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.
For all things fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction
-
Announcement:
Meet Marco Michelutto
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:
Marco Michelutto (he/him)
Which region are you based in?
Cambridge
If you write, which genre:
Fantasy, at least for now
If you don’t write, what do you do?
I have a day job that I am lucky to enjoy (I design user interfaces); the rest of the time goes to my wife, my dog and my books, probably in this order. Sometimes I manage to play some guitar or, if I am really lucky, a video game or two.
Are you drawn to any specific SFFH sub-genres?
When it comes to Fantasy, I like books that try to break the rules and do their own thing rather than fall clearly inside the genre lines.
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 was 14 or 15 and on my second go at The Lord of the Rings; when I finally managed to get over the first couple chapters, I got properly hooked. I remember re-reading it every year and constantly looking for more of the same. I was already a very precocious reader before that (my mum had to bring me to a bookstore when I was a kid because I kept trying to read my dad’s books), but discovering Fantasy was like discovering that another world existed, and I could walk into it whenever I wanted.
How does that early influence show up for you (in life/writing/agenting/publishing/editing/reading) now?
In my opinion the best thing about Tolkien’s work is that he showed us that a literature of the fantastic could take itself seriously. That’s the strongest lessons that I took from Tolkien, and something I strive to live up to. When I write I expect my readers to think “it’s just fantasy, does not have to be that serious” and instead treat it as if I was writing about the real world.
Where do you draw your creative inspiration from?
(Pictured: Marco’s “interesting sources” shelves)
I like to say that I have a hungry brain and I’ve fed it well over the years. I collect interesting books, listen to podcasts about history, science, strange places and interesting events of the past, and of course read a lot of and widely.
Rather than look at recent fiction when I write my stories, I pick the bits and pieces that rattle inside my brain at any given time, mush a few together and see what comes out. Often times, the result is something interesting I can work on.
It’s not that I think reading history and old books is important to be as historically accurate as possible, however. To me, writing fiction is a way to filter out what I experienced, learned and encountered in my life. The more I put in the box, the more choice I have when it comes to pick interesting bits to use, and the less likely the readers are to see exactly where I am drawing from, or to have encountered the same inspiration somewhere else.
Who do you look to as a genre hero? Why?
I like authors that are willing to do their own thing and are clearly passionate about writing their own stories, rather than try to stick too close to a genre convention. From the ones I read recently, definitely Tamsyn Muir and Susanna Clarke. If I can add someone that was maybe only tangentially a fantasy author, but has been a massive influence for me, then I will say Umberto Eco.
(Pictured: books from Marco’s genre heroes, from his personal collection)
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.
What if the best way to study and understand the World was through magic, and magical practices worked? What would a university look like then if instead of Physics, Chemistry and Biology we studied Sorcery, Alchemy and Witchcraft? That’s where my book takes place. It’s a story about magic, friendship, and finding one’s own place in the world. Also, I put my dog in it as a side character, and he is a cutie. (Ed note: see below!)
What are you working on right now?
Currently I am stuffing my brain with history of the late Middle Ages in the Italian peninsula and mediterranean, as I want to start my second novel next year and it will be set there and then. Before that I plan some short fiction, and in particular I hope to finish a novella on a former exorcist turned paranormal investigator in contemporary Cambridge.
Thinking about all the stories/work you’ve done, what sticks out most in your mind? Why?
My first novel, The Shape of Magic, is the piece of fiction that I am the most proud of. When I started it, my goal was to simply finish it and learn as much as I could. As I got more and more beta reader feedback, I realised that I had something special that was worth polishing and getting ready for publication. As I write this, the book is a few weeks away from being available for sale and holding a print proof of it still feels unreal! It definitely surpassed all my expectation, and it is not even out yet!
(Pictured: Marco’s dog Kevin, who is sort-of a character in his new book, The Shape of Magic)
Where and when do you create/are you at your most creative?
Unfortunately, I am the most creative late at night. I say unfortunately because I rarely am able to stay up late writing with my current schedule. My best times for writing currently are Wednesday night writing sprint with the BFS members and Saturday mornings, when I take a bus to town and write in my local Waterstones’ café.
What’s the best advice you’ve received about creativity?
Ideas are cheap. It’s in doing the work that true creativity comes out.
What’s your writing soundtrack?
I have a few YouTube channels saved that play chilled out electronic music without lyrics. They help me drown out all the sound when I write. Before I start writing, to get into the mood I go for the most random things depending on what I am listening to at the time. I should probably try to find a playlist or two that work consistently and stick to that!
The Quick Fire Round
Sci-fi, fantasy or horror?
Fantasy
Quiet or loud?
Quiet
Dark or light?
Light
Strict lines or genre blend?
Genre Blend
Awards or bestseller?
To pick a book? Neither, I go for vibes or recommendation.
Fiction or non-fiction?
I had my non-fiction phase, now I am mostly reading fiction
Poetry or prose?
Prose
Plotter or pantser?
I am finding my place on the spectrum, currently trying to be more of a plotter than I was for my first novel.
Reading or listening?
Depends on the situation! I need audiobooks and podcasts when I walk my dog or play videogames. Before bed, I read on my Kobo so that I don’t disturb my wife.
Notebook or computer?
Computer, and any other electronic device I own. I do sketch diagrams and notes on paper though.
Favourite SFFH book of all time?
The entire A Song of Ice and Fire series. I don’t care if George finishes it or not, it is a classic everyone should read.
Last book you read?
“The Left Hand of Darkness” by Ursula K. le Guin
Any SFFH author on auto-buy?
George RR Martin, Tamsyn Muir, Susanna Clarke.
Favourite podcast?
The Soundtrack show! Every episode is an absolute gem.
The Home Stretch
What’s the best thing about being part of the SFFH community?
The feeling of not being alone in what is a difficult, sometimes disheartening journey. Conversely, having someone I can share the little wins with that will be able to understand how much they mean.
Time to plug your stuff! Where can we find you and your work? What have you got coming up? Consider this your advertising space.
The Shape of Magic, my debut novel, came out last week! You can find it on Amazon, Kobo and BookVault Shop. All links are on my website, www.marcomichelutto.com. Find me on BlueSky and Instagram.