Micro-interview with Laura Gregory

Micro-interview with Laura Gregory, author of “Nightingale’s Lament” in the Noir Fire anthology.

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TFF: What does “Nightingale’s Lament” mean to you?

Laura Gregory: Noir with a speculative twist gave me the freedom to re-examine expectations—why do we impose gender norms on mythological creatures? What if my femme fatale was nonbinary? How does that interact in a noir genre that traditionally leans a bit misogynistic? It was very meaningful to create an inclusive story in this new mashed up noir world.

TFF: Other than Noir and SF, what two (or more) genres would you like to see smashed together in a future anthology?

LG: Steampunk and Crime. I always enjoy the steampunk aesthetic and crime allows you to examine the spaces where society has failed its people.

TFF: What are you working on next?

LG: A portal fantasy novel full of nostalgic escapism and sarcastic unicorns.

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You can find purchase links and more information about the Noir Fire anthology at http://press.futurefire.net/p/noir-fire.html

New Issue: 2022.61

“With a genre like film noir, everyone has these assumptions and expectations. And once all of those things are in place, that's when you can really start to twist it about and mess around with it.”

—Lana Wachowski

Issue 2022.61: TFF Noir

Short stories

• ‘Nightingale’s Lament’, Laura Gregory
• ‘A Prayer to St Jude’, M. Bennardo
• “The Fox and the Snake’, Timothy Yeo
• ‘Salt and Smoke’, Storm Blakley

Novelettes

• ‘avenging the sorrow’, Lam Ning

Cover art by Saleha Chowdhury

Guest editorial by Valeria Vitale