“Here’s SpecFicNZ Wellington”: Featuring Darusha Wehm
Over the past two months I have hosted a blog “mini-series” titled “Here’s SpecFicNZ Wellington” in which my fellow members—from Wellington, of course!—have introduced 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!
This week, I welcome my final guest, Darusha Wehm, who is also a member of the SpecFicNZ committee—and extend special thanks for her help in putting the series together. A very warm welcome, Darusha.:)
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Here’s SpecFicNZ–Wellington: Featuring Darusha Wehm
Here’s Who:
I am the author of the novels Beautiful Red, Self Made, Act of Will and The Beauty of Our Weapons, three of which have been nominated for the Parsec Award. My short fiction has appeared in numerous publications, including Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine and the award-winning Toasted Cake and Escape Pod podcasts. I also am the editor of the crime and mystery short fiction magazine, Plan B, and curate the photo blog Spaceships Today.
Originally from Canada, I sailed to New Zealand with my partner Steven on our yacht “Scream.” We left from the west coast of Canada and sailed to the US, Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Ecuador, across the Pacific via French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. We live aboard in Wellington Harbour.
Here’s Why:
I write lots of different things: mystery, mainstream, poetry, non-fiction… but I mostly write science fiction. Unlike a lot of spec fic writers, I came to SF as an adult, introduced by friends who assured me that there was more to sci fi than rayguns and bugeyed monsters. I began my education with Iain M. Banks, moved on to Neal Stephenson, Octavia Butler, William Gibson and more. I immediately realized that SF can be literate, universal, funny, and intensely real.
To me, speculative fiction is the abstract art of literature: through the depiction of states of existence that are not real, it can illuminate aspects of the human condition that are otherwise inaccessible.
Also, robots, spaceships and cybernetics are way cool.
Here’s What:
Excerpt from The Beauty of Our Weapons
© M. Darusha Wehm
“Why did this have to happen to me?” Jeffie whined. René Biagini patted his friend on the hand and flicked a finger up to the waiter for another glass of synth-wine.
“Can you tell me exactly what was done?” Biagini asked, setting his system to record the conversation. He didn’t really think he’d be able to find whoever vandalized his friend’s store, but he’d promised to try so he ought to put a little effort in. “Do you have a recording of the instantiation?”
Jeffie nodded. “I record every work day. Prevents a lot of disputes over price quotes.”
“Good,” René said. “Send me the vid.” The wine arrived and René felt a download drop into his system. “You drink this,” he said, handing Jeffie a large glass of red, “while I look at it, okay?”
Jeffie sniffled and nodded, sipping the wine. The vid showed a blurry image of Jeffie’s storefront as it materialized in front of his vision. René had visited it more than a few times, and expected to see the familiar yellow and orange sign over the green portal door. Instead, there was a disturbing electrical buzzing sound and the door was distorted and pixellated. It did not look safe to enter, but Jeffie must have gone in anyway as the vid’s point of view moved through the portal and into what should have been the small shop.”
Here’s Where:
You can read stories, buy books and find out more at http://darusha.ca. I’m also on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
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As noted above, Darusha is the final guest in the “Here’s SpecFicNZ Wellington” series. Christams is upon us now, but I’ll do a roundup of all the featured guests early in the New Year.