Introduction:

I am currently running a blog “mini-series” titled “Here’s SpecFicNZ-Christchurch” in which my fellow SpecFicNZ-Christchurch authors introduce themselves using a series of  common headings:

Here’s Who: a short, first person introduction to the writer
Here’s Why: the writer writes speculative fiction
Here’s What: an example of the writer’s work
Here’s Where: you can find out more about the writer and their work—and I really hope you will!

Today I am very pleased to introduce Cat Langford as this week’s guest.

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Here’s SpecFicNZ–Christchurch: Featuring Cat Langford

Here’s Who:

I am a writer of fantasy with science fiction elements, and vice versa. My first published story (The Wrong Camera) is based solidly within the Steampunk genre, and was released as part of the Tales from the Archives podcast and eBook series. Tales from the Archives is edited by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris, and all the stories in the podcast are set in the world of their Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences novels.

I have lived in three vastly different island nations: my native New Zealand, England, and Japan. I made the questionable decision to move from Wellington to Christchurch shortly before the earthquake swarm of 2010–11. I hold a BSc in Biology, and a Diploma in Publishing. By day I am a science editor.

As a reader, I like science fiction, and love fantasy. Most of all, I love those special places where the two genres meet.
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Here’s Why:

Like many others, I was drawn to SFF as a reader because of the “what if” nature of the genres. Also, I was exposed to SFF culture as a child and therefore never saw it as “strange” or “too geeky”. My mother is a life-long science fiction fan, so I was brought up on a steady diet of Star Wars and Star Trek. When I reached my pre-teen years I discovered fantasy, first through the Chronicles of Narnia and then through The Hobbit. I quickly moved on to longer works such as The Belgariad by David Eddings. I decided I wanted to write epic fantasy when I was a mere 13 years old.

It has been a long road. I spent far too much of my youth thinking about writing fantasy stories rather than doing. But I now have the discipline and dedication to pursue my dreams, and it will only be a matter of time before you see me in print.
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Here’s What (Excerpt):

Here is a sample of The Wrong Camera, published under my previous name Catherine Ford:
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“The Wrong Camera (© Catherine Ford)

“Do you take me for some kind of fool?”

Blythe took a step backward. “Please, sir, I don’t know what you mean. I just came to pick up my photographs.”

“I know why you are here. First time photographer, my foot! How did you do it?”

“I honestly don’t know what you are talking about! May I have my photographs?”

Mr Evans reached into a pigeon hole behind the counter, pulled out a paper-wrapped parcel, and threw it at her feet. Blythe picked up the parcel and ran out of the shop.

When she got home, she went straight up the stairs to her room. She sat at her desk, and took a moment to compose herself. The sound of the cabbage tree scratching lightly at her window soothed her with its familiarity. Then, catching her lip between her teeth, she opened the parcel.

The photographs inside were small and rectangular. Blythe only needed to look at the top one to see what Mr Evans had been shouting about. It should have been a picture of Christ Church Cathedral, and indeed it was, but it was not the same Christ Church Cathedral that she had photographed. The top half of the picture showed empty sky. All of the spire and some of the tower lay on the ground in a large pile of rubble. The damage shown in the photograph was far more extensive than the damage of the 1888 earthquake, several years earlier. The spire had only lost its tip then. The scene in the photograph, however, was heartbreaking. And of course, not real.”
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Here’s Where:

Visit my website or find me on Twitter or Google+

You can read the first chapter of my fantasy novel in progress, Symmetry Breaking, if you sign up to my newsletter. You can find the newsletter sign-up form on any page of my website.

You can listen to The Wrong Camera here at The Ministry Of Peculiar Occurrences website, or buy the short story in eBook format from Amazon or Kobo or your favourite eBook retailer.

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The “Here’s SpecFicNZ–Christchurch” series will continue posting every Wednesday for the next four weeks.