Arendse Lund makes her debut in Analog with her short story “The Emergency Contact” in our [March/April issue, on sale now!]. She spoke with us about her work, her love for Diana Wynne Jones’ catalogue, and the surprisingly wide appeal of fecal facts.
Analog Editor: What is the story behind this piece?
Arendse Lund: Has anyone ever given you directions based on local landmarks? “Take a left where the Safeway used to be.” “Go right after the old tree. The one the town almost cut down.” Similarly, in Seattle we have road signs that say “No Parking North of Here” but I’ll be surrounded by trees and have no idea where the sun’s coming from. These are perfect directions if you already know the reference point. Otherwise…not so easy. However, in a story about a small town, my character should be able to rely on the local emergency service to know where her house is, and the fact that she can’t opens up the situation to frustration (for her) and humor (for the reader).
AE: How did this story germinate? Was there a spark of inspiration, or did it come to you slowly?
AL: Although it took me ages to write the story, the idea had swirled around in my brain for a while. When I was little, we had an ancient landline on the wall, and every now and then, I’d pick up the phone and I could hear my neighbor’s conversations. I have no idea why that happened. (I still don’t.) But I’ve never forgotten it and the idea of those crossed wires has stayed with me. Who’s to say that I couldn’t have eavesdropped on aliens another time? So perhaps I find Mabel’s dial-mix-up more likely that I should admit!
AE: Are there any themes that you find yourself returning to throughout your writing? If yes, what and why?
AL: I’m finding myself increasingly interested in hope, both in how we express hope and how we value connections with others. Even in darker stories, there are little glimmers of fireflies, and how we react to those and strive to protect them is telling.
AE: Who or what are your greatest influences and inspirations?
AL: As a kid, I absolutely devoured everything Diana Wynne Jones wrote. I loved her Chrestomanci series; I loved Howl’s Moving Castle; I loved — okay, I loved everything she wrote. But every few years, I find myself curled in a chair rereading Dogsbody. The book found me at just the right time, moved into my heart, and, thank goodness, it’s never left. I’ve had several copies by this point. My favorite of which is the battered copy I lent a neighbor, which was then gnawed on by her dog and returned, tooth marks and all.
I’m finding myself increasingly interested in hope, both in how we express hope and how we value connections with others. Even in darker stories, there are little glimmers of fireflies, and how we react to those and strive to protect them is telling.
AE: What are you reading right now?
AL: I’m currently working my way through T. Kingfisher’s Saint of Steel series and loving every single appearance of the gnoles. I’m definitely a sucker for dialogue filled with sass, side eye, and backtalk, especially when it’s directed at silly humans who don’t even know how to smell!
AE: What is something we should know about you that we haven’t thought to ask?
AL: I wrote my PhD dissertation on medieval law, which meant that I spent a lot of time (and still do) with medieval manuscripts. Manuscripts are fascinating objects because they’re done on animal hides and can look as good today as when they were written over a millennium ago. In that regard, they have much more lasting power than paperback books, which often yellow and fade with the years.
AE: What careers have you had and how do they affect your writing?
AL: While doing my PhD, I worked in a series of museums doing public engagement. One of my favourites was the Grant Museum of Zoology, where I would get asked all sorts of interesting questions by kids. Adults would ask good questions too, but kids have no reservations asking exactly what it is that interests them — this usually involves how animals poop.
I was not an expert in fecal facts at the time, and so ended up on many research deep dives. I still wouldn’t consider myself an expert, but I definitely know a whole lot more now! I’ve written on how snakes poop, whether fish pee, and why wombat poop is square. (I ended up winning a science journalism award for that last one, which goes to show that adults appreciate the subject too!) The whole experience taught me more about science communication than I could have ever imagined.
AE: Congratulations on this being your first professional publication! What’s next?
AL: Thank you! I enjoyed writing a piece full of hope for first encounters and how easy it is to extend a helping hand/claw/tentacle to others in need. For people who want to read something darker, I have a piece coming out in British Fantasy Society later this year, and a story about a criminal hard at work in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.
AE: How can our readers follow you and your writing?
AL: The easiest way is via my website, www.arend.se, though I also have a Bluesky account: @arendse.bsky.social.
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