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?

Marianne de Pierres

Story wrangler suffering sugar withdrawal

Apologies for the downtime in November; I was on a month’s holiday in North America. My intentions of keeping up regular posts proved more difficult than I expected. Anyway, I’ll be popping back next week with my 2015 reflections, but in the mean time, just wanted to say thank you to those who read this blog and support my writers and myself in our craft. You have my gratitude and much applause.

If you’re looking for a quick fiction hit, I’ve got some free flash fiction up on the Barnes and Noble blog. It’s a totally new story, new characters and setting. I’ll be interested to see what you think.

Also, I’m having a week of celebrating my PhD confirmation (topic: Future Feminism in science fiction) at the University of Queensland before I dive back in to study. But I just wanted to put out a call to ask if you know anyone who has some expertise in early 1400’s France (Joan of Arc). I’d appreciate it if you would spread this message across the waves for me in the hope it might reach the right person.

Talk soon everyone!