbuck fight the Cylons. I loved the spaceships! I also have an extremely vivid memory of seeing “The Planet of the Apes” on TV at an early age, and was blown away by the ending! I still love the movie and watch it every time it is on TV. Strange coincidence, but I got married on the cliffs above the exact location of that last famous scene which was filmed on Point Dume in Malibu, California!
Hmm. So it wasn’t New York after all … Damn them all to hell.
Maybe some serious plate tectonic movements occurred!
What authors influenced you?
Enid Blyton, Tove Jansson, Stephen King, Arthur C Clarke, Jack Vance, Isaac Asimov, Dan Simmons, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens.
[Leon: Any new influences?]
[Minna: Yes, Frank Kidd over at Pulp West and Pulp, Pipe & Poetry on Substack. Great writer. I fully expect his stories to make it on the big screen one day. ]
That’s a good list. Do you have a favorite book?
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. And – if I may break the rule, one more, The Compleat Dying Earth by Jack Vance.
[Leon: Any new favorites?]
[Minna: I’ve been a slow reader recently due to my own writing projects but I have two books I keep chipping away at: The Peregrine by J. A. Baker and Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe. ]
I was going to say you can’t but, you snuck it in, so … Anyway, one fact I do know is, according to Goodreads, that you were born in Finland. What made you move to Florida— Wait. Because of the cold, right? It’s got to be because of the cold.
I grew up in Finland. Yes, it was very cold there in the winters! I once got stuck in a snowstorm on a bridge and we had to dig ourselves out until finally a truck driver pulled us out of the snow! I first moved from Finland to California, where I lived several years before moving to Florida. My husband and I drove across the entire United States in the middle of the pandemic from California to Florida!
[Leon: Still in Florida?]
[Minna: Yes! Still in Florida, living my best life. Publix has amazing key lime pies!]
[Leon: Not going to get into politics. Wait. Yes I am. Care to sum up your feelings in one word?]
[Minna: Homeostasis!]
I always like to talk about music. Are there any famous Finnish bands?
Yes! I love music and there are indeed famous Finnish bands. Let’s see…
Eppu Normaali (great Finnish vibes!)Ismo Alanko (legend as far as I’m concerned)Nightwish (I don’t listen to them. Can’t handle metal but lots of people swear by them!)Darude (played in every American sports stadium every single game)[Leon: I don’t know if I discovered them before or after this interview, but I kinda like Steve ‘n’ Seagulls.]
[Minna: They’re fantastic, aren’t they! And I actually have a new band for you to check out, KAJ! They’re representing Sweden (!) in this year’s EuroVision Song Contest in Basel. KAJ is a band from a tiny village in Finland, and they sing in a very unique Swedish dialect. This dialect resembles my own Swedish dialect that I grew up speaking! Finland has a small population of Swedish speaking Finns. I belong to that minority group, as do KAJ! Check out their EuroVision song Bara Bada Bastu and Nissan Bromsa!]
Who do you like to listen to?
I’ve been on a Belle & Sebastian and Tame Impala binge. I also love Elton John, the ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ soundtrack, and Jungle. Oh, and DJEdit! There’s no rhyme or reason to my music taste. I love Bing Crosby, Fever Ray, and Fleetwood Mac.
[Leon: Any new favorites?]
[Minna: I listen to very little new music, but I love Yebba’s The Age of Worry and Diane Birch’s Fools.]
Are you ready for the lightning round? Wait. I guess we should talk about your book, Aubade .
Yes!
[Leon: Actually, we won’t. Let’s talk about your latest book, Aubade.]
[Minna: Yes! ]
[Leon: Wait. Did you know that your book starts the same way my book, Euphrates Vanished, does?]
[Minna: No way!?]
[Leon: My book description is:
“This is not a drill!”
He wakes up to the sound of his alarm and the announcement blaring. Looking around the room, he realizes he is a member of a starship crew. There’s only one he doesn’t remember who he is or how he got there. With no time to think, he finds his way to the bridge, while being careful not to call attention to his predicament.
That’s all I’m going to say about that…]
[Minna: Haha! This is so cool – maybe we both have tapped into the same sci-fi vibe. Maybe they’re on separate spaceships in the same story!]
