Angela Slatter's Blog, page 75

Brisbane Writers Festival Schedule

Huzzah! It’s almost time for BWF!

I’m making two appearances:

Talking Get in Trouble with the wonderful Kelly Link

Auditorium 2, SLQ

06 September

2:30pm – 3:30pm

Event #: 141

Book here.

Then we shall speed ourselves along (I will carry Kelly as she’s the special guest) to:

Ancient Myths Modern Tales

A panel which I’ll be moderating and chatting with Kelly Link, Sjón, and Holly Black about mythology, fairy tales, folk tales, and how all of those thing feed into making up new stories.

The Edge, SLQ

06 September

4:00pm – 5:00pm

Event #: 151

Book here.

Make sure you book, for there’s nothing worse than the bitter sting of disappointment that a lack of preparation and ticket brings … unless it’s the humiliation of being left behind the velvet rope.

In the mail: much excitement!

So this just arrived! Lisa Hannett’s debut novel, Lament for the Afterlife from ChiZine Publications. Trust me when I say you need this book – it is breathtaking and amazing. I beta read it, so I should know.

The Newtown Review of Books: The Bitterwood Bible

Lisa’s photo

Lou Murphy has reviewed The Bitterwood Bible and Other Recountings for The Newtown Review of Books and it is quite, quite humbling.

“The Bitterwood Bible is a masterful offering of haunting stories that traverse the bounds of myth and legend.

In this prequel to Sourdough & Other Stories (2010) Slatter proves herself to be a master storyteller, offering a compendium of bittersweet tales to be devoured with relish. Weaving reappearing characters and their journeys through a landscape as bleak and unforgiving as it is psychically familiar, the 13 stories chart juicy plotlines of misguided love, sacrifice, and revenge.

The power of the written word itself is a recurring theme of The Bitterwood Bible. Thus, it seems fitting that the physical embodiment of this limited printing – complete with its ethereal illustrations by Kathleen Jennings – is so delightful. This beautiful edition is worthy of becoming an heirloom and deserves to be handled with the white-cotton-gloved care of the bibliophile. Books feature prominently in the stories; their power to hold magical secrets passed through the ages brings bloodshed and horror to those foolish or careless enough to loosen their guard on the supernatural tomes in their care. In ‘St Dymphna’s School for Poison Girls’, a story set in an establishment dedicated to the education of select young women in mastering the art of murder, one of the students – Mercia – pursues a secret mission: to transcribe the contents of The Compendium of Contaminants, rumoured to be the first and greatest of poisoners’ bibles.

… And this is why I am here; this is my initiation task to earn my place among St Florian’s secret sisters, the Murchianii, the collectors, the recorders, the travelling scribes who gather all manner of esoteric and eldritch knowledge so it might not pass out of the world. Folktales and legends, magic and spells, bestiaries of creatures once here and now long-gone, histories and snippets of lives that have intersected with our efforts, our recordings … and books like these, the dark books, the dangerous books, the books that some would burn but which we save because knowledge, all knowledge, is too important to be lost.

Each word is selected with purposeful intent to best deliver the shocking wisdom that lies at the heart of each story.”

For the rest, go here.

Flight – why is Kathleen Jennings so awesome?

Because the scarf the Giantess knits is a Doctor Who scarf. That is all.

Marianne de Pierres: Mythmaker

Following hot on the successful heels of Peacemaker, the delightful Marianne de Pierres is back with Mythmaker!

Virgin’s in a tight spot. A murder rap hangs over her head and isn’t likely to go away unless she agrees to work for an organisation called GJIC with Nate Sixkiller as her immediate boss. Being blackmailed is one thing, discovering that her mother is both alive and the President of GJIC is quite another. Then there’s the escalation of Mythos sightings, and the bounty on her head. Oddly, the strange and dangerous Hamish Burns is the only one she can rely on. Virgin’s life gets… untidy.

The book is out in October from Angry Robot Books.

What do readers need to know about Marianne De Pierres, and which story of yours would you recommend to a new reader?

I guess you would say that, for the most part, my stories are never predictable. Also, I write across genres: science fiction, fantasy, YA, children’s, and crime. So perhaps it’s me that’s unpredictable! A creature of whim with a passion for stories about female empowerment. I find it hard to recommend where to start with reading my books because they are quite different from each other. I’d suggest checking out the blurbs and being guided by what appeals to you.

