“Here’s SpecFicNZ–Wellington”: Featuring Richard Parry
I am currently running a blog “mini-series” titled “Here’s SpecFicNZ Wellington”in which my fellow members are introducing themselves using a series of common headings:
Here’s Who: a short, first person introduction to the member
Here’s Why: the member writes or works in speculative fiction
Here’s What: an example of the member’s work
Here’s Where: you can find out more about the writer and their work—and I really hope you will!
And now I am delighted to welcome this week’s guest, Richard Parry.
—
Here’s SpecFicNZ–Wellington: Featuring Richard Parry
Here’s Who:
I used to tell people I was an actuary, because telling people I worked on the statistics of when they were likely to die seemed better than admitting to my actual job. The thing about working in IT (which I won’t admit to, usually) is that it’s worse than being a plumber: only one in ten people has a broken toilet, but everyone has a broken computer.
The cool part is, now I tell people I’m a writer. It’s even mostly true – my debut novel, Night’s Favour, has been pretty well received. It – exceptionally briefly – made it into Amazon’s top 50 in its genre. When that happened, I felt a bit like a superhero.
Still, every superhero needs a day job, so let’s just agree that I’m not an actuary.
As Connor McLeod would say, I’m from lots of different places. Born? Philippines. Raised? US of A, until 7 or 8. Cultivated? New Zealand. Travel? Yes, through America, Japan, Australia, Italy. Living? The Hutt Riviera.
I’m at work on my second novel, Upgrade.
Also, I do karate. This helps more than you know.
.
Here’s Why:
Speculative fiction is an amazing genre. It’s where we get to set an artificial premise – aliens, killer attack dogs, zombies, superheroes, star ships, dragons, whatever – for our characters to act against. We get this chance to ask questions against a different backdrop. What if the world was this way? What would it mean for the people in it? What would they do?
Stories are about people. Imagining people against these fantastic backdrops is plain fun. It’s exciting to write, and it’s exciting to read. I can’t imagine writing in another genre.
It’s funny – the SpecFicNZ group I have coffee with talks about those other genres sometimes. You know – like crime fiction. Or romance. I’m happy those genres exist – I enjoy a good crime fiction novel like anyone else (you’re totally on your own with romance). But the stories that come into my head don’t fit into those categories. It’s a curse: all my ideas come into life in realms fantastic.
It’s a neat curse to have.
Really, I like telling stories. And I like telling stories about people – but with something a little less ordinary thrown in. I’m going to keep on writing speculative fiction, because there’s no other genre that fits so well.
.
Here’s What:
I’ve included a sample from Night’s Favour below. You can get an ebook sample from Amazon too.
“Doc! Stay down!”
Phillips looked at him, his mouth open. “I —”
“Down!” Val grabbed him by the shoulders, pushing him —
Friend. Wise one. Guardian.
— gently to the ground. He swept an arm across Phillips’ desk, scattering notes, books, and the computer to the ground. Then he grabbed the desk in both hands, the muscles of his arms and shoulders bunching under his shirt. Leaning back, Val turned around and —
Strength. By rock and stone and the ground that shakes.
— heaved the desk at the wall. It punched a hole through the wall, lodging half in and half out of Phillips’ office. Val took two steps towards it and — keeping his momentum up — put a foot against it, kicking it out and through the wall. Sun broke through, catching dusty motes as they drifted through the air. He turned to Phillips.
“Doc. You’ve got to run.”
“I — of course.” Phillips got up, and started to walk towards the door to his office.
Val grabbed the back of his shirt. “Not that way, Doc. Through the wall.” He nodded at the hole in the building.
“What about —”
“I’ll get them.” Val guided him to the hole in the wall. “Just go. Get away.”
“Where will I go?” Phillips looked lost. “What —”
There was a scream from the waiting room, cut off by a blast of gunfire.
Val looked at him. “There’s no time. Call the police.”
“Of course.” Phillips started through the hole in the wall. “What about you, Valentine? What about you?”
Val flexed his hands in front of him. He could see the feet of the dead man in the corridor outside Phillips’ office. He looked at the hole in the wall, and the sunlight streaming in. A smile lit up his face. “You know? I don’t think it’s cancer, doc. I think I’ll be fine.” ‘
(c) Richard Parry
.
Here’s Where:
My Internet ‘hood is found at www.rage.net.nz. I keep the usual accoutrements of a writer there, and if you care deeply you can read my blog.
The best place to find Night’s Favour is on Amazon. You can get a digital version for almost anything that carries electricity, or a paper version if that’s your thing.
Finally, my Internet homegirl Cassie Hart has recently put up an interview with me on her blog.
—
The “Here’s SpecFicNZ–Wellington” series will be posting every Thursday for the next four weeks.
Thanks Helen! You’re awesome 🙂
You’re welcome, Richard! 🙂