Rock and Roll Will Never Die, Fiction, Issue 35, June 1, 2016

Terry’s tenth grade paper on the evolution of Frankenstein’s monster from tragic construct to boogeyman set her on the path of the weird and wonderful. As an award-winning fiction and screenwriter, Terry has worked with subjects from historical to futuristic and finds inspiration in the classroom where she teaches chemistry and astronomy to high school students. Her favorite question for them. . . If technology could make you immortal, would you choose it?

Get to know Terry...

Birthday? April 25, 1958

When did you start writing? I started writing when I quit work to stay home with my first child. It took me ten years to write my first novel, now trunked. I turned to screenwriting and won awards, even optioned two screenplays. Then a dry spell set in, and thirteen years later, I started a fantasy novel, Three Wells of the Sea, which was recently released by Digital Fantasy Fiction.

When and what and where did you first get published? The first short story I ever wrote won first place in a quarter of the Writers of the Future contest and appears in volume 30 of their anthology. I had written a novel and discovered that the best way to publication was to win this contest. 

What themes do you like to write about? I'm quite interested in consciousness and the connection of the individual to the entity of the universe. There is a philosophy batted about today called biocentrism which holds that the universe is a manifestation of the consciousness of those of us who reside in it. This idea intrigues me and my stories often explore facets of this theory. In spite of the fact that my subjects range from rock stars in space to an English teacher who is summoned back to the world he ruled as king, the theme of the evolution of the soul still bubbles to the surface. 

Awakening, Illustration, Issue 24, September 1, 2013

Amanda Makepeace is a visual artist inspired by nature, myth and fantasy. She grew up wandering the woods, reading National Geographic and always had a sketchbook on hand. In her spare time, she can be found reading, usually sci-fi or fantasy, drinking too much coffee and tea, or playing Skyim with her daughter.

Get to know Amanda...

When did you start doing artwork? My love of drawing and painting began in childhood. I loved watching my mother draw. It wasn't long before I was carrying a sketchpad with me everywhere. In my late 20's I began focusing on improving my skill and selling my art.

When and what and where did you first get published? My first ever published piece of art was for a computing textbook, Developing Java Software, 3rd Ed., for Wiley & Sons in 2005. I was living in London, England at the time and was lucky enough to be friends with the author.

Do you use reoccurring themes or images in your illustrations? Nature and magic often play a role in my paintings, even if only in a subtle way. But I'm also drawn to faces and the power of an expression. Sometimes these two themes overlap to tell a story.

What media do you like to work in? Why? I began my artistic journey as a traditional artist, but digital has freed my imagination. I love the immediacy of painting with my Intuos. There is no waiting for paint to dry. There is size limit. The possibilities are limitless. 

What artist's work do you most admire? How has this artist's work influenced you? There have been so many artists who have left their mark on my creative spirit. Some of my early influences were Georgia O'Keeffe and Frida Kahlo, both of which I still love. I've also been a long-time fan of fantasy artist Michael Parkes. Nature, Fantasy and Myth are all elements that can be found in their work and mine.

Moira's Mountain, Fiction, Issue 25, December 1, 2013

Biography

For the last twelve years I have been learning and growing in a men's group that explores story, myth and ritual on a path toward inner work. These men like my stories that come dark but with a measure of insight.

Before that I worked nights in a bakery--another kind of darkness and heat. I kept rewriting a novel about a Native American, with a working title of Broken Charlie. I have heard that the primary audience of a writer is the writer. In this way I learned a lot from old Charlie. And so these days I practice the sweat lodge tradition--I who was raised a good Catholic altar boy! Who could have guessed?

I have just completed a fantasy novel with a Brothers Grimm tale at the heart of it. And so my own work for personal change continues.

Get to know Eugene...

Birthdate? February 14, 1941

When did you start writing? In college in the sixties, first dark short stories and then poetry.

What themes do you like to write about? Most of my writing reflects the "wounded male" experience. I try to ask my protagonists questions that allow for some eventual healing and connection or at least a hope for these.

What books and/or stories have most resonated with you as an author? Besides Ursula LeGuinn and the canon of fantasy writers, I find greater and greater value in several of the stories collected by the Brothers Grimm, especially "The Juniper Tree," "The Devil with Three Golden Hairs," "The Water of Life," "Bearskin," "The Two Travelers," and "Iron Hans."

Why? How do these stories and their characters find expression in your work? I am attracted to unembellished "folk wisdom." Set down in the Brothers Grimm collections, these tales might seem flat. But as an oral storyteller I keep finding bits of my own experience connecting to these narratives and so I have been working through my own versions of these stories that I learn to tell--and so internalize. As a result, the so-called "magic" in these tales is grounded in a long-standing folk wisdom that connects me to my life.

A Travelling Age, Poetry, Issue 34, March 1, 2016

Toby MacNutt is a writer, artist, and teacher based in Burlington, VT. Their poetry and short fiction has previously been published by such places as inkscrawl, Through The Gate, The Future Fire, and Liminality. Visit them at www.tobymacnutt.com.

Get to know Toby...

Birthday? Feb 11

When did you start writing? I started writing as a child - the oldest poem I still have is written in my adorable eight-year-old handwriting. I kept on through adulthood; I knew enough writers I figured it was just what everyone did, but kept the work to myself or a few friends. Eventually, some of those writers talked me into attempting publication.

When and what and where did you first get published? My first professional (ie, paid) publication was my story "Morphic Resonance", published by The Future Fire in their anthology Accessing the Future. The first appearance of my poetry was in the magazine Through The Gate, a poem called "The Place Beneath." 

What themes do you like to write about? Shape-shifters, time travel, caring relationships, alternative types of bodies (golems, automata, elementals, magical constructs, etc), and water all permeate my work. Sometimes they're an expression of my experience as a disabled, queer, and transgender writer; sometimes not. I like introspective narratives that explore personal and interpersonal change more than external conflict and grand-scale action.

What books and/or stories have most resonated with you as an author? Why? How do these stories and their characters find expression in your work? I love stories where characters care about one another and their world, and where even if things are very bad indeed there is hope; I avoid gratuitous violence or bigotry. I love seeing characters and cultures beyond the standard straight white and Eurocentric, and most of my favourite stories, books, poems, etc feature characters from traditionally marginalised backgrounds, are written by marginal authors, or both.

My own work is informed by my own experiences while also enormously supported by these other authors and their works. They inspire me, encourage me, and in some cases share work, feedback, and crit with me and others, for which I am incredibly grateful. I appreciate that we can interact as a community of colleagues and friends rather than as competitors or enemies; it is hugely beneficial for all our work to have so much room to grow and share. Without them not only would my work not be developing on an ongoing basis, but most of it would probably never have seen the light of day!

Scheherazade, Poetry, Issue 34, March 1, 2016

Biography

Mack W. Mani was born in rural Washington State. He currently lives in Portland, OR. His work has appeared in various literary magazines including Neon, The Pedestal Magazine, and The Non-Binary Review. Visit him at www.MackWMani@Wordpress.com.

Get to know Mack...

Birthday? January 13th, 1990

When did you start writing? I wrote my first short story at the age of seven. It was about two astronauts who are stranded on a planet of 95% water. It was four pages long. 

What themes do you like to write about? I most enjoy the places where the ordinary and the bizarre meet. I try to play on the expectations of the reader and take them places they don't expect to go, but once they find themselves there, it should seem an obvious direction. 