Who were/are your literary heroes/influences?

SO many! But to narrow it down: D H Lawrence, Carlos Castaneda, A. C Clarke, Octavia Butler, T. H White, Anya Seton, Sigrid Undset, Ian Macdonald.

Where did the inspiration for the Peacemaker/Mythmaker series spring from?

I grew up on a diet of Zane Grey novels, so it was really just a matter of time before I wrote my own style of Western. Naturally it was going to have strong speculative elements. I couldn’t help myself. And setting it in Australia feels right. It was based on a short story I wrote a few years ago that was published by Cat Sparks, and later reprinted by Fablecroft.

You write across several different genres – what do you like most about each of them?

SFF is extremely liberating. I feel like I can let my imagination go wild when I’m writing it; whereas, contemporary crime is kind of soothing and fun. However, the more I write, the harder it gets to write without being dissatisfied. I’m always searching for the perfect expression of the idea. Nothing ever seems good enough.

Name five fictional characters you’d invite over for coffee and cake?

Nicole Wakefield (Rama series), Ash (Mary Gentle), Divine Endurance (the cat), Nxynissa (God’s War – Kameron Hurley), DI Steel (Stuart Macbride)

Twelfth Planet Press is bringing out your Tara Sharp series – how did that come about?

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Alisa before on my short story collection, Glitter Rose; so we’ve been keeping an eye out for another project. When Allen and Unwin passed on the next Tara Sharp book, I hoped it might fit with TPP’s new Deadlines imprint. They already publish Livia Day, and I thought Tara Sharp worked well with that. Fortunately, Alisa did too!

What first drew you to writing?

Reading. But also… I wanted to write since I was so young, it feels a little bit like it was in my DNA. My sister writes, so does my brother, so did my grandfather.

You’ve got an extremely active website community – how did you go about building that up?

Time and commitment.  It’s fun mostly, so that helps. I now have a group of great reviewers and bloggers who help me out. I couldn’t do it without them. We’re all committed to books and reading. They are very talented, but most of all they are consistent. It’s an important quality in a writer! 

What’s your favourite story – short or long form – ever and why?

Absolutely cannot answer that.

What’s next for Marianne De Pierres?

In the works is a SF thriller entitled PHARMAKON (part of my current university studies), book 4 of the Tara Sharp series, a picture book, and a SF screenplay. When I get a chance to create something new, I’m dying to work on a TV series.

Marianne de Pierres is the recipient of a 2014 Curtin University Distinguished Alumni award for significant and valuable contributions society. This award was given on the basis of her feminist science fiction. She is author of the award-winning Sentients of Orion and Peacemaker series. Her young adult Night Creatures trilogy was on the recommended reading lists for both the Stella Prize and the Victoria Premier’s Literary Award. Marianne also writes award-winning humorous crime under the pseudonym Marianne Delacourt. She is a writing educator, a proponent of New Media, and has been involved in several successful creative partnerships.

Hello, Norma

And our hon mention in the Norma K. Hemming Award (for The Female Factory) arrived in yesterday’s mail. Now to find a spot for it.

KSP Writers’ Centre 2015 Young Writers Residency

The closing date for the KSP Writers’ Centre 2015 Young Writers paid 10-day Residency has been extended to 5pm Friday 28 August 2015. Three positions are available. Talented writers under 25 years should apply for this unique opportunity. More details and application form here.

Spread the word!!

Uncorrected proofs squeees!

Few things are nicer than coming home to find something as lovely as this in the mail: my uncorrected proof of Of Sorrow and Such!!

The real thing is out at the start of October – you can pre-order here, using the Amazon and Barnes and Noble outlets.

Thanks to the most excellent novella team at Tor.com!

To Russia with Love and translation!

http://darkermagazine.ru/page/otkuda-...

My first ever translation into Russian!

Darker Magazine, Russia’s biggest horror e-zine, has a translation of my tale “Rising, Not Dreaming”, which first appeared in Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Innsmouth Free Press a few years back and was reprinted in Steve Jones’ Weirder Shadows Over Innsmouth.

Go here!

Flight – colours!

And now we’re getting to the colouring things in part of the process! When I say “we’re”, I mean Kathleen is doing all the work and I’m sitting back saying “More green, less red; insufficient mauve!”