Dissecting Tom Prentice
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tom Prentice writes short horror and science fiction. His work has been featured by Amazing Stories, Scare Street, and Sci-Fi Shorts, among others. Originally from Worcestershire, UK, Tom now resides in Dublin, Ireland, where he works in the tech industry. He is happily married with one unruly dog.
Tell us about yourself. When did your passion for reading and writing start?
Growing up, our house was stocked with books of every genre, so reading was the natural thing to do. When I was around 10 years of age, my mother had a romance novel published which left a lasting impression and planted the idea that I might one day do the same. However, I didn't get into writing until about a decade ago, after I’d finished a master’s degree and had some time on my hands. So I wrote the one short story idea that had been buzzing around my brain, which I’d eventually publish in 2020. By the time I'd finished writing it, three more ideas had already taken its place, and I haven't stopped writing since then.
What drew you to your preferred writing genres?
I think I’m drawn to the speculative because it introduces a sense of wonder and possibility, even if the consequences presented are often unsettling or downright horrific. Growing up, we had very little restriction on the media we consumed, so I became quite horror-literate from a young age. I’ve also always been attracted to the big ideas in science fiction. So the combination of those two is the sweet spot for me.
How do you come up with character names for your stories?
Like any other writer, I’ve been guilty of remixing the names of people I know. But there’s always the risk of subconsciously over-indexing on anglo-centric names. One method I wholeheartedly recommend is browsing the end credits of films. They are likely to be more diverse and better represent the melting pot of the real world and a realistic future.
What are your favourite blogs or websites for writers?
There’s a big monthly market list put out by Published to Death which is pretty indispensable for finding submission opportunities. The Submission Grinder is also a great way to browse markets you might not have been aware of before. There are some podcasts I listen to for theory-type content like Mythcreants, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, Writing Excuses. The Q&A podcast is focused on screenwriting but still valuable.
Do you have a furry friend writing assistant ie dog, cat, bird, Hellhound, and how do they help you achieve your writing goals?
Cookie the dog is my reliable, furry collaborator. I’ve rewarded him by making him the star of his own story which I’ve yet to place anywhere. But I’m confident I will.
What’s brewing? What are your next big writing goals?
Big Brains takes me from short stories into the realm of the novelette. My goals from now on are to publish longer pieces and, one day, make the leap to my first novel. I’ve also been toying with the idea of expanding Big Brains into a series.
ABOUT THE BOOK
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What’s brewing? What are your next big writing goals?
When the Alien: 40th Anniversary short films came out in 2019, I started thinking about what I would have done if I were to write one myself, just as an exercise. I came up with the central conundrum of Big Brains where Nosa has to leap from one shuttle to another to save her neck, except there’s a violent alien creature floating in the space between. I thought that was an interesting situation, so I expanded it into my own thing.
Did you plot or pants this story, and would you change your process if you had to start again?
I pantsed it all the way through and eventually everything clicked into place. As I start to write longer and longer pieces, plotting will become more necessary, but it will still be important to leave some room for discovery. I would change how much time and detail I originally put into the first third of the story (she spent a lot more time looking for that spacesuit!), which I eventually dropped for pacing anyway. If I had plotted it out beforehand it would have been clear from the get-go how much tighter it needed to be.
How much research did you need to do for this story?
“Need” is a strong word. I did a lot of reading about fusion reactors, radiation, spacesuits, and nautical procedures, and looked at a lot of star charts. Most of that detail ends up on the cutting room floor because exposition is a real show-stopper, though some of it remains. It’s all part of shaping the story’s logic so it's still valuable, even when it's not explicitly mentioned.
How much did the story change from first draft to publication?
I dropped a lot of meandering problem-solving from the first act to get the story moving. Similarly, I really tightened up the end which I won’t spoil by talking about it. Originally, pieces of Nosa’s backstory were peppered throughout, which, just like the various bits of exposition I excised, were useful for my process but didn’t need to be spelled out for the reader. The rest was mainly about tightening the prose itself, and seeing how it can reinforce the themes.
What elements (if any) from your real life ended up in this story?
There’s a strong theme of imposter syndrome running through Big Brains which I think a lot of people can relate to. Nosa has had to start on a lower rung of the ladder than everyone else around her, but that doesn’t mean she has to stay there.
How did you come up with the title?
I can’t remember which came first: Nosa telling herself ‘Big brain time!’ or the decision to make the antagonists giant mutated brains. But once that was settled the title wrote itself.
What’s your favourite scene? Why?
Nosa’s zero-g fight with Physnic and what happens after. It’s a fast-paced, good news / bad news scenario that has some great surprises packed in there. I think it delivers some real thrills.
Is there a particular message that you hope readers will take from the story?
As I’ve alluded to—you’re capable of more than you know. But you won’t find out without a challenge.
THE STITCH UP
How do you celebrate when you finish a story?
It’s never finished!
If you could ask any author a question, who and what would you ask?
I’d probably get Frank Herbert to give me the lowdown on where he was planning to take the Dune series.
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve used as a bookmark?
Another book.
What’s your all-time favourite book?
Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut. or Dune by Frank Herbert.
Hook me! Why should I read your story?
It’s the action-packed, skull-bursting space survival horror you never knew you needed.
Thanks for chatting with us, Tom! This interview is all stitched up.
Learn more about Tom Prentice in the links provided, and remember to add Big Brains to your TBR list.
Want more? Read all the Dissecting Author Interviews on the Black Hare Press website: blackharepress.com/