When she's not bumbling through a mystical realm, Azure Arther is a playwright, an author, a poet, and, occasionally, a dryad. Her short stories and poems have appeared in over two dozen publications, including midnight & indigo, Small Wonders, and Rogue Agent. She is an editor for Augur Literary Society and has been a resident artist or scholarship recipient for numerous organizations. You can keep up with her at azurearther.com.
Her BNW-winning story, “Reciprocity,” originally appeared in Aurealis Magazine.
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.
If you've ever wondered if trees have feelings, Reciprocity shows you that yes, they do, and they're not nice and cuddly. In fact, trees are pretty pissed off and they aren't getting ready to take over the world...they already have. That wood house? Tear it down. Those wood pencils? Give them back. And don't ever, ever, ever make a tree mad, because you might not survive their wrath.
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?
Compliment people. Often. At least five times a day. You feel good. They feel good. And honestly, joy, one second at a time, can eventually become a minute and those few minutes of joy in the hours of drudgery can make all the difference. Be a light.
Do you take naps?
Naps are a necessary part of life. Rest is resistance. Come off the cog.
I don’t know the phrase “come off the cog” but I like it and I’m gonna work it into my daily lexicon. Along with complimenting people often. Alex! You look like you’ve really come off the cog today, it’s incredible, is that a new fabric softener? Am I doing this right?!
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.
Lilo and Stitch x Rihanna.
What's the capital-W Weirdest thing that's ever happened to you (that you're comfortable sharing)?
I'm neurodivergent and I think a lot of things are weird but this question gives me anxiety because what if the thing I think was weird was just neurotypical?
Tenebrous Press: spreading anxiety coming off the cog since 2020.
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BRAVE NEW WEIRD: The Best New Weird Horror + More, Vol. 3, is out June 24th.