New Year Newsings

At this blessed time of changing of an arbitrary date format based on a single religious figure, I can’t help but look to the year ahead. What exciting wars or plagues will we see this year? Will the plucky cave-dwelling apes continue to destroy the planet? And most importantly, will this finally be the year I’m installed as benevolent emprix* after a bloodless coup?

Proud Pink Sky

That’s right! This is the release year for everyone’s favourite novel about the world’s first gay state. Comes complete with map of this alternate Berlin, a glossary for the gay slang Polari, and real words covering almost every page.

Publisher’s Weekly recently reviewed the novel, calling it “gripping” and a “remarkable alternate history”. Proud Pink Sky is currently available for preorder on all your favourite (and least favourite) book sites, and buying it will make a certain queer giant very happy indeed.

That’s a good thing. You want that.

Ambitopian Adventures

Proud Pink Sky is an ambitopian novel — a term I came up with to describe works exploring human extremes outside of the restrictive binary of utopia and dystopia. The concept has been talked about a fair bit, and I was delighted to see that the artist and composer Yann Novak has created an excellent radio show called Sounds Toward a Queer Ambitopia.

It’s wonderfully atmospheric, and I’ve been listening to it while writing my horrifying stories. You can listen to it here. Do it. Do it now. But also, keep reading.

Stories stories stories!

I’m pleased to announce that I have upcoming short story publications!

First up we have ‘The Past Made Flesh’, which is being published in the British Science Fiction Association’s Fission anthology, alongside a host of great writers. I’m absolutely thrilled to be included, and am particularly proud of this story, which follows the adventures of nursing home resident Barbara.

Fission 2.2 can be ordered from this exciting dystopian website. And other websites.

Meanwhile, I have another exciting story announcement, which will be coming soon…

Hear my beautiful voice

I’ve been interviewed a couple more times, and will post links as soon as they’re available — some of which will coincide with the launch of Proud Pink Sky, including the Queer Words Podcast with the absolutely lovely Wayne Goodman.

I will also be doing readings in person at various locations, so if you wish to gaze upon me while quietly whispering my name, this will be the perfect opportunity. More details will be announced here, on my Goodreads page, and, gods willing, projected onto the night sky for all to see, whether they like it or not.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten something and it’ll come to me precisely three minutes after I upload this post, but for that’s all for now!

Join me next time for more exciting ambitopian adventures!

- Proud Pinkfern

*This is the nonbinary term for emperor/empress which I invented. You are most welcome.

Events Events Events!

This is a very quick I-finally-seem-to-have-that-annual-autumn-cold post, taking a break between feeling guilty about not working to, well, work. Only briefly though, so this still counts as ‘resting’. Sort of.

Anyway, last week’s PARATAXE event at the Literarisches Colloquium Berlin was an absolutely wonderful experience. Each of the three panels (covering past, present, and future in Berlin’s English-language writing) was fascinating, and it was fantastic to meet so many great writers, poets, and artists in person.

It was especially pleasing to share a panel with Ambika Thompson and Arielle Cottingham, where we spent much time talking about the city’s gentrification and what it means for queer artists of all kinds — moderated by the lovely Florian Duijsens. The event’s panels can be viewed online here.

The next event takes place October 14 at Berlin’s Brotfabrik, where I’ll be doing a reading with Man­ca Klun for PARATAXE. Details are available here.

That’s all for now! Join me next time when I’ll still be pretending to rest while secretly doing work! While still sick! Gotta live that 21st-century millennial dream!

— Redfern

More on Proud Pink Sky... And a Short Story in Fission

This will be a short post, seeing as my body has betrayed me and my well-deserved immortality by “getting sick” — but I do have some exciting news relating to everyone’s favourite speculative novel about the world’s first gay country…

WROTE podcast

It was delightful to be back on the WROTE podcast with hosts SA Collins and Vance Bastion, where we talked about ambitopia, my coming out as nonbinary, and how each relates to Proud Pink Sky. You can listen to the episode here, while in a few days the video version will be released on YouTube — complete with Proud Pink Sky poster in the background.

Panel discussion at Berlin’s LCB

I’m very much excited for the upcoming PARATAXE symposium at Berlin’s beautiful LCB grounds later this month. I’ll be on the ‘Idealism and Dystopia’ panel with Ambika Thompson and Arielle Cottingham, with the full programme available here. I’m especially pleased to see that Ben Ferguson, one of my favourite queer authors, will also be speaking at the event, which takes place September 23rd. Attendance is free of charge, but you need to register with the LCB for a ticket: mail@lcb.de.

