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This is a Dark Matter Zine podcast and I’m your host Nalini Haynes.
This is a Dark Matter Zine podcast and I’m your host Nalini Haynes. Dark Matter Zine Acknowledges this recording is taking place on the unceded Country of the Bunurong Peoples’ of the Kulin Nation as Traditional Owners and Custodians of this Country. I pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Wikipedia
Of the roughly 1.5 million biographical articles on the English Wikipedia in 2021, only 19% were about women. Despite that appalling statistic, Wikipedia has a bio for today’s guest, Kate Heartfield. I’m envious.
Introducing Kate Heartfield
Kate has a degree in political science from the University of Ottawa and a master of journalism degree from Carleton University. She teaches journalism and creative writing online because she is an acclaimed fictional author as well as a non-fiction writer and editor. She’s been editor, board member and columist fof the Ottawa Citizen, Canada’s capitol’s daily broadsheet. Selectors shortlisted Kate for Canada’s National Newspaper Award, a Sunburst Award, aLocus Poll and a Nebula Award.
And she won an Aurora Award in 2019 for her book Armed in her fashion.
Today we’re here to talk about The Embroidered Book as well as a couple of books Kate has coming out in 2023 that I haven’t yet read. Welcome Kate.
Interview questions and talking points
- Historical fiction
- Marie Antoinette
- Volcanoes in Italy and Iceland affecting crops throughout Europe
- I’m no historian but you seemed to prioritise fidelity to historical facts in The Embroidered Book despite this being a story about magic and magic users
- Did you knowingly diverge from historical records at all?
- What are your feelings about the upcoming coronation in Britain?
- Any thoughts about the coronation costing British taxpayers about 100million pounds or $125millionUS? I’m wondering if this is a “let them eat cake” moment for the British monarchy.
- Other books coming out this year
- What stories inspire you
Links to Kate Heartfield’s books released or to be released in 2023
- The Embroidered Book paperback (FYI the book design is gorgeous even in ebook format. If I had a choice, I’d buy the hardcover version. In 20 years it’ll have that old book smell, which will TOTALLY add to the reading experience too.)
- The Valkyrie
- The Chatelaine (Formerly Armed In Her Fashion but edited and with extra “accessories” like a prologue)
- Assassin’s Creed: The Resurrection Plot
And in case it’s useful, my press kit with bios etc is here: https://kateheartfield.com/press-kit/.
Find Kate
Kate Heartfield is on Goodreads, Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon.
Acknowledgement of Country
Dark Matter Zine Acknowledges this recording is taking place on the unceded Country of the Bunurong Peoples’ of the Kulin Nation as Traditional Owners and Custodians of this Country. I pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
(I have occasionally acknowledged Country in podcasts. This year I aim to lift my game in many areas, so I plan to Acknowledge Country in every podcast. An Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners can be done by anyone. It’s a way of showing awareness of, and respect for, the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of the land where a meeting or event is held. For more information about Country and respect for Australia’s First Nations, read this post that also has links to useful websites.)
Thanks
Thank you to today’s guest, author Kate Heartfield! This has been a Dark Matter Zine podcast, and I’m your host Nalini Haynes. Thank you for listening, stay safe and have fun.
Please note: at this stage Charles Soule’s interview is coming on 5 June 2023 and a few other interviews are in the works. Watch this space for my next guest!