Kevin Berry is an Amazon best-selling author living in earthquake-hit Christchurch, New Zealand, where his contemporary novels are set. He’s a night owl and prefer writing late into the night whenever possible.
Kevin’s books span a variety of genres. He’s written contemporary crime noir fiction, contemporary YA (social issues), science fiction, middle grade interactive fiction, and co-written fantasy (now out of print). His work has so far produced a Sir Julius Vogel Award (shared), the elusive Awesome Indies Seal of Approval (twice), and Amazon (CA) #1 Bestseller rankings in Noir mysteries and thrillers, and Hard-boiled mysteries.
1. Tell us about your recent publications/projects?
In recent years, I’ve published Teleport, a dystopian science-fiction novel set in a world controlled by a few powerful individuals in which a scientist must create a teleportation machine or risk her daughter’s future. Since then, I’ve written four interactive fiction books for middle grade: Stranded Starship (set in the future, of course), Duel at Dawn (set in 1626 France, in which Cardinal Richelieu is a sorcerer), Movie Mystery Madness (set in the present time, an interactive parody of the movie business), and Secret Project (a kids’ interactive fiction book with some of the same ideas from Teleport). There’s also a “box set” of the first three of the interactive fiction books called Past Present Future. The next speculative fiction I write will be more interactive fiction. I have an idea for a book Starship Smuggler.
2. What has been the best publishing or SF community experience of your career so far?
My best experience of the SF community so far was going to the Con in Auckland in 2012 (I think) where I met many other writers, some of whom are now close friends. I don’t get to go to Cons every year, but I have been to three so far.
3. Which recent Australian/NZ work would you recommend to international fans interested in expanding their Antipodean spec fic knowledge?
I’d recommend Lee Murray’s new book of short stories, Grotesque: Monster Stories, which includes a variety of clever and scary stories.
Australian SF Snapshot Project 