Author of “The Mermaid” in Urban Mythic 2, Tanith Lee answers a few questions!
Tell us a little about yourself and your writing. How long have you been writing and how did you get started?
I’ve been writing since the age of 9 – about 57 years. Being slightly
dyslexic (something unrecognised in my childhood) the school couldn’t
teach me how to read. My father stepped in and taught me in a few
months. About a year later, by then reading as a locust feeds, I began –
as if logically – to write.
What is at the root of your Urban Mythic story?
The story came from an idea a friend told me and said I might use. It was so straightforward – shocking.
You’ve written widely across a multitude of forms and genres
including horror, SF, fantasy, historical, detective,
contemporary-psychological, children’s and young adult; in novel, short
story, radio play and TV script form: do you find yourself drawn to any
one in particular?
All and any, if they call to me. When the inspiration comes, I’m off.
Is there any genre or style of writing you haven’t tried yet but would like to?
Anything, probably, again if I get that alluring signal.
What do you think of the current state of the fantasy/sf/horror genre?
I don’t take a lot of notice of that. I read the ones I love, and now
discover new loves. But I read mostly, and widely, outside the three
main ‘fantasy’ areas. Always have.
Room 101 time: what one genre cliché would you get rid of?
None. From wonderful epic ideas and phrases can come rubbish. And
from (perhaps) limited or clichéd ones, gardens of Hell and Paradise may
flower.
What are you up to next? (Published works/conventions/random fun stuff!)
Some (Main House) reprints of some of my past work, and some new, for
the USA, are under discussion. I’m also putting together lots of Lee
short story collections, all including new original unpublished tales.
These for UK, Australia and the USA. Conventions – I love them, but
right now, no time.
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