[Leon: Now let’s talk about your latest book, Aubade.]
[Minna: Aubade sat in a folder for years. Literally. I have versions of Aubade from 2006. So it’s been with me for a looong time. It became a pet project that I would return to every now and then. When I began writing on Substack I decided to experiment with publishing Aubade as a serial. There was a lot of discussion on Notes about the good and bad of running serials on Substack (this topic pops up every two months roughly). Everyone was excited and hopeful and thought it would bring in lots of readers.
I was more skeptical and also early on Substack. But I have fewer readers. Since I’ve always had a soft spot for this space story, I kept going. I edited each original chapter and published a total of 20 updated chapters here. They’re now behind a paywall for subscribers. The most frequent feedback I got for my serial was: “Publish Aubade as a novel and I’ll buy it!”
This is what I originally wrote about Aubade when I first began publishing it as a serial on Substack:
Aubade is the story I can’t let go of. Every now and then I return to it, read through the whole thing, make a few changes, and then put it back in stasis. The reason I keep returning to this story is because I adore space adventures with strong female leads. I’ve had fun building a complex adventure. A story I personally would love to read or watch on the big screen. Do you know what I mean? Do you have one of these stasis stories too? Today I’m sharing with you the opening of Aubade. Let’s give it some air and see what you think. Would you like to read the rest of this story as a serial? After all, what good does a story do in stasis?]
[Leon: Plagiarism aside it sounds like an interesting book.]
[Minna: Haha, great minds and all that!]
[Leon: Let’s get back to our previous conversation.]
So. In 10 words or less, what’s No End Code about?
It’s about us humans in the near future…
OK. You can have a few more
… and where the human ends and the machine begins.
How did your book ‘No End Code’ come to be? Where did you get the ideas for your stories?
Many details in the stories are directly generated through dreams I’ve had. I’ve always found dreams incredibly helpful in my creative life. Moods, details, and scenarios unlike anything I could generate by daydreaming. No End Code came about as I was going through my collected writings and noticed that four of them belong together. An anthology format seemed suitable as I remember absolutely loving sci-fi anthologies, and still do. I subscribed to The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction for many years. There’s something uniquely satisfying in reading sci-fi short stories. I hope you’ll get a kick out of reading my sci-fi collection.
[Leon: Are you happy with the sales and reviews of your first book? ]
[Minna: I still operate with close to zero budget, so it’s an uphill battle to sell a lot of copies. Aubade was published on April 15th, so it hasn’t had much time out there yet. I’m excited to see how it will do, because it’s my first full length novel.]
Now are you ready for the lightning round?
I’m in that starting position 100 meter sprinters take before they run!
Last binged TV show?
Oak Island. I’ve followed the Lagina brothers and their treasure hunt since the beginning!
Oh, we could have a whole other conversation about that show, but let’s continue.
[Leon: Are you still watching? Honestly, I’m getting annoyed with the constant recaps and the lack of treasure. And the haphazard digging. And the fact that they never tried to block the flood tunnels…which would be the first thing I would have done.]
[Minna: Yes, I still watch! Haha, I know! All the wood beams they keep digging up. Poor Billy, the excavator guy. But now it’s almost too late to jump ship, so I keep watching!]
Weirdest food you’ve eaten?
A Finnish Easter delicacy called ‘mämmi’ – a molasses and rye flour dessert which has the unfortunate look of… well, poop.
Time travel. Possible?
I say yes. I really really want it to be possible, at least on some level. I love time travel stories and movies!
Favorite city?
L.A.
Analog or Digital?
Analog
What does M.K stand for?
Minna and K is a secret!
Scariest animal you have encountered?
Rattlesnake.
[Leon: Is it still a rattlesnake?]
[Minna: Yes, with a dash of black widow spider!]
This has been a pleasure. Thanks for chatting.
[Leon: Well that was fun. I always enjoy revisiting old interviews.]
[Minna: Thanks so much! My pleasure as well! Love chatting with a fellow sci-fi writer! And I still think it’s too funny that we both have a story that begins in such a similar way. Our characters must be relatives or something!]
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words, and his latest sci-fi mystery, Euphrates Vanished.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
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