WRITER THINGS
How long have you been writing, and what are your preferred genres and settings?
I’ve been writing since I was a kid, publishing since 2010 when my first short story came out in Clarkesworld. I LOVE horror and fantasy, and every now and then, I get a sci-fi idea.
Who or what originally inspired you to try your hand at writing?
I was immediately a fiend for reading, and I wanted to try my hand at writing stories, so I used to write and draw picture books featuring my cat, April, as a kiddo. Then in middle school it was like therapy, and in high school, I was encouraged by my English teacher.
What lengths of stories do you prefer, i.e. short stories/flash fiction/novels? What formats do you like to release your work in, i.e. e-book, paperback, audiobook?
I love all lengths, and I’ll publish in whatever format they pay me for! I’ve been lucky to publish in ebook, paperback, and audiobook.
What’s your publishing method – trad or self – and are there any companies, agencies, or platforms you really like working with? Are there any that you absolutely will not work with?
I’m a trad author, and I love publishers who publish bold speculative fiction.
What does your writing environment look like? Are there specific or unique features to your drafting and writing process that you feel are interesting?
I’m a very chaotic writer, and there isn’t a lot of method to that chaos–I write on whatever I can!
MEATY THINGS
What, if any, social issues do you feel like you address the most in your work?
Trauma and sexuality. I often explore the effects of generational trauma through a spec fic lens, usually from a C-PTSD perspective, even if I never call it that. For example, I’ll write about the daughter of a terrible king in a fantasy land and how she deals with her upbringing by a tyrant once she reaches adulthood, or a teenage girl with a sea monster for a parent who has learned she has a heart defect: tentacles wrapped around her heart, slowly turning her into a monster, too. Additionally, I explore a lot of LGBTQ themes in my stories, whether that’s writing about someone discovering their sexuality or just existing in a queer-norm society.
Are there any marginalized populations represented in your work, and how do you relate to those populations?
I explore a lot of LGBTQ themes in my stories, whether that’s writing about someone discovering their sexuality or just existing in a queer-norm society. As a bisexual woman, it’s always been important for me to include LGBTQ characters.
What kind of material or social impact would you like your work to have? What would you like your literary legacy to be?
I’d love for people to see themselves in my characters, particularly LGBTQ individuals. It was hard for me growing up in a conservative town and not having access to very many queer characters in fiction. I hope my work will reach someone who needs to see the exact type of characters I write.
PROMOTIONAL THINGS
What works are in your current bibliography? (Focus on titles that are attainable to the readers.)
Grim Root, a horror novel
Where You Linger, a short story collection
Over 90 short stories, which readers can find links to on my website! Some are free!
Which one(s) are you the most proud of?
Grim Root. I’ve been trying to get a novel published for years, and this is my 5th or so that I’ve written, so I’m thrilled that it found a home!
What stories do you have coming out soon that we can look for?
I’m working on a video game at the moment, called Bad Heroes!
Do you have any social media channels that you’re especially active on? Where can people follow you (in socially acceptable ways)?
I’m on Instagram and Twitter, and I have an email newsletter. They can all be found linked on my website
https://bonniejostufflebeam.com/
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