TJ Berry

TJ wrote a book! Space Unicorn Blues will be out from Angry Robot Books on July 3, 2018. We talk about how an offhand comment from Dave inspired TJ to spite-write the weirdest space opera she could come up with… and then she sold it!

We talk about upcoming conventions we’re attending, the editing process, and the role of sensitivity readers.

Warp Drives #35: Space Unicorn Blues

I am so excited to see Space Unicorn Blues listed on Barnes & Noble’s 25 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Debuts to Watch for in 2018!

Take a look at their fun writeup:

The Shape of Water wasn’t our favorite film of the year, but there were a few things we enjoyed about this modern-day fairy tale. We’re also quite concerned about Eliza’s pH balance, because she was being intimate with a fish man in a bathtub full of what looked like potpourri.

We also say that we’re going to talk about Star Trek: Discovery, but don’t get your hopes up. We ran long on The Shape of Water, so we didn’t, but that discussion is in the previous episode!

Warp Drives #34: Eliza’s pH Balance

I am beyond thrilled to announce that my debut space opera, SPACE UNICORN BLUES, will be published by Angry Robot Books in July 2018!

Here’s the announcement on the Barnes & Noble Scifi & Fantasy Blog. Plus, look at this fantastic cover!

A crew of misfits race across the galaxy to prevent the genocide of magical creatures, in this unique science fiction debut… Having magical powers makes you less than human, a resource to be exploited. Half-unicorn Gary Cobalt is sick of slavery, captivity, and his horn being ground down to power faster-than-light travel. When he’s finally free, all he wants is to run away in his ancestors’ stone ship. Instead, Captain Jenny Perata steals the ship out from under him, so she can make an urgent delivery. But Jenny held him captive for a decade, and then Gary murdered her best friend…who was also the wife of her co-pilot, Cowboy Jim. What could possibly go right?

 

We return to the mirror universe in episode 11 of Star Trek: Discovery and were exasperated to find that even more main characters are kicking the bucket. But some are returning to life… and there were some incredibly satisfying moments as well. And what about Tilly’s amazing angular haircut?

We also talk about the SFWA Recommended Reading List and how we plan to use it to get a jump on award season reading this year.

Warp Drives #33: The Astromycologists

It’s that time again… the end-of-year taking stock post! Here’s what I was up to in 2017.

LOTS AND LOTS OF NOVELING

Instead of making a short story submissions goal, I set myself a daily benchmark of writing 500 words per day on a novel. I didn’t write on weekends and holidays and I took off all of August (to hang out with my kids) and December (holiday houseguests).

So, how did it go?

I wrote 260,522 words. I completed one novel and wrote half of two others. There were some extremely productive weeks:

And some not-so-productive weeks:

But it all averaged out in the end.

The very first short story I ever sent out on submission, “Sinshine,” sold and appeared in Kaleidotrope. And my third week Clarion West story “Granite Requires” was featured on Pseudopod. It’s pretty clear that dark humor is my happy place. I desperately want to be a SF writer, but the pull of horror is strong. Someday, I’ll give myself over to it.

I attended Norwescon, the Writing Excuses Cruise, Worldcon in Helsinki, and Geek Girl Con. I toured Germany with a group that included Howard Tayler (who is very cool) and Mary Robinette Kowal (who is a delightful traveling companion). This is also my last year of Campbell eligibility, but I’m not worried about it. I already have a tiara.

And finally, I sent my completed novel to a publisher this past spring and there was… a response. Which I will tell you about some time in the future…