Science Fiction

A Surprise Written in Mud

Lynette M Burrows

I received a free copy of the January/February 2019 copy of Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine from my friend and mentor, Bill Wu. He autographed his story in this issue, personalized for me. It was a surprise “Written in Mud” on two levels. If you have a chance, grab a copy. This Tall Tale is worth it. “Written in Mud” is the story of four friends who try to figure out how they are going to survive after fraking for shale oil in Oklahoma caused massive earthquakes along the Humboldt fault in Kansas and the New Madris fault in Missouri. The friends are on what used to be a farm belonging to one of them. It is now the shores of Kansas. These four friends try to find a new occupation. They make a trip upriver and discover that the answer to their dilemma was…well, you’ll have to read it. Not only did Bill not give me any warning that he sent this to me, he didn’t tell me the story existed. It’s arrival was a Christmas surprise gifted to me without any expectations or obligations. This story is especially delightful to me because it contains a lot of nuggets or […]

What Does Reader Sarah Want?

Lynette M Burrows

Reader Interview: What Does Reader Sarah Want? (With a tip of the hat to the Inside the Actor’s Studio) First Name: Sarah Gender: F Age Range: 21-40 Occupation: peer tutor at the JCCC Writing Center What occupation (other than yours) would you like to try? Fiction and poetry writer What sound or noise do you love? Purring cat What sound or noise do you hate? Insistent meowing of cat wanting to go outside What is your favorite word? Bizarre Fiction or Nonfiction? Fiction Genre? Speculative fiction, but paranormal urban fantasy is a particular favorite. Ebook, audio book, or physical book? Physical book unless I can’t get it that way. What makes you choose a book to read? Author? Cover? Blurb? It has to look and sound entertaining. Being an author I’ve already read helps, but if the concept is intriguing that’ll do. Recommendation(s)? Laurell K Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Writing the Other by Nisi Shawl, Fast Girl by Suzy Favor Hamilton, Impossible Things by Connie Willis, Troublemaker by Leah Remini. What makes you put down a book? Boredom or slogging through a book like it’s a chore. What are you reading now? Just finished Dancing and Wounded by Laurell K. Hamilton, […]

What Does Reader Rob Want?

Lynette M Burrows

  Reader Questionnaire: What Does Reader Rob Want? (With a tip of the hat to the Inside the Actor’s Studio)   First Name:  Rob Gender:  Male Age Range:61+ Occupation:  Retired (very tiring) What occupation (other than yours) would you like to try? Never gave anything but writing a thought, past the age of say 7 What sound or noise do you love? Many-many.  Rain after drought.  The onset of a thunderstorm in hot summer weather.  The laughter of children. What sound or noise do you hate? Whining, especially of children, but even of cats What is your favorite word? Too many to list, I love words.  Easier to list least favorite, but I can’t think what would be worst. Fiction or Nonfiction? That I read?  Both. Genre? Usually SF/fantasy in fiction, sometimes a mystery; history, bio, autobio, and recent events in nonfiction Ebook, audio book, or physical book? I still prefer a physical book, partly because my Kindle’s index is messed up.  It only lists half a dozen books, though if I remember title or author I can pull up the others.  But who can remember them all?  Also, the physical book will still be readable, whereas magnetic memories are very frail. What makes you choose a book […]