Proud Pink Sky reading and discussion at Brotfabrik

Finally, I’ve been invited to do a reading from Proud Pink Sky at the Brotfabrik, again as part of PARATAXE’s programme. I’ll be speaking alongside the poet Manca Klun, with the novel reading taking place in both English and German. Tickets are €5 regular or €3 reduced, with more information available here.

Story in Fission

But it doesn’t end there — I’m extremely pleased to announce that my short story ‘The Past Made Flesh’ is appearing in the Fission anthology, published by the British Science Fiction Association. I’m honoured to be included among some great names, and will update with more information as it’s available.

That’s all for today! Until next time, when I shall finally be well and never ever get sick ever again.

— Redfern

Busy Busy Months

Many things have happened since the last update, partly because I am a frantically busy person perfectly willing to sacrifice their long-term wellbeing at the altar of productivity, and partly because… well, maybe it’s just that first thing. Anyway, onto the news!

Give Me Prizes!

First up, I have some exciting news on prizes —my short story collection was a semi-finalist for The Journal Non/Fiction Collection Prize, while the manuscript for my novel Small People was also a semi-finalist, this time for The Big Moose Prize by Black Lawrence Press, as well as being longlisted for the First Pages Prize. Obviously this has been exciting, but if the winners mysteriously go missing do I get to take their place? Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s how it works.

Not only that, but this Septemer I’ll also be on a panel at Berlin’s LCB (Literarisches Colloquium Berlin) as part of the Parataxe series. I’ll be discussing the themes in the novel alongside the real-life issues which inspired the work, and I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity.

Britain Trip

After five and a half years I finally managed to make it back to my home country of… what’s it called again? Burton? Britpop? Brexitmeansbrexit? Anyway, I went to that place and ate the good junk food and hopefully didn’t get the covid.

I also had chance to meet with two amazing author friends of mine — first I met up with Jennifer Steil in London, where we spent hours chatting at a lovely local cafe (pictured). I first met Jennifer at the Bi Book Awards in New York, and it was truly wonderful to see her and catch up in person.

The following week I met with Meg-John Barker in Brighton, and we had an absolutely fantastic time together, time which flew by all too quickly. (And again we got to be in an amazing cafe — Berlin really could take notes when it comes to coffee places.) I hope to see them again soon, especially if I manage to arrange a British book tour for Proud Pink Sky. Speaking of which…

Advance Praise for Proud Pink Sky

Oh look, it’s my upcoming novel! And I’ve been receiving some wonderful advanced praise from authors I really admire, including the aforementioned MJ Barker, author of Queer: A Graphic History, Calder Szewczak, co-authors of The Offset, Christian Baines, Brett Josef Grubisic, and Gayathri Prabhu — who remains one of the most thoughtful and inspiring people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.

You can read the quotes on the Proud Pink Sky page on this site. So far the novel has been extremely well received by everyone who’s had chance to read it, and it gives me warm glowy feelings whenever someone has given feedback (and not a small amount of imposter syndrome…).

Upcoming Events

I’ve been very fortunate in being approached to do a bilingual reading of Proud Pink Sky at the Brotfabrik this October (an actor will be reading the German parts so I don’t completely embarrass myself). This will be the first reading of the novel to a live audience — as well as my first live reading since the pandemic began — and I’m more than a little excited about it.

Image from @genderfreeworld

Gender Free World

I forgot to mention a very fun part of my Britain trip — going with my friend Lindsey to Brighton’s incredible gender-neutral clothing store, Gender Free World. It was a wonderfully affirming place after coming out as nonbinary, and thanks to their sizing scheme that’s based in body shape rather than actual gender, I actually found a shirt that fits! (I promise this is not a sponsored post, I’m just an absolute fanperson for this place). They even took a picture of us in our fancy new clothes to put on their Instagram (left).

Beyond the Hallowed Sky review

Among all the time spent frantically running after strangers and begging them to read my novel, I also found chance to write a review of Ken Macleod’s excellent new novel for Strange Horizons. I loved its take on speculative geopolitics, seeing a global cold war between the Union, the Alliance, and the Co-Ord, alongside its intriguing future concepts. You can read my thoughts on the novel and its fascinating worldbuilding here.

