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{{short description|American podcaster and writer}}
{{Infobox Writer
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| name = Mur Lafferty
| name = Mur Lafferty
| image = MurLafferty.jpg
| image = Mur_lafferty_headshot.jpg
| imagesize = 120px
| imagesize =
| caption = Mur Lafferty
| caption = Lafferty
| pseudonym = <!-- Unsure if I can put the profane name. You can if you casource it; Wikipedia isn't censored. -->
| pseudonym = <!-- Unsure if I can put the profane name. You can if you can source it; Wikipedia isn't censored. -->
| birth_date = [[July 25]], [[1973]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|7|25|mf=y}}
| birth_place =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| occupation = Author
| occupation = Author
| nationality = [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px|right]] American
| nationality = American
| period =
| genre = [[Science fiction]]/[[Fantasy]]
| genre = [[Science Fiction]]/[[Fantasy]]
| subject =
| subject =
| website = {{URL|http://www.murverse.com}}
| movement = The Podiobook (Podcast Novel)
| debut_works =
| influences =
| influenced =
| signature =
| website = [http://murlafferty.com MurLafferty.com]
| footnotes =
}}
}}


'''Mur Lafferty''' (born July 25, 1973) is an American [[podcaster]] and [[writer]] based in [[Durham, North Carolina]].<ref name="gearino">{{cite news |work=[[The News & Observer]] |date=March 22, 2005 |title=Podcasting takes off |author=G.D. Gearino |page=E1 |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/lifestyles/story/2241709p-8621847c.html |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050405222416/http://www.newsobserver.com/lifestyles/story/2241709p-8621847c.html |archive-date=April 5, 2005}}</ref> She was the editor and host of ''[[Escape Pod]]'' from 2010, when she took over from Steve Eley, until 2012, when she was replaced by [[Norm Sherman]]. She is also the host and creator of the podcast ''I Should Be Writing''. Until July 2007, she was host and co-editor of [[Pseudopod (podcast)|''Pseudopod'']]. She was the Editor-in-Chief of the Escape Artists short fiction magazine ''Mothership Zeta'' until it went on hiatus in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mothershipzeta.org/2016/10/19/mothership-zeta-hiatus-after-issue-6/|title=Mothership Zeta Hiatus After Issue 6|date=19 October 2016|accessdate=6 February 2020 }}</ref>
'''Mur Lafferty''' (born [[July 25]], [[1973]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[podcaster]] and [[writer]] based in [[Durham, North Carolina]]. She was, until recently, the host and co-editor of ''Pseudopod''. She is also the host and creator of the podcasts ''Geek Fu Action Grip'' (on [[hiatus]]) and ''I Should be Writing''.

== Education ==
Lafferty attended the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] and graduated with a degree in English. In 2014, she received her [[Master of Fine Arts|MFA]] from the [[University of Maine]]'s [[Stonecoast MFA Program in Creative Writing|Stonecoast]] program.


==Podcasting==
==Podcasting==
[[File:Mur Lafferty Worldcon 2017 1.jpg|thumb|Lafferty performing a live episode of the Ditch Diggers podcast at the 2017 Worldcon.]]


