Sarena Ulibarri
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Interview with Tara Campbell, author of TreeVolution

11/30/2016

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I first came across Tara Campbell's writing when we both had stories in the Dear Robot anthology (see my "Story Behind the Story" post about that anthology here). Her epistolary Dear Robot story, "Nickerson Interstellar Student Exchange Behavioral Contract," is brilliant, so I'm sure her newly released novel, TreeVolution will be brilliant as well. It's about genetically modified trees who start attacking people in what the book's description calls "a little eco-payback."

In this week's interview, Tara Campbell talks with me about her path to publication, eco-sci-fi, and asking "what if?" questions.


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Sarena Ulibarri: In a nutshell, what was the path from manuscript to publication for TreeVolution?

Tara Campbell: It was a little over three years between the initial idea for TreeVolution and having the book in my hands. I wrote for a year and edited for another year. I thought it was ready after that round of edits and started shopping it around to agents. Turns out it wasn't ready, so I did an additional round of edits the third year and widened the query net from just agents to small presses as well. Then Carrol Fix, my editor from Lillicat Publishers, got what I was doing and took the project on!

SU: What advice do you have for young writers struggling through the first draft of a science fiction novel?

TC: I started with short stories before I ever thought of writing a novel. I found that writing stories was a way to keep myself motivated with while slogging away on the longer-term project. With stories, you have a sense of accomplishment finishing them, and you can workshop a discrete project, which informs your writing on the larger project. And you have the relatively instant gratification of publishing stories in journals while you're still working on the novel. Additionally, taking a break from the longer work always helped me to go back and see it more objectively, to cut what I needed to cut and, more importantly, to show me that it wasn't really the disaster I thought it was when I got frustrated with it.

SU: I know writers (especially those in the “literary” or “cross-genre” camp) don’t always like to put labels on their work, but how do you feel TreeVolution fits into recent ecologically-aware subgenres such as Solarpunk (i.e. the Sunvault anthology), Eco-Weird (i.e. Jeff Vandermeer’s Southern Reach trilogy) or Cli Fi (i.e. The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi)? 

TC: I tend to read across genres, and to be honest, have only recently come back to science fiction after a long hiatus. I didn't set out to write in a specific genre, I really just followed questions that intrigued me. In terms of TreeVolution, the impetus was a radio segment about a team of French scientists who had devised a way to listen in on the circulatory system of trees, and could detect when a tree was not getting enough water before any visible signs of distress appeared. I started wondering what else the trees would tell us if we could understand them, and the research into plants and trees was so fascinating, I had to write about it. I guess if one had to label it, one could call it near-future eco-sci-fi. The focus is not so much on the future, but on the point at which we decide what kind of future we're going to have. Will the environment be our antagonist or our ally?

SU: You’ve published quite a lot of short fiction! How does the writing process differ for you when you’re writing short versus when you’re writing long?

TC: I think short stories are more forgiving of my writing process, which is usually to start with a "what if?" and spin out all of the ways that thing could have happened, as well as the pros and cons now that it has happened. Like what if flowers could talk? Or what if humans found a way to get nutrients from chlorophyll instead of food? Or what if the last Gashlycrumb Tiny lived? Many writers start with an outline, especially with novels, but I'm more of a "pantser." I like to take that voice or phrase that pops into my mind, like "Death sure changes a person," and think about what that could actually mean. I can just let go and follow the breadcrumbs when I'm writing something short, but writing a novel requires a larger question and a lot more planning.

SU: What books, authors, or films influenced you while writing TreeVolution?

TC: You know, I actually looked for books that were similar to what I was doing, but many of them featured dystopian wastelands or were written from a scientist's point of view, or went into the fantasy realm of Tolkein's Ents. I wanted to imagine how a transformation in the way humans interact with the environment would impact every day people. Of course there are scientists in my book, because my characters are looking for fact-based answers, but they are discovering them along with the general public rather than being the experts with all the answers. I like the idea that a relative layperson is having to get up to speed on these complex issues in the face of a looming crisis, because we all are. In that spirit, I've included a list of resources in the back of the book, lists of some of the articles I used to try to get a handle on the topic of communication between plants and trees, genetic modification and other experimentation with plants and trees. It was sometimes hard to get out of the articles and keep writing!

SU: Do you have any readings or signings coming up? Where can readers find you?