What books and/or stories have most resonated with you as an author? Why? How do these stories and their characters find expression in your work? My favorite books are Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. The former is the most beautiful novel I have ever read, the second is the most terrifying. Both slowly draw you inward towards the center of their stories and feature unexpected, but incredibly fitting conclusions. 

In my own work, I consider the piece a success if I can pull the audience or reader into a place where they are asking questions and investing themselves in the story. That's where the fun begins for me as an author and I can start play with expectations and twists. 

The Sound of Steel on Stone, Fiction, Issue 38, March 15, 2017

Biography

I grew up wanting to be a beach bumb, then a philosopher, then Bruce Lee, and finally I got my BS in Biology from UC Riverside. After working in the field for some years, I turned to my love of books and storytelling. My mother always had books around and I was always a big reader. The love of my life, Cymphonee, helped me realize what I wanted to devote my time to. Now I spend my time doing what I love: writng all things fiction. My hard drive just died, so I’m now in the process of recovering tons of stories. Back your work up folks. Thank you for your time. 

Learn more at my blog Carved in Sand at shmansouriblog.wordpress.com

Get to know S.H...

Birthday? 01/19/1977

When did you start writing? About two years ago.

When and what and where did you first get published? December of 2014 was my first paid publication for a short story entitled “The Big Purple.” Acidic Fiction, run by Steve Davis, picked it up after a rewrite request. 

What themes do you like to write about? Most of my writing comes out dark and a bit brutal. I like realism, to paint worlds and characters which are gray. I like to write from the perspective of the underdog. Sacrifice is a big theme of mine. 

What books and/or stories have most resonated with you as an author? Why? How do these stories and their characters find expression in your work? The Little Prince, The Last Leaf by O’Henry, The Giving Tree, Ballad of the Harp Weaver, Martin’s short work. My mother sacrificed a lot for her children and some of these stories were passed down to me. Sacrifice, physically and spiritually, is a quality I grew up witnessing from my mother. It can be beautiful and bittersweet at times. My characters pick up the same qualities sometimes, like Illio and Sillus the Red in “The Sound of Steel on Stone” or Sepia the dragon in my story “Tied to the Whim of a Tender Tyrant.” 

Sisters, Fiction, Issue 65, Winter 2023

Carol Holland March lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  When she’s not writing stories, she teaches creativity and self expression at the University of New Mexico. She loves to  bike through the rural North Valley where cottonwoods rustle and the veil between the worlds sometimes disappears.

Get to know Carol...

When did you start writing? 

I started writing stories in grammar school.  I've worked as an editor and managed communications in education, human resources, and social service organizations. 

When and what and where did you first get published?

My first short story was published in 2011 in Mirror Dance, and since then I've published more than 20 short fantasy and sci fi stories in online and print magazines and anthologies. 

My trilogy of fantasy novels, the Dreamwalkers of Larreta,  came out in 2016-2017 from Ellysian Press. 

I also published two nonfiction books last year, a memoir about the intersection of creativity and spirit and an accompanying workbook.  

Why do you write?

What else would I do with the stories that drop into my head? 

Why do you write Science Fiction and/or Fantasy?

Speculative fiction offers me the best venue for writing about what is important to me.  I don't like being confined to the conventions of ordinary reality.  And I love new ideas!

Who is your favorite author? Your favorite story?

Nora Jemisin, Neil Gaiman, and Ursula LeGuin, who I met many years ago, when she had first published She Unnamed Them. It's one of my favorite stories for its luscious prose, beautifully realized conception of living a different kind of life, and the fact that it is a crossover from fantasy to literary. 

What are you trying to say with your fiction?

That there is more to life than what we perceive with our five senses.  We live amidst mystery and wonder and I hope, in a small way, to show that to my readers. 

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?

She never gave up. 

Do you blog?

Not very often, but yes, at https://www.carolhollandmarch.com/  

Breakfast, Illustration, Issue 2, March 1, 2008

Get to know Rey...

Birthdate? April 1st, just like the actor from the old samurai movies, Toshiro Mifune.

When did you start doing artwork? In Ms. Greenly's kindergarten class, I drew my name backwards in big red letters. This began my endless fascination with image manipulation. I spent the rest of elementary school tracing from comic books (Wolverine, Spider-Man, and especiallyBatman). Soon I was creating my own low-budget characters. Then one day (in high school), a friend showed me a book of paintings by surrealist Jacek Yerka. Since then, I have strived to be strange.

When and what and where did you first get published? I painted an Egyptian-themed mural for the University of California, Riverside, on a column in the history department. Stand in the right place and you'll see Osiris, Lord of the Underworld, pointing toward the men's restroom! At another angle, his sister Isis gazes off toward the women's restroom! This was totally unplanned! Believe me!

Who is your favorite author? Your favorite story? I love Philip K. Dick's short stories. Also, I have a healthy respect for Tolkien's Farmer Giles of Ham (so silly!) and the weirdness of Kafka's Metamorphosis. But my all-time favorite is The Thief of Always. Clive Barker's illustrations are perfectly eccentric, and his storytelling was never so lively.

Do you blog? Where? At reymarz.wordpress.com, I mainly blog about movies I've seen, detailing what's great and what makes me cringe.

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say? "This guy is so tough, not even death gets him down." And then, with a few strategically placed magnets, my gravestone will levitate!

The Hour of the Wolf. Fiction, Issue 48, September 2019

Donald McCarthy is a writer from Long Island, New York. A complete list of his publications can be found at www.donaldmccarthy.com.

Get to know Donald...

Birthdate?

June 18th

When did you start writing?

I started writing in the 2nd grade, when I wrote about a knight lost in the forest.

When and what and where did you first get published?

The first story I published was a horror piece in the magazine Cover of Darkness.

Why do you write?

Usually out of frustration with the way things are.

Why do you write Science Fiction and/or Fantasy?

It is the best genre for imagery, and I was always captured by images as a child, especially those old sci-fi paperback covers.

Who is your favorite author? Your favorite story?

I have three favorite authors: George R. R. Martin, Stephen King, and Ken Bruen. My favorite novel is "Duma Key" by Stephen King.

Memphis Street Railway Co. v. Stratton:  1915, Poetry, Issue 19, June 1, 2012

The Subtle Arts of Chemistry, Poetry, Issue 30, March 1, 2015

Biography

Elizabeth R. McClellan is a lawyer, poet and occasional loudmouth who considers the Middle and Western Grand Divisions of Tennessee her collective backyard because she lives in the geographic center of the state.  Her work has previously appeared in New Myths, Apex Magazine, Goblin Fruit, Stone Telling and The Legendary.  If asked to pick a favorite mythical girl gang, Ms. McClellan's preference is a photo finish between the Bacchae and the gopis.  Ms. McClellan's poetry performances can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/user/popelizbet and links to many of her published works can be found at http://www.elizabethrmcclellan.com.  Follow her on Twitter at @popelizbet or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-R-McClellan/159934464084348.

Get to know Elizabeth...

When did you start writing? I remember writing my first poem at the age of seven. I began writing for publication in my early thirties. 

When and what and where did you first get published? My work first appeared in 2001 in Vol. 29 of Firefly Magazine. My first professional sale was my poem "Anything So Utterly Destroyed," a retelling of the Frankenstein story from the point of view of the second monster, which appeared in the October 2010 issue of Apex Magazine.

What themes do you like to write about? Heroic monstresses and monstrous humans; soul confessions; old stories retold.

