Angela Liu is a Chinese-American writer/poet from NYC who writes about intergenerational trauma and weird things. She is a 2x Nebula Award finalist and has also been nominated for the Hugo, Astounding, Ignyte, and Rhysling Awards. She formerly researched mixed reality storytelling at Keio University in Japan. Her stories and poetry are published in Strange Horizons, Clarkesworld, The Dark, Interzone Digital, Lightspeed, khōréō, and Logic(s), among others. Check out more of her work at liu-angela.com or find her on Twitter/Instagram @liu_angela and on Bluesky @angelaliu.bsky.social.
Angela’s BNW-winning story, “A Contract of Ink and Skin,” originally appeared in Uncanny Magazine.
BRAVE NEW WEIRD is out now! You can order it here.
***
Give us the elevator pitch of your BNW-winning story.
Cursed tattoos. Body horror. Inexplicable creatures are in love with you. Inexplicable things want to be with you forever.
Look, we all want love and companionship; sometimes cursed and inexplicable are just baked into that.
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?
Take long walks in nature. Try to cook something amazing you had at a restaurant. When the bad thoughts get too overwhelming, I try to play an instrument (or Tetris)—the precise finger movement and intense focus help stimulate/distract the brain in a good way.
Also, write a poem instead of a social media hot take. I've never regretted writing more poetry, but I have definitely regretted posting things on social media.
I have nothing sarcastic to say; I love all these tips.
Do you take naps?
No. I barely even sleep at night.
On the Tenebrous Discord board, we ask everyone to introduce themselves as a Film-meets-Music Artist
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind x Shiina Ringo
What's the capital-W Weirdest thing that's ever happened to you (that you're comfortable sharing)?
I was once in a Tokyo McDonalds with a classmate around 3AM, waiting for the first train of the day when this old guy sleeping nearby suddenly woke up and scooted over to our table. He asked if I’d ever worked for the army. His voice was real low and serious. He proceeded to say the government had cloned me and sent me out to fight because they knew I could be a powerful fighter.
“You could still lead them," he said and told me to seriously consider this.
Then he just left.
I smell a film franchise, and I’m sending thoughts and prayers that you get that sweet, sweet adaptation money.
***
BRAVE NEW WEIRD: The Best New Weird Horror + More, Vol. 3, is out now!
