Aftermath: Tales of Survival in Aotearoa New Zealand is SpecFicNZ’s new anthology, available here.
The anthology explores Aotearoa in a post-apocalyptic world. Disasters have occurred around the country and the world. New Zealand, in our isolation down under, may have escaped most of what happened around the world, but it was pretty bad out there. As Kiwis are apt to do, though, we’re “getting over it”. You know, she’ll be right …
This is not just an anthology of disaster stories. The pages are filled with hope in the form of short stories, poems, flash fiction and artwork about what comes afterwards. The contributions are exclusively from SpecFicNZ members and reflect the diversity and breadth of this country we love to call home … even if the edges are a bit torn and tattered.
We’re interviewing all the contributors to the anthology so you can get to know the brave souls who’ve battled zombies, aliens, earthquakes, volcanoes and more to bring you the stories you’ll find between its covers.
Today, we’re chatting with Jan Goldie
Aftermath includes a variety of disasters set all around Aotearoa New Zealand. What disaster / location combination did you write about and why?
I wrote about a super-sized earthquake that divides New Zealand (and the world) into ever-shifting slices of land. Still on the move, Auckland’s topography has morphed into chunks of what are recognisable suburbs separated by giant rifts in the earth. I chose Auckland and particularly Mt Eden as a starting point because I have a strong personal connection to Mangawhau and, having walked its slopes many times, could imagine it repurposed in the aftermath of a world-changing event.
How do you think the Kiwi approach to life after disaster is unique?
I’m not sure it is. I think humanity as a whole eventually picks itself up, reinvents and gets on with it. Resilience is why we’re still here.
What are your most valuable post-apocalyptic skills?
Sucking it up. Carrying on. Being stubborn. Gardening.
They say the pen is mightier than the sword. Being a writer, you must have lots of pens. What creative use would you put them to in a post-apocalyptic New Zealand?
In my Aftermath world, digital connection is out of the picture unless you’re in the military. So, when I’m not trying to avoid falling down gigantic canyons or growing food to survive, I’d get busy writing stories for the survivors to enjoy a bit of post-apocalyptic escapism. Stories that can be handed around, shared in a letter or read out loud. Maybe I’d end up with a team of writers and we’d make it soap or sit-com style, where the latest episode is distributed every week. Any show title suggestions?
What are you working on now?
I’m writing a five book fantasy series for teens
Where can readers find out more about you and your writing?