SPSFC 3 Author Interview - Kate Kelly

1.       What inspired the world, characters, or core concepts of your story? Was it a particular event, piece of media, or a speculative scientific idea?

The inspiration for Red Rock began along time ago when I was working on an oceanographic survey ship in the Arctic. We were already well aware that the climate was changing and as the ship pushed her way through the pack ice off the coast of Greenland I began to wonder what the world would be like when it was all gone. In time the characters and the story took form, but that was the moment when it all began.

2.       How did you approach the creation of your main characters? Were they modeled after real-life figures, or did they evolve organically as you explored the world of your story?

In a way Danni is the sort of person I would have liked to have been when I was a teenager. So I would say she is based on my own aspirations rather than any other person. The rest of the characters developed as the story evolved.

3.       Science fiction often delves into questions of ethics, technology, and humanity. What central theme or moral question does your story grapple with, and why did you feel it was essential to explore?

A major theme in Red Rock is climate change. I’m an oceanographer by trade but my background is in geology so I am well aware of how the world can change. But I also have a fascination with archaeology and ancient civilisations, which of course, feature in this story. 

4.      How did you approach the integration of futuristic technology or scientific concepts in your story? Did you base them on existing theories or let your imagination run wild?

As a scientist by trade it was important to me that the science I explored in Red Rock was accurate. Fortunately it’s my field so that made things easy for me.

5.       The sci-fi genre provides a canvas to depict diverse cultures, species, and worlds. How have you incorporated representation and diversity in your work, and why do you think it's vital for the future of science fiction?

 In Red Rock this evolved organically as I wrote. Danni’s adventures take her through a number of different European countries and, although set some decades in the future, the people and cultures that she encounters are representative of the countries she passes through, including refugees. I do suspect we will be seeing a lot more climate refugees in years to come.

6.       Every author has a unique writing process. Can you share a bit about yours? How do you manage world-building, plot progression, and character dynamics in such a complex genre?

 I always like to know where a story is going to end up, the final destination I am heading towards. However, I never know all the details of the journey to get there when I sit down to write. Part of the joy of writing for me is when my characters surprise me.

7.       What's next for you after SPSFC? Are there any upcoming projects you can share with us?

I have a new novel called The Arid Lands coming out in October. It is also CliFi (Climate Fiction) but based around a very different sort of scenario, as you can probably guess from the title.