===Geek Fu Action Grip===
===Early contributions===
Lafferty was first introduced to podcasting in October of 2004 by a friend, and she immediately seized on it as an opportunity for publishing her essays on geekdom. This led to her first podcast, [http://www.geekfuactiongrip.com/ Geek Fu Action Grip] which launched in December of 2004. It consisted of her thoughts for the week and then a reading of one of her essays. Early topics included her obsession with [[Alton Brown]] and her uncomfortable crushes on the hosts of her child's TV shows like [[Steve Burns]], and expanded to discussions of games, movies and television shows. In later episodes she began podcasting her fiction, in particular her serialized novels ''Heaven'' and ''Heaven Part 2: Hell''. The show has been put on indefinite hold as of episode 103, since Ms. Lafferty feels she has too many things on her table and needs to focus her energy on a smaller set of projects.
A friend introduced Lafferty to podcasting in October 2004. She immediately seized on the medium as a novel opportunity to publish her essays on geekdom. Her first podcast, ''Geek Fu Action Grip'', launched in December 2004.<ref name="paste">{{cite web| title=Hall of Famers: Meet the Men and Women Who Changed Podcasting |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/06/hall-of-famers-meet-the-men-and-women-who-changed.html | website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |author=Hutton, Christopher | date=June 19, 2015 | access-date=March 23, 2017 | quote=She discovered podcasting in 2004 after hearing shows likes like Adam Curry's Source Code and loved how it opened up new opportunities for self-expression In 2005, Lafferty started her own podcast, titled Geek Fu Action Grip, where she expressed her love of geeky things in essay form. The podcast eventually evolved into a platform for Lafferty to share her books in serial format. Lafferty also joined the geek-centric podcast "Wingin It" as a contributor. Geek Fu Action Grip ended in 2007 after 103 episodes. Lafferty went on to write more books, as well as start her current podcast "I Should Be Writing", a show dedicated to exploring and practicing the writing craft. Lafferty was also the editor of EscapePod, a speculative fiction podcast for two years, as well as a cofounder of the Parsec Awards, a DragonCon-centric award show that's focused on science fiction podcasting. |url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621060534/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/06/hall-of-famers-meet-the-men-and-women-who-changed.html | archive-date=June 21, 2015}}</ref> Early topics included her obsession with [[Alton Brown]] and her uncomfortable crushes on the hosts of her child's TV shows, and expanded to discussions of games, movies, and television shows. In later episodes she began podcasting her fiction, most notably her serialized novels ''Heaven'' and ''Heaven Part 2: Hell''. ''Geek Fu Action Grip'' ceased production as of episode 103.


These essays also led to her becoming an early contributor to Michael and Evo's [[Wingin' It]], a sci-fi variety show podcast hosted by [[Michael R. Mennenga]] and [[Evo Terra]]. While she is no longer a regular, she did step in to produce an essay during their 2006 [[Dragon*Con]] show that is considered one of her best.
Lafferty's essays also led to her becoming an early contributor to ''[[Dragon Page Wingin' It]]'': a sci-fi variety show podcast hosted by [[Michael R. Mennenga]] and [[Evo Terra]].<ref name="paste"/> While she is no longer a regular, her essay produced during their 2006 [[Dragon Con|Dragon*Con]] show is considered one of her best.


In September 2006, Lafferty, along with [[Michael R. Mennenga]] and [[Tracy Hickman]], founded the [[Parsec Awards]],<ref name="paste"/> which recognize excellence in science fiction podcasting. After a general nomination period, the Steering Committee compiles a shortlist, from which an independent panel of judges selects the winner of each category. The awards are presented yearly at Dragon*Con.<ref name="paste"/>
===I Should Be Writing===
Ms. Lafferty's second podcast was formed from her desire to share her experiences as a struggling fiction writer. [http://www.ishouldbewriting.com/ I Should Be Writing] is self-described as "a podcast for wanna-be fiction writers, by a wanna-be fiction writer." Each show covers a specific topic about working your way through the publishing market, from producing queries, cover letters and seeking out agents. This is interspersed with interviews with published professionals, often covering topics from previous shows.


I Should Be Writing won the 2007 [[Parsec Awards|Parsec Award]] for Best Writing Podcast.
===''I Should Be Writing''===


Lafferty's second podcast arose from her desire to share her experiences as a struggling fiction writer. ''I Should Be Writing'' is a self-described "podcast for wannabe fiction writers."<ref name="paste"/> Each show covers a specific topic about the writing world, from battling self-doubt to crafting queries and cover letters, interspersed with interviews with published professionals. ''I Should Be Writing'' won the 2007 Parsec Award for Best Writing Podcast.
===Pseudopod===
Ms. Lafferty's third podcast is a spin-off of the weekly podcast magazine [[Escape Pod (podcast)|Escape Pod]]. While Escape Pod focuses on science fiction and fantasy, [[Pseudopod (podcast)|Pseudopod]] is a horror podcast. Together with co-editor Ben Phillips and publisher Steve Eley, she presents "the best in audio horror." As of July, 2007 Ms. Lafferty has stepped down as co-editor to focus her energy on a smaller number of projects.


