On Writing
Seven Questions for Marie
1 HOW DID YOU GET INTO WRITING FICTION OR POETRY
I write in order to stay alive, to tell my story, to enter an alternate world, and to entertain myself. I write because as a lower-income/working-class kid it was an art medium I could afford.
2 WHAT TYPES OF BOOKS DO YOU LIKE TO READ
The books I like to read are good ones :) of all kinds–mainly fantasy/sci-fi, but I’ll read anything that is good and holds my attention. Right now I’m finishing Haruki Murakami’s book of short stories, First Person Singular.
3 FAVORITE AUTHORS / MAIN CHARACTER / WHY THAT MAIN CHARACTER
My favorite book as a child was the Borrowers, I loved the idea of a group of little people living an alternate life by borrowing stuff like bobby pins, etc. I love Margaret Atwood, and a slew of fantasy/sci-fi authors, among them: Charlaine Harris, Kelly Armstrong, Kim Harrison, Patricia Briggs and more. I love, love, love finding a new author and reading absolutely everything they have written.
4 WHAT IS FANTASY SCI FI?
My definition of it is sci-fi with fantasy elements.
5 WHAT IS ECO-MERMAID FANTASY SCI FI?
To me, eco-mermaid fantasy is sci-fi fantasy that deals with the reality of climate change and an underwater society who are determined to save the planet from humans.
6 WHAT DRAWS YOU TO ECO / CLIMATE DISASTER AS A THEME? CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE ABOUT IT?
I’m drawn to write about eco/climate disaster because I live on planet Earth, the blue planet, and I love the ocean, I want it to Save stay here for future generations. I don’t want humans to decide for the blue planet what becomes of it. We are only 29 %of the beings here, we should not be deciding for the other 71% of the beings the fate of this planet.
7. WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR FICTION
I want people to know it will transport them. I want them to take the journey with me to the Deep. Dive in… the water is… well, you’ll find out. <3
BONUS. HAD TO ASK, ARE MERMAIDS REAL?
Of course, mermaids are real <3– I am one
On this website, I focus on new fiction and poetry, especially the YA, eco-fantasy sci-fi I have been writing the past decade–my new novel, Blue. In the past, I have written, directed, and performed award-winning plays, large-scale art installations, and written screenplays. My book, Baby, You Are My Religion: Women, Gay Bars and Theology Before Stonewall is considered ground-breaking ethnography exploring the sacrality of lesbian bars for pre-and post-Stonewall LGBTQ+communities.
I also write a monthly blog on the site Feminism and Religion that includes prose and poetry.
Here are links to recent publications where you can find my fiction and poetry.