TC: Yes, thank you for asking, I have a few appearances coming up in the Washington, DC area over the next few months. I have about one reading a month on the calendar, and I'm thrilled that TreeVolution has been selected as the featured novel for Barrelhouse's Conversations and Connections conference in April. In fact, I've finally gotten organized enough to list my appearances on my website.


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Website | Twitter | Instagram

With a BA in English and an MA in German, Tara Campbell has a demonstrated aversion to money and power. 
Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, she has also lived in Oregon, Ohio, New York, Germany and Austria. She currently lives in Washington, D.C. where she volunteers with 826DC and the Washington Writers Conference/Books Alive.
She was the grateful recipient of two awards from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities in 2016: the 33rd Annual Larry Neal Writers' Award in Adult Fiction, and the 31st Annual Mayor's Arts Award for Outstanding New Artist.

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Small Press Week: Zoom

11/22/2016

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My company, World Weaver Press, is participating in Small Press Week, an initiative helmed by Upper Rubber Boot Books to promote small press publishing. However, it's release day for HE SEES YOU WHEN HE'S CREEPIN': TALES OF KRAMPUS, so I'm bringing today's Small Press Week post over to my personal blog because I want to stay on Krampus's good side and let him have the spotlight.

The topic for today says this: "Every Tuesday is #newreleasetuesday, but this Tuesday is for featuring all of your 2016 releases, no matter when their release date."

One mistake small presses sometimes make is they forget to be small. When you have an operation run by only a few people, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Originally, World Weaver Press was planning to release 16 titles in 2016. What we managed was 9 titles (plus one upcoming relaunch), and to be honest, I'm exhausted. It may not seem like a lot, but there are so many details that go into publication that it really adds up. (See our Small Press Week: Secrets post and my post on editing anthologies for more insight into what goes on behind the scenes in a small press.) I haven't always been able to give these books the attention and publicity I wish they could have, but I've always given them the best I could, and I'm so proud of what we've brought into the world this year.

Beside each book, you'll find an excerpt. These excerpts are different from the ones available on the World Weaver Press website, so please give them a read. Maybe you'll even find a new favorite or a good holiday gift.

Campaign 2100: Game of Scorpions by Larry Hodges

A third party, and an alien, take on a corrupt world government.
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Released March 8, 2016

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Gentlemen, we have a new campaign priority, so listen carefully,” Dubois said, back at his desk in the Red Room. “Alien. Go. Home.” He punctuated each word by slicing the air with his index finger. From where Toby sat, the picture on the wall of Wayne Wallace, first world president, was just over Dubois’s head, his own hand held up in greeting.

“Shouldn’t we consult with some military and other experts,” Toby asked, “to get their judgment on just what we’re up against?” Once again Dubois had ordered the “lowbody” aides out, and locked the door so even cabinet members couldn’t enter. Only his most central political staff were present: Toby, Lara, Vice President Rajan, and Phil Farley, Dubois’s chief of staff.

Dubois smiled and shook his head. “You’re thinking like a bureaucrat. What happened to the ‘get things done’ Toby I used to admire so much? The one who wanted ambitious policies that voters would notice?”

“We’re not setting grain policies here,” Toby said, fiddling with his scarf. “We’re not arguing about meat-eating in Australia, or gun violence, or cutting taxes. This is first contact. We can’t slam our doors on the galaxy because some alien was rude to you.”

Char by Kristina Wojtaszek

An isolated fae must travel a century into the past to rewrite the book that will save her people.
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Released April 26, 2016

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Luna watched from her nest of quilts as Ewara lifted a heavy tome from a shelf in the little room. What is it? the child asked mind-to-mind, and Ewara smiled, remembering how she, too, had been reluctant to use her voice as a girl.

“First,” Ewara told her, “we will teach you to read, and one day, perhaps you’ll speak as well.” She lowered the thick book to the child’s lap, letting her run her fingers over the sunken gilt lettering on the cover. “Stories of Fae and Other Earthly Mysteries,” Ewara read aloud for her. “It was given to me when I was a young girl myself, so you can imagine how old it is.”

Luna hid her smile behind a hand, the light of the hearth dancing in her wide eyes. Will you read it to me?

“I will read you every story, but only if you promise to believe them.”

Are they true?