===Voices: New Media Fiction===
===''Escape Pod'' and ''Pseudopod''===
In early 2006, Ms. Lafferty edited and published [http://www.podiobooks.com/voices/ Voices: New Media Fiction] through podiobooks.com. This is an anthology of short fiction, podcasted by the authors, and featuring such contributors as [[James Patrick Kelly]], and [[Cory Doctorow]].


From May 2010 to December 2012, she was the editor and host of the sci-fi podcast magazine ''[[Escape Pod]]'',<ref name="paste"/> taking over from former editor and founder Steve Eley.<ref>{{cite web|title=Escape Pod Metacast 5|date=7 May 2010 |url=http://escapepod.org/2010/05/06/ep-metacast-5/|accessdate=3 June 2012}}</ref> Under her editorship, ''Escape Pod'' began paying [[Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association|SFWA]] pro rates for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|title=News- changes at Escape Pod- blog, reviews, text, and rate increase!|date=4 October 2010 |url=http://escapepod.org/2010/10/04/news-changes-at-escape-pod-blog-reviews-text-and-rate-increase/|accessdate=3 June 2012}}</ref>
===The Parsec Awards===
In September 2006, Ms. Lafferty, along with [[Michael R. Mennenga]] and [[Tracy Hickman]], founded the [[Parsec Awards]], an awards show for the best in science fiction podcasting.


Lafferty was also co-founder, along with Steve Eley and co-editor Ben Phillips, of ''[[Pseudopod (podcast)|Pseudopod]]'', a spin-off of ''Escape Pod'' presenting "the best in audio horror." In July 2007 she stepped down as co-editor of ''Pseudopod''.
===Awards and Honors===

*Member of the [http://www.podcastpickle.com/ Podcast Pickle] Hall of Fame
===Ditch Diggers===
*One of the [http://podonomics.com/top-10-savvy-women-in-podcasting-for-2006-final-list/ Top Ten Savvy Women in Podcasting, 2006]
[[File:Portrait photoshoot at Worldcon 75, Helsinki, before the Hugo Awards – Mur Lafferty and Alasdair Stuart.jpg|thumb|Mur Lafferty and Alasdair Stuart prior to the Hugo Awards ceremony in 2017.]]
*''Tricks of the Podcasting Masters'' was named one of the top 5 reference books for 2006 by Amazon.com.
In January 2015, Lafferty started a new podcast with a recurring ''I Should Be Writing'' guest host [[Matt Wallace (writer)|Matt Wallace]]. The new show, titled ''Ditch Diggers'', focuses on the professional and business side of writing and is intended to be honest to the point of brutality, in contrast to the more optimistic and uplifting tone of ''I Should Be Writing''. It won the [[Hugo Award for Best Fancast|Hugo Award]] for Best Fancast in 2018, having been a finalist the year before.
*2007 Parsec Award for Best Writing Podcast


==Writing==
==Writing==
===Early career===
Lafferty's early career began with her writing for White Wolf and other [[role-playing game]] companies, and she has expanded to writing about games for such publications as ''[[Scrye]]'', ''[[Knights of the Dinner Table]]'', ''[[Anime Insider]]'', ''[[Games Quarterly]]'', and ''[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]''. Her [[Podcast#Podcast novels|podcast novel]] ''Playing For Keeps'' was published by Swarm Press on August 25, 2008.


She has also written essays for the online magazine ''Grumble'', many of which have ended up on Geek Fu Action Grip and published fiction in ''Hub'' magazine. Her short story "1963: The Argument Against Louis Pasteur" (published in ''The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities'') qualified her for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, which she won in 2013.
Outside of podcasting, Ms. Lafferty has also worked as a freelance writer. Her early career began with her writing for White Wolf and other role playing game companies, and she has expanded to writing about games for such publications as [[Scrye]], [[Knights of the Dinner Table]], [[Anime Insider]], [[Games Quarterly]], and [[The Escapist]].


