Australian Speculative Fiction (ASF) is all about showcasing Australian and New Zealander authors. One of the many projects currently under way is the Drowned Earth Novella series—a series of eight novellas written by different authors all set in the same scenario—a flooded Australia.
To get to know these amazing authors they have been kind enough to answer some questions.
Today we meet S. M. Isaac.
What can you tell us about your Novella?
My novella is an adventure through the flooded, post-apocalyptic Australian landscape thirty years after the Rise. Rosa leaves the idyllic community she grew up in with hopes to salvage a future for the world. Greg, a mercenary trader, accompanies her, wanting to protect her from the harsh landscape he knows all too well. Will they find what they’re searching for? Will they even survive the wasteland between them and their hope? Read River of Diamonds to find out.
What drew you to submitting your pitch in the first place?
When I first read about the opportunity, I couldn’t get it out of my mind! I liked the idea of creating a world with other writers from the ASF group (an amazing bunch) and then exploring it in our individual stories. It is a unique and exciting opportunity, and I am happy to be a part of it. Opportunities like this are fantastic to really flex your writing muscles and collaborate alongside other fantastic authors.
Is the collaboration that is necessary for a project such as Drowned Earth something that you have ever participated in before?
This will be the first time I have ever written collaboratively. I feel lucky to be embarking on a creative journey such as the Drowned Earth project with so many talented writers.
Describe your writing style …
I love to discover the story and characters as I am writing. I start with an idea or a character, for my Drowned Earth novella it was Rosa, a self-taught mechanic who salvages parts to trade, and then I write. When I have exhausted my initial inspiration, I’ll create an outline and go from there, but I always work through the initial inspiration first.
What kind of research do you do for your writing? How’s that Google history looking…
For my novella River of Diamonds I researched how desalination plants work, solar humidification, alternatively-fuelled cars, the composition and flashpoints of different fuels—everything that would lend authenticity to my writing. To date, the most fun was finding out about how big octopuses can grow—it was quite terrifying.
What has influenced you most as a writer?
All the books I have ever read. There are thousands of amazing authors out there whose stories inspire me to hone my craft and tell the best story I can. They fuel my desire to bring joy into people’s lives, to create worlds to adventure and characters to dream of.
Any advice you would give your past self or other writers just starting out?
Write now, don’t wait for the perfect moment, the perfect place, the perfect idea. Learn to write wherever you are, in whatever time you have. Every word counts, so start now.
Where can we learn more about you or follow you on social media?
Visit my website at www.smisaac.com, and follow me on facebook.com/smisaacauthor for updates.
This article was first published by Aussie Speculative Fiction.