I interviewed L. Lee Lowe about her stories, which range in subject matter from the paranormal to sci-fi. Here she gives us a taste of various bits of her fiction work to date.
LT: Tell our readers about Mortal Ghost.
LLL: It’s the kind of novel you only write once, when you’re still fired up by possibility.
LT: How did you come up with the idea for this story?
LLL: By writing it. I started with one phrase - and no, it’s not even in the book any longer!
LT: How long did it take you to write?
LLL: Two years. And my second novel took me twice as long. I hope my next one won’t take twice as long again, but it might: I’m slow.
LT: You also have a sci-fi story called Corvus. Tell us about it.
LLL: I think of it more as science fantasy - a SF novel with the wrong ending. Here’s the blurb:
In an alternate present the minds of teen offenders are uploaded into computers for rehabilitation—a form of virtual wilderness therapy. Zach is a homo cognoscens, one of the new humans who can navigate the Fulgrid. Though still a high school student, he is indentured to the Fulgur Corporation as a counsellor. Laura is a homo sapiens. Their story is part odyssey, part tragedy, part riff on the nature of consciousness.
LT: Your work is available in various forms, including podcasts. How were you able to bring this about?
LLL: A fellow writer/blogger knew someone who knew someone … you know, just like in the real world. Ioan Hefin, the Welsh actor who is reading the Corvus podcasts, is totally professional in his commitment, though he’s not earning a cent. And he’s a superb narrator!
LT: How often do you write, and do you work on multiple projects?
LLL: Everyday. No multiple projects - confuses the hell out of my subconscious.
LT: Speaking of which, what can we expect from you in the near future?
LLL: I’m working on a ghost story - well, a sorta ghost story - and then I may be ready to write a new novel.
LT: What would your “dream project” be like?
LLL: The next one.
LT: What authors do you read?
LLL: Too many to list. You’ve got to read widely across all genres, including poetry, drama, nonfiction, erotica, the dictionary, cereal boxes.
Just to give you an idea, at the moment I’m reading Colm Toibin’s Brooklyn, Oliver Sacks’ Migraine, Robin Robertson’s The Wrecking Light, Aleksandar Hemon’s Best European Fiction 2010, a book about salt, Linda Grant’s When I Lived in Modern Times, China Miéville’s The City & the City, a couple of other things. Also whatever short stories I come across online.
LT: Do your characters/stories get their own “theme” music, and if so, what would it be?
LLL: Never. Music interferes with the music of the prose.
Whoops. Never say never. My latest short story is based on Jacques Brel’s song ‘Ne me quitte pas’. The story is ‘resting’ at the moment, waiting for a final edit, but will be published online in a month or so.
LT: Where can our readers go to find your stories and keep up with your projects?
LL: I publish everything on my own website: http://lleelowe.com
LT: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
LLL: Thanks for interviewing me!
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©2010 Lori Titus
Tags: L. Lee Lowe, THE SUNDAY SPECIAL
