Interview with Canadian Author and Editor Nina Munteanu on the upcoming release of the new anthology
On December 31, Through the Portal: Tales from a Hopeful Dystopia, an exciting new eco-fiction anthology (edited by Lynn Hutchinson Lee and Nina Munteanu), launches. I interviewed one of the two editors, Nina Munteanu, on the process of creating and getting out the anthology.
Simon: In Through the Portal, you and Lynn Hutchinson Lee present a collection of over 30 stories that explore strange new terrains and startling social constructs, quiet morphing landscapes, dark and terrifying warnings, lush newly-told folk and fairy tales. The title says Tales from a Hopeful Dystopia. How does one achieve that? Tell us about the process.
Nina: I guess it’s all in how you define hopeful and dystopia. What Lynn and I wanted to see was a story that took you through the darkness of ecological disaster and potential despair into the light of hope, learning and enlightenment; it was something I think we can all use these days. The idea for this apparent oxymoron came when Lynn and I had our short stories published in Exile Edition’s CLI-FI: Tales of Climate Change, edited by Bruce Meyer. Lynn and I got to discussing the possibility of collaborating on something. We both liked the idea of something hopeful and Exile’s publisher agreed on the lure of something optimistic. We pitched the concept and Portal was born. I think Lynn came up with the title, which suggested a ‘doorway’ through transcendence into a different reality of one’s own making. Lynn also came up with a way to organize the stories based on that transcendence. I think it was brilliant and works really well for the reader.
Simon: What was the experience of collaborating and story acquisition like?
Nina: Working with Lynn was great. We seemed to be on the same page throughout the process. And where we didn’t agree, this always helped make it better. Writers, mostly Canadian, but also from the United States and around the world, submitted to us. We whittled down some 245 submissions to thirty-five stellar short stories, flash fiction, and poetry, that reflected the theme of the anthology: hope in the face of ecological adversity. It was a lot of reading and creating short lists and discussing back and forth. We went through several levels of conditional acquisition and editing with the authors, who were all wonderful to work with and very professional. The whole affair was a labour of love, grounded in optimism and hope: to create a collection of optimistic dystopian short stories that celebrate the spirit of humanity in a changing world. As one reader said, “We definitely need more optimism and hope to offset the bombardment of negativity that is running rampant these days.”
Simon: I’m thinking that this project came naturally to you, given that you write mostly eco-fiction these days. Tell me a little about that.
Nina: Well, I trained as an ecologist and limnologist (someone who studies freshwater systems). Since I was a child, I’ve been fascinated by the natural world, always near the ground, picking up slugs and peering into holes in trees or making potions from moss, loam and pond water. For me, writing and publishing eco-fiction is a mission and I’m an activist. If this anthology project and all others I’ve been involved in can make a difference, even with just one person, then I’m vindicated.
Simon: Are you working on a writing project now?
Nina: Yes, a dark eco-fiction novel about how Nature echoes our own angsts, misconducts and deceptions; a kind of karma-Zen exploration that edges into eco-horror. It’s actually told as an eco-thriller with an unsolved murder and teenagers who get lost. I’m having fun writing it.
Simon: Where can readers find you?
Nina: On social media, I’m on Bluesky, X, and LinkedIn. Readers can also read my articles on writing, publishing and ecology on various sites on the internet including my own The Meaning of Water and my writing/coaching site Nina Munteanu.me. Most of my books can be found on Amazon. My short stories have been translated into over a dozen languages and located all over the planet, but several of them can be read on Metastellar.
Simon: Any last words about the anthology?
Nina: The anthology features the stellar writing of Agata Antonow, Sarah Christina Brown, Mary Burns, K.R.Byggdin, Petra Chambers, Katie Conrad, M.L.D. Curelas, Matthew Freeman, R. Haven, Liam Hogan, Cornelia Hoogland, Vanessa Hua, Jerri Jerreat, Zilla Jones, Katherine Koller, Erin MacNair, Melanie Marttila, Bruce Meyer, Isabella Mori, E. Martin Nolan, Avery Parkinson, Ursula Pflug, Marisca Pichette, Shana Ross, Lynne Sargent, Karen Schauber, Holly Schofield, Anneliese Schultz, Gin Sexsmith, Sara C. Walker, Jade Wallace, and Melissa Yuan-Innes. You can order pre-release copies at 15% discount on the Exile Editions Portal sales page.
Simon: Thanks, Nina!
Nina: My pleasure, Simon!
