Welcome to #TheQuickSixInterview with Lynne Stringer!
It is with delight that we welcome passionate author and editor, Lynne Stringer to the blog for a chat about her work on a special collection of stories; Stepping Sideways. Alongside editor, Emily Larkin, Lynne and ten other talented Australian authors have combined to produce an exciting, original collection of young adult stories for lovers of steampunk and dystopia. Born from a short story competition initiative through Rhiza Edge, this anthology blends fantastical worlds of danger, wonder, friendship and romance (with the added monster, water sprite and other sensational characters thrown in!). And just how cool is that cover?!
What a thrilling set of adventures! Thank you and congratulations, Lynne and co! 🙂
About the Author / Editor
Lynne Stringer has been passionate about writing all her life, beginning with short stories in her primary school days. She began writing professionally as a journalist and was the editor of a small newspaper (later magazine) for seven years, before turning her hand to screenplay writing and novels.
Lynne currently works as a professional editor and proofreader. She lives in Brisbane with her family.
Please visit Lynne Stringer at her website: https://www.lynnestringer.com/ and on Instagram, Facebook, Goodreads and YouTube.
Stepping Sideways is available for purchase through Wombat Rhiza Edge and Amazon.
Find information on Rhiza Edge’s current short story competition here.
WHO wrote, illustrated and published this book?
Stepping Sideways: Stories of Steampunk and Dystopia is a short story anthology and was edited by me (Lynne Stringer) and Emily Larkin. It was published by Rhiza Edge and includes stories by Lynne Stringer, Emily Larkin, Annaliese Hudson, Linsey Painter, Shaye Wardrop, Andreas Katsineris-Paine, Adele Jones, Elizabeth Klein, Jeanette O’Hagan, Rachel Denham-White, Jennifer Horn and Bianca Breen.
The only illustrations were on the cover, which was designed by Carmen Dougherty. She did an excellent job of navigating the balance between the two different styles of world that the stories featured.
WHAT is it about?
The anthology includes short stories that are set in either steampunk or dystopian worlds. They vary from stories about a dystopian circus, to a monster on a secret island, to a water sprite trapped on a steam train.
What is your favourite part of this book?
I love the fact that it encompasses so many different worlds and that it showcases different authors. It was wonderful to be part of the editing team and see the stories as they developed.
WHEN did you begin writing this book?
Emily and I signed on as editors in May 2022. We put the word out for stories in 2023 and finalised the ones we were including by the end of that year.
When is its release / launch date?
Stepping Sideways was released in October 2024.
WHERE did the inspiration for this book come from?
I’d been involved in another short story anthology published by Rhiza Edge called Crossed Spaces, featuring stories that crossed different boundaries through space and time. It was an exciting and rewarding experience not only to write a story myself for the anthology but also to edit the stories and help develop them. When I was asked to be involved in Stepping Sideways, I said yes straight away, eager to see what everyone came up with. Dystopian and steampunk worlds can lead to some amazing and fabulous tales featuring diverse characters. It was fun watching them develop.
WHY is this book meaningful to you?
Being involved as an editor gave me an insight into the different creative processes of all the authors who were featured. It was fascinating to see where each person’s imagination led them. What would they do with the themes? Who would address steampunk and who would opt for dystopian? What could I do as an editor to help shape each author’s vision?
Why would its message resonate with readers?
Dystopian stories in particular often comment on the world we live in today, and all the stories, regardless of where they’re set, feature unique characters in deliciously described, intricate worlds ready to delight and entertain.
HOW do you feel about the cover design? How do they convey the feeling or mood you envisioned?
I felt that the cover design captured the essence of the worlds wonderfully. One of the stories features butterflies, so Carmen incorporated them into the cover, with individual cells featuring worlds that are both dystopian and steampunk, all encompassed within a swirling effect that pulled me in.
How have you promoted this book and how can we find it?
We have definitely been promoting it at different events and online. You can find it on Rhiza Edge’s website here: https://wombatrhiza.com.au/stepping-sideways-stories-of-steampunk-and-dystopia/
So exciting! Thanks again, Lynne! 🙂
#thequicksixinterview #steppingsideways #steampunk #dystopia #anthology #youngadult #justkidslit
