Today’s Friday Five focus is Beth Hudson, author of fantasy short stories, novellas, and novels.
Beth Hudson determined to become a writer while still in grade school. For years she worked on her writing, producing numerous short stories, and even completing two (unpublished) novels while in high school and college. Since deciding to focus on her writing, she has published a number of fantasy short stories in various magazines and anthologies. The Herd Lord, a novella about a war among centaurs, was published in 2011; her first full-length novel, Etched in Fire, was released in 2015; and her short story anthology, Seeing Green, came out in July 2017.
Swan maidens and assassins, selkies and disgruntled house spirits walk the pages of Beth Hudson’s short fiction anthology, Seeing Green. A player troupe is attacked by dark enchantment; a man seeks to uncover the mystery of a sealed box; a woman desperately searches for her heart’s desire. Fifteen spellbinding tales open a gateway to other worlds full of love, betrayal, and the cost of magic.
Because sometimes, when you seek magic, you get your wish.
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1. What was your attitude towards reading when you were a kid?
I read constantly. I fell asleep in class because I stayed up half the night reading. I would panic if I didn’t have a spare book (and still do). Books were my best friends.
2. Thinking about the stuff you’ve written, who’s your favorite character and why?
My favorite character is in my current work in progress. Traedis has courage that I would love to have. I also love the main character of Etched in Fire, Maelen, who will do anything necessary to protect innocents.
3. What are three things on your bucket list?
I’ve studied Welsh, but learning to full-out speak it.
Going to Alaska.
Doing a book tour.
4. What is the most important thing that people DON’T know about your subject/genre, that you think they need to know?
We’re not necessarily writing escapist fluff. In any writing there must be something that makes a connection with the reader, and good fantasy is not about the differences of the world, but the humanity of the people.
5. Why should people read YOUR stuff? Who’s your target audience and why?
My audience is people who want to read about hard issues in a context of wonder. I write about survivors of abuse and trauma, and also explore what it means to be a woman. But I hope people from outside those experiences will find good things in my works as well.
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Seeing Green is currently available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
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