November 2016
Q: Hi, Marilyn. Can you tell us a little what your story (Our Problem Child: Langerfeld, The Moon) is about?
A: Everyone's into dystopian futures now, and I wanted to explore a future-war recovery from a different perspective. Instead of ordinary people or governments, I wondered what a couple of scientists would be doing, if tasked with keeping our damaged Moon in orbit. They end up buffetted by people's strong desire to make sure our only Moon stays up there, as an emotional touchstone/keystone based on thousands of years of Moon legends and mythology. And the reality that using defense lasers to keep pushing the Moon back into a stable orbit can't go on forever.
Q: How did you come up with the idea?
A: I've always wanted to write a story about what would happen if our Moon was seriously damaged. I've tinkered with various story-starts over the years, but nothing came together until I started to write this one. It's interesting that right now our Super-Moon and King Tides are in the news.
Q: What is your inspiration for writing as a whole?
A: I've always loved to write, from song lyrics to poetry. I've also tried my hand at screenplays and Young Adult novels. As I get older, with finite time and energy, I'm focusing on my SciFi stories, and keeping up with the technology that is re-writing the future before our very eyes.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about yourself?
A: I was raised in Washington State. I lived on both sides, but was living in western Washington in high school. I loved just walking out the door and seeing a snow-capped Mount Rainier rising above the hills and trees in the near distance. So I understand how powerful certain majestic land features (or an orbiting Moon) can affect people.
Q: Where can listeners find more of your work?
A: I have genre books on Amazon, plus an the Author Central Page I update. My Best Sellers remain my "Best Computer Humor On The Web!" book, and my Western Steampunk short-read, "Burying Engines." I'm focusing on my short stories right now, and have had stories published this year (2016) in "Refractions" teen magazine, "PerihelionSF" on-line, as well as your antho.
Q: Any new work we should keep an eye out for?
A: I have a humorous SciFi story, "Archeo For The Ages: Those Dolphin-Worshipping Pipples Of Old Earth" coming out in December in "New Zenith" magazine.
Q: What are you reading now?
A: I read all day long on the Internet, mainly news and topics of special interest to me. As for books, I finished Zak Bagans' "Dark World" recently. And I have been reading mainly SciFi anthos beyond that.
Q: Thanks again, Marilyn!
~~~~~
Editor's Note: If you enjoyed this story, you might be interested in reading the whole anthology, "Keystone Chronicles," with many more great stories. It's available on Amazon and Smashwords.
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