My name is Nathaniel Luscombe. I’m a 20-year-old author from Ontario, Canada. Currently, I’m in the middle of a Business Marketing program. Between that, my job, and reading like it’s a full-time job…I have a pretty busy schedule. I live in the country with a large family and I own so many books that if they were divided between all my siblings, they would all have a sizable collection. It’s a problem, but also it’s not. At least that’s what I tell myself. I enjoy reading, writing, shopping, and going on short walks when it’s not too hot.
Do you have anything published?
I have a number of things published, both solo projects and anthologies.
Can you briefly summarize what you have published?
My most notable works would be The Ones with Gilded Bones and The Planets We Become. They are short works. The first is a fantasy novella and the second is a science fiction short story. I have been in a number of anthologies, such as The Depths We’ll Go To, Fool’s Honor, There is Us, and All the Vacant Places. I have also run a couple anthologies. Among Other Worlds was my first anthology. This month I have A Sky of Tragic Moons coming out and in a couple months I have Sea Among Stars coming out, which is a collection I did with Cheyenne van Langevelde.
Tell us about A Sky of Tragic Moons!
A Sky of Tragic Moons is my dream anthology. It’s a collection of dystopian sci-fi stories. Some take on a darker tone, others are more fun, but they all face darkness with hope. I have always loved the dystopian genre and pushing its limits with a collection of authors and short stories has been so fun. I couldn’t have asked for a better selection of short stories to choose from.
Is there any personal backstory to your publication(s) that you want to share about?
I think it’s interesting to note that the first time I was published was during the COVID pandemic. I got into a collection called There is Us, which is made up of short stories and poems that tackle the themes of humanity joining together when faced with something as terrifying as a pandemic. Being published so young and so suddenly was scary, but it opened so many doors for me because I began to explore more publishing options and get serious about sharing my work. That has led to this moment, where I am having a lot of fun publishing myself and others and being published by others.
What first got you into writing?
My childhood was very interesting and I had a limited number of friends so I turned to books. Now I have many friends and I love books even more than I did as a child. I’ve always wanted to add my own stories to the world and I think I have started doing that quite effectively.
What is your favorite genre to write?
My favourite genre to write is science fiction. I enjoy pushing the limits of science fiction because it’s a genre that often gets overlooked as being too technical or sciency, but I think it can be as creative and ‘out there’ as fantasy.
What is your favorite genre to read?
Again, science fiction.
What do you enjoy doing other than writing? (Jobs?)
I love my college program. Going to class is a highlight of my life. During the summer, I work a full-time job that I worked during my gap year and around my classes. I work as a shipper for a stringed instrument wholesaler.
What upcoming projects do you have?
I’m currently working on a novella called The Stars Know My Name. It is a companion to The Planets We Become and it’s so wild that I don’t even know how to market it. I am truly pushing science fiction to its limits…so much so that I would say it’s more fantasy than sci-fi, but it takes on a typical sci-fi setting. Those that argue Star Wars is fantasy would not even let the word sci-fi be uttered in the same sentence as this WIP. In short, it’s about a planet full of power, a girl who can speak to the stars, and a colony orbiting the planet that wants that power.
What's your least favorite trope?
My least favourite trope is miscommunication. I actually HATE reading or watching anything with that trope because it makes my blood boil. Use your God-given tongue to speak your mind and make sure everyone understands what’s going on.
If you could be any plant, what would it be, and why?
I would love to be a Venus Fly Trap. Imagine being a mouth with little traps and just waiting for your food to come to you. Sounds delightful. I love the concept of carnivorous plants. The world is wild.
If you could give any author or poet one tip, what would it be?
Write the stories and messages that fill your own life. Tell your story through the eyes of a created character and impact people through it. Don’t try to write for the mainstream audience if you feel called to write something niche. Just remember that your story is for you before it’s for anyone else, and if you’re writing something you wouldn’t read…I hate to tell you that you’re going to have to read it a million times before anyone else touches it.
Anything else you want to share about yourself?
Fun fact: In high school, I had to make a creative ‘literary magazine’ with a group and one of the pictures that got put in it was group picture where I was jumping but it was zoomed in on me and I was levitating and I have never laughed/been more embarrassed and happy about one thing all at once. It is truly a masterpiece and if I had access to it I would probably sneak it into this interview.
Where can people find out more information about you?
I have a website that is painfully behind, so I would recommend you find me on Instagram @hecticreadinglife or TikTok @nathanielluscombeauthor or on Goodreads.
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