===''The Shambling Guides''===
She has also written essays for the online magazine [http://www.grumblemagazine.com/ Grumble], many of which have ended up on Geek Fu Action Grip.
In May 2013, [[Orbit Books]] released the first in Lafferty's urban fantasy series: ''The Shambling Guide to New York City''. It received favorable reception; ''[[Kirkus Reviews]]'' stated: "The hip, knowing and sometimes hysterically funny narrative, interspersed with excerpts from the guide of the title, lurches along in splendid fashion… The result is irresistible."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Shambling Guide to New York City|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/mur-lafferty/shambling-guide-to-new-york-city/|publisher=[[Kirkus Reviews]]|accessdate=4 March 2014}}</ref>


The second novel in the series, ''A Ghost Train to New Orleans'', was published on March 4, 2014.
==Books==

*''Tricks of the Podcasting Masters'' (With [[Robert Walch]]) Que 2006 ISBN 0789735741
==Awards and honors==
*''Lessons From a Geek Fu Master'', Lulu 2006 [http://www.lulu.com/content/244674]
*Member of the [[Podcast Pickle]] Hall of Fame
*''Heaven - Season One'', Podiobooks.com 2006 [http://www.podiobooks.com/podiobooks/book.php?ID=97]
*One of the Top Ten Savvy Women in Podcasting, 2006<ref>{{cite web |url=http://podonomics.com/top-10-savvy-women-in-podcasting-for-2006-final-list/ |title=Top Ten Savvy Women in Podcasting for 2006 Final List |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111175330/http://podonomics.com/top-10-savvy-women-in-podcasting-for-2006-final-list/ |archive-date=November 11, 2007}}</ref>
*''Heaven - Season Two: Hell'', Podiobooks.com 2007 [http://www.podiobooks.com/podiobooks/book.php?ID=112]
*''Tricks of the Podcasting Masters'' was named one of the top reference books for 2006 by Amazon.com.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[San Jose Mercury News]] |date=November 23, 2006 |title=Podcasts beginning to reach non-geeks |author=Elise Ackerman |page=BU1}}</ref>
*''Heaven - Season Three: Earth'', Podiobooks.com 2007 [http://www.podiobooks.com/title/heaven-season-three-earth/]
*2007 [[Parsec Awards|Parsec]] Nomination for Best Speculative Fiction Story (Short Form): ''I Look Forward To Remembering You''<ref>{{cite web|title=2007 Parsec Awards Winners & Finalists|url=http://www.parsecawards.com/past-awards/2007-parsec-awards-winners-finalists/|accessdate=3 June 2012}}</ref>
*2007 Parsec Award for Best Writing Related Podcast: ''I Should Be Writing''
*2008 Parsec Award for Best Speculative Fiction Story (Novella Form): ''Heaven – Season Four: Wasteland''<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 Parsec Awards Winners & Finalists|url=http://www.parsecawards.com/past-awards/2008-parsec-awards-winners-finalists/|accessdate=3 June 2012}}</ref>
*2008 Parsec Award for Best Speculative Fiction Story (Long Form): ''Playing for Keeps''
*2010 Parsec Nomination for Best Speculative Fiction Story (Novella Form): ''Heaven – Season Five: War''<ref>{{cite web|title=2010 Parsec Awards Winners & Finalists|url=http://www.parsecawards.com/past-awards/2010-parsec-awards-winners-finalists/|accessdate=3 June 2012}}</ref>
*2011 Parsec Nomination for Best Speculative Fiction Story (Novella Form): ''Marco and the Red Granny''<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Parsec Awards Winners & Finalists|url=http://www.parsecawards.com/past-awards/2011-parsec-awards-winners-finalists/|accessdate=3 June 2012}}</ref>
*2012 Nomination for [[Astounding Award for Best New Writer|John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2012 Hugo Awards|date=7 April 2012 |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2012-hugo-awards/|accessdate=3 June 2012}}</ref>
*2013 [[Astounding Award for Best New Writer|John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2013 Hugo Awards|date=22 December 2012 |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2013-hugo-awards/|accessdate=10 June 2013}}</ref>
*2018 Nomination for [[Hugo Award for Best Semiprozine|Hugo Award for Best SemiProzine]] as editor of ''Escape Pod''

