We seem to be publishing a lot of Andrew Jensen’s stories lately, so this seemed like an opportune time to catch up with him. We have been following Andrew since his stories first began to show up in our slush pile in 2018, and all we can say is, Don’t let that soft and fuzzy Ned Flanders-style exterior fool you! He may look like he’s mostly harmless, but underneath that mild Canadian surface there lurks a writer with a seriously snarky sense of humor and a wonderfully clever way of playing with words.
Andrew’s standard author’s bio reads as follows:
Andrew Jensen has moved to New Brunswick with his family and too many dogs and cats. He has retired from the ministry, but of course, clergy never really retire. His stories have appeared in Canada, the USA, New Zealand, and the UK. This past summer, his work appeared in both Amazing Stories and James Gunn’s Ad Astra.We like to dig a little deeper, though, so let’s get right to the Q&A.
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SS: What is the first SF/F book or story you remember reading?
AJ: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was probably the first book, although a short story called “The Phantom Tollbooth” also sticks in my mind. I loved the ways they transported me into other worlds.
SS: Who do you consider to be your most significant influence?
AJ: It’s a split: Jonathan Swift is a life-long influence, but Terry Pratchett is my favourite author. I enjoy irony, but I’m moving in a gentler direction now.
SS: When you write a new story, are you a plotter or a pantser?
AJ: Definitely a pantser. I never know what’s going to happen, except in the broadest strokes. I am working up the discipline to plot better.
SS: If you could change one thing about the way you write, what would it be?
AJ: See the Plotter/Pantser question!
SS: What is your favorite time of day to write?
AJ: I am a morning writer, although I’ll grab whatever time becomes available. Some of my best stuff has happened at night, after everyone else has gone to bed.
SS: What is your favorite place to write?
AJ: The dining room table, on my laptop. Lots of space for snacks.
SS: What is your favorite beverage to drink while writing?
AJ: Orange Pekoe tea, usually Tetley’s. The gnome morris dancers are inspiring, too.
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Recommended Stories by Andrew Jensen
The elves’ latest plan to overthrow and conquer humanity was flawless and foolproof. All it required was the active cooperation of a large number of cats…
There was a community uproar when the Golden Sandworm closed its doors… well, for a given value of ‘community.’ The guy with the bat’leth seemed pretty upset, but one mention of the police calmed him right down…
25 years ago, the Moon disappeared. Really, is there anything more boring than commemorating something that happened to your parents? What can we do to make this interesting?
For some, the disappearance of the Moon was a prayer answered. For others, it was a heartache that would never go away.
Even in the far future, even on strange new worlds, some people will still find their worlds just a little too small and dull, and dream of one day leaving it all behind and running away to somewhere else that’s fun and exciting.
STUPEFYING STORIES 24, by the way, is free to read on Kindle Unlimited. Check it out!
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