Nick Thumb, Monster Doctor, Fiction, Issue 26, March 1, 2014

Biography

Technically, Curtis James McConnell is BB King's half blood-brother. Reviewers and publishers have likened him to that other King, Stephen. Kurt Vonnegut, Ray Bradbury and Raymond Chandler have also been used to complete the phrase "the next ____."  Since name-dropping never works, he prefers being regarded as The Next Curtis James McConnell. He is the recipient of the largest single grant given by The Charles L. Lewis Endowment for the Arts and has been to all fifty United States.

Get to know Curtis...

Birthdate? Been so long ago I forgot.

When did you start writing? Mrs. Martin, my second grade teacher, had us writing a story a week.

When and what and where did you first get published?1985 in Au Verso, the literary magazine of St. John's College

What themes do you like to write about? What it means to be human. What it means to be a man. What women would like to have men hear and understand.

What books and/or stories have most resonated with you as an author? Why? How do these stories and their characters find expression in your work? "The Pink Worm" by Anthony Boucher. Golden Age Pulp. Everything from Hugh B. Cave right up to Elmore Leonard. I like to make the reader forget they're reading and then hit them with a sentence that reminds them why they are reading.

Ivy Covered, Fiction, Issue 13, December 1, 2010

Personal Histories, Fiction, Issue 14, March 1, 2011

Get to know Tim...

Birthdate? October 5, 1960

When did you start writing? For many years -- but I decided to get serious about it upon my return from 10 years in Thailand, in 1998.

When and what and where did you first get published? The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, June, 2000.

Why do you write? It's fun!

Why do you write Science Fiction and/or Fantasy? It's what I enjoy reading most, and they allow me freedom to tell any story I would like to tell.

Who is your favorite author? Your favorite story?  Favorite authors? That's hard! Right now, I guess it's Jack Vance, Theodore Sturgeon. Favorite story? You're kidding, right?

What are you trying to say with your fiction? It depends on the story -- often, I'm just saying, "Isn't this fun? Isn't this an amusing way to think of---?"

Do you blog? Where? Nope, and nowhere.

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say? Thankfully, that probably won't fall to me.

Man in the Mountain, Fiction, Premier Issue,  December 1, 2007

http://jmmcdermott.blogspot.com/

J M McDermott's first novel, Last Dragon, will be in stores in February 2008 from Wizards of the Coast's new Discoveries imprint. It is currently up for pre-sale at fine bookstores everywhere. J M lives in Texas near a river with his sister's cats. 

Get to know Joseph...

Birthdate? 12/17/1979

When and what and where did you first get published? I went to a private Catholic school for 7th-12th graders. I got a story in the high school literary

magazine when I was in the 8th grade. I was the

youngest "author" present in the issue.

Why do you write? As a profession, it beats digging a ditch. Pays about the same, though.

Why do you write Science Fiction and/or Fantasy? I prefer to write the truth, and doing so in such a limited form of expression as words requires bending

the real into a dream.

Who is your favorite author? Your favorite story? My answer changes every twenty minutes. Halldor Laxness' Iceland's Bell was the last book I read. I liked it.

What are you trying to say with your fiction? What do you think I'm trying to say with my fiction?

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say? It would be blank. I have nothing to say in death that I didn't say first in life. I don't give a damn what people think about my bones. 

Do you blog? Where? jmmcdermott.blogspot.com

Floral Pattern, Artwork, Issue 8, September 1, 2009

Biography:

Of the Bronx, New York then Anderson, Indiana and back: self taught for over 13 years, I have been studying basic web site/page building and graphic/digital designing for art events in a few locations in NYC, I'm also a cover artist of gaming,fantasy and sci-fi illustrations among my other designs of fractals too and a freelance graphic designer on the side too since 1996, pheeeeeeew so if you have a need for my skills please contact me for further discussion, thanks.Birthdate? 08/24/74

Get to know Junior...

When did you start illustrating? When I was 13 years of age, turn to digital artworks when I was 18 and never stopped since.

When and what and where did you make your first sale? At the Mounds Mall in Anderson, Indiana of November 2005, also at a silent auction in 2006.

Why do you paint or draw? It calms the mind, and flows of imagination, and creative skills start.

Why do you work with Science Fiction and/or Fantasy? Because I have been a fan of sci-fi and fantasy, it brings imagination to life, also the magic behind it and the artistry is awesome!!

Who is your favorite illustrator? Stan Lee. I was inspired by him also I graduated from the same school he did at Dewitt Clinton H.S.

What is your medium of choice? Do you work in any other medium? At the moment I stay with digital illustrations, because it fun and easier to do and I'm used to it, I hand draw a few times but only on a freelance basis if I need to create and sell logos, and t-shirts designs or snowboards to companies in need.

Does this particular illustration have a story behind it? Please share it. Not really more like a showcase of what it can be if a person where to have a story that goes with it.

Do you blog? Where? Sometimes, http://fractalking.blogspot.com

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say? That I'm not sure I have too many things in my head, lol!!

The Mermaid's Share, Fiction, Issue 26, March 1, 2013

Birthdate? 4/6/1975

When did you start writing? Meeting Ray Bradbury (before he died) sparked my love of writing.

When and what and where did you first get published? Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine published my short story, "Sun Ching Foo's Last Trick" in 2012.

What themes do you like to write about? Different stories expose different themes. I try not to be too intentional about what I write about. 

What books and/or stories have most resonated with you as an author? Why? How do these stories and their characters find expression in your work? Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson directly influenced "A Mermaid's Share". Tomato Red by Daniel Woodrell and James Crumley's C. W. Surghue novels taught me about the transience of life; in my current story, I think Captain Warwick could relate.

Biography

High school teacher, court auditor, and bartender are all jobs I've had. But reading and writing are my passions. You can find me on Facebook (message me first, if you want to add me as a friend). Currently, I'm a graduate student at the University of Minnesota.

Leviathan, Illustration, Issue 14, March 1. 2011

Bio coming soon.

Dancers, Illustration, Issue 32, September 1, 2015

Biography

Slowly recovering perfectionist, sometimes writing writer, artist, and an incredibly ADD knitter. I create realities that make our own look better. 

Visit Justine at https://www.behance.net/Fickle_Muse

Get to know Justine...

Birthday? April 28th

When did you start doing artwork? I've enjoyed art for as long as I can remember; I can't escape a holiday season without the reminder that one year all I asked my Grandmother for were new crayons. I didn't start doing it as a job until after college.

When and what and where did you first get published? My first published artwork was with Daily Science Fiction. My piece "Wonder" was the cover image for May 2012.

Do you use reoccurring themes or images in your illustrations? I've been creating a lot of character art lately.

What media do you like to work in? Why? It really depends on what I am creating; my style varies wildly depending on what I am working on. If I'm creating something digitally, I'm normally using a ton of exacting detail. (It helps to have an undo button, I won't lie.) If I am physically painting, it is likely something very abstract. 

Two Magicians, Flash Fiction, Issue 33, December 1, 2015

Jean McKinney is an author/designer and award winning creator of the urban fantasy novels and stories of the Moon Road and the historical fantasy series Sorrows Hill. Her speculative fiction has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies in the US and Europe including Saturday Afternoon, Lovers and Liars, Vox Femina, Les Chats Noirs and the Indie Authors short fiction collections. She lives in the borderlands of Southern Arizona, where she writes and produces images and graphics for the web. Visit her at www.jeanmckinney.com.