“Every one, though so few believe in them anymore.” Ewara’s eyes fell from Luna’s, seeing a lost people in her lap, Fae the world over living in fear, bearing their burdens in human form, not knowing… When she lifted her eyes to the child’s again, she smiled at her little, creased brow. “You’ll be leaving soon for Ruli’s forest, but I’ll send for you every now and again, so you can rest here with me, read to me, and maybe even learn a few manners.” She winked. “You may take the book with you, and Ruli will teach you the letters. One day, child, you will read this entire book to me.” But only after you’ve rewritten it, threading the stories back into our mutilated history, Ewara thought to herself with a smile.

Omega Rising by Anna Kyle

Cass Nolan has been forced to avoid the burn of human touch for her whole life, until a sexy ranch hand changes everything.
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Released June 7, 2016

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“I like him, Tabs.”

“You know nothing about him.”

Cass was unprepared for the jagged lick of jealousy as the old boyfriend possibility became suddenly real. She clenched her hands into fists into her lap and bowed her head as she imagined Tabitha running her fingers through Nathan’s hair.

“You know him then,” she said, steeling herself.

“No. But I know men like him,” Tabitha responded, her voice flat, angry. Cass sighed in relief, relaxed her hands and looked up at her friend who was staring off into the distance, frowning. “Dangerous, selfish, arrogant, cold.” She turned to look at her. “You have nothing in common. Zero. He would destroy you.”

“Destroy me,” Cass scoffed. “Listen, drama queen. Guy was shaking when he bandaged me. So he’s sensitive. He helped us out today on no notice. So he’s nice. And we both don’t like blood, so there. That’s one thing in common.”

Tabitha barked a loud humorless laugh.

“Guys like him bathe in blood.” Cass stared at Tabitha, mouth open. Tabitha blinked then smiled ruefully. “Okay, that was a little drama-queenie.”

“And super disgusting.”

Tabitha grinned now. “Yeah, that too.” She held out her index finger toward Cass. “Agree to disagree?”

Cass nodded and stretched her own finger to Tabitha’s for a second.

Bite Somebody by Sara Dobie Bauer

Celia thought becoming a vampire would make her perfect, but she's just as awkward as before, only now she has a craving for blood and a crush on her tasty neighbor.
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Released June 21, 2016

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The shot was something sweet and burny. The next thing Celia knew, there was a rum punch in her hand, and Imogene dragged her to the dance floor. Celia didn’t dance, not that Imogene asked. She started doing all these crazy breakdance moves. It was almost as if she was in her own music video, but people were into it. When Imogene wasn’t dancing, dudes surrounded her—guys who looked like they’d fallen off the cover of GQ.

Since being turned, Celia had developed this embarrassing new habit; she stared at men’s necks. It was one of those things her therapist told her she wasn’t supposed to do as a vampire. Apparently humans considered it off-putting. Celia didn’t see how this was fair, since men stared at women’s breasts all the time—not hers, but other women’s. At Necto, she stared at the ceiling and watched the lights move around, until she felt Imogene dragging her to the bar for another shot and rum punch. When Celia asked about Imogene’s cocktail choice she replied, “What? It’s beachy, bitch.”

Sirens, edited by Rhonda Parrish

An anthology of fantasy and science fiction: 16 siren songs that will exemplify and defy your expectations.
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Released July 12, 2016

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 We’re making out in some big van-car with guy-breath and guy-hands while we barrel along some dark road. The girl sits in the far back with us and she’s finally started drinking, trading gulps from the bottle and listening to the wet smacking and grunting and our feet tapping in time. We have Bedroom Boy with us and we’ve promised the girl we’re going to do something terrible to him. In response, the girl said her name is Sarah, but otherwise she’s stayed quiet, sitting in the far back with us, a wary expression on her face.

“So you’re like a gang or something?” the Sarah-girl finally asks. Her eyes have stopped running, but now she’s wiping her nose over and over.

“We’re sirens,” we agree, taking another long swallow.

“Like the Odyssey, right?”

Odysseus.

Fear makes us convulse in a long, body-wrenching shudder that spirals out into the night, following the threads of fate that connect all the sirens we have been and will be, so that everywhere and everywhen we are shuddering, in cities and villages and open plains and rocky coasts, aloft on our black wings or still stuck in the mire of this world singing yes come to us yes, we all to a one shudder.

Oh, we have not thought his name in so long.

