In episode four, Nicole chats with Luminous author Silvia Park. Silvia grew up in Seoul and split their time between Korea and America. They received a BA from Columbia and MFA from NYU, in addition to completing the Clarion Workshop in 2018. Their short fiction has been published in Black Warrior Review, Joyland, Reactor, and reprinted in the 2019 Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. Luminous is their first novel.

In this conversation, Silvia discusses the complexities of launching her book, the commodification of genius, and the intersection of cli-fi, sci-fi, and folklore in her writing. She reflects on cultural identity, the struggles of language, and the impact of education and class dynamics in Korea. The conversation delves into the haunting nature of loss, the creative process, and the importance of research in writing. Park emphasizes the significance of writing our futures and the role of monsters in society, ultimately encouraging writers to embrace their creativity and imagine a better world.

Order LUMINOUS by Silvia Park.

Oracle Card: "Dinner" from the Classic Horror Oracle Deck.

Chapters

00:00 The Cognitive Dissonance of Book Launches

03:09 Exploring the Concept of Genius

05:26 The Irony of Modern Genius

08:00 The Legacy of Octavia Butler & Zora Neale Hurston

10:21 The Intersection of Cli-Fi, Sci-Fi, and Folklore

12:42 Cultural Identity and Language

14:58 Navigating Childhood and Education

17:28 The Journey into Literature

19:32 The Haunting Nature of Grief

22:17 The Storyline of Luminous

34:17 Exploring Grief Through Immortality

34:55 The Cycle of History and Technology

37:07 The Journey of Writing: From Burnout to Joy

38:49 Overcoming Creative Sludge: The Importance of Letting Go

40:51 The Metaphor of the Tiger: Extinction and Replacement

47:38 Writing for the Unseen: Who is the Audience?

49:02 Crafting Beginnings and Endings: The Art of Closure

52:29 Research as a Joyful Exploration

55:52 The Balance of Pantsing and Outlining

57:59 Silvia Answers the OM Closing Five

Of Monsters: A podcast with Nicole Shawan Junior features intimate chats with speculative fiction masterminds and the characters they create.

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Written and performed by Nicole Shawan Junior, the Of Monsters intro music was created by Ben Ford, produced by Caits Meissner, and engineered by Tatenda Dizha.