Get to know Jean...

Birthday? 19 August 1954

When did you start writing? I was telling stories about Mars before I could read, but I began seriously writing as a journalism student in high school. 

When and what and where did you first get published? Now that’s a tricky one. I was first published for pay at the age of 16 when I had my own column in a local newspaper. But fiction didn’t come till much later, when my first prose poem/flash fiction appeared in 1989 in a Los Angeles area literary magazine.

What themes do you like to write about? I write what’s variously called speculative fiction, slipstream fiction and urban/historical fantasy. I’m not sure what label really fits, but I’m always interested in exploring what happens when the surreal, the magical or the otherworldly bumps up against our everyday reality. I also feature characters who are struggling with walking between those two worlds.

What books and/or stories have most resonated with you as an author? Why? How do these stories and their characters find expression in your work? So many! But to list a few: the fine urban fantasist Charles de Lint, Emma Bull and her fabulous War for the Oaks, Terri Windling’s The Wood Wife, and Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. There’s even Barbara Hambly and her charming “silicon mage” series of a while ago – seriously outdated now but the story of a displaced computer programmer from our world who falls in love with an insane magician in another one still resonates. What all these authors have in common is their exploration of a character who’s forced to confront a world of magic – and what they do about that. So in my Moon Road books and stories we have everyday people who find out that there’s another reality coexisting alongside their own – and sometimes they fall into it. What do they do with that new knowledge?

Lilith, Fiction, Issue 27, June 1, 2014

Biography

A recipient of the Faulkner Prize for a Novel-in-Progress and a grant from the Sustainable Arts Foundation, Mary McMyne earned her MFA in fiction from New York University. Her poetry, fiction, and nonfiction can be found in Pedestal Magazine,The Los Angeles Review, Painted Bride Quarterly, New Delta Review, Word Riot, and many other publications. Her poetry chapbook, Wolf Skin, is forthcoming from Dancing Girl Press. She lives with her husband and daughter in northern Michigan, where she teaches at Lake Superior State University and serves as co-editor of Border Crossing. Visit her website to learn more: marymcmyne.com.

Get to know Mary...

When did you start writing? I wrote my first novel, about a boy who takes off in a cardboard-box spaceship, when I was nine. It fills two blue spiral-bound notebooks, labeled "Part I" and "Part II," which are safely gathering dust in my basement. 

When and what and where did you first get published? My first publication was a satirical article introducing Babelfish translations of classic poetry for Exquisite Corpse in 2002.

What books and/or stories have most resonated with you as an author? Why? Critical retellings of epics, folktales, and myths fascinate me. Grendel, John Gardner's retelling of Beowulf from the perspective of its famous villain, is one of my favorite novels because of the way Gardner uses Grendel's voice to explore the epic poem's religious complexities. Donald Barthelme's novel, Snow White, is another favorite because of the way Barthelme uses real-world documents like court transcripts and case files to show the psychological absurdity of the folktale. Another story that truly resonates with me -- and continues to do so, each time I read it -- is "She Unnames Them," Ursula K. Le Guin's story about Eve walking out of Eden. Le Guin's language is beautiful and intricate, as usual, but the real reason that story has stuck with me is the statement it makes about the destructive power of names. 

How do these stories and their characters find expression in your work? Reading so many retellings, over the years, I've come to believe that the very best have a clear reason for being; they exist not only to adapt or expand a familiar story, but also to say something, however subtly, about the original and the culture that produced it. I don't sit down to write a retelling unless I have some really powerful energy about the original: sometimes I'm drawn to a character who seems neglected, other times -- as was the case with a retelling of the Odysseus myth I wrote -- I hate the story and feel an uncontrollable urge to "correct" it. In this case, after reading Le Guin's story, I felt compelled to explore the character of Lilith, who appears to be left out of Le Guin's version of Eden, along with most others I've read.

And Here's Satan with the Weather, Flash Fiction, Issue 37, December 15, 2016

Brandon McNulty writes from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. His work has appeared in Sci Phi Journal, Digital Horror Fiction, and Acidic Fiction. He is a graduate of Taos Toolbox and a Writers of the Future semi-finalist. Visit him at www.facebook.com/brandon.mcnulty.

Get to know Jennifer...

Birthday? December 1, 1989

When did you start writing? When I was fourteen I tried writing a short story based on the Legend of Zelda video games, but it went nowhere. Then when I was a senior in high school my AP English teacher Mrs. Lampman gave us a creative writing assignment based on Dante's Inferno. Things clicked that time. Afterwards, I couldn't stop writing.

When and what and where did you first get published? Suspense Magazine published my story "Bottom of the Pile" back in 2011. Funny thing about that one: they never notified me about its acceptance, and I didn't learn of its publication until 2016.

What themes do you like to write about? Staying true to oneself, learning from mistakes, overcoming loss, free speech, how technology dehumanizes us.

What books and/or stories have most resonated with you as an author? Why? How do these stories and their characters find expression in your work?

My story "And Here's Satan with the Weather" drew influence from Bret Easton Ellis' work. I'm a huge fan of American Psycho and the way Ellis uses dark (and sometimes morbid) humor to get a message across without sounding too preachy. We can learn just as much from rotten characters as we can from admirable ones.

Sangromancer, Fiction, Issue 5, December 1, 2008

Author's Web Site: http://carpelibris.wordpress.com/

Get to know Melissa...

Birthdate? November 4

When did you start writing? As soon as I could hold a pencil. My first attempt at publication was in 1997.

When and what and where did you first get published? A short-short called “With I Weren’t Here,” in The First Line, 1999.

Why do you write? Because my imaginary friends won’t let me stop. The Carpe Libris gang won’t either, for that matter.

Why do you write Science Fiction and/or Fantasy? Because writing at the edges of possibility is the most fun.

Who is your favorite author? Your favorite story? How could I pick just one? Anything by Terry Pratchett, Lois McMaster Bujold or Robin McKinley is a winner.

What are you trying to say with your fiction? Look at what a human imagination can do! Come join the fun!

Do you blog? Where? I’m MelissaJM on Livejournal.

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say? To Be Continued.

Moonshine Girl, Illustration, Issue 27, June 1, 2014

Joshua Meehan was born in Reno, Nevada on May 9th, 1990 and raised with his five younger siblings in Anchorage, Alaska. Art began at the ripe age of 3, using crayons and markers on the walls and pillows of the house. His parents were always extremely supportive in the pursuit of art. Being home schooled, his parents took full advantage to create an art focused curriculum, which included private art lessons from local art teacher Betty Dye. Joshua and his family moved to Tucson, Arizona in 2002. Here he studied fine art at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and attended Ironwood Ridge High School. In 2008 Joshua received the Grand prize in the Congressional Art Contest for his District and earned the honor of Eagle Scout. Later he studied fine art and Illustration at the University of Arizona, and pursued large scale game and film projects creating content and providing leadership for production teams. He currently resides in Tucson, Arizona, where he works as a Freelance Illustrator and Concept Artist. Joshua is a winner of the Illustrators of the Future Contest, 2013.

Get to know Joshua...

Birthday? May 9th 

When did you start doing artwork? Passionately since I was 3, professionally since 2012.

When and what and where did you first get published? I first became a published illustrator in April 2013 when I became an Illustrator of the Future Contest winner!

Do you use reoccurring themes or images in your illustrations? I would have to say there is a similar lighting or color scheme to many of my paintings. 

