Somaiya Daud interview about her space fantasy fiction novel “Court of Lions” (Flatiron Books, 2020)

Somaiya Daud interview about her space fantasy fiction novel “Court of Lions”

Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2DE3tlW

Interview Timeline

Somaiya Daud loves high fantasy and science fiction. She has taught the subject and she’s released her second high space fantasy novel Court of Lions. We spoke about the book, Moroccan culture, Tolkien, and getting the book written and published.

0:31 – Somaiya talks about how the idea for the novel came from seeing a Star Wars prequel costume exhibit.

1:49 – Somaiya talks about how her series is a space fantasy with a lot of political intrigue.

4:28 – Somaiya talks about the culture that stands in for Morocco in the book.

4:53 – Somaiya talks about the backstory of the setting.

5:12 – Somaiya talks about the protagonist and the conflict in the book.

7:04 – Somaiya talks about writing about serious subjects for young readers.

8:55 – Somaiya talks about research in to the Moroccan years of Lead.

11:28 – Somaiya talks about how her research fed into her novel.

12:07 – Somaiya talks about sympathetic characters among the antagonists.

13:59 – Somaiya talks about how she created her conquering antagonists.

16:35 – Somaiya talks about her interest in Arabic poetry and her use of it in the book.

19:53 – Somaiya talks about her use of religion in the book.

22:04 – Somaiya talks about her love of science fiction and Tolkien.

23:27 – Somaiya talks about her interest in comic books and non-fiction.

24:36 – Somaiya talks about the musical aesthetic of the books.

25:37 – Somaiya talks about her writing process.

28:36 – Somaiya talks about writing a lot of Star Wars and Lord of the Rings fan fiction.

34:58 – Somaiya talks about completing the book.

36:28 – Somaiya is on somaiyabooks.com, on twitter @somaiyadaud and on instagram @somaiiiya

Links of interest

https://amzn.to/2DE3tlW

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250126450

https://www.somaiyabooks.com/

https://twitter.com/somaiyadaud

https://www.instagram.com/somaiiiya/

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 Podcasts / Google Podcasts / Stitcher / Spotify for the podcast

Guests: Somaiya Daud

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: science fiction, fantasy, writer, novel, novelist, fiction, Star Wars, prequel, Morocco, conquest, moon, queen, colonial, war, indigenous, dissident, Arabic, Arab, worldbuilding, poetry, Islam, Muslim, the Expanse, Killjoys, Tolkien, Luis Delgado, Silmarillion, Middle Earth, apocalypse

Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2DE3tlW

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Science Fiction – “The House of Styx” (Solaris, 2020) – Derek Kunsken interview

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Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2BEn6Jn

Derek Kunsken has worked as a scientist and a diplomat and has been frequently published in sci-fi short story magazines. He’s about to release a hard science fiction novel set on Venus. We spoke about the book and his writing process.

0:28 – Derek talks about the House of Styx and why he set his book on Venus.

2:38 – Derek talks about the details of the book.

4:33 – Derek talks about the amount of sci-fi technology in the book.

5:55 – Derek talks about the aesthetic of the story and his use of alien botany.

8:10 – Derek also explores the psychological aspects of colonists.

10:37 – Derek talks about the story itself being kept on Venus but Earth has its own backstory.

11:48 – Derek talks about researching Venus and various sciences for the book.

13:54 – Derek talks about what inspires him.

19:28 – Derek talks about his writing process.

22:20 – Derek talks about the serialization process in sci-fi magazines and his book.

24:14 – Derek talks about his approach to writing.

25:33 – Derek talks about having been a foreign service officer working on refugee issues.

27:19 – Derek about music and his novel.

29:11 – Derek about having wanted to adventure in Barsoom.

30:55 – Derek talks about how smoothly the writing of this book went.

32:37 – Derek talks about how note keeping process and his creative process.

34:53 – Derek talks about audio books.

36:03 – Derek can be found at derekkunsken.com and on twitter @derekkunsken and blogs on blackeight.com

Links of interest

https://amzn.to/2BEn6Jn

https://rebellionpublishing.com/product/the-house-of-styx/

http://derekkunsken.com/index.html/

https://twitter.com/DerekKunsken

Guests: Derek Kunsken

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: science fiction, writer, novel, novelist, fiction, hard science fiction, Venus, Quebecois, colonists, technology, dirigibles, plant biology, religious cult, Mars, Moon, Air cadet, comic books, X-Men, serialization, China, Barsoom, comic books, Covid, publishing

Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2BEn6Jn

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Mary-Robinette Kowal interview – Science Fiction novel – “The Relentless Moon” (Tor Books, 2020)

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Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2CHOJ4j

Mary-Robinette Kowal has worked [as a] in puppetry for 25 years and has written science fiction for over 10 years. She recently published the third book in her lady astronaut series, [The restless Sun] The Relentless Moon, and we spoke about the book, writing, science, and puppetry.

0:30 – Mary-Robinette talks about why she wrote the series. She talks about how she tends to write historical based novels.

2:20 – Mary-Robinette talks about the background of the series.

3:27 – Mary-Robinette talks about the setting of the first two books and then the third.

4:43 – Mary-Robinette talks about the political setting of the third book.

8:30 – Mary-Robinette talks about how the series is hard science fiction and how she spoke with scientists and professionals about the science in the novels.

9:36 – Mary-Robinette talks about how much the books are in space versus on the Earth.

10:57 – Mary-Robinette talks about how she dealt with gender inequality in the books.

13:12 – Mary-Robinette talks about the science research she did for the book including trying on parts of spacesuits.

14:49 – Mary-Robinette talks about her access to science resources.

16:11 – Mary-Robinette talks about the entertainment that inspires her.

19:29 – Mary-Robinette talks about lateral impacts to spacecraft.

21:57 – Mary-Robinette talks about the aesthetic of the book being sort of a spy thriller.

23:15 – Mary-Robinette talks about whether the novel wraps up the series.

23:47 – Mary-Robinette talks about her writing process and how it’s changed over time.

28:30 – Mary-Robinette talks more about acting as a puppeteer.

30:59 – Mary-Robinette talks about having been an art major.

33:17 – Mary-Robinette talks about how she got into writing and her approach.

34:59 – Mary-Robinette talks about the change in lifestyle from puppetry to writing.

36:36 – Mary-Robinette talks about editing the book down from 180,000 words.

39:28 – Mary-Robinette talks about having loved Battlestar Galactica and the Deryni books.

41:42 – Mary-Robinette talks about difficulties in getting the book finished.

46:30 – Mary-Robinette talks about writing a sci-fi locked room mystery.

48:26 – Mary-Robinette can be found at maryrobinettekowal.com and ladyastronautclub.com.

Links of interest

https://amzn.to/2CHOJ4j

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250236968

http://maryrobinettekowal.com/

Guests: Mary-Robinette Kowal

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: science fiction, fantasy, art, artist, writer, novel, novelist, fiction, astronauts, moon, science fiction, fantasy, computers, Apollo, steampunk, punchcardpunk, punch card, the relentless moon, mars, fated sky, calculating stars, meteroite, SFWA, politics, crisis, gender inequality, sexism, NASA, Andy Weir, Artemis, spy thriller, captain marvel, live theater, puppet, writing, writing tips, Battlestar Galactica, magic, Starbuck, depression, Thin Man, mystery

Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2CHOJ4j

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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