Speculative Story Bites, edited by Sarena Ulibarri

Fifteen bite-sized stories, offering a sampler platter of fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal horror.
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Released August 9, 2016

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Read for free at the WWP blog
Death gasped, struggling to fill her lungs. The brininess of the sea, the stench of early decomposition, and her own sweat assaulted her nostrils. Gulls cawed nearby, one right beside her face. She shooed the bird away. Sand made her skin itch. She tried to brush it off, but only managed to spread it around.

She squinted against the sun. It peeked over the eastern horizon, illuminating bodies strewn across the beach, mixed in with mattresses, uprooted palm trees, and even an orange Lamborghini, sticking at an angle out of the sand as if it was a flying car that had come in for a rough landing.

Beside Death lay a dead woman. The water had washed most of the make-up off her face, leaving streaks of mascara. She wore one of those short dresses with the elastic bottom that barely covered the wearer’s buttocks, the kind that made it look like girls had forgotten to wear pants. Only now, that dress rode up, revealing the girl’s lacy panties. Death tugged the hem down.
She rose to her feet, naked herself. She crossed her arms over her breasts, shivering despite the warmth.

She had kept the form of a youthful redhead that she’d had as Death. But something of her immortal self remained. It lay curled in a small, tight ball inside her, a knot of darkness.
She wanted to find a way to give. She’d taken enough. And given how fleeting life could be, she didn’t want to waste any time. She had a lot to make up for.

Murder in the Generative Kitchen by Meg Pontecorvo

Does your high-tech kitchen know you better than you know yourself?
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Released September 27, 2016

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“Can a generative kitchen alter food to bioengineer poison, with no direct command from a human being?”
 
“As I understand the technology, we would need to reinterpret the concept of ‘command,’ since generative kitchens are intended to assess and respond to the desires of their owners, conscious or unconscious. But I don’t think that such a kitchen could act on its own volition. A generative kitchen is a machine, and there are fail-safes.”
 
The defense bot leaned forward and gripped the railing of the witness box. “But Mr. Ellis is dead, sir. And, according to the kitchen’s own logs, the cyanide was processed as a component of the meal, in the kitchen and by the kitchen, on the night the meal was served. So, I ask you again: based on your understanding of the bioengineering of cyanide from bitter almonds, would a generative kitchen be able to make the poison—or, really, make the almonds excessively poisonous—on its own agency?”
 
“No, I don’t think so. I can’t imagine how the protocols against that could go wrong.”

The Meddlers of Moonshine by A.E. Decker

Something is rotten in the town of Widget, and Rags-n-Bones knows it's all his fault. (Moonfall Mayhem #2)
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Released October 25, 2016

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Miss Ascot, gone. The Captain, gone. Nipper huddled deep in his pocket, refusing to emerge. Even the Mighty Terror was gone, and that meant the only one to protect him from the stares and murmurs was Sir Dmitri, and Sir Dmitri lay very still, whimpering occasionally. I know I was Bad, Rags-n-Bones wailed silently. Why wasn’t I punished, instead of Sir Dmitri?

But he couldn’t afford to wail. Absurd, and utterly opposite to the rightful way of things though it was, Sir Dmitri needed his protection now. Gulping down the cold lump that rose at that thought, he shook Sir Dmitri gently. “Sir Dmitri? You’re not dead, are you, sir?”

“Of course he’s not dead,” said the ragged youth.

“No, I’m not dead,” said Sir Dmitri in a tight voice. “But my leg—” His ears pricked and he fell silent. That was all the warning Rags-n-Bones had before a shadow fell over him. He looked up into a pair of large, slaty-blue eyes. It took every scrap of willpower he possessed not to bolt up the nearest chestnut tree.

He Sees You When He's Creepin': Tales of Krampus, edited by Kate Wolford

Whether you want a dash of horror or a hint of joy and redemption, these 12 new tales of Krampus will help you gear up for the most “wonderful” time of the year.
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Released November 22, 2016

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Rotten and vain? Cinderella seethed to hear herself lumped in with the likes of her stepmother. This beast didn’t know her. She tiptoed on in the snow, sure that she was close to eavesdropping upon something that would help. And then, there it was: “One more truly evil person by midnight,” said Krampus, “but these days, it’d be easier to find a needle in a—”

“Krampus! You need to find someone?”

“Are you following me? Back to your cellar!”

“The most evil person in Vienna?”

“What do you know of such evil?”

She smirked. How little he really did know her soul. What she’d witnessed in this house. All its goodness and warmth, stripped bare by her stepmother.