==Selected bibliography==
=== Novels ===
*''Playing for Keeps'' (2007, Podiobooks.com)
*''Playing for Keeps'' (2008, Swarm Press; {{ISBN|978-1934861165}})
*''Nanovor: Hacked'' (2010, [[Running Press|Running Press Kids]])
*''[[Six Wakes]]'' (2017, Orbit Books; {{ISBN|978-0316389686}})
*''Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition'' (film [[novelization]]; 2018, [[Del Rey Books|Del Rey]]; {{isbn|978-0525619390}})
*''Minecraft: The Lost Journals'' (2019, [[Random House Worlds]]; {{isbn|978-0399180699}})

====''The Shambling Guides''====
*''A Shambling Guide to New York'' (2013, Orbit Books; {{ISBN|978-0316221177}})
*''The Ghost Train to New Orleans'' (2014, Orbit Books; {{ISBN|978-0316221146}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://upcoming4.me/news/book-news/mur-lafferty-the-ghost-train-to-new-orleans-cover-art-reveal|title=Mur Lafferty - The Ghost Train to New Orleans cover art reveal|publisher=Upcoming4.me|accessdate=6 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615184030/http://upcoming4.me/news/book-news/mur-lafferty-the-ghost-train-to-new-orleans-cover-art-reveal|archive-date=15 June 2013}}</ref>

====''The Midsolar Murders''====
*''[[Station Eternity]]'' (2022, [[Ace Books|Ace]]; {{ISBN|978-0593098110}})
*''[[Chaos Terminal]]'' (2023, Ace)

=== Novellas ===
*''Heaven - Season One'' (2006, Podiobooks.com)<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.scribl.com/|title=Scribl|website=Scribl}}</ref>
*''Heaven - Season Two: Hell'' (2007, Podiobooks.com)<ref name="auto"/>
*''Heaven - Season Three: Earth'' (2007, Podiobooks.com)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scribl.com/books/PDC68/heaven-season-three-earth|title=Scribl - Heaven - Season Three: Earth (#1) by Mur Lafferty|website=Scribl}}</ref>
*''Heaven - Season Four: Wasteland'' (2007, Podiobooks.com)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scribl.com/books/P09D6/heaven-season-four-wasteland|title=Scribl - Heaven Season Four: Wasteland (#1) by Mur Lafferty|website=Scribl}}</ref>
*''Heaven - Season Five: War'' (2009, Podiobooks.com)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scribl.com/books/P2BC4/heaven-season-five-war|title=Scribl - Heaven - Season Five: War (#1) by Mur Lafferty|website=Scribl}}</ref>
*''Marco and the Red Granny'' (2010, ''Hub Magazine'')

=== Short fiction ===
*"I Look Forward to Remembering You" (2006, ''Escape Pod'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://escapepod.org/2006/07/06/ep061-i-look-forward-to-remembering-you/|title=EP061: I Look Forward To Remembering You|date=July 6, 2006|website=Escape Pod}}</ref>
*"1963: The Argument Against Louis Pasteur", ''The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities'' (ed. [[Ann VanderMeer|Ann]] and [[Jeff VanderMeer]])<ref name="lambshead">{{cite news |last=Brazil |first=Nathan |url= http://www.sfsite.com/12a/cc357.htm |title=The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities: A review |work=[[Sfsite]] |accessdate=2012-11-15}}</ref>
*"Produce 1:1-10" (2014, ''[[Daily Science Fiction]]'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dailysciencefiction.com/fantasy/religious/mur-lafferty/produce-1-1-10|title=Daily Science Fiction :: PRODUCE 1:1-10 by Mur Lafferty|website=dailysciencefiction.com}}</ref>

=== Serial fiction ===
* ''Bookburners'' (created by [[Max Gladstone]])
** ''Bookburners'' Season One (with Gladstone, Margaret Dunlap, and [[Brian Francis Slattery]])
*** Episode 4: "A Sorcerer's Apprentice" (2015)
*** Episode 8: "Under My Skin" (2015)
*** Episode 11: "Shore Leave" (2015)
*** Episode 13: "Keeping Friends Close" (2015)

=== Anthologies ===
*''Voices: New Media Fiction'' (editor; 2006, Podiobooks.com)