What media do you like to work in? Why? I am primarily a digital artist now, and the reason I've done so much of it is because I can take it anywhere and still make complete paintings, plus Photoshop has a lot of tools to make designs quicker. With that being said I still love to paint in acrylics and draw with inks from time to time.

What artist's work do you most admire? How has this artist's work influenced you? Gah, this question is tough cause its more of a group of artists. Many of them work on Magic the Gathering. For example, Noah Bradley and James Paick, to name a few. 

There are artists who are legends like H.R. Geiger, Frazetta, Moebius, and Syd Mead. Who I look up to and strive to have a voice like they do. A constant struggle for sure.

A drowning/Leviathan, Poetry, Issue 23, June 1, 2013

Tyger, Tyger, Flash Fiction, Issue 26, March 1, 2014

Lynette Mejía writes science fiction, fantasy, and horror prose and poetry. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Redstone Science Fiction, Everyday Weirdness, Daily Science Fiction, and Strange Horizons. She is currently working on a master’s degree in English at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette with a concentration on Pre-Raphaelite poetry and creative writing. She is also hard at work on her first novel. She lives in Lafayette, Louisiana with her husband, three children, four cats, one dog, and one fish.

Get to know Lynette...

Birthdate? March 10, 1972

When did you start writing? I've always written, in one form or another. I was keeping detailed diaries at age 8. Stories and (really bad) angsty poetry as a teenager. Over the years I wrote stories for friends, and poetry for myself. It didn't occur to me, however, that this could be a job, that I could actually make money doing it, until 2007. 

When and what and where did you first get published? My first acceptance was a horror short story called "What Goes Around." It was published in Twisted Tongue Magazine in 2008. I only recently added poetry to my work, and I had my first poem accepted by Strange Horizons last fall.

What themes do you like to write about? I like to write stories and poems that have something to say about what it means to be Other. Whether they are human or not, my characters are always set apart in some way. It's a theme I come back to again and again, because I think it's a central concern of modern life. There are very few places left in the world where people don't interact with someone who is different from them; how we negotiate that relationship is, I think, the question of our age.

What books and/or stories have most resonated with you as an author? Why? How do these stories and their characters find expression in your work? My special love has always been mythology and fairy tales from all cultures. These are our oldest stories; the ones we've been telling one another since time began. They resonate with me because they carry within them the weight of our collective experiences and shared history. Even when I have no intention of doing so, some aspect of a myth or a fairy tale will almost always find it's way into my work, and I like that--it makes me feel as if I'm a part of a conversation going back thousands of years. 

Maternal Memory 7G, Poetry, Issue 63, Summer 2023

L. P. Melling currently writes from the East of England, UK, after academia and his career took him around the country. His fiction appears in several places, such as Fusion Fragment, Dark Matter Magazine, Flame Tree Press, Typehouse, Best of British Science Fiction, and Best Indie Speculative Fiction. When not writing, he works a specialist adviser for a legal charity and as it the mercy of his sausage dog's whims 

Get to know L.P. Melling...

When and what and where did you first get published?

I was first published at around the age of 12 years old for a specialist angling publication, which was a creative nonfiction piece. I wrote a few of them. I wrote a few short stories when younger. The first serious attempt was at university for a short story contest that I won. For reasons I still can't quite understand myself, I stopped for a while, and then started writing again consistently for the last ten years. 

Why do you write?

I write to satisfy my creative urges, as a form of meditation at times, and to explore the human conditions through different situations and possibilities. 

Why do you write Science Fiction and/or Fantasy?

I have been drawn to the genres since an early age. The Hobbit was the first book I read myself, and it fired my imagination like nothing else had before. I grew up loving the expansive ideas of SF and studied such works at university to make me appreciate the genres even more. All of this made me want to write such stories myself. 

Who is your favorite author? Your favorite story?

I think it is very difficult to pick one story, or even a favourite author. However, the author I love most for his incredible work and imagination is the late great Terry Pratchett, with Mort being my favourite story of his, and one of my favourites overall. 

What are you trying to say with your fiction?

It depends on the story and main characters within it, but I think at the heart of things it is always about how we should empathise and understand others and see the pros and cons of progression, whatever the situation is. 

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?

I wouldn't like to say myself as it should be for others to say, but I can tell you my favourite of all epitaphs is Spike Milligan's.

For Fiona's bio please click here

Eye of the Nightingale, Fiction, Issue 54, March 2021

Ville Meriläinen is a Finnish author of horror and fantasy fiction. His latest novel, 30 Rounds of Silver, and short story collection, Charnel House, are available on Amazon.com.

Get to know Ville...

Birthdate?

1989

When did you start writing?

At around age 16-17

When and what and where did you first get published?

In early 2016 I found a website asking for exactly 200 word flash stories. I wrote a draft directly into an email, sent it, and sold it for $2 a few days later. I bought a lollipop and a bus ticket with the payment.

What themes do you like to write about?

Contrary to the poet in "Eye of the Nightingale," I am all about the depressive stuff. Also oceans, trees, and winter.

For Dan's bio please click here

Stoneheart, Flash Fiction, Issue 56, September 2021

Jen Mierisch's dream job is to write Twilight Zone episodes, but until then, she's a website administrator by day and a writer of odd stories by night. Jen's work can be found in Storytwigs, Fiction on the Web, HAVOK, and various short story anthologies. Jen can be found haunting her local library near Chicago, USA. Read more at www.jenmierisch.com.

Get to know Jen...

Birthdate?

September 13

When did you start writing?

I've written on and off since I was a kid, but I started writing fiction in 2018. 

When and what and where did you first get published?

It was a little piece called "Chicago Shall Rise Again" in 50-Word Stories:

https://fiftywordstories.com/2019/07/18/jen-mierisch-chicago-shall-rise-again/

Why do you write?

When I'm writing, I feel like the best version of myself. I spent years not writing, feeling like something was missing. It's a creative outlet, doing something I love, which in turn lets me give more of myself to my kids and everyone else in my life.

Why do you write Science Fiction and/or Fantasy?

Most of my writing is humor and horror, but I have always loved science fiction for asking "What If?" and then taking you on that ride. I love how anything goes in sci-fi, any possibility can be explored.

Who is your favorite author? Your favorite story?

My favorite book is "Ghosts I Have Been" by Richard Peck. It never gets old; I must have read it dozens of times. It's got everything: comedy, tragedy, magic, history, great characters, and a lower-class heroine who gets to stick it to her upper-class rival.

Favorite authors: Sharyn McCrumb and Tracy Chevalier. Their characters are memorable, their settings are vivid, and their stories have a way of sticking with you long after you're done reading.

What are you trying to say with your fiction?

It depends on the story. I enjoy showing how universal human experiences are, whether they're funny, sad, or terrifying.

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?

"Old Virgos never die... they just finish their to-do lists"

Do you blog?

Occasionally at https://jenmierisch.com/blog-2/ 

The Serpent's Embrace, Fiction, Issue 59, Summer 2022

Bio

Scott lives in a yurt, in a fen, in end-of-the-road Alaska with a very patient wife and the world’s oldest puppy. When he’s not splitting wood or hauling water, he spends his time making up stories and cutting pictures into rocks.

His fiction has appeared in MetaStellar and Land Beyond the World, among other places.

Birthdate?

August 30, 1956

When did you start writing?