“I have recently been to a place,” said Cinderella, “where the most wicked creatures in all Vienna turn circles around each other with more abandon than witches and warlocks. They won’t be disbanding until midnight. There you can do your Nicholas business quickly.”
Thank you for checking out all the books World Weaver Press published in 2016! Check the WWP blog for more of our Small Press Week posts, and follow the hashtag #SPWeek16 on Twitter to find more great small presses.
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Three Question Interviews with Adventures in Zookeeping Contributors

11/7/2016

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In case you missed my post last week, Adventures in Zookeeping is the newest MileHiCon fundraiser anthology, edited by Sam Knight and published by Villainous Press. They were nice enough to include my story "The Fourth Lemur." I asked some of the other authors about their stories, their writing, and their favorite memory of the zoo. My answers are at the bottom!

C S Peterson, "The Jeweled Black Quaver"

Describe your Adventures in Zookeeping story in one sentence.
In "The Jeweled Black Quaver" Ranger Callie Orpheo walks a thin line between paradise and hellfire to preserve a creature that prefers a post apocalyptic habitat.

What's your favorite zoo-related memory?
When my daughter, Keziah, was six years old she climbed into a 'bubble' window in the beluga whales exhibit at Mystic Aquarium in CT and put her forehead against the glass. Aurora, one of the whales, swam over and pressed her head against the other side of the glass. They stayed like that for several minutes, then Keziah said good-bye, crawled out of the bubble and Aurora swam away. Sadly, Aurora the whale passed away quite suddenly a few months later from a ruptured aorta. We will never forget that moment they shared.

What are you working on now? Where can readers find you?
Readers can find me at cspetersonauthor.com and as a contributor at fictionunbound.com, a speculative fiction blog. Right now I am working on a YA historical fantasy about a girl named Scralig who has one golden eye and one blue eye: Once, by her blue eye, she swore she saw the ravens laughing before they flew off to whisper into Odin's ear. Once, through her golden eye, she saw a thunder creature land in the upper pasture. Black smoke rolled off its wings and nets of lightning flickered along its arms. That was when she was small. Perhaps it was just her grandmother’s stories that put the visions in her head. Now Scralig is older and she knows better than to trust visions. Besides, in a Viking village, a dark-skinned girl with an evil eye has other things to worry about.

Alicia Cay, "Monsters of Yesterday"

Describe your Adventures in Zookeeping story in one sentence.
"Monsters of Yesterday" takes you to where the monsters, creatures, and myths of imagination end up when they are no longer remembered.

What's your favorite zoo-related memory?
When I was much younger I got to visit the zoo on a school field trip. Two things about that trip remain memorable for me. I got to ride on an elephant, which by the way, is super uncomfortable. Seriously, those pachyderms have spines like butter knives. The second was having an animal toy made for me in one of those machines where you put in a dollar or two and get to watch a plastic animal molded right before your eyes. I had seen some girls use the machine on our way into the zoo, and I had to wait the entire day when we were leaving, to pass the same machine and have one of my own made. I wanted one of those things so badly! And in fact, I ended up keeping that plastic, yellow lion for years afterwards. But do I remember seeing the actual animals? No. It's hilarious the stuff that sticks with us.

What are you working on now? Where can readers find you?
I continue to hone my abilities by writing short stories, then for fun I enter them in contests. All of my entered stories have 'placed', but none have yet won. Our legion of adoring fans can find me on my blogsite: aliciacay.com. Links to my Facebook, Twitter, and a few other places can be found there.

Carolyn Kay, "The Corpse Flower"

Describe your Adventures in Zookeeping story in one sentence.
In "The Corpse Flower", a rare African flower breaks out of its enclosure, causing mayhem at the Steam City Zoo, and it's only a matter of time before it eats someone.

What's your favorite zoo-related memory?
I got to see Shamu at Sea World when I was 7. It started me on the path to a science career.

What are you working on now? Where can readers find you?
I'm currently working on a steampunk/fantasy novella that should be out in early 2017. People can find me at www.bewitchinghips.com

Ashley Vasquez, "Bound by Death"

Describe your Adventures in Zookeeping story in one sentence.
In "Bound by Death", havoc ensues when the newest attraction in a zoo in the afterlife realizes that she's dead, and the rules of the zoo (like enclosures) don't apply.

