Tevun-Krus #98 - BugPunk

Spotlight Author: @theidiotmachine

If you had to describe yourself in one word, what words wouldn't you use?

Restrained. Professional. Focussed. No, that's not true, I can be all of those things when I want to, but at my advanced age, frankly, sometimes it's more important to just have fun.

Think back to when you were in school. What was your favourite subject?

Drama! I briefly considered being an actor, and then realised all the people older than me that left stage school were really struggling with employment. But man, if I had a dream job it would be voice acting on cartoons. Beyond writing. Obviously.

When you were a young 'un, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Something sciencey and researchy. Then when I got older I realised that academia was absolutely not for me. I would have been terrible at it, and I think we can all agree that the world is better off for me not being at CERN. Mostly because CERN, and the world, still exists.

What does Tevun-Krus mean to you?

'Oh no I promised Jinnis two pieces in two weeks oh no oh no what am I going to write oh no oh no' <two weeks pass, furious writing> 'there's some cool stuff here!'

Wait, you mean like what do the word sounds mean? Oh, it sounds like really nasty ship food. It would be in an unmarked packet and the old space hands would laugh at me when I opened it.

Tell us about your reading/writing habits. If you're not a writer, then simply the former will suffice!

I have an ancient Kindle Voyage which I read everything on. I love it so much and will be heartbroken when it dies. Writing: I am trying to de-pantser my self. Why? I have written most of a novel and it's just fallen apart because of a lack of planning. I wrapped myself up in knots with a really dense plot and I'm completely lost. So I am trying to get into the habit of planning everything, and then I am going to back and finish that sucker. But then... I mostly pantsed the story I wrote for this TK, Osman's Haven. So I mean, don't believe everything you read.

As your crew casts your lifeless body into the heart of the nearest star, list three pieces of music likely to be rattling the bulkheads of your beloved vessel!

I've always told my family that I want Phoenix City by Roland Alphonso played at my funeral. I love the idea of my coffin being walked to that, it's really cheerful and is a great fullstop to a life. So that's sort of a done deal.

But I know the song I die to: when the Rebel Alliance finally persuade me to fly for them, I'll be in an A-Wing, and it will have a tape deck; and as I descend, screaming into the radio, shields failing, concussion missile tubes empty, explosions rocking the hull, I will be listening to Electric Echo by Metrik and Gunship. And my last thought will be, damn, why didn't I take a B-Wing?

Lastly Etudes Vol 1 No. 6 by Philip Glass still makes me weepy. I think it's one of the most incredible pieces of music ever written. I love how understated it is until it suddenly swells with... what? Rage? Triumph? Despair? It makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time. So you bastards will have to endure it while I float away, too.