MR Carey interview
Here’s the video version of my interview with M.R. Carey
Bethany C. Morrow interview about her fantasy novel “A Song Below Water” (Tor/Forge, 2020)
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Bethany C. Morrow interview about her fantasy novel “A Song Below Water”
Check the book out here https://amzn.to/3cIdzNQ
Interview Timeline
Bethany C. Morrow writes speculative fiction and young adult fiction. Her debut novel was Mem and her latest novel is A Song Below Water. We spoke about the book, her science fiction passions, her writing process, and the fiction publishing industry.
0:35 – Bethany talks about what the novel is about.
3:54 – Bethany talks about the use of mythology and contemporary fantasy in the novel.
8:44 – Bethany explains the idea of a Mami Wata.
11:08 – Bethany talks about vitriol against black female authors on twitter and on online forums.
13:25 – Bethany talks about how she writes for black girls.
17:00 – Bethany talks about the editing of her book who can understand the themes she is exploring.
22:04 – Bethany explains why she chose Portland Oregon for the setting of the book.
27:32 – Bethany talks about what prompted her to write contemporary fantasy.
32:55 – Bethany talks about her love of science fiction and the Planet of the Apes series.
37:55 – Bethany talks about the speculative fiction she loves.
38:57 – Bethany talks about growing up with Star Trek.
41:15 – Bethany talks about the musical aesthetic of the book.
42:19 – Bethany talks about her writing process.
46:33 – Bethany talks about how her writing process has changed over time.
48:58 – Bethany talks about how her ideas develop.
50:51 – Bethany talks about her interest in sociology and clinical psychology.
52:56 – Bethany talks about spending time in Wales and what cultural relations were there.
56:04 – Bethany talks about the editing of her book.
56:40 – Bethany talks about loving the Star Trek holodeck and replicators.
59:38 – Bethany talks about disliking future sci-fi characters who are into 80s and 90s culture.
1:01:41 – Bethany talks about her future writing projects.
1:04:09 – Bethany talks about the strong interest in A Song Below Water and the obstacles for black female writers in getting published.
1:10:15 – Bethany is on twitter and instagram @bcmorrow and at bethanycmorrow.com.
Links of interest
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250315328
https://www.bethanycmorrow.com/
https://instagram.com/BCMorrow
Contact Information
For more “Full Contact Nerd” please follow me at crisalvarez.com, on Facebook at CrisAlvarezFCN, on youtube at Cris Alvarez on twitter @CrisAlvarezFCN, on Instagram @crisalvarezscifi, and on Apple / Stitcher / Spotify for the podcast
Guests: Bethany C. Morrow
Host: Cris Alvarez
Tags: fantasy, writer, novel, novelist, fiction, sister-friends, Portland, magical, sirens, cosplay, mermaids, Mami Wata, Portland, progressive racism, buffy, true blood, Planet of the Apes, The Expanse, Star Trek, The Avengers, Containment, Lewis Duncan, Christopher Pike, Asimov, Wales, reclaimed classics, publishing
Check the book out here https://amzn.to/3cIdzNQ
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Post-apocalypse novel – “The Book of Koli” (Orbit/Little, Brown Books, 2020) – M.R. Carey interview
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Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2XfgNnG
M.R. Carey has been writing comics and novels for over two decades. He’s written for DC Comics and has written nearly a dozen novels. His most well-known novel is “The Girl With All The Gifts.” He recent;y released a new post-apocalyptic book titled “The Book of Koli.” We spoke about this new book, some of his comic book writing history, and the process of writing in general.
0:35 – Mike talks about why he wrote the Book of Koli.
1:35 – Mike talks about his approach to short story writing.
2:30 – Mike goes into the details of the book.
4:26 – Mike talks about the technological level of the world in the book.
5:39 – Mike talks about the use of technology in the book and on social issues.
8:36 – Mike talks about some research he did for the book.
11:20 – Mike talks about other works he’s done that touch on post-apocalyptic issues.
12:59 – Mike talks about the works that inspire him.
15:01 – Mike compares writing prose and writing for comic books.
18:13 – Mike talks about how he went from being an unstructured to a structured writer.
20:28 – Mike talks about the aesthetic and “soundtrack” to the book.
21:54 – Mike talks about whether he is an architect or a gardener when he writes.
24:10 – Mike talks about how his writing voice has changed over time especially when co-writing with his wife and daughter.
26:27 – Mike talks about having been a teacher for 15 years.
29:19 – Mike talks about being part of an institution like a school.
32:06 – Mike talks about power structures within school.
33:00 – Mike talks about the editing process for his book and beta readers.
34:46 – Mike talks about being a big fan of the wishing tree and the faraway tree.
36:07 – Mike talks about the success of Girl With All The Gifts and how that turned him
into a brand.
39:12 – MR Carey discusses some future writing projects.
40:19 – Mike talks about social media. He enjoys boardgamearena.com and itsyourturn.com
44:19 – Mike can be found on twitter and skype @michaelcarey191 and on goodreads.
45:35 – Mike talks about the comic “The Doll House Family” being released in September by DC Comics.
Links of interest
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/m-r-carey/the-book-of-koli/9780316477475/
https://twitter.com/michaelcarey191
For more “Full Contact Nerd” please follow me at crisalvarez.com, on Facebook at CrisAlvarezFCN, on youtube at Cris Alvarez on twitter @CrisAlvarezFCN, on Instagram @crisalvarezscifi, and on Apple / Stitcher / Spotify for the podcast
Guests: M.R. Carey
Host: Cris Alvarez
Tags: writer, novel, novelist, fiction, Girl with all the Gifts, voice, post-apocalyptic, zombie, speculative fiction, dark fantasy, Enid Blyton, Hilary Mantel, Moorcock, le Guin, comic books, Alyssa Quitney, Shelly Roberg, DC comics, Lucifer, hellblazer, heavy metal, Talking Heads, teaching, wishing tree, transportation, green latern, Earthsea, seven wonders, GenCon, D&D, Dragoncon
Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2XfgNnG
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.