Every Friday, we meet a member of the BFS and peer deep into their soul (or, at least, a form they filled out). Want to be featured? Email us: online@britishfantasysociety.org
Name:
Natalie Milne (she/they)
Which region are you based in?
Northamptonshire
If you don’t write, what do you do?
I am a graphic designer. Recently I have been transitioning to specialise in digital design, but I have over 10 years experience working across all kinds of work including book covers, packaging and events.
Are you drawn to any specific SFFH sub-genres?
Give me all the Grimdark Fantasy!
Your influences
Tell us about the book/film/thing that got you into SFFH: What was it? How old were you? What impact did it have on you?
I think like most Millennials I was brough into the genre by the series that shall not be named when I was very young. I remember going to Asda at midnight to get my hands on the latest book. While I fell out of reading in my teens I always stayed closed to SFF the big one was watching Star Wars with my Dad.
Where do you draw your creative inspiration from?
Everywhere really, design and art is all around us. Whether that is traditional forms of art & design or other things like fashion and architecture. I am a hoarder by nature and I have random bits of design and folders of photos that I can use to draw from when I need them.
Who do you look to as a genre hero? Why?
My design hero is Stefan Sagmeister. He blurs the lines between art and design, when I first started my design education he was one of the first designers who I latched onto and he’s never left.
Your Work
You’re stuck in an elevator for 60 seconds with that hero, and they want you to describe your work. Give us the pitch.
No where near as brave as yours. Imposter syndrome gets us all.
What are you working on right now?
Right now I’m not working on any live projects, I’m looking at ways to help self published authors navigate the artists side of publishing.
Thinking about all the work you’ve done, what sticks out most in your mind? Why?
The cover for A Killer and a King by Tom Dumbrell (pictured) will always stick out to me. It was my first book cover design and encouraged me to step into a world I didn’t feel like I had a right to be involved with.
Where and when do you create/are you at your most creative?
Most of my work is done at my desk surrounded by my books and at a very high risk of being physically crushed by my TBR. But like most creatives my best ideas never come on schedule and will happen at the most random times like 3am in the morning or 30 minutes into a 4 hour drive.
What’s the best advice you’ve received about creativity?
Don’t create in isolation.
What’s your designing soundtrack?
Taylor Swift. It surprises most people that I’m a massive Swiftie because I’m still holding onto my black skinny jeans and Converse, but I love her. When I do decide to take a break from Mother, it’s 2000s emo and pop-punk for me.
The Quickfire Round
(Pictured: Natalie’s gorgeous dog 😍)
Sci-fi, fantasy or horror?
Fantasy
Quiet or loud?
Quiet
Dark or light?
Dark
Strict lines or genre blend?
Genre blend
Awards or bestseller?
Awards
Fiction or non-fiction?
Fiction
Poetry or prose?
Prose
Plotter or pantser?
Pantser (yes this does apply to designers too!)
Reading or listening?
Reading
Notebook or computer?
Notebook
Favourite SFFH book of all time?
The Hobbit
Last book you read?
The Sorrow of the Sea by Stephen Aryan (pictured; Stephen is a fave of Natalie’s!)
Any SFFH author on auto-buy?
Joe Abercrombie
Favourite podcast?
I don’t listen to podcasts anymore – I’m an audiobook girl.
The Home Stretch
What’s the best thing about being part of the SFFH community?
I’ve found my people who will be just as big a nerd as me.
Time to plug your stuff! Where can we find you and your work? What have you got coming up? Consider this your advertising space.
You can find me on Instagram @the.bookish.designer
I’m looking at building a website/portfolio/blog but any personal projects always seem to fall by the way side so it could be any time between tomorrow and never that happens.
Leave a Reply