North Continent Ribbon
by Ursula Whitcher
Released: Sep 10, 2024
Genre: Science Fiction
Why this book and why now?
I invented a grumpy lesbian resistance fighter for a game I was playing, and when the game ended, I couldn’t get her world out of my head. What was the planet she was homesick for? Who were the people? Why would someone from Nakharat be driven to fight for great justice?
Do your character names have special significance or meaning?
Names in my book are influenced by Kazakh history as well as a far-future culture with three genders. One of my favorites is Tashnur, a name for a tough but wistful assassin that literally means “stone-light.”
What TV show would your main character(s) most likely binge watch and why?
Andor. It’s a tense, exciting story about why ordinary people join a rebellion. My character Aizu would be glad someone else is as angry as she is, and hope they’re joining up to fight.
What’s your main character(s)’s favorite book and why?
One of my characters has a book with one page. The text on that page changes: it’s filled with memories, fables, and poems from wise people who used to own it. I always wonder what the other characters would do if they stumbled on those memories.
Publishing a book is a huge accomplishment and it’s time to party! Choose a celebratory beverage for one of your main characters to toast the release of your new book.
Toasting on Nakharat might mean tiny glasses of crystal-clear vodka or intensely sweet fruit juice (try apricot or pear cider). Be ready with your good wishes: nobody stops at just one toast!
