Samir Sirk Morató is a scientist, artist, and flesh heap. Some of their published and forthcoming work can be found in Strange Horizons, Cosmic Horror Monthly, NIGHTMARE, and khōréō. They are on Bluesky and Instagram.
Their BNW-winning story “EGREGORE” originally appeared in ergot.
BRAVE NEW WEIRD: The Best New Weird Horror + More, Vol. 3, is out June 24th.
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Give us the elevator pitch of your BNW-winning story.
“EGREGORE" is hyperpop fiction about two clubbers, a rotted girls' night out, and a third secret thing. It's also about drunken bathroom comradery.
This world is friggin' Weird in a lot of ways right now, and many of those ways are not the fun kind. What secret tips can you share to help others navigate this mess on a daily basis?
I don't have any winning secret tips, unfortunately! But I would say to make space for action and for rest. Keep up with both. Never combine them.
Do you take naps?
No. I don't nap unless I'm exhausted. Otherwise I'll morph into the Celestial Seasonings bear at three in the afternoon.
You say that like it’s a bad thing, but that bear is my spirit animal.
On the Tenebrous Discord board, we ask everyone to introduce themselves as a Film-meets-Music Artist (Citizen Kane x Metallica, f’rinstance). It doesn’t have to be your favorite, and don’t spend too much time overthinking it; now GO.
Lingua Ignota x Bride of Re-Animator
Hell yeah to both those things.
What's the capital-W Weirdest thing that's ever happened to you (that you're comfortable sharing)?
Once, when I was surveying endangered falcons in Belize, I saw an orb in the jungle. It was floating in a giant (maybe haunted) sinkhole. Still not sure what that was about!
Oh, I have an idea.
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BRAVE NEW WEIRD: The Best New Weird Horror + More, Vol. 3, is out June 24th.