My guest on the Talking Books segment of today’s Women’s Outlook show was local author (and contributor to Wizard’s Tower anthologies), Jonathan L. Howard. We talked about his career as a video game designer, about his Johanes Cabal books, and about his new YA series for Strange Chemistry. There was also brief mention of the Bristol Literary Festival, World Fantasy and what Jonathan will be reading at his BristolCon Fringe appearance later this month.

Probably the most interesting part of the interview is where Jonathan talks about his decision to write YA. Mostly people talk about it being a big market, or about it being the only way that women can get to write SF. Jonathan did it because he wanted his daughter to have science fiction to read. Which is why the Katya books are more like Heinlein juveniles with a female lead than the sort of romance and coming of age tales more commonly associated with YA.

I’ve now read Katya’s World, and as I probably won’t get around to reviewing it I should note that it is very fast-paced and easy to read. It also contains a few little things that an adult reader is more likely to spot than a teenager. I shall now be getting a copy of Katya’s War.

Jonathan’s interview takes up the first half hour of the show. That and the second half hour, in which I talk to two of the organizers of the North Bristol Arts Trail, are available to listen here.

The second hour of the show is mainly about Steiner Schools and is not of much interest unless you are into educational theory or have a young child needing a private education. Of course, with Michael Gove in charge of our schools, all UK kids are in need of a private education, so I’m rather glad I’m not in the position of needing a school right now. The second half of the show is available here.