Jude Austin

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

I'm something of a rarity, or so it seems to me: a sci-fi writer who's optimistic about the future! I don't write A.I. or advanced tech or hard-bitten space marines; I write books about normal people doing most of the things that you and I do. They're just doing them a thousand years in the future. I enjoy gaming, scuba diving and binge-watching Netflix and YouTube. I have one of those reclining couches, so I can lean back with my laptop and just relax with a series while I write.

When and why did you start writing books?

I've been writing ever since I was a little girl, but I completed my first original novel (called Danshi) when I was 18. I've written about eleven or twelve books, although only three are available right now. I can't remember a time when I wasn't writing, so there was no real moment when I thought I'd sit down and start.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

Nothing. I just write. Like I said, there was no one moment where I sat down and thought, "Okay, I'm going to try writing for a living now!" I started sharing stories in the form of fanfiction and enjoy entertaining people, so I figured I'd just expand that into the real world.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

Let's see...Nowhere to Hide is definitely my favorite book. Favorite character would have to be either Kata or Diran, although I have a soft spot for Alan as well.

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

Possibly Nowhere to Hide. That's essentially two novels in one, which is why it's so long; you have Kata's story and Diran's, and they're both intertwined even though they never meet. I had a lot of fun, but it was certainly the hardest in the sense of the work involved!

Who is your favourite author and book?

I have a lot. Not sci-fi - it's hard to find non-dystopian sci-fi, which is one of the reasons I wanted to try and redress the balance - but authors like Terry Pratchett and Nina Rhoades. I also like Enid Blyton, of all people; if you get away from the school stories and very young readers, her lesser-known books actually tackled some quite serious issues and she had a very shrewd grasp on human nature and a huge knowledge of the natural world. Favorite book...having said all that, it would probably be David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, or maybe Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Or anything by Terry Pratchett, especially his later work like Snuff or Night Watch.

What book are you reading right now?

Just Dollie by Nina Rhoades. I have a huge weakness for children's books of the very early 1900s. They're a fascinating window into how society was back then.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

Everywhere! I usually know what's going to happen in the next book when I'm writing the previous one. I'm a pantser, so the stories I write change as I write.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Gaming. I like old-school Sierra and LucasArts games, or simulation games. I also play action games, but it really needs a very strong story and setting to get me interested in that genre.

Do you have any new books in the works?

Yes! The Worlds We Knew is the next Five Worlds book, to be followed by Zero Hour. I also have plenty of ideas for different characters and another book detailing the Purge (a huge in-universe event in the Five Worlds). I believe firmly in breaking down traditional boundaries. A sci-fi book about a Holmesian detective on another planet? Why not?