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
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