=== Non-fiction and essays ===
*''Tricks of the Podcasting Masters'' (with [[Robert Walch]]) Que 2006 {{ISBN|0-7897-3574-1}}
*''Lessons From a Geek Fu Master'', (2006, Lulu) <!-- remove spam link - [http://www.lulu.com/content/244674] -->

=== RPGs ===
*''D20 Fright Night Haunted School'' (2004, [[Hogshead Publishing]])

=== Magazines ===
*''Mothership Zeta'' (2015–2016, [[Escape Artists]]; Editor-in-Chief)<ref>{{cite web|title=FAQ|url=http://mothershipzeta.org/about-mothership-zeta/faq/|website=Mothership Zeta|accessdate=10 December 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.geekfuactiongrip.com/ Geek Fu Action Grip]
* {{Official website|http://www.murverse.com/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930203528/http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=7417 RPG writing credits]
*[http://shouldwrite.blogspot.com/ I Should Be Writing]
* [http://www.comicgeekspeak.com/episodes/comic_geek_speak-470.php Audio interview on the Comic Geek Speak podcast]
*[http://pseudopod.org/ Pseudopod]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090111165959/http://booksandideas.wordpress.com/2008/02/26/books-and-ideas-17-mur-lafferty/ Interview on Books and Ideas Podcast (2008)]
*[http://www.farpointmedia.net/ FarPoint Media]
* {{isfdb name|id=Mur_Lafferty|name=Mur Lafferty}}
*[http://mursbitches.com/ Fan Cult Blog]
* [https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/lafferty_mur Mur Lafferty] at ''[[The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]]''
*[http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=7417 RPG writing credits]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130623083121/http://upcoming4.me/news/book-news/story-behind-the-shambling-guide-to-new-york-city-by-mur-lafferty Essay on story behind The Shambling Guide to New York City]

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:American podcasters|Lafferty, Mur]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lafferty, Mur}}
[[Category:Living people|Lafferty, Mur]]
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:21st-century American novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century American short story writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American women writers]]
[[Category:American book podcasters]]
[[Category:American science fiction writers]]
[[Category:American women novelists]]
[[Category:American women podcasters]]
[[Category:American women short story writers]]
[[Category:John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Novelists from North Carolina]]
[[Category:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni]]
[[Category:University of Southern Maine alumni]]
[[Category:American women science fiction and fantasy writers]]

Latest revision as of 18:55, 9 September 2024

Mur Lafferty
Lafferty
Lafferty
Born (1973-07-25) July 25, 1973 (age 51)
OccupationAuthor
NationalityAmerican
GenreScience fiction/Fantasy
Website
www.murverse.com

Mur Lafferty (born July 25, 1973) is an American podcaster and writer based in Durham, North Carolina.[1] She was the editor and host of Escape Pod from 2010, when she took over from Steve Eley, until 2012, when she was replaced by Norm Sherman. She is also the host and creator of the podcast I Should Be Writing. Until July 2007, she was host and co-editor of Pseudopod. She was the Editor-in-Chief of the Escape Artists short fiction magazine Mothership Zeta until it went on hiatus in 2016.[2]

Education

[edit]

Lafferty attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated with a degree in English. In 2014, she received her MFA from the University of Maine's Stonecoast program.

Podcasting

[edit]
Lafferty performing a live episode of the Ditch Diggers podcast at the 2017 Worldcon.

Early contributions

[edit]

A friend introduced Lafferty to podcasting in October 2004. She immediately seized on the medium as a novel opportunity to publish her essays on geekdom. Her first podcast, Geek Fu Action Grip, launched in December 2004.[3] Early topics included her obsession with Alton Brown and her uncomfortable crushes on the hosts of her child's TV shows, and expanded to discussions of games, movies, and television shows. In later episodes she began podcasting her fiction, most notably her serialized novels Heaven and Heaven Part 2: Hell. Geek Fu Action Grip ceased production as of episode 103.

Lafferty's essays also led to her becoming an early contributor to Dragon Page Wingin' It: a sci-fi variety show podcast hosted by Michael R. Mennenga and Evo Terra.[3] While she is no longer a regular, her essay produced during their 2006 Dragon*Con show is considered one of her best.

