Lavie Tidhar is the World Fantasy Award-winning author of Osama, of The Bookman Histories trilogy and many other works. He also won the British Fantasy Award for Best Novella, for Gorel & The Pot-Bellied God, and was nominated variously for a BSFA, Campbell, Sturgeon and Sidewise awards. He grew up on a kibbutz in Israel and in South Africa but currently resides
in London. His new novels, Martian Sands and The Violent Centuries, are both out in 2013. Lavie’s story “Fishing” was published in Issue #17.

Tell us how “Fishing” came about.
It’s set in Vientiane, in Laos, where I lived for two years. That Dam (the Black Stupa) is also where Joe, the detective, has his office in my novel, Osama. It all comes from day-to-day experiences, just filtered through a slightly weird lens.

How did you celebrate your first fiction sale?
I never know when to celebrate – is it when you find out, or when you get paid, or when it’s actually published? So I always miss out. I probably went home and wrote another story!

What is currently in your cd player/iTunes/Spotify/8 Track?
I don’t have any of these! I listen to the radio, so whatever comes on. Usually more of a rock station in the daytime and a more mellow station when writing at night.

What is your favorite Bradbury story/novel?
You got me – I’m not actually a big Bradbury fan! I did like the Martian Chronicles though.