I started writing early in 2020 with a couple of children’s books – words and illustrations. Those went nowhere and didn’t quite scratch the itch, so I switched to speculative fiction early in 2021.

When and what and where did you first get published?

On 3/23/21, “FRIENDSHIP'' was published in the first issue of Del Sol Spec-Fic Review.

Why do you write?

Because I always wanted to. Because I need to.

Why do you write Science Fiction and/or Fantasy?

Speculative fiction was my first literary love as a child, and I never got over it. It feels like home.

Who is your favorite author? Your favorite story?

This is a hard one. There are just too many great stories out there. I have a new favorite piece of short fiction on a weekly basis.

 I know this dates me, but some of my all-time favorites are Ursula K. Le Guin, Michael Swanwick, and Samuel R. Delaney. Dhalgren still haunts me.

I’m reading more non-fiction lately: Barry Cunliffe, Brian Fagan, Barry Lopez.

What are you trying to say with your fiction?

Mainly, I just want to tell an entertaining story. If I can upset someone’s preconceived notions of reality, all-the-better.

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?

He has finally settled down.

Do you blog? 

 No

Sunken, Poetry, Issue 39, June 2017

Lev Mirov is a queer disabled mixed race Filipino-American poet, composer, and writer. His award-winning poetry has appeared in Strange Horizons, Liminality Magazine, Through the Gate, and elsewhere. His short work has been featured in the anthologies Sunvault and Myriad Lands. With his spouse Aleksei I. Valentin he writes fantasy novels. He is also a scholar of medieval religion and history. Follow his adventures on twitter @thelionmachine.

Get to know Lev...

Birthday? 

12 October, Indigenous Peoples' Day!

When did you start writing?

My first memory of writing is of being six and flipping through a catalogue and writing about what people in the catalogue were doing. Apparently before that I would draw scribbles through lined paper and "read" my stories aloud.

When and what and where did you first get published?

My first publication was the poem "A Broken Heart" in Liminality Magazine's first issue in 2014 (link: http://www.liminalitypoetry.com/issue-1/a-broken-heart/). My first piece of fiction appeared in the 2016 anthology "Myriad Lands II". It might be more accurate to say that I first self-published fanfiction and poetry online, though!

What themes do you like to write about?

Ghosts, revenants, faeries and immortal-yet-dead things -- but not for spooks. I am fascinated by religion and history, and frequently write about the past, both historical, mythical, and made up. I live in the southern US and really like to write about what magic haunts the landscape here. I'm also drawn to stories of exile and isolation, and unexpected or impossible connections -- especially if time travel is involved!

What books and/or stories have most resonated with you as an author? Why? How do these stories and their characters find expression in your work?

Growing up my biggest influence was JRR Tolkien's creation of Numenor and Gondor, especially the character of Denethor, and medieval Arthurian romances about Gawain. I actually have a secret life as a medieval historian of religion and magic, so these early influences led me into two degrees! I am always trying to write worlds with histories as rich as Tolkien's own. I frequently explore "missing" corners of Middle-earth, alternate histories, and what-ifs as jumping off places in my imagination. In long-form fiction I love to write the juxtaposition of the world of the medieval courtly romance with modernity. As an adult, Catherynne M Valente's works that mix myth, folklore, and historical setting inspire me to reimagine the familiar past to be as magical and strange as it is in folklore. 

Website? http://levmirov.wordpress.com 

Twitter? http://twitter.com/thelionmachine 

Patreon: http://patreon.com/levandalekseicreate

Incoming Star Spawn, Artwork, Issue 52, September 2020

I’m an Australian-based spray paint artist.  After working on becoming a tattooist, an issue with my hands led me to explore other creative outlets and I eventually found spray paint art. I enjoy painting abstract and celestial designs. Find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MiseryInkDesign88/  or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/miseryink_design/

How to Cook a Dragon, Fiction, Issue #64

Caroline Misner is a graduate of Sheridan College of Applied Arts & Technology with a diploma in Media Arts Writing.  Her poetry, fiction and non-fiction have appeared in several journals throughout the USA, Canada, India and the UK, too numerous to mention here.  She has also had work published in several anthologies and webzines. 

In 2009 she was nominated for the prestigious Writers’ Trust/McClelland & Stewart Journey Anthology Prize as well a Pushcart Prize in 2010 and 2011. In 2004 her novella received Honorable Mention in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest.  A short story was also a finalist in the same contest.  A novel, The Glass Cocoon was a semi-finalist for the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Award the following year.  Her novella The Watchmaker was published in November 2011 by Vagabondage Press and is selling well in e-book format.  Her YA fantasy novel “The Daughters of Eldox: Book I: The Alicorn” has been released by Whiskey Creek Press to positive reviews and the sequel entitled “The Daughters of Eldox, Book II: The Other” was released in the spring of 2016. Her historical novel entitled “The Spoon Asylum” was released by Thistledown Press in May 2018 and has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Governor General’s Award.

Get to know Caroline...

Birthdate? 

April 2, 1966

When did you start writing? 

As soon as I could hold a pen in my hand.

When and what and where did you first get published?

At 14 I had a poem published in the youth section of The Toronto Sun newspaper. I got a free T-shirt for it! My father tells me when I was 7 he entered one of my poems in a writing contest for kids and I won second place and a small trophy. I have no memory of that and the award is long gone.

Why do you write? 

If I can’t find an outlet for all the thoughts in my twisted imagination, I think I’d go mad!

Why do you write Science Fiction and/or Fantasy? 

It’s a genre where my imagination has free reign.

Who is your favorite author? Your favorite story? 

Besides Steven King, whom everyone loves, John Steinbeck, and his novella Of Mice and Men. I cry every time I read it! Also, Douglas Adams and his novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It makes me laugh out loud every time I read it!

What are you trying to say with your fiction? 

That we’re all human and we all face the same struggles and challenges.

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say? 

I don’t want an epitaph. When I pass, I want my ashes scattered across beautiful Eagle Lake where I live.

Do you blog? 

I used to but I just don’t have the time anymore.

Virtual Reality, poem, issue 51, June 2020

Debkanya Mitra is a student/writer in the DC Metro Area. She mainly writes poetry but sometimes also plays.

Get to know Debkanya...

When and where did you first get published?

I wrote a comically nonsensical and hopelessly edgy poem about autumn and materialism that got published in my middle school literary magazine.

Why do you write?

I write to make sense of the complex world around me.

Why do you write Science Fiction?

The near and far futures interest me. They leave me with both fear and wonder, which makes science fiction a stellar genre for me to read and write.

What is your favorite poem?

My favorite poem (in the relevant genre) is Adrian Henri's Tonight at Noon. I like the impossibility of it all and the warped world that Henri constructs.

Scour, Fiction, Issue 37, December 1, 2016

Sean Monaghan works in a busy public library in New Zealand. His stories have appeared in Asimov’s, Perihelion and Landfall, among others, and he was the Grand Prize Winner of the 2014 Jim Baen Memorial Writing Prize. Visit him at www.seanmonaghan.com

Get to know Sean...

Birthday? One December too long ago to mention

When did you start writing? As a teenager.

When and what and where did you first get published? My first publication was in Musings, the Massey University Literary Magazine, while I was studying at the university in my early twenties.

What themes do you like to write about? Where humanity is headed, and why families can be so tricky to navigate.

What books and/or stories have most resonated with you as an author? Why? How do these stories and their characters find expression in your work?