In September 2006, Lafferty, along with Michael R. Mennenga and Tracy Hickman, founded the Parsec Awards,[3] which recognize excellence in science fiction podcasting. After a general nomination period, the Steering Committee compiles a shortlist, from which an independent panel of judges selects the winner of each category. The awards are presented yearly at Dragon*Con.[3]

I Should Be Writing

[edit]

Lafferty's second podcast arose from her desire to share her experiences as a struggling fiction writer. I Should Be Writing is a self-described "podcast for wannabe fiction writers."[3] Each show covers a specific topic about the writing world, from battling self-doubt to crafting queries and cover letters, interspersed with interviews with published professionals. I Should Be Writing won the 2007 Parsec Award for Best Writing Podcast.

Escape Pod and Pseudopod

[edit]

From May 2010 to December 2012, she was the editor and host of the sci-fi podcast magazine Escape Pod,[3] taking over from former editor and founder Steve Eley.[4] Under her editorship, Escape Pod began paying SFWA pro rates for the first time.[5]

Lafferty was also co-founder, along with Steve Eley and co-editor Ben Phillips, of Pseudopod, a spin-off of Escape Pod presenting "the best in audio horror." In July 2007 she stepped down as co-editor of Pseudopod.

Ditch Diggers

[edit]
Mur Lafferty and Alasdair Stuart prior to the Hugo Awards ceremony in 2017.

In January 2015, Lafferty started a new podcast with a recurring I Should Be Writing guest host Matt Wallace. The new show, titled Ditch Diggers, focuses on the professional and business side of writing and is intended to be honest to the point of brutality, in contrast to the more optimistic and uplifting tone of I Should Be Writing. It won the Hugo Award for Best Fancast in 2018, having been a finalist the year before.

Writing

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Lafferty's early career began with her writing for White Wolf and other role-playing game companies, and she has expanded to writing about games for such publications as Scrye, Knights of the Dinner Table, Anime Insider, Games Quarterly, and The Escapist. Her podcast novel Playing For Keeps was published by Swarm Press on August 25, 2008.

She has also written essays for the online magazine Grumble, many of which have ended up on Geek Fu Action Grip and published fiction in Hub magazine. Her short story "1963: The Argument Against Louis Pasteur" (published in The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities) qualified her for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, which she won in 2013.

The Shambling Guides

[edit]

In May 2013, Orbit Books released the first in Lafferty's urban fantasy series: The Shambling Guide to New York City. It received favorable reception; Kirkus Reviews stated: "The hip, knowing and sometimes hysterically funny narrative, interspersed with excerpts from the guide of the title, lurches along in splendid fashion… The result is irresistible."[6]

The second novel in the series, A Ghost Train to New Orleans, was published on March 4, 2014.

Awards and honors

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  • Member of the Podcast Pickle Hall of Fame
  • One of the Top Ten Savvy Women in Podcasting, 2006[7]
  • Tricks of the Podcasting Masters was named one of the top reference books for 2006 by Amazon.com.[8]
  • 2007 Parsec Nomination for Best Speculative Fiction Story (Short Form): I Look Forward To Remembering You[9]
  • 2007 Parsec Award for Best Writing Related Podcast: I Should Be Writing
  • 2008 Parsec Award for Best Speculative Fiction Story (Novella Form): Heaven – Season Four: Wasteland[10]
  • 2008 Parsec Award for Best Speculative Fiction Story (Long Form): Playing for Keeps
  • 2010 Parsec Nomination for Best Speculative Fiction Story (Novella Form): Heaven – Season Five: War[11]
  • 2011 Parsec Nomination for Best Speculative Fiction Story (Novella Form): Marco and the Red Granny[12]
  • 2012 Nomination for John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer[13]
  • 2013 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer[14]
  • 2018 Nomination for Hugo Award for Best SemiProzine as editor of Escape Pod

Selected bibliography

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Novels

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  • Playing for Keeps (2007, Podiobooks.com)
  • Playing for Keeps (2008, Swarm Press; ISBN 978-1934861165)
  • Nanovor: Hacked (2010, Running Press Kids)
  • Six Wakes (2017, Orbit Books; ISBN 978-0316389686)
  • Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition (film novelization; 2018, Del Rey; ISBN 978-0525619390)
  • Minecraft: The Lost Journals (2019, Random House Worlds; ISBN 978-0399180699)

