Interview With Author Niska Morrow
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve written two books, but only published the second one. This first one is so close to my heart, but I knew I needed to take a break from it and come back to edit it once I’d had some space from it. I’m so happy I did, because I learned so much from writing my second book, Comet Cruise, that I’m excited to work on the first one again!
I originally started writing by submitting short erotic stories to Literotica during lockdown, and got such good feedback from readers that I decided to try writing a book. I’ve also written a play about six people living in a space station 500 years in the future but I don’t think it’ll ever be produced, I don’t think there’s a huge market for weird space smut in the theater world. I had so much fun writing it though, and my friends got together and acted it out, each reading a part, we had the best time!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Comet Cruise was actually inspired by a space fact that a good friend told me. She said, “did you know Halley’s Comet will pass by earth again in the year 2061?” and we talked about how incredible it would be if space tourism was advanced enough that people could go see it up close. I ended up picking a different comet, Swift-Tuttle, because 2061 isn’t all that far away for humans to have built space cruises!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do my best writing late at night. Sometimes I write from midnight to 5AM. I wish I could be as focused during the day as I am in the tiny hours but I just can’t seem to crack it!
I do 15-minute writing prompts a few mornings per week with a gorgeous deck of tarot cards. I shuffle the cards, draw one, and write a short story based on the card. If nothing comes to me right away, I just start describing the card: “The High Priestess had long golden hair…” and see where it goes. I’ve written some truly wild science fiction and fantasy stories doing this, it’s a great way to branch out creatively.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Margaret Atwood, especially the MaddAddam series for unsettling futures that seem all too possible. The Chrysalids by John Wyndham is my favorite book, it’s the first post-apocalyptic book I read and I haven’t stopped since. I read a lot of classic scifi like JG Ballard and Robert A Heinlein. Recently I’ve been trying to read books with diversity, especially well-written queer characters. The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson was one of the first books I read with a bisexual woman as the main character, and it was so important to me at the time to feel seen in that way.
What are you working on now?
I’m writing another queer, kinky, poly erotica, but this one takes place on Earth in a partly civilized North America where small communities are struggling to survive in the aftermath of a biochemical act of war that decimated the planet. The four main characters are tasked with bringing supplies from one community to another, and form an unusual BDSM relationship between them as they travel across the dangerous wasteland. It’s kind of like The Last of Us but with horny bisexuals and Shibari.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve been using social media: Instagram and TikTok. Newsletters like ExciteSpice and ShamelessBookDeals are great for spreading to a wider audience.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just because you’ve spent time on something, even a lot of time, doesn’t mean you have to keep working on it. You’ll always be more productive and write your best work if you’re excited about something. If you write 40,000 words but just aren’t feeling it anymore, take a break and work on something else that excites you. You can always come back to it, and might see it differently once you’ve had some distance from it.
Also working with professional editors can be very expensive, but I think I’ve learned the most about writing from them. Reedsy is where I’ve found most of mine. Fiverr has more affordable options.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I saw a post on social media of an author saying how relieved she was when she realized her social circle was NOT her target audience. Especially as someone writing a very niche genre, this was so important for me to hear. There are millions of readers out there, so if my friends aren’t excited about a concept I’m working on, that’s totally fine, and certainly doesn’t mean no one will read it.
What are you reading now?
I’m re-reading The Summer Tree, which is the first book in a fantasy trilogy called The Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay. I read it at 18 when I was traveling, and have never been so thoroughly gripped by a series. It came up again recently and I decided to read it again and I’m so happy I did! I was in a bit of a reading slump and this book has dragged me out of it.
I’ve also been reading a lot of short-form erotica ebooks. There’s a series of stand-alone books called First Time Surrender by Chera Zade & Steele Star I just can’t get enough of! The female character always starts naïve and innocent but ends the story very empowered and taking control of her own sexuality and her future. And the sex scenes are incredibly hot.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d love to finish and publish the book I’m working on, then go back to the first book I wrote and edit it. It’s such a special story for me because the main character’s journey to accept her queerness and kinks is based on my own journey, and writing the book helped me explore them in a way I never would have otherwise. Writing that book changed my life in the best way, and I want others to enjoy it!
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A Certain Hunger by Chelsea Summer
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
The Complete Short Stories by JG Ballard
Is there a book with song lyrics from angsty female vocalists? I’ll take that
Author Websites and Profiles
Niska Morrow’s Social Media Links
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