Mervyn Peake’s Ghormengast books stayed with me for a long time because of their wonderful, dark and decaying world. Geoffrey A. Landis’s novella “The Sultan of The Clouds” is another, with a remarkable world and tense action. I do find myself trying to create rich worlds, with quirky characters.

Kvasir's Blood, Fiction, Issue 42, March 15, 2018

Christine Morgan grew up in the high desert and headed north for water and trees as soon as she was of age. Twice married, twice divorced, twice cancer-battler, she has an amazing adult daughter who's a talented writer in her own right. Christine relocated to Portland Oregon a couple of years ago and has been active in the local bizarro and weird fiction scene; she's particularly known for her oddball crafts and bringing goodies to events. An avid reader, she's a regular contributor to The Horror Fiction Review. She also occasionally dabbles in editing, being four books into the Fossil Lake anthology series. Her other interests include superheroes, cheesy disaster movies, cooking shows, modifying Barbie dolls, and working toward becoming a crazy cat lady.

Birthday? March 30th, 1967 ... hit the big 5-0 this year, eek.

When did you start writing?

I was always the kid in my neighborhood friend group in charge of making up the stories we'd play with our dolls or plastic animals; the first story I remember actually writing was in a grade school journal assignment, about foxes trying to escape a fire.

When and what and where did you first get published?

My first published piece was a writeup of an alchemist and his shop, in Steve Jackson Games' Pyramid Magazine. My first pro sale was a zombie story called "Dawn of the Living-Impaired," to The Book of All Flesh anthology.

What themes do you like to write about?

My biggest loves are historical horror and dark fantasy, mythology, folklore, ancient cultures, combinations (Myth meets Mythos is always fun), mash-ups, pastiches, and smut. I'm a big fan of extreme horror a la Richard Laymon and Edward Lee, and some of my work is now tending in that direction.

What books and/or stories have most resonated with you as an author? Why? How do these stories and their characters find expression in your work?

That I've read? Landmark books include discovering The Shining when I was ten, Bernard Cornwell's Saxon series for waking my inner Viking, Edward Lee's City Infernal because his Mephistopolis is my favorite setting of all time, and a lot of non-fiction. That I've written? It's got to be the Viking stuff ... I knew I'd found my true niche when I wrote "The Barrow-Maid" for a historical zombie anthology, decided to see if I could Viking all the things for upcoming calls, and now here I am with one full collection (The Raven's Table) already and enough stories building up for a second. But I also must admit, I had great fun writing the badwrong stuff like Murder Girls and my Deadite Press debut, Spermjackers From Hell.

Website? https://christinemariemorgan.wordpress.com/

Facebook page? personal: https://www.facebook.com/christine.morgan.3154 ... author: https://www.facebook.com/christinemorganauthor/

Twitter? CMorganAuthor

Cat Waiting, Fiction, Issue 62, Spring 2023

Chris was born at Cowes, Isle of Wight, England and educated at University College London. He has done a wide range of jobs—many in the IT industry—and community projects. He’s widely-traveled, and enjoys performance art and reading. He has been writing creatively since 2015.

Get to Know Chris…

Birthdate?

9 October 1951

When did you start writing?

2015. I was a late starter

When and what and where did you first get published?

A horror short, 'Failures of the Heart', in Bandit Fiction, a British mag, 2020

Why do you write?

I started when I saw a young street beggar in Vienna, Austria, and imagined her life story. It went on from there, when I found I could tell stories, and enjoyed doing it. I learned as I went along (the 'beggar' novel never saw the light of day)

Why do you write Science Fiction and/or Fantasy?

I write in multiple genres, as ideas come to me. In SF, for some reason my stories usually turn out lighthearted, like Vercingetorix's

Who is your favorite author? Your favorite story?

In SF, Jack Vance. My favorite novel is probably Anne Bronte's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. For short fiction, Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu is hard to beat.

What are you trying to say with your fiction?

All good fiction reflects on the human condition IMO. I hope I have something interesting to say on the subject.

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?

'Here lies Chris Morey'? Sorry, it's a very old joke.

Do you blog?

I certainly do, via Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063344223409

Raccoon Ascendant, Fiction, Issue 50, March 15, 2020

J.D. Moyer lives in Oakland, California, with his wife, daughter, and mystery-breed dog. He writes science fiction, produces electronic music in two groups (Jondi & Spesh and Momu), runs a record label (Loöq Records), and blogs at jdmoyer.com. His Reclaimed Earth science fiction series (The Sky Woman, The Guardian) is published by Flame Tree Press. His short stories have appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, and Compelling Science Fiction. His novelette The Icelandic Cure won the Omnidawn Fabulist Fiction contest. 

Get to know J.D....

Birthdate?

June 11, which I share with Peter Dinklage!

When did you start writing?

Since I was seven years old, but more seriously in 2008 when I became a dad.

When and what and where did you first get published?

My first published story was “The Beef” published in Strange Horizons in 2016, about a cattle rancher deciding what to do with her herd once artificial meat fully takes over.

Why do you write?

Like many writers I enjoy the feeling of having written. Sometimes I enjoy the writing process itself, when the words flow effortlessly and a great scene arises seemingly out of the ether.

Why do you write Science Fiction and/or Fantasy?

I’ve dabbled in fantasy and horror but mostly I like to write plausible science fiction about possible futures and future problems of humanity. It gives me hope to imagine grim scenarios for humanity and possible ways to rise and/or evolve out of those situations.

Who is your favorite author? Your favorite story?

Octavia Butler is one of my all time favorite authors. Many of her darker societal predictions have unfortunately come true, but there is also a hopeful streak in her writing, an optimism about human potential.

What are you trying to say with your fiction?

That human/animal nature is mutable, and that what we think of as normal is constantly and rapidly changing.

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?

Nothing clever, just something about being a good friend, husband, father, son, etc. I’d be happy to be remembered for good relationships.

Do you blog?

I do blog, at jdmoyer.com. Though I have been blogging less since I have been writing more novels. My Reclaimed Earth anthropological science fiction series is published by Flame Tree Press — I’m currently working on Book 3. Don Sakers’ review in Analog Magazine said of The Sky Woman (Book 1) that it was “reminiscent of Ursula K. LeGuin” which to me is a huge compliment. 

Buried Words, Etched on Steel, Fiction, Issue 46, March 15, 2019

To Prove the Existence, Flash Fiction, Issue 49, December 15, 2019

Special Offer, Flash Fiction, Issue 58, Spring 2022

Something You Need to Find, Flash Fiction, Issue 64, 2023

Bio: Timothy Mudie is a speculative fiction writer and an editor of all sorts of genres. In addition to NewMyths.com, his fiction has appeared in Lightspeed, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Daily Science Fiction, Wastelands: The New Apocalypse, LeVar Burton Reads, and other magazines, anthologies, and podcasts . He lives outside of Boston with his wife and two sons. Find him online at timothymudie.com or on Twitter @timothy_mudie. 

Get to know Timothy Mudie:

Birthdate? 6/12/1983

When did you start writing?

I first started writing when I was ten years old.

When and what and where did you first get published?

Not counting school literary magazines, my first paid published work was a story called "Machines, Posthumans, and the Rest of Us," which appeared in the March 2008 issue of the unpronounceable magazine,The Fifth Di...

Why do you write?

Quite simply, I love stories, and I love telling the stories than I think up. I've been an avid reader ever since I learned how to read, so I think it was only a matter of time before my brain started coming up with ideas of its own.

