In this 101st episode of Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick, the podcast about making stuff (mostly writing), finding success as we each define it for ourselves, and staying healthy and sane in the process… it’s a conversation with science fiction author AJ Super!

AJ Super is the author of the Seven Stars Saga, a trilogy published by Aethon Books and Blackstone Audio. Writing full time, they devour fantasy and science fiction in every medium, and even experiment with writing and reading other speculative fiction now and again. They earned two Bachelors’ degrees from the University of Idaho in the Creative Writing and Theater programs, and they have been an author since they were old enough to write (and illustrate) a stapled-together ABC book, which is still packed away in a box of childhood memorabilia. 

AJ is inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin, Anne McCaffery, Octavia E. Butler, Mercedes Lackey, and other amazing female science fiction and fantasy authors. They are active in several different writing communities and an SFWA member. They currently live in Idaho with their fuzz-brained kitties, supportive spouse, and a ridiculous collection of slippers.

~ from AJ Super’s official site

Across this evergreen conversation we talk parental influence, everyone’s emo phase, writing for the ADHD reader, the negative consequences of a fast book release schedule, the ol’ planner / pantser dilemma, the meaning of art, emulating our literary heroes, maintaining a healthy creative (and life!) routine, and much, much more.

This episode was recorded on May 28, 2024. The conversation with AJ Super was recorded on January 22, 2024.

Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode

• AJ Super’s publisher is Aethon Books. Their audiobooks come from Blackstone.
• Visit AJ Super’s Patreon page!
• A few non-genre authors come up in our discussion:
  • Flannery O’Connor
  • Raymond Carver
  • Charles Bukowski
    • In particular: Factotum, Love is a Dog from Hell, and The Days Run Away Like Wild Horses Over the Hills
  • Ernest Hemingway
  • F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby
• Sun Valley, Idaho, where Hemingway is buried.
• I bring up Julian May‘s work as an example of wonderful books that, due to changing social mores, may be overlooked today. Edgar Rice Burroughs and Sax Rhomer, too.
• That favorite James Baldwin quote of mine is mentioned via Octavia Butler’s (likely unintentional) paraphrase.
• Next episode: a solo update and news episode.
• Big thanks to my Multiversalists patron community, including J. C. Hutchins, Zoë Kohen Ley, Jim Lewinson, Amelia Bowen, Ted Leonhardt, and Charles Eugene Anderson! I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my patrons. If Sonitotum with Matthew Wayne Selznick brings you joy, become a patron!
  • Every month net earnings from my Multiversalist patron memberships is at least $100, I will donate 10% to 826 National in support of literacy and creative writing advocacy for children. Let’s go!
  • Patrons at the Bronze tier and above receive the uncut and unedited edition of every podcast episode, including this one, which has half an hour of extra content!

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This content is by Matthew Wayne Selznick and came from his website.