Marianne de Pierres

It’s me! Flamingo freak.

So, some updates from the trenches. After four and a half years, I’ve submitted my PhD. The title is Fem-punk Futures: Posthumanism, Gender, and Identity in Contemporary Women’s Science Fiction. The thesis is a case study of three fem-punk novels and my own new novel, A Once and Future Past.

I wanted to publicly thank a few people. I was about 52 when I embarked on this journey, and I was worried that I was too old to be doing it – for what gain, I wondered, other than a love of learning, and a challenge. I’m still not sure about the answer to that, but I have loved every minute of it.

So a big shout out to my wonderful sister, Nicci; my equally wonderful son, Marcus; and my supervisors, Nat Collie, Jo Robertson, and Veny Armanno who guided me through. Jane Stadler also gave me a good old shake up in the early days about what it took. I also want to wave to, and hug, my uni colleagues: Kaylen Jorgenson, Amber Gwynne, Jason Nahrung, Meri Sara, and my beautiful twin, Isobelle Carmody. You are what made this such a wonderful experience: all those coffee breaks, lunches, panicked messages, notes on my computer screen…

What comes next is unknown, but that’s kinda good.

I didn’t get into the interview stage for the Fulbright Scholarship. It was so disappointing, as I thought my application was pretty decent. But the competition was intense.  Now I’ve recovered from the news, I know I will find a way to write about Colonel Thorn. My friend’s tell me I can be very determined when I want to be. Lol. So, hell or high-water, his story will be told!

I hope at some time in the future I can work as a Creative Writing lecturer, helping to guide the next generation of creatives. But if that’s not mean to be, something else will come along.

For now, I’m going to attend to life, do my sessional tutoring, apply for jobs, finish a novel, coach basketball, and hang out with my friends.

So that’s me… what’s your news?

Recently I’ve been in contact with Thea Boshoff who is completing her Dr of Literature and Philosophy at the University of South Africa. Thea’s topic is entitled Love’s True Friend: Representations of Intimacy and Gender in The Sentients of Orion.

Thea had this to say about her research:

As a student and a sci-fi fan, I believe that Marianne de Pierres’ Sentients of Orion series has deeply enriched the swashbuckling space opera genre by introducing the elements of gender fluidity and gender diversity throughout. It has been my privilege to spend the last couple of years dwelling in the pages of The Sentients of Orion, examining the lives, relationships and intimacies of the characters toward completion of my D Litt et Phil with The University of South Africa.  After having spent so much time with her creations, I am over the moon to finally ‘meet’ Marianne, and to be collaborating with her! 

Thea Boshoff 2016

Not only is it wonderful to meet Thea, another feminist SF reader, but I’m particularly delighted that of all my work, she chose the Sentients of Orion to analyse. I put my heart and soul into this series, and it devoured five years of my life. I hope, in some small way, it has contributed to the conversation around gender norms. Thanks Thea, can’t wait to read your thesis!

Marianne de Pierres

Marianne is an author, blogger, writing educator and cake tragic. 

Hi there friends!

Thought I might pop in with some updates on various things.

Mythmaker release is drawing close (October 6th), and you can read an extract from the book over at CARABAS‘s blog. If you’re signed up to NETGALLEY you can download a full review copy of the novel.

Meanwhile, aside from working on my Master’s, I’m writing the next Tara Sharp novel. It’s so much fun being back with her, Wal, Tozzi, Smitty, Bok, Ed, Cass and the gang. This time Tara is having a hard time keeping Garth Wilmot out of trouble, Henry’s not speaking to her on account of the broken nose episode, and the guys in her life are proving high maintenance. The book will be released around October/November next year by Twelfth Planet Press.

You can read my letter to my teen self at DEAR TEEN ME, and a recent interview I did with Angela Slatter.

Here’re a couple of upcoming workshops I’ll be running. Speaking in Tongues: harnessing narrative voice for the QWC. Then in October, I’m running a Speculative Fiction Masterclass for the ACT Writers Centre.

And next weekend you can find me at COMIC CON. I’ll have a stall to myself, so make sure you come past and say hello.

Lastly, and mostly, I’ll be GOH at GENRECON in October. Please come to the con and celebrate Aussie genre fiction.

And after all that fun, I’m heading stateside to World Fantasy Con. Can’t wait to see my long time friend Anne Bishop, and make some new acquaintances.

Best of all though I get to see my son play basketball for his college team in New York — the St Thomas Aquinas College Spartans.

Life is a blessing!