What's your favorite zoo-related memory?
My favorite zoo trip was in Belize, where the zoo is made up of local animals from the country. Because it's a small country, and a lot of the animals are hunted for food, I spent part of my time horrifying tourists by talking loudly about the creatures in the zoo that I had eaten during my time there, such as deer, picary, gibnut, and iguana.

What are you working on now? Where can readers find you?
I'm currently working on a Steampunk Noir novel set in the 1940's. People can find me at facebook.com/ashleyvasquezauthor

Susan Adams, "Sanctuary"

Describe your Adventures in Zookeeping story in one sentence.
"Sanctuary" is a safe haven to outcasts from all walks of life, but that safety is threatened when some one starts sabotaging the sanctuary's protective spells.

What's your favorite zoo-related memory?
My Uncle Denny, to whom this story dedicated, was an enthusiastic conservationist and had a small, private zoo, specializing in large cats. He obtained a Siberian tiger, named Boomer, when Boomer was just a cub and trained him to accept commands. In spite of Boomer's obedience, he was not my uncle's pet. Uncle Denny kept Boomer in an enclosure surrounded by a double fence. When I was about fifteen, Uncle Denny let my younger sisters and me into the outer fence; Boomer laid down against the inner one. And that's how I got to pet a tiger.

What are you working on now? Where can readers find you?
My current work in progress is a mainstream fiction novel, much of which takes place in a zoo. I can be found on Facebook at: Facebook.com/Scadamsauthor and on Twitter at: @adams226sc.

Sarena Ulibarri, "The Fourth Lemur"

Describe your Adventures in Zookeeping story in one sentence.
A disgruntled zookeeper thinks she's turning into a were-lemur, but the truth is even weirder than that.

What's your favorite zoo-related memory?
During the 2014 Clarion Workshop, several of us took a break from the non-stop writing and critiquing to go explore the labyrinthine San Diego Zoo. We wandered until our feet were sore, and then it took us another hour to actually find our way out. I was sure all the workshop stories for the coming week would be about being lost in a Gothic menagerie. My friend Vida Cruz blogged about this zoo trip in much more depth here.

What are you working on now? Where can readers find you?
You've found me! I hope you'll poke around, read some other blog entries, and, of course, grab your copy of ADVENTURES IN ZOOKEEPING from the link below!
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Adventures in Zookeeping Release Party

11/1/2016

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Last weekend was MileHiCon, one of my favorite local SFF conventions. I was on a couple of panels this year, but the real highlight of the convention was the release party and reading for ADVENTURES IN ZOOKEEPING, an anthology that includes my story "The Fourth Lemur." This is the second of the charity anthologies (all proceeds go back to MileHiCon) put together by Sam Knight that I was lucky enough to be included in. In fact, last year after releasing SIDEKICKS, Sam Knight asked for suggestions for the next anthology, and I was the one who suggested the title/theme "Adventures in Zookeeping."

On Saturday, we gathered in the ConSuite for a dual release party along with the contributors of another anthology, DOMESTICATED VELOCIRAPTORS, and then we ventured downstairs to one of the panel rooms where we had the chance to read our stories to the room. For many of the authors, this was their first time doing a public reading, but everyone did a fantastic job. I tried to break the tension a little bit by standing up on my chair to read, rather than going up to the front like everyone else.

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Adventures in Zookeeping and Domesticated Velociraptors authors and fans mingle in the ConSuite
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Listening raptly as Adventures in Zookeeping authors read their stories aloud
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Ever wonder how much fun it would be to be a zoo keeper if your wards included the strange, the supernatural, the not-of-this-earth? This collection of speculative fiction ranges from were-lemurs to a breeding program for a Lovecraftian horror. Edited by Sam Knight. This anthology evolved from a panel at MileHiCon in Denver, Colorado, titled "So You Want To Be in an Anthology?" The stories contained within were contributed by attendees of that panel. All net proceeds are donated to support MileHiCon.
So those "were-lemurs" mentioned in the book description? Yeah, that's my story. Except, maybe it's not that simple. Maybe there's more to that weird, somewhat human-looking lemur that shows up in the zoo, maybe that bite the zookeeper got isn't doing exactly what she fears it's doing.

Next week I plan to interview some of the other authors from this fun anthology, so please stop by to learn more about their stories, and pick up a copy of ADVENTURES IN ZOOKEEPING when you have the chance. It has some very fun stories in it, and it helps support an excellent science fiction and fantasy convention that has always made me feel at home.
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