Marching in Berlin

Last Friday I went to Berlin’s fabulous Dyke* March, which was a huge amount of fun, filled with people in colourful outfits and a lot of gender nonconformity. I took the opportunity to make my face all kinds of pink for the occassion, and even though my introverted, covid-shocked self can’t be in crowds for long periods of time, it was still an amazing event (pictured: pink me, in the shirt from Gender Free World).

SECRETS

Well that’s enough from this photo album of a post — aside from me pointlessly teasing you with a non-announcement that I’m not allowed to make yet…

I’ll end on a skincare tip: If you never go outside, you’ll never get sun damage!

- Redfern

Story in The Colored Lens and Proud Pink Sky Available for Preorder!

PROUD PINK SKY STUFF!

I’m absolutely in love with Amble/Bywater’s fantastic design for the Proud Pink Sky cover, so much so that I ordered it as a poster for my bedroom wall, and it looks great. (It was also early in the morning, so feel free to ignore my shocking lack of makeup in this picture!)

The poster was custom-made, but you can get your very own smaller version — bound to hundreds of pages — by pre-ordering a copy of Proud Pink Sky. It’s now available in several locations, including:

• Amazon (of course)

• Target and Walmart

• Fantastic Fiction

• Book Depository

• Dussmann

• As well as indie stores like Herringbone, ToadBooks, and McIntyre’s

This list is far from exhaustive, and you can pre-order a copy from your local bookstore by giving them the ISBN: 9781612942537.

THE COLORED LENS

I’m delighted to announce that my short story ‘Everkittens’ has been published in the Spring 2022 edition of The Colored Lens, a fantastic speculative fiction magazine which you can order here. I have my copy, and don’t you want to be just like me?

Anyway, that’s all for now. Join us next time when we’ll be tarnishing Berlin with PROUD PINK SKY billboards and skyvertisements.

Until then!

- Redfern

Proud Pink Sky cover reveal and release date!

I’m thrilled to have received Proud Pink Sky’s final cover design from my editor! Rendered in cyberpunk neon tones reminiscent of the bi and trans pride flags, I’m truly delighted with the design – especially the intricate and energetic detail of the gay megacity.

And we now have a release date: March 2023. Meanwhile, the novel’s page on Amble’s site has been updated. You’ll see plenty of news on Proud Pink Sky before then, so be sure to check back in!

That’s not even all! My short story ‘More’ was featured in issue 9 of Orca, available both as an ebook and in print. Orca publish some fantastic literary and speculative fiction, and I’m honoured to have been included.

Well, I best re-chain myself to my desk, in case I get any funny ideas about “escaping” or “freedom”. There are always more words to rearrange!

Until next time!

-Redfern

Story in Nature!

So it’s that time of year when Berlin’s sky sinks into a wonderful shade of depression grey for the three hours of daylight before it gets dark. There have been two recent bright spots, however: first, I had a lovely trip to Vienna with my partner Ismar, where we spent our time avoiding antivaxxer demos and reading in beautiful cafes (a dream trip for two bookish introverts). And secondly, my speculative flash story ‘Bringing Back the Stars’ — which follows ageing movie star Jack Stanley as he returns to youth and tries to rekindle past fame — has been published in Nature, for their Futures section.

Obviously I’m thrilled for my story to be featured, and I was also asked to write a short piece detailing its inspiration. Both can be read here.

I’ve also very recently been informed that my speculative short story ‘More’ will be published in Orca, a fantastic magazine which publishes some really excellent fiction. More details to come!

Until next time, fellow cafe-dwellers!

- Redfern

How I would spend 100% of my time if I could.

Shepherd.com, a New Review, and the Leapfrog Prize

It’s rapidly reaching that time of year when the grey descends on Berlin and then lingers until January, so I’ve been taking the rare opportunity to leave my desk and Go Places; which last weekend meant a trip to the Sanssouci palaces at Potsdam. Dressing for my role as an eccentric aristocrat somehow born into the lower classes, I did my best to unnerve poorly-dressed tourists with my sheer opulent beauty.

Or maybe it was the lipstick, who knows.

