Gard Evyr
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Lois what is it about the midwest region like Minnesota, Wisconsin, etc. that produces so many of the top writers (serious, non quipy question)? From you, to Rothfuss(Wisconsin), Scott Lynch(Minnesota), Brent Weeks(Montana), NK Jemison(Iowa), Brandon Sanderson (Nebraska), etc. But in particular Minnesota/Wisconsin often seems like some sort of hotspot. Is there some particularly strong writing culture there or what?
Lois McMaster Bujold
No idea. But if you add in all the ones who originated in the (broader) Midwest and moved elsewhere -- Poul Anderson, Heinlein, and Harlan Ellison, to name 3 off the top of my head -- it's been going on for a while. Not to mention Gordy Dickson or Clifford Simak, who stayed.
Someone (not me) would have to do an actual regional count of SF writers, calibrate for population density, and compare, to discover if this is an actual thing, or just an effect of expectations of a low density being surprised by an average one.
That said, there were and are a synergistic groups of writers in the Twin Cities in several genres who stimulate each other, but, again, you'd have to compare us with other cities of similar size to see what's really going on.
(I'm actually from Ohio, moved here in '95, but still certainly from the Midwest.)
Ta, L.
Someone (not me) would have to do an actual regional count of SF writers, calibrate for population density, and compare, to discover if this is an actual thing, or just an effect of expectations of a low density being surprised by an average one.
That said, there were and are a synergistic groups of writers in the Twin Cities in several genres who stimulate each other, but, again, you'd have to compare us with other cities of similar size to see what's really going on.
(I'm actually from Ohio, moved here in '95, but still certainly from the Midwest.)
Ta, L.
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asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Just finished rereading “Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance” and was wondering about your thoughts on Byerly’s future? It seems like he has the chance to reinvent himself, and from the little that came out about his past and Rish’s assessments if him, it seems like he could benefit from as much therapy as Mark ended up getting.
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