2010 Snapshot: Edwina Harvey
Edwina Harvey is an author, editor, ceramic and silk artist. Her short stories and articles have been published
in such diverse publications as Aurealis and Grass Roots magazines. Her first YA SF novel, The Whale’s Tale, was published late last year. She regularly edits, sub-edits and reads slush for Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, and edits the Australian Science Fiction Bullsheet each month. She has the time to do these things because of a chronic allergy to housework. : - )
1. In 2009 you released your first YA Novel, A Whale’s Tale. Would you tell us about your publishing experience?
It was great finally getting a novel published, but I never realised the hard work only starts *after* your book comes out!
2. You’ve been publishing the SF Bullsheet for a number of years now. Why do you think fanzines such as the multi-award winning Bullsheet are important, and where do you get the energy to keep doing it?!
I think news zines like the Bullsheet are important because they’re the fannish equivilent of The Bush Telegraph, supporting the greater fannish community.
Producing the newsletter each month is a draining experience. It often interrupts my flow of work. I feel I only have 3 weeks in every 4 to contribute to my other interests
3. You are one of the founding members of the Andromeda Spaceways Publishing Co-operative, and one of the few remaining founding members of the ongoing publishing group - what can you tell us about your time with ASIM, and why do you think the magazine is important to the Australian and international publishing scene?
ASIM has introduced me to the most amazing group of individuals. No matter who is in the co-op mix, it always seems to work. I think of ASIM as “The Little Magazine That Could.” The odds have always been against us, but we always just kept our heads down and kept going. We’ve supplied a market for lighter SF and fantasy to many Australian and international authors over the last 8 years of fairly regular magazine production,(with more on the way!) I think we’ve earned respect from the international SF community
4. Which Australian writers or work would you like to see on the Hugo shortlists this year?
Sean Williams, Marianne de Pierres, Dave Luckett and Adrian Bedford in the professional writers section. I had a great novella, “Over The Edge” by NZ writer Ripley Patton in Andromeda Spaceways Inflight magazine #42 , and there was a great short story, "Cockroach Love" by Damian Broderick and Paul di Filipo in ASIM 41. In the fanzine section Ted Scribner and I would be delighted if the Bullsheet got a nomination.
5. Will you be at Aussiecon 4 in September? If so, what are you most looking forward to about it? What do you think Aussiecon might do for the Australian publishing industry as a whole?
I’ll be at Aussiecon 4 with bells on! It’ll be my third Aussiecon. I’m looking forward to all of it, but particularly the social aspects, the chance to meet up with friends and acquaintances, and make new friends. I’m also looking forward to the artshow and the dealers’ room; I’ve been saving up for those all year! In the short term.
I think having a Worldcon in Australia allows a lot of Australian publishers exposure to a much wider audience. From what I’ve seen there’s also a “creative aftershock” that stimulates the local community in the years after a local Worldcon. I think ASIM emerged during one such aftershock, and I’m looking forward to seeing what will emerge from Aussiecon 4
This interview was conducted as part of the 2010 Snapshot of Australian Speculative Fiction. Interviews were blogged from Monday 15 February to Sunday 22 February and will be archived at ASif!: Australian SpecFic in Focus. You can read interviews at:
http://random-alex.livejournal.com/
http://girliejones.livejournal.com/
http://kathrynlinge.livejournal.com/
http://www.mechanicalcat.net/rachel
http://tansyrr.com/
http://editormum.livejournal.com/