Anyway, let’s get on to the latest news…

Shepherd Book Recommendations

I was very pleased to have Shepherd.com reach out to me asking for a list of themed recommendations. Shepherd is a new site dedicated to helping people find books, recommended by actual authors, which is refreshing in a world of menacing algorithms and gamed review systems. The theme I chose was ‘The best novels exploring polyamory and non-traditional love’, because of cause it was.

The recommendations were a lot of fun to write, and I wholeheartedly suggest reading these stories if you’re interested in poly lives and loves. You can read the recommendations here.

The Offset Review

Perhaps you’ve noticed my last few book reviews have been somewhat negative. For the past couple years it’s followed the same pattern: there’s a new sci-fi novel being released by an author I really like. I request it for review and then read it only for the familiar sinking feeling to start collapsing its way through my body, because too many well-established authors seem to stop making the effort to produce well-written, insightful work. So I was delighted to finally review a book that I actually really enjoyed, by new writing duo Natasha C. Calder and Emma Szewczak, writing under the name Calder Szewczak.

Check the review out at Strange Horizons.

The Leapfrog Prize

Finally, I’m happy to announce that my short story collection received an honourable mention for the Leapfrog Press Global Fiction Prize. This is especially pleasing as Leapfrog Press was established by the husband of one of my favourite authors, Marge Piercy — who just happens to be among my recommendations with Shepherd.

That’s it for now! I’ll be getting back to the final draft of Proud Pink Sky, which is to be released in the autumn of next year.

Until then, palace wanderers!

- Redfern

ParSec launch and a review of Doctorow's latest novel

While I’ve been locked in my room working on the final edits to my upcoming novel Proud Pink Sky (Amble Press, 2022), PS Publishing have released the inaugural issue of ParSec Magazine. ParSec features works by well-known science fiction writers such as Ken Macleod, Dan Abnett, and Esther Friesner, as well as my short story ‘We Have Forever’. The story follows an old married couple, the East German Petra and West German Felix, who, thanks to a miraculous new cell therapy restoring their friends to 20 years old, must choose whether they wish to rewind their lives and start afresh — wish everlasting consequences for their marriage.

A promotional video for ParSec’s launch, featuring several contributors (including myself), can be watched here:

My review of Cory Doctorow’s latest novel Attack Surface is also up at Strange Horizon’s. I’ve been a big fan of Doctorow’s ever since reading Walkaway, so I started reading his new work with high expectations…

“Doctorow makes no secret that his aim is to educate and inform. The novel opens with a dedication to real-world whistleblowers, including Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden, with Attack Surface’s protagonist—Masha—working for a shadowy firm, which helps authoritarian regimes spy on subversive citizens. The novel’s tension comes from the fact that Masha is working both sides, simultaneously assisting the protestors her software is designed to follow. Her conflict lies between cynical compliance and idealistic rebellion…”

The full review can be read here.

That’s all for now, though I’ll be sure to keep posting with news on Proud Pink Sky, as well as my reports on the mysterious ‘outside’ place visible from my bedroom window.

— Redfern

Accouncing PROUD PINK SKY, coming 2022 from Amble Press!

I am beyond delighted to announce that my novel PROUD PINK SKY is being published by Amble Press, a new imprint of Bywater Books, and is scheduled for release in 2022.

Berlin: a megacity of 24 million people, is the world’s first gay state. Its distant radio broadcasts are a lifeline for teenager William, so when his love affair with Gareth is discovered the two flee toward sanctuary. But is there a place for them in a city divided into districts for young twinks, trendy bears, and rich alpha gays? Meanwhile, straight housewife Cissie loves Berlin’s towering highrises and chaotic multiculturalism, yet she’s never left her heterosexual district – not until she and her family are trapped in a queer riot. With her husband Howard plunging into religious paranoia, she discovers a walled-off slum of perpetual twilight, home to the city’s forbidden trans residents.

As they dive deeper into a bustling world of pride parades, polyamorous trysts, and even an official gay language, William and Cissie discover that all is not well in the gay state – each playing their part in a looming civil war...

The novel is the result of years of research into queer communities, history, and Polari – the real-life gay slang which is expanded and updated for PROUD PINK SKY. It is a work of 'ambitopian' fiction, which I’ve described in the io9/Gizmodo article, ‘Why We Need Utopian Fiction Now More Than Ever’.

I’m thrilled that the novel has a home with Amble, which has a number of exciting upcoming books from minority authors. I’ll reveal more information as it’s available!

- Redfern