How long have you been writing for MDPWeb, why did you join the group, and what do you like about being part of it?

I started writing for the Burn Bright website in 2012. I wanted to get out of a reading rut and give some other authors or genres a chance and reviewing for MDPWeb seemed like the perfect opportunity. I’ve loved a lot of books that I otherwise would not have given a chance – Unidentified by Rae Mariz, Bitterwood Bible by Angela Slatter and One Small Step ed. Tehani Wessely being the stand out ones.

What creative piece are you working on, and what author would you liken your work to?

I’m in the process of writing the second book in what will hopefully be a trilogy. Stylistically, my writing is probably most similar to Sarah Rees Brennan’s. I prefer funny to angst; and what I lack in the plot and description departments, I make up for in dialogue and character.

What book have you most enjoyed reviewing for MDPWeb?

Lian Tanner’s Museum of Thieves. It was such an astoundingly good book that I needed to tell everyone about it. I began writing the review almost as soon as I had put the book down.

What’s your favourite thing to do in your downtime?

Sleeping ranks highly… At the moment outside of work I’m reading the WIP’s of two different friends so that I can give them feedback before they submit. I’m trying to get through some of my review shelf (and ideally write the reviews after). I’m working on my own story, trying to make time for friends and family, and getting ready for a Sydney trip. So right now, whenever I have the chance to sleep, I seize it.

Is there somewhere else online/in bookstores we can find your work?

Alas no. Perhaps someday, if I ever get around to submitting and someone actually accepts…

What’s your favourite TV series?

Avatar: the Last Airbender. Hands down best TV show ever. It’s funny, has consistent and believable characters, avoids shallow stereotypes, and is set in a fantasy world that is deeply complex – both physically and socially. For a kid’s cartoon, it is beyond amazing. Not only does it include a racially diverse cast of characters – including main characters – it is also inclusive of characters with disabilities, and has some pretty awesome female characters too.

Who or what is your current crush?

Agh. That’s a question. There are so many. Maybe Ada Wong? Or Marrow from the X-men? All of the X-men from the X-men? I’m just going to stop myself here; this list could get out of hand.

How long have you been writing for MDPWeb, why did you join the group, and what do you like about being part of it?

I was lucky enough to be asked to join the group in May of 2011. I have been able to meet some amazing people from all over the world and be able to share thoughts on books and cultural topics. Learning about Fashion, TV,  books, cooking, writing and so much more!

What creative piece are you working on, and what author would you liken your work too?

I only wish I might write a novel one day! For now, I really enjoy reading books for all ages and genres, and expanding my knowledge and imagination.

What book have you most enjoyed reviewing for MDPWeb?

The main reason I have been book blogging for so long… Marianne’s teen novel Burn Bright, the beginning of one of my favourite trilogies, and I love talking about it

What’s your favourite thing to do in your downtime?

Most of my downtime is spent reading, and the usual of music, movies, TV as well. I also enjoy going fishing.

Is there somewhere else online/in bookstores we can find your work?

My focus has been on the book community since I started by blog: Social media sites like Twitter, Youtube, Goodreads, Facebook is where I spend most of my time talking about books and bookish things and my blog Cubicle Blindness Book Reviews.

What’s your favourite TV series?

Ever since The Office (US) has been over I have found it hard to find a favourite new show that I loved as much. Big Bang Theory is one that I enjoy keeping up with.

Who or what is your current crush?

Emma Watson, Johnny Depp, Coconut Water, Koosh Balls, Kittens, 3 Musketeers Chocolate bars and Vampires.

Bec Stafford interviews Aussie YA Shaheen from Speculating on Spec Fic for the Escape Club.

At what age did you first get into spec fiction, and what was the first book you read in the genre?

I loved books from a very young age – the Grug and Little Miss/Mister Men books helped me learn English when we moved to Australia. I remember reading Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree and its sequels, and asking the librarian for other books with magic in them. So I guess, that’s when I fell into Speculative Fiction.

The other vivid memory I have is getting to study The Hobbit in Year 7. I think that rekindled my love of speculative fiction, and I read The Lord of the Rings for the first time that year.

How did OzYAChat come about, and what are some of your favourite titles from the 2015 checklist line up?

