Mary-Robinette Kowal interview
Here’s the youtube version of my interview with Mary-Robinette Kowal about her sci-fi novel
Somaiya Daud interview about her space fantasy fiction novel “Court of Lions” (Flatiron Books, 2020)
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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://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250126450
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://rebellionpublishing.com/product/the-house-of-styx/
http://derekkunsken.com/index.html/
https://twitter.com/DerekKunsken
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: 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.