Epsiode 13 - Yes, Lois McMaster Bujold is Still Writing: Self-Publishing, World-Building, and Fanfiction

Sc-Fi legend Lois McMaster Bujold joins host Chloe Aftel on this episode of The Other Pod for an in-depth conversation on her background, writing inspirations, and reflections on a literary career 40+ years in the making, including where she finds herself now: retired, self-employed, and still passionately writing new adventures and engaging with readers. She reflects on the relationship between sci-fi and fantasy writers to their readers, her origin story writing fanfiction at 8 years old, and her first adventures into professional writing as a new mom in the 1980s as a means to support herself.

Highlights:
- How her first jobs in the medical field and background in biology taught her to understand how bodies work;
- Her writing process, scene breakdown, character arcs, and more;
- The writers and work that influenced her as an early writer and influence her now.

Plus, hear which of her beloved characters are her personal favorites and how they came into creation.

Lois McMaster Bujold is an acclaimed American author known for her contributions to science fiction and fantasy. Born in 1949, she is best known for her "Vorkosigan Saga," which follows the life and adventures of Miles Vorkosigan, a genetically enhanced nobleman. Bujold's writing is celebrated for its complex characters, intricate plots, and thoughtful exploration of themes such as loyalty, identity, and the nature of humanity. Over her career, she has received numerous awards, including multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards, solidifying her place as a key figure in speculative fiction.

Chloe Aftel has spent her career working in commercial photography, photojournalism, and film. She’s an established name in modern photography with work featured in The New York Times, Mother Jones, Playboy, Dazed & Confused, Vogue Germany, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue & more. Chloe has photographed victims of sexual violence, reported on Covid’s impact on the trans community, and gained access as the first reporter in the Covid wards of the West Coast’s hardest hit hospitals. She has covered underground abortion providers, the impact of gender pronouns on daily life, and clergy abuse. Her first book, “Outside and In Between,” is an award-winning anthology covering gender non-conforming people across America.

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