Why do you write Science Fiction and/or Fantasy?

For one thing, I simply find it more fun. For another, I appreciate how SFF can be used as a lens to examine any number of real-world issues.

Who is your favorite author? Your favorite story?

I'm afraid I can't answer that question because there are just too many! I'm a big fan of Haruki Murakami, China Mieville, Jeff Vandermeer, and plenty of other writers. As far as short fiction, I'll read pretty much anything written by A. Merc Rustad, Sofia Samatar, Rich Larson, Sam J. Miller... the list goes on. But my favorite book, ever since I first read it at ten years old, remains Jurassic Park.

What are you trying to say with your fiction?

How successful I am at saying anything with my fiction is up for debate, but as much as I want my fiction to say anything, it's that we're all humans and all floundering in this hard world together, and the world is a better place when we understand that.

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?

He did the best he could.

Do you blog?

I don’t blog, but I do have a website that features my bibliography and information about the editorial services I offer: timothymudie.com.

Flip-Flop, Flash Fiction, September 1, 2009

Bonesy, Illustration, December 1, 2009

Biography:

M. O. Muriel's relevant credits include a B.A. in Creative Writing, which she achieved with high honors from the University of New Mexico, cum laude (May 2004). She also has three consecutive Honorable Mention wins in the L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Short Story Contest (Q3 and Q4, 2007; Q1, 2009), and has fiction sales in AlienSkin Magazine.

Get to know M.O...

Birthday? 9/14/1980

When did you start writing? Novel-length works--7 years old.

When did you start illustrating? Before I began writing stories to illustrate--I saw them first in my head, and art was my first expression.

When and what and where did you first get published? AlienSkin Magazine, in their Febuary/March 2009 issue.

When and where did you sell your first illustration? Right here, at NewMyths--yay!

Why do you write? Because I have way too many stories battling out epic soliloquies in my head for the number one position, so I need to flush 'em out before my head explodes. Really? I love to entertain people--and sometimes entertain the notion that I can give readers something lasting to take with them. No, I'm just kidding, it's really for immortality <evil, maniacal laughter>.

Why do you paint or draw? The same as why I write: to get the ideas out of my head and make way for the other things crowding in to receive an expression.

Why do you write Science Fiction and/or Fantasy? It's escapist (even if it has strong, real-world themes). Lets face it, everyone, in their heart of hearts, reads to escape from the real world, and speculative fiction is as far from the real world as possible.

Why do you illustrate Science Fiction and/or Fantasy? Because the fantastical is so much more fun to work with. If a picture is worth a thousand words, spec fic stretches the boundaries that much more.

Who is your favorite author? Your favorite story? Oooh, so many: I could say J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, or George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones Series. Frank Herbert and Brian Herbert with Kevin J. Anderson's Dune series--all the classics. I could also say J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books (she's not a billionaire because she can't write or tell a darn good story). One of my all-time favorites is Michael Swanwick's little known The Iron Dragon's Daughter. Oh, did you say just one?

What is your medium of choice for illustrations? Do you work in any other medium? I've become a connoisseur. Right now I'm obsessed with multimedia collage, because it allows my illustrations to break the bounds of fantastical and achieve higher realities than simple sketch, pen & ink, acrylic, photography, or CG paint programs alone can do.

What are you trying to say with your fiction? Hum . . . I'm trying to reawaken the age when people had real stories to tell: adventure, excitement, passion, emotion, epic universal themes (more for the longer fiction, but I can still touch on this a bit in short stories and whisper it in flash-fiction), characters whom the reader can truly identify with no matter where they're from in western society or what universe the characters are from, attention to detail, research-research-research especially because it's speculative. And, might I dare . . . a point? None of this artsy-fartsy, cheep thrill, popcorn. Okay, that's flash-fiction for the most part, but it's still all in good fun.

Does Bonesy the illustration have a story behind it? Please share it. Read the story on NewMyths, "Bonesy"--it's great!

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say? "Flattery will get you . . . everywhere." Ah, and: "May you never drink from the wrong side of the glass!"

The Rains Would Not Come, Flash Fiction, Issue 29, December 1, 2014

Iseult Murphy lives on the east coast of Ireland with three cats, five dogs and a couple of humans. She writes horror, fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels. Her work has appeared in over a dozen venues, including Alban Lake’s Drabble Harvest, Newmyths.com and The Drabblecast audio fiction podcast. Find her online at http://www.iseultmurphy.com

Get to know Iseult...

Birthdate? 1980

When did you start writing? I started writing poetry around the age of four. By six I had set up a rival family magazine – part comic, part news – to my older brother and sister’s publication. I didn’t start writing fiction seriously until I turned seven. 

When and what and where did you first get published? I won a few writing competitions in my teens and this led to my first publication of a poem called ‘The Budgerigar’ in BBC Wildlife Magazine in the mid 1990’s. My first sale of a short story was my horror comedy succubus story ‘Who’s for Dinner’ which I sold to Alienskin in 2008.

What themes do you like to write about? Transformation and winged creatures are a recurring theme in my work – as is evident in ‘The Rains Would Not Come’. I love the idea of a physical transformation denoting a big change in a characters life, and I usually use animals to depict that transformation in a symbolic way.

What books and/or stories have most resonated with you as an author? Why? How do these stories and their characters find expression in your work? There are many books and stories that have resonated with me, but probably the most influential to my writing has been The Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle. It was the first movie I saw in the cinema at the impressionable age of about two, and it has been the benchmark for my work ever since. The Last Unicorn is such a wonderful book – and the movie isn’t bad either. It’s full of sadness, beauty, humour, magic and depth. I’m not surprised that it had such a profound effect on my young mind.

The themes of transformation, responsibility, loss, mythological creatures and natural magic all appear in that book and these themes have fascinated me since I was a child and are what I return to again and again in my work.

Website: http://www.iseultmurphy.com

Rozhanitse the Beautiful, Fiction, Issue 35, June 1, 2016 

Katriena Knights, who writes fantasy and science fiction as KC Myers, wrote her first poem when she was three years old and had to dictate it to her mother under the bathroom door (her timing has never been very good). Now she’s a multi-published author, scribbling stories in a variety of genres. She grew up in a miniscule town in Illinois and now lives in a miniscule town in Colorado with her children and a variety of animals. Visit her at www.Katrienaknights.com.

Get to know KC...

Birthday? February 27

When did you start writing? I started composing poems before I could actually read. My mom taught me to write them down so I’d quit asking her to transcribe them for me when she was in the bathroom.

When and what and where did you first get published? My first publication credit was a short story in a Dr. Who fanzine. My first professional publication was in 1999, with the now-defunct Dreams Unlimited. The book was Time and Time Again, a time travel romance that’s still available under my real name, Katriena Knights.

What themes do you like to write about? I’m very drawn to mythological themes—ideas that feel universal—and the idea that we have the ability to heal ourselves and each other.

What books and/or stories have most resonated with you as an author? Roger Zelazny—I love his work because he doesn’t spoon-feed the reader, and his language is magical. Neil Gaiman—the way he weaves myth and universal stories into his work makes everything feel like it’s a million years old but fresh and new at the same time. Diana Gabaldon—A lyrical wordsmith with the ability to make her stories feel real and immediate.

How do these stories and their characters find expression in your work? I could only aspire to be this good, but I find myself revisiting similar themes—layered worlds, the healing power of love and human connection, and the universal truth of myth.