Author of “And Her Bones Made the Hills” in our [July/August edition], Mel Hubahib Loja joins us for a brief Q&A where he discusses his influences and inspirations, and his approach to writing.
Analog Editor: How did this story germinate? Was there a spark of inspiration, or did it come to you slowly?
Mel Hubahib Loja: This story was initially submitted to Apex magazine as part of their monthly flash fiction competition. The theme of the competition was “A hopeful sacrifice”. Naturally when I heard the word “sacrifice” I thought immediately of my mother, who has slaved away for decades in the hope that I won’t wind up a totally useless bum. So of course, the story had to be about motherhood, and the genetic predisposition all mammalian mothers have to protect their offspring even at the cost of their own lives.
AE: How did the title for this piece come to you?
MHL: In my mind’s eye I saw an image of a titanic mother goddess lying down in some quiet harbor and giving herself to the waves. In time the body wore away to reveal the bones beneath.
AE: Is this piece part of a greater universe of stories?
MHL: Yes. I am working on something at the moment, and this story holds the seed of its creation.
AE: What is your history with Analog?
MHL: I have another story, “Every Shape of Me”, which slated for release in Analog sometime in 2026. “And Her Bones Made the Hills” is the first story of mine that has ever been accepted for publication.
AE: Who or what are your greatest influences and inspirations?
MHL: My greatest inspiration is my mother, who never stopped believing in me. My greatest literary inspiration is probably John Steinbeck, who taught me the origin and inherent value of empathy.
AE: What is your process?
MHL: Edgar Allan Poe calls it the singular effect, but I call it the Seed. It is the emotional or narrative core of the story often contained within the climactic scene. It is the gist, the tldr, the crux, the punchline of the joke. I don’t always know what the Seed of the story is when I set out to write it, but once I recognize what the Seed is then the work comes easily and is a joy to write. Otherwise, it is a giant pain in the neck to hammer out.
I often realize the Seed first and then construct the entire story, plot and setting around it. I cannot work on a story without actively typing or writing it out by hand, and so much of my work is spontaneous. But in the end it is always done with a single goal in mind: to realize the Seed.
AE: How do you deal with writers’ block?
MHL: Writer’s block is the mind’s natural response to a crucial insufficiency. When you hit writer’s block it usually means that you lack a certain something that is necessary to finish the work. It could be that you lack a proper night’s sleep, or that you fundamentally misunderstand a philosophical or scientific concept that is central to your story, or that you have chosen the wrong tense, perspective or literary device to tell your story.
When I hit writer’s block I work in short spurts and take frequent breaks. I do some research and try to identify the crucial insufficiency that is hampering my progress. Then I attack the problem from a different angle. Most of the time, however, I just sit there and suffer.
AE: If you could choose one SFnal universe to live in, what universe would it be, and why?
MHL: Vernor Vinge’s Zones of Thought. The aliens in that universe are fundamentally different from us and yet are willing to establish a multicultural and tolerant community that loves nothing better than to talk smack through the intergalactic equivalent of the Internet. There’s something so charming about that setup.
AE: What are you reading right now?
MHL: Classical and Golden Age science fiction: Jules Verne, H.G. Wells and Asimov.
AE: Do you have any advice for up-and-coming writers?
MHL: Write concisely, be efficient with your wordcount. Get to the point! When it comes to science fiction, the core idea of the story is the principal consideration compared to which all others are secondary. You are here to sell a story, not impress everyone with your vocabulary and flowery sentences (though there is always a place for good prose)
AE: How can our readers follow you and your writing? (IE: Social media handles, website URL…)
MHL: You can reach me at melherberthloja@gmail.com.
The Astounding Analog Companion 