Full Contact Nerd Interviews

Full Contact Nerd Interviews


Mary-Robinette Kowal interview – Science Fiction novel – “The Relentless Moon” (Tor Books, 2020)

July 15, 2020

Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2CHOJ4j
Mary-Robinette Kowal has worked [as a] in puppetry for 25 years and has written science fiction for over 10 years. She recently published the third book in her lady astronaut series, [The restless Sun] The Relentless Moon, and we spoke about the book, writing, science, and puppetry.
0:30 – Mary-Robinette talks about why she wrote the series. She talks about how she tends to write historical based novels.
2:20 – Mary-Robinette talks about the background of the series.
3:27 – Mary-Robinette talks about the setting of the first two books and then the third.
4:43 – Mary-Robinette talks about the political setting of the third book.
8:30 – Mary-Robinette talks about how the series is hard science fiction and how she spoke with scientists and professionals about the science in the novels.
9:36 – Mary-Robinette talks about how much the books are in space versus on the Earth.
10:57 – Mary-Robinette talks about how she dealt with gender inequality in the books.
13:12 – Mary-Robinette talks about the science research she did for the book including trying on parts of spacesuits.
14:49 – Mary-Robinette talks about her access to science resources.
16:11 – Mary-Robinette talks about the entertainment that inspires her.
19:29 – Mary-Robinette talks about lateral impacts to spacecraft.
21:57 – Mary-Robinette talks about the aesthetic of the book being sort of a spy thriller.
23:15 – Mary-Robinette talks about whether the novel wraps up the series.
23:47 – Mary-Robinette talks about her writing process and how it’s changed over time.
28:30 – Mary-Robinette talks more about acting as a puppeteer.
30:59 – Mary-Robinette talks about having been an art major.
33:17 – Mary-Robinette talks about how she got into writing and her approach.
34:59 – Mary-Robinette talks about the change in lifestyle from puppetry to writing.
36:36 – Mary-Robinette talks about editing the book down from 180,000 words.
39:28 – Mary-Robinette talks about having loved Battlestar Galactica and the Deryni books.
41:42 – Mary-Robinette talks about difficulties in getting the book finished.
46:30 – Mary-Robinette talks about writing a sci-fi locked room mystery.
48:26 – Mary-Robinette can be found at maryrobinettekowal.com and ladyastronautclub.com.
 
Links of interest
https://amzn.to/2CHOJ4j
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250236968
http://maryrobinettekowal.com/
 
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Guests: Mary-Robinette Kowal
Host: Cris Alvarez
Tags: science fiction, fantasy, art, artist, writer, novel, novelist, fiction, astronauts, moon,