The shortlisted works across all 13 categories of the British Fantasy Awards have been announced! Find out who’s in the mix over on our blog. Winners announced at Fantasycon in October.
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Announcement:
Meet G. J. Dunn
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, including preferred pronouns:
G. J. Dunn (he/him)
Which region are you based in?
North West England – Preston Area
If you write, which genre:
Fantasy & Sci-fi
If you don’t write, what do you do?
When I don’t write, I’m either running, or working on gene therapies
Are you drawn to any specific SFFH sub-genres?
Definitely the comedy sub-genre. A lot of my stories end up having a goofy or comedic spin as I’m mostly writing to make myself (and hopefully others) laugh.
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 grew up when the Harry Potter books and Lord of the Rings films were being published and released, so those are two key ones. Despite that, I would say THE series was Garth Nix’s Old Kingdom. The way the world was brought to life, it was the first time I felt I was living in the Old Kingdom as opposed to reading a book – and it’s that standard that separates my “brilliant” reads from the “fun” reads to this day.
I had the good fortune of meeting him at an event a number of years ago and ended up starstruck, unable to talk and only getting one of my four books signed before retreating, until Mr. Nix kindly prompted me to come back.
How does that early influence show up for you (in life/writing/agenting/publishing/editing/reading) now?
If anyone has read my novel, Going Fourth, as well as Nix’s Sabriel, you’ll definitely recognise the Magic Wall trope, which may/may not have been an unconscious inclusion.
Where do you draw your creative inspiration from?
I watch a lot of sitcoms and try to absorb a lot of comedic beats from these – nothing spurs a good joke like another good joke. I’m also constantly reading something, so the combination of recent reads can sometimes lead to something good. Going Fourth was created from a combination of watching the films Shrek, Stranger Than Fiction, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail in close proximity.
Who do you look to as a genre hero? Why?
With fantasy/comedy, Pratchett is the biggest name around and definitely continues to inspire. That being said, I think Tom Holt (pictured; source) has had a fantastic career in and around the genre. He differs in that there is less satire and more absurdism and that, as K. J. Parker, he wades into more traditional secondary-world fantasy and is just as brilliant.
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.
The Author: G. J. Dunn is the author you read between those big, serious grimdark books – when you’re wanting something light, farcical, and with a positive world view.
The Last Release: Going Fourth is Shrek meets Stranger Than Fiction. When our Protagonist Brian discovers the mean voice in his head is something called a Narra Torr, he reluctantly sets out to rid himself of it by fixing the Fourth Wall.
The Next Release: See below.
What are you working on right now?
I’m currently working through the copy edits for my next release, Godhood, which is Wacky Races meets Small Gods. When the God of Death dies, the rest of the Pantheon hold a race of mortals to decide their replacement! As the competition begins, favours are called in, tricks are played and drama unfolds, all in pursuit of the ultimate prize – Godhood.
Thinking about all the stories/work you’ve done, what sticks out most in your mind? Why?
My first sale – “On the Transmogrification of Small Mammals” to Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine. Why? Because the drafting process for that story was the first time I received feedback both harsh AND fair. I ingested it, filtered what I agreed with and what I disagreed with, then re-wrote to create something much better than before the feedback while still true to what I was trying to achieve. And then, to my eternal astonishment, someone paid me to publish it.
This is the attitude I’ve tried to carry forward in critiquing: be honest, be tactful, and reassure the author that they can disagree with anything I’m saying.
Where and when do you create/are you at your most creative?
Hard to say. As I answer below, I think creativity is developed and practiced rather than something that comes naturally, so I’d like to think my creativity is pretty consistent when I’m writing. When I write the most is usually weekday evenings and weekend mornings or evenings. I’m also a distance runner, so if it’s hot, the writing happens in the mornings. If it’s cool, running is morning, writing is evening.
What’s the best advice you’ve received about creativity?
Creativity is developed and practiced, not bestowed by Muses*. The more time you spend being creative, the more easily the ideas go.
*This statement does not preclude story ideas generated while listening to a warbling Matt Bellamy.
What’s your writing soundtrack?
Probably some sitcom I’ve seen a dozen times before – Red Dwarf, Blackadder, Parks & Recreation, Community, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia are my go-tos. Music distracts me too much as I just start singing.
The Quick Fire Round
Sci-fi, fantasy or horror?
Fantasy
Quiet or loud?
Quiet
Dark or light?
Light
Strict lines or genre blend?
Blend
Awards or bestseller?
Bestseller
Fiction or non-fiction?
Fiction
Poetry or prose?
Prose
Plotter or pantser?
I always thought of it as more of a Pantspectrum… I’d say I’m a “Signposter” – I have most plot beats down, but if the characters ignore the signposts, I’ll follow where they lead.
Reading or listening?
Reading
Notebook or computer?
Computer
Favourite SFFH book of all time?
Tough one. The one I go back to most is The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie; the one that’s left me a sobbing wreck on the floor for the longest time is Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keys. So it’ll be one of those.
Last book you read?
Crypt by Professor Alice Roberts – a great non-fiction for anyone who is into history, anthropology or archaeobiology.
Any SFFH author on auto-buy?
Joe Abercrombie, Mark Lawrence, Richard Swan.
Favourite podcast?
The Tiny Bookcase!
The Home Stretch
What’s the best thing about being part of the SFFH community?
It is 100% the positivity and inclusivity. The community always has each other’s backs, whether that’s finding beta readers, looking out for people’s best interests (there are a lot of writing predators out there), or just providing supportive words.
Time to plug your stuff! Where can we find you and your work? What have you got coming up? Consider this your advertising space.
I’m trying to be more active on instagram these days, via my handle Ridicufiction, and the majority of my progress updates are published there: Instagram
I also have Facebook, and an outdated website, as well as my Amazon and Goodreads author profiles.
My first novel, Going Fourth – A Fourth Wall Breaking Fairy Tale Farce, is available on Amazon and my upcoming novel, Godhood, will be released towards the end of this year.
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