An interview with Nina Munteanu
My guest today is Nina Munteanu, author of science fiction and fantasy novels, non-fiction books on writing and essays on science. Her latest book, released in May 2016, is all about water. It’s called Water Is….
Tell us about Water Is…
It took me three years to research and write—I usually do a book a year. Part of the reason is that it got so interesting! Every time I thought I was finished, I found something new or someone gave me a new cool thing I couldn’t ignore. The book runs at 584 pages with bibliography and index; in truth, it’s really more like 12 books on water, with each chapter focusing on a particular water “identity”. The book is part science, part history and part spirituality on the exploration of water’s various identities. I realized part way through that this book has encompassed most of my life, from little girl playing in a forest brook in Quebec to limnologist studying vast reservoirs in British Columbia. Water somehow became the thread for the most significant moments of my life. The book is filled with personal stories that introduce erudite discoveries by and reflections of important scientists, philosophers and visionaries. I also cover the paradoxes and controversies surrounding water; things like polywater, quantum water, homeopathy, anomalous properties, the fourth phase of water, and so on.
That sounds very exciting. Who do you think will be interested in Water Is…?
Water Is… will appeal to all readers interested in our planet Earth; people serious about green practices and sustainability. It won’t be just planet passionates or environmentalists who will avidly read Water Is…; the mass intelligent will find a cornucopia of compelling information on water, from its weird properties to strange facts such as its ubiquity in the universe or its quantum behavior.
Where can people buy the book?
Water Is… is available at quality bookstores throughout Canada. It is also for sale online at Amazon Canada, Amazon USA, Amazon UK and others in Europe, Indigo/Chapters, and Barnes and Noble. You can also purchase autographed copies directly from me through my website.
Water Is… seems a departure from your previous work. You’ve published mostly science fiction and some fantasy in the past.
In fact, I’ve typically brought out one non-fiction book with each of my SF novels and short story collections. Water Is… just seemed to demand my exclusive attention. It also represents a return to my science background as an environmental consultant and researcher, which feels really good. But I did miss writing fiction during that three-year period. I managed by putting out a few short stories—all on the topic of water—during the progress of the water book. One of them has been picked up by Future Fiction and translated into Italian. Called The Way of Water, it appears in both English and Italian and was released this April in Rome. I’m also happy to announce that I am outlining a new novel, an eco-thriller that will incorporate the theme of water. All my books—whether fiction or non-fiction—usually incorporate a strong environmental theme. Virtually all my fiction can be referred to as eco-fiction, even though they are usually shelved as science fiction.
When you’re not writing what do you do?
I coach writers to publication (see my website below) and teach writing at university. I’m currently teaching courses at George Brown College and The University of Toronto. I also enjoy cycling and gardening. I like to spend time by water, either Lake Ontario and the Credit River when I’m in Toronto or the Pacific Ocean and the Fraser River when I’m in Vancouver.
Where can people learn more about you and your work?
You can visit my coaching website www.ninamunteanu.me for articles and tips on writing, publishing and marketing & promotion. Readers can also keep up to date on my writing at www.ninamunteanu.ca. The Alien Next Door is a fun site, where I post things of interest from philosophy and ecology to writing and movies. You can also connect with me on social media and elsewhere online.
Wikipedia, Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, Amazon, and Amazing Stories.
You can also learn more by watching my interview The Meaning of Writing and Water.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN0j033hAXQ
Thanks for the cool interview, Simon! To see my interview of Simon, go here: http://sfgirl-thealiennextdoor.blogspot.ca/2016/07/interview-with-simon-rose.html