Manda Benson, West Midlands author

So why write science fiction? As I sometimes get asked, why not write something that there's a bigger market for, like fantasy?

I used to be a research scientist and over the years I've taught science to secondary school students and undergraduates in various ways. To me, science is what makes the world go round. The fascination took hold when I first saw a photograph of something in the night sky, as a child. It amazed me that these things were out there, too vast and too distant to fathom. Science is the key to the future, and I can't think of anything more worthy of writing about.

Science fiction can be about real science. I lost interest in fantasy a very long time ago, in favour of science. Science is something real, that anyone can see and touch. Magic is something esoteric that only privileged wizards living in towers can practice. I think anyone can get something from science, if it's presented to them in the way that's right for them. There's no better feeling than explaining things to people and seeing that expression of understanding suddenly flash onto their faces!

I guess the second question is why write romance? Dark Tempest is a science-fiction romance, and I'm currently writing a book that's a crime romance, and not science fiction at all. I guess I don't really have an answer to this. I didn't set out to write romance, and that might be the best angle to come at it from. Romance doesn't need to be cliché'd and saccharine, it just needs to tackle a universal theme that's been around probably since well before humans evolved.

As for who I am, I'm one of those overqualified and unemployable victims of the recession. Things I like doing that I can't afford include gardening, motoring, and flying aeroplanes. Have a poke around my series titles and the Writing section on the menu on the left to see my published works and what I'm currently working on and trying to flog. If you're not familiar with my work, please have a read of HyperGolf from the link on the menu on the left -- it's completely free and it's the first illustrated episodic novella on the Internet!

About Mark, The Webmaster.

Well, I guess the first thing to mention is which part of the UK I'm from... Drum roll please... Yes you guessed it, the Midlands. Manda also refers to me as "The Brummie". I keep telling her I'm not from Birmingham, But Tamworth.

I've been doing small amounts of programming here and there since about the age of 8 when I first started using Microsoft Frontpage (shudder). Things are different now though, I've moved away from the evil that is Frontpage and I'm now using the good ol' Crimson Editor & Paint.Net.

I spend most of my time visiting the well-known internet forum over at Digital Spy. I also play a lot of World Of Warcraft, I wouldn't say I was addicted to it but people say otherwise.. Let's just say I'm your average computer 'Geek'. :P