Welcome to our Writers Wednesday Spotlight! Each week we will be highlighting a different geeky writer we think you might like to check out. For this week’s spotlight, we are excited to introduce you to Nicole Kurtz!
Her book “Black Magic Women: Terrifying Tales by Scary Sisters” was released on February 14, 2018!
You can purchase “Black Magic Women: Terrifying Tales by Scary Sisters” here.
About Nicole Kurtz
(in her own words)
Nicole Givens Kurtz’s short stories have appeared in over 30 anthologies of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Her novels have been finalists for the EPPIEs, Dream Realm, and Fresh Voices in science fiction awards. Her work has appeared in Stoker Finalist, Sycorax’s Daughters, and in such professional anthologies as Baen’s Straight Outta Tombstone and Onyx Path’s The Endless Ages Anthology.
About “Black Magic Women: Terrifying Tales by Scary Sisters”…
Imagine horror where black characters aren’t all tropes and the first to die; imagine a world written by black sisters where black women and femmes are in the starring roles. From flesh-eating plants to flesh-eating bees; zombies to vampires to vampire-eating vampire hunters; ghosts, revenants, witches and werewolves, this book has it all. Cursed drums, cursed dolls, cursed palms, ancient spirits and goddesses create a nuanced world of Afrocentric and multicultural horror. Seventeen terrifying tales by seventeen of the scary sisters profiled in the reference guide “100 Black Women in Horror.”
5 Questions with . . . Nicole
- When did you first realize you were interested in becoming an author? What drives you to write?
I first realized I was interested in becoming a published author in high school. I won an essay contest, and realized for the first time, that I could get paid to write. Now, as an adult, I’m driven by the stories that entertain as well as push the envelope in genre. I’m not cutting edge by any means, but my stories do not always sit comfortably with readers. - How would you describe your style or genre of writing to a potential fan?
My Cybil Lewis series is very much rooted in hardboiled detective, so futuristic noir. It is mixed with the hi tech, low life foundations of cyberpunk. For my Minister Knights of Souls series, it’s space opera without the heavy military influence. Both series as well as my weird westerns are stories that are anchored in AfroFuturism. - What are you currently working on? What are you working on next?
I’m currently finishing my urban fantasy novel. After I complete the edits on it, I’m going to revise my other urban fantasy series. - What existing book do you wish you had written and why?
I wish I would’ve written Frankenstein. It was such a masterpiece of literature and such great commentary on hubris. Every time I read it I am blown away by it. - What is one piece of advice you would give to a budding writer?
For budding writers, my best advice is to read everything and write often. Nothing is ever perfect on the first draft.