OzYAChat – a fortnightly Twitter chat about all things Aussie YA – was inspired by other twitter chats that were around at the time. There was one for 2014 début titles, there was #UKYAChat, and of course, #PTAChat hosted by our very own PenguinTeenAustralia. Mands at The Bookish Manicurist and I wanted to create a space where readers, authors, and publishers could come together, easily access each other.

The book I most anticipate on the #OzYAChat check list is Their Fractured Truth by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. I love the Starbound series! I’m also desperate to read Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. And I can’t forget Burn by Paula Weston, Fearless by Marianne Curley, and The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haigh, which are all available now.

It’s well known that Young Adult fiction is enjoyed by older adults, too. What do you think it is about the YA genre that appeals to the older crowd?

I love YA because it focuses on such a transformative stage of our lives, when we are in the process of finding out who we want to be. I don’t think that hope for the future, mingled with uncertainty, ever goes away, so it’s not surprising that a non-YA audience would be drawn to it.

You study astronomy and astrophysics. I know that fantasy, paranormal, and dystopian are your favourite sub-categories of spec fic, but which sci fi authors and books are your faves, and how important is it to you as a scientist that they get their research right?

I need all books to be logical and internally consistent, which for science fiction, translates to needing the science to be accurate. Which means research, sometimes lots of it. For example, with a story about a generation ship, I want the author to have at least casually looked into space travel, into population theory, into food sources and recycling of resources. I think they’re important things to consider.

One of my favourite examples of non-YA science fiction is Gemsigns by Stephanie Saulter, and I also enjoy C. J. Cherryh’s works – my favourite is Cyteen.

For YA science fiction, I don’t think I can go past Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, and These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner.

You’ve said that Aladdin would be your fictional dream hubby. Who’d be your bestie and why?

Kotara, from Avatar: The Last Airbender. I thought about Tris and Katniss, all the usual suspects, but I think I’d get on best with Kotara because our world-views match a lot, whereas I don’t see the world the way the others do.

Who are some of your favourite YA bloggers and why?

All of them? Is that an acceptable answer? But iI must choose —

Cuddlebuggery Book Blog–  http://cuddlebuggery.com – because Kat, Steph and Meg never fail to make me laugh.

The Bookish Manicurist – http://thebookishmanicurist.blogspot.com.au/ – Books and manicures, what’s not to love?

Diva Booknerd – http://www.divabooknerd.com/ – I think Kelly’s reviews are always insightful; I like hearing what she has to say.

Tsana’s Reads and Reviews – http://tsanasreads.blogspot.com.au/ – Tsana’s my go-to person for Aussie titles. She reviews broadly and our views on the importance of science in books align very well!

How long have you been writing for MDPWeb, why did you join the group, and what do you like about being part of it?

I have been reviewing for MDPWeb since April 2015. I am loving the opportunity to read books in a wide range of genres. Yes, I have a soft spot for contemporary YA, but as I’m learning through the diverse reading material delivered to me by MDPWeb, there are awesome books to be found in every genre and sub-genre you care to mention. What I find really cool about reviewing books is the idea that maybe I’m helping people discover books they might not otherwise pick up.

What creative piece are you working on, and what author would you liken your work to?

I am working hard to polish and refine the contemporary fiction novel I wrote last year during the Queensland Writer’s Centre Year of the Novel course (novelist Marianne de Pierres was the course’s most excellent presenter). My novel is called New Year’s Eve. The tag line is: Who says coming of age is only for teenagers? Eve Anderson has just turned 30 and this year she’s going to grow up. I’d say my book would appeal to readers of Rainbow Rowell.

 What book have you most enjoyed reviewing for MDPWeb?

Ooh, that’s a hard one. OK, I’m going to say The Prophecy of Bees. This book really took me by surprise. I did not think I was going to like it, let alone love it and I totally did. I am definitely looking forward to diving into my next suspense novel now.

What’s your favourite thing to do in your downtime?

Read of course!

Is there somewhere else online/in bookstores we can find your work?

You can visit my blog http://sayanythingsare.blogspot.com.au/

What’s your favourite TV series?

Not long ago my sister suggested I watch a show called Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. It is totally whack…hilarious…awesome! I think Tina Fey was one of the creators. I was so sad when I’d watched my way through the season. Seriously, if you’re looking for a laugh, check it out.

Who or what is your current crush?

