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:
Elliot J. Harper (he/him)
Which region are you based in?
York, North Yorkshire
If you write, which genre:
Sci-fi, fantasy, horror
Are you drawn to any specific SFFH sub-genres?
I enjoy reading most subgenres of sci-fi, fantasy and horror, but I especially love New Weird, Weird, Dark fantasy/Grimdark, Steampunk and Dystopian sci-fi.
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?
This is a very cliché answer: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. I read both of those novels when I was very young, and they kick-started my love of fiction. More recently—and this is what truly inspired me to write—I read China Miéville’s Bas-lag trilogy. Even after decades of reading, I’d never experienced anything like it.
How does that early influence show up for you (in life/writing/agenting/publishing/editing/reading) now?
From the moment I first read Perdido Street Station, I developed a love for weird, surreal and unusual fiction, which in turn led me to my own weird style. What I love about the Bas-lag series of books is that they blend styles. I write with that in mind.
My debut novel, New Gillion Street, published by Fly on the Wall Press, combines a soft sci-fi setting with horror, a small dash of the fantastical, and elements of dystopia. My self-published short story collection, The Strange Tales of Gillion, does much the same, but in a Victorian-England-inspired era. I just love to mash things up.
Where do you draw your creative inspiration from?
A combination of speculative fiction video games, television (movies and series), and, of course, reading a LOT of books! At the moment, I’m playing Elden Ring (pictured), which is driving a lot of what I want to write. This is my first From Software game, and I’ve fallen entirely down the rabbit hole.
It’s really making me want to write something in the dark fantasy genre, and the game is also excellent for inspiration for weird creatures because I don’t think I’ve seen more surreal beasts and monsters in any other game than I have in Elden Ring.
Who do you look to as a genre hero? Why?
Probably first and foremost China Miéville, but also the others of the New Weird era such as Jeff Vandermeer and Steph Swainson. These are my main influences, and I’ll usually read some of their books while I’m writing a short story or a new novel.
(Photo of China Miéville © Barney Cokeliss; source)
More recently, I’ve been reading a lot of darker fantasy from the likes of Joe Abercrombie, Mark Lawrence, Jay Kristoff and others. My dream next big project is to write something set in a purely secondary fantasy world, but I haven’t yet come up with an idea worthy of such an undertaking. One day, maybe.
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.
I would pitch my traditionally-published book:
Mr Albert Smith lives peacefully in Number 20 of New Gillion Street, a small piece of civility on an otherwise forest world, happy to tend his garden and drink cups of tea, but little does he know that a nefarious plan has been hatched which will shatter that peace forever.
What are you working on right now?
Currently I’m working on a few different projects. I’ve been focusing on a series of four loosely linked books set in a modern setting for a few years; I wrote the most recent and final one in March last year. They are all part of a six-book series that can be read as standalone stories, including New Gillion Street and The Strange Tales of Gillion. I have something else brewing, but it’s too early to say what it will become.
Thinking about all the stories/work you’ve done, what sticks out most in your mind? Why?
I’m very proud of the interconnected worlds I’ve been working on in the Gillion universe. Each book can be picked up and read on its own with very little knowledge of the others, but for those who read the whole series, there are hints, nods and Easter eggs everywhere which I hope will give the reader a reason to come back to the books time and time again. The Gillion series of books are odd, fun and, above all else, very weird! But beyond the weird, they are character-driven stories that focus on very real things, like mental health, community, addiction, alcoholism/sobriety, and sociopolitical issues. I want to help people with my fiction, even if the setting is strange, and I fully believe that these books have strong messages for any reader to take away.
Where and when do you create/are you at your most creative?
I have my own little office in our house, so I like to sit down first thing in the morning with a coffee and write. This is when I feel at my most creative.
What’s the best advice you’ve received about creativity?
Write what you read!
What’s your writing soundtrack?
I’ve created my own ambient Fantasy playlist on Spotify, filled with music from games, movies, and television series I love.
The Quick-Fire Round
Sci-fi, fantasy or horror?
Fantasy.
Quiet or loud?
Quiet.
Dark or light?
Dark.
Strict lines or genre blend?
Genre blend.
Awards or bestseller?
Both.
Fiction or non-fiction?
Fiction.
Poetry or prose?
Prose.
Plotter or pantser?
Both.
Reading or listening?
Reading.
Notebook or computer?
Computer.
Favourite SFFH book of all time?
Perdido Street Station.
Last book you read?
Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff.
Any SFFH author on auto-buy?
China Miéville.
Favourite podcast?
Welcome to Night Vale.
The Home Stretch
What’s the best thing about being part of the SFFH community?
Inspiration and book recommendations.
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 everything I’ve had published in print and online at my website, www.elliotjharper.com, as well as links to all my socials.
My debut speculative fiction novel, New Gillion Street, is available from Fly on the Wall Press, Amazon, Waterstones, and other outlets.
My weird horror short story collection, The Strange Tales of Gillion, is available from Amazon, Kobo, and Apple Books.
Leave a Reply