Shimmer #16, author interviews: Cate Gardner

Cate Gardner completely wooed me with cake and trauma in the most excellent “The Binding of Memories,” now in Shimmer#16!

Issue 16

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Tell us how the story came to be.

Opens skull, digs deep… As I am on a diet, I am constantly craving cake thus we have a cake aspect to the story, and balloons go so well with cake. In my opinion. Then I added some evil aunts, some almost as evil memory stealing men, an ill-treated niece and allowed them to take me on a journey.

How did you celebrate your first fiction sale?

I walked around the streets of Liverpool grinning madly and wanted to tell everyone I met. This was a very long time ago. I possibly also did a happy dance. I also grinned like an idiot when I finally made a sale to Shimmer. Some of you guys are aware of how much I wanted to have a story in your magazine.

What scares you?

Losing someone I love. Also, spiders. Everyone should fear spiders.

If you could invite one author, past or present, to tea, who would it be and what would you talk about? Would there be cake?

First off, of course there would be cake. What sort of question is that? I expect more from the editor of Shimmer. There would also be pie. In answer to your question, I’m torn. I’d like to invite Oscar Wilde so we could trade wit and fashion advice. But, I also want to invite my boyfriend, Simon Bestwick because I will steal any opportunity to have tea with him. We’d talk about airships. Can I have both boys?

What is your favorite Bradbury story/novel?

Fahrenheit 451. No contest. Although, I’m also fond of The Martian Chronicles.

What’s next for you?

I have a few short stories due to be published in various places and I’m working on a novel. I also want to gather all my notes for a middle-grade novel and begin writing that.

You can discover more about Cake Cate on her website!

3 thoughts on “Shimmer #16, author interviews: Cate Gardner”

  1. Yes! Cate’s writing is so strange and lovely. I think it must have that elusive shimmery aspect. I look forward to reading this story.

    Also I like the fact that cake is involved.

  2. I read this story three times now. I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m purchasing this issue of Shimmer for two of my reading buddies and making them read it. I liked the whole issue, but this is hands down one of the best short stories I have ever read. I too, have given up sweets and want nothing more but to indulge in some cake eating!

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