Past, present, future: Lloyd Dobler (AKA John Cusack) in the truly brilliant 80s movie Say Anything. Check out my blog and you’ll understand why.

Mandy Wrangles – sometimes known as Amanda – has lived by the beach on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula most of her life. She likes to grow food and bake cupcakes and write about murder and monsters and steampunk ships. She likes big action superhero movies, and movies that make you cry. Her home is filled with boys, dogs, skateboards and books. Lots and lots of books.

How long have you been writing for MDPWeb, why did you join the group, and what do you like about being part of it?

I’ve been with MDPWeb since late 2010. I think?

I love being part of such a like-minded group, and have made some cherished friends from the team over the last few years. We’re a really eclectic mix of people, all with different areas of specific interest, but we all share the same passion – great stories.

Also having the opportunity to read and meet some of my all-time favourite authors has been pretty amazing…did you hear about the morning I had breakfast with Charlaine Harris, creator of Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood? Yep. For real.

What creative piece are you working on, and which author would you liken your work too?

I’m currently working hard on a couple of short stories for competition, so can’t say anything about them right now. I’ve also recently dived back into a SF novel that’s been burning away in my bottom drawer – and my heart! – for a couple of years. Thanks to awesome feedback and encouragement (you rock, MDP and AG) I think it might actually get finished this year.

I don’t know who I write like!? That’s a really tough question. I do know my style has changed a lot over the last couple of years to be more lyrical than it used to be. I’m influenced by a bunch of incredible Australian authors: Alison Goodman, Margo Lanagan, Isobelle Carmody and of course our own Marianne de Pierres.

What book have you most enjoyed reviewing for MDPWeb?

Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan.

It was a difficult book to review – quite daunting actually – it’s just so beautiful. I always worry if my reviews can ever do a book like that justice. Sea Hearts is one of those books I just can’t get out of my head. It’s breathtaking. Read it!

What’s your favourite thing to do in your downtime?

With three sons, I rarely get downtime. As well as being a hairdresser and dive master, I’m a qualified bookbinder, so I used to spend a lot of time in my art studio making leather-bound journals or painting in oils to chill out. These days, most afternoons and weekends you’ll find me by the bowl at one of Melbourne’s skateparks, watching my boys do their thing. I love it. I also really enjoy growing edible plants and baking – but again, more time sitting at skateparks than anything else lately!

Is there somewhere else online/in bookstores we can find your work?

Umm…yes.

You can find me – and lots of yummy food – over at www.mandywrangles.com and on Instagram where I go by mandy_wrangles.

I’m also one half of writing duo A.K. Wrox, with Kylie Fox. Our novel, fantasy spoof ‘Arrabella Candellarbra & the Questy Thing to End All Questy Things’ can be found at  http://www.clandestinepress.com.au/paperback/arrabella-candellarbra

It’s available as both paperback and ebook.

You can find A.K. Wrox on Facebook and sometimes Twitter.

Clan Destine Press also publish ‘Scarlet Stiletto – The Second Cut – Award Winning Thrillers’ where my Scarlet Stiletto winning short story ‘Persia Bloom’ appears. Again, pb and ebook available at http://www.clandestinepress.com.au/paperback/scarlet-stiletto-second-cut

My short crime story ‘Plotting Jasper/A Forgiving Kind of Nature’ is published in ‘Hard Labour’ by Crime Factory. You can get your copy here:

http://www.thecrimefactory.com/shop/

All these books should also be available through Amazon etc, your local library or bookshop. If not – you could always order them in 🙂 I also have a couple of things on the horizon – an ebook collection of my short crime stories, and an appearance in an upcoming Spec Fic anthology.

What’s your favourite TV series?

Of all time? Buffy the Vampire Slayer, without a doubt. I was with Buffy and the Scooby Gang right from the start, and still watch the entire series at least once a year. It’s like comfort food for my brain. More recently, Sons of Anarchy and The Walking Dead.

 Who or what is your current crush?

I don’t think I’ll ever lose my crush on Joss Whedon’s brain. I’ll also happily watch anything with Charlie Hunnam in it. Or Aiden Turner.

Shout out to big-time Hollywood blockbuster producers: Can you please organise a Whedon/Hunnam/Turner mega-project in the near future? Yeah? With Jessica Morais as a fabulously strong, intelligent lead? Thank you.