The Shambling Guides

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The Midsolar Murders

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Novellas

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  • Heaven - Season One (2006, Podiobooks.com)[16]
  • Heaven - Season Two: Hell (2007, Podiobooks.com)[16]
  • Heaven - Season Three: Earth (2007, Podiobooks.com)[17]
  • Heaven - Season Four: Wasteland (2007, Podiobooks.com)[18]
  • Heaven - Season Five: War (2009, Podiobooks.com)[19]
  • Marco and the Red Granny (2010, Hub Magazine)

Short fiction

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Serial fiction

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  • Bookburners (created by Max Gladstone)
    • Bookburners Season One (with Gladstone, Margaret Dunlap, and Brian Francis Slattery)
      • Episode 4: "A Sorcerer's Apprentice" (2015)
      • Episode 8: "Under My Skin" (2015)
      • Episode 11: "Shore Leave" (2015)
      • Episode 13: "Keeping Friends Close" (2015)

Anthologies

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  • Voices: New Media Fiction (editor; 2006, Podiobooks.com)

Non-fiction and essays

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RPGs

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Magazines

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References

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  1. ^ G.D. Gearino (March 22, 2005). "Podcasting takes off". The News & Observer. p. E1. Archived from the original on April 5, 2005.
  2. ^ "Mothership Zeta Hiatus After Issue 6". 19 October 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Hutton, Christopher (June 19, 2015). "Hall of Famers: Meet the Men and Women Who Changed Podcasting". Paste. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2017. She discovered podcasting in 2004 after hearing shows likes like Adam Curry's Source Code and loved how it opened up new opportunities for self-expression In 2005, Lafferty started her own podcast, titled Geek Fu Action Grip, where she expressed her love of geeky things in essay form. The podcast eventually evolved into a platform for Lafferty to share her books in serial format. Lafferty also joined the geek-centric podcast "Wingin It" as a contributor. Geek Fu Action Grip ended in 2007 after 103 episodes. Lafferty went on to write more books, as well as start her current podcast "I Should Be Writing", a show dedicated to exploring and practicing the writing craft. Lafferty was also the editor of EscapePod, a speculative fiction podcast for two years, as well as a cofounder of the Parsec Awards, a DragonCon-centric award show that's focused on science fiction podcasting.
  4. ^ "Escape Pod Metacast 5". 7 May 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  5. ^ "News- changes at Escape Pod- blog, reviews, text, and rate increase!". 4 October 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  6. ^ "The Shambling Guide to New York City". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  7. ^ "Top Ten Savvy Women in Podcasting for 2006 Final List". Archived from the original on November 11, 2007.
  8. ^ Elise Ackerman (November 23, 2006). "Podcasts beginning to reach non-geeks". San Jose Mercury News. p. BU1.
  9. ^ "2007 Parsec Awards Winners & Finalists". Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  10. ^ "2008 Parsec Awards Winners & Finalists". Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  11. ^ "2010 Parsec Awards Winners & Finalists". Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  12. ^ "2011 Parsec Awards Winners & Finalists". Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  13. ^ "2012 Hugo Awards". 7 April 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  14. ^ "2013 Hugo Awards". 22 December 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  15. ^ "Mur Lafferty - The Ghost Train to New Orleans cover art reveal". Upcoming4.me. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  16. ^ a b "Scribl". Scribl.
  17. ^ "Scribl - Heaven - Season Three: Earth (#1) by Mur Lafferty". Scribl.
  18. ^ "Scribl - Heaven Season Four: Wasteland (#1) by Mur Lafferty". Scribl.
  19. ^ "Scribl - Heaven - Season Five: War (#1) by Mur Lafferty". Scribl.
  20. ^ "EP061: I Look Forward To Remembering You". Escape Pod. July 6, 2006.
  21. ^ Brazil, Nathan. "The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities: A review". Sfsite. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
  22. ^ "Daily Science Fiction :: PRODUCE 1:1-10 by Mur Lafferty". dailysciencefiction.com.
  23. ^ "FAQ". Mothership Zeta. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
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