Q&A with Sim Kern
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"Wizards in Space gave me the confidence to believe that I don’t have to compromise who I am in order to publish my work."
Sim Kern is a speculative fiction writer whose piece "Tadpoles" appears in Issue 04. This piece and Sim's publishing journey are a powerful example of why we do what we do. Beyond that, Sim writes stunning and moving stories and essays, and we could not have been more proud and honored to provide a safe and inclusive home to their work.
You had trouble finding the right venue for this piece. Can you tell us a little about that process?
My short story “Tadpoles” had initially been accepted to another literary magazine, but when I sent that editor my bio, she objected to printing it using my “they/them” pronouns. We emailed back and forth a few times, with me trying to explain my nonbinary identity, but she was unwilling to change her stance, so I pulled the piece. I posted the screenshots of our exchange on Twitter, and thankfully the writing community rallied to support me! A couple different literary magazines reached out, encouraging me to submit and assuring me they were nonbinary-inclusive spaces, and one of those was Wizards in Space.
What made you decide to submit Tadpoles to Wizards in Space? What drew you to the magazine?
After they reached out, I read some of the stories on the website and was so impressed with the quality. After reading a full issue, it’s clear that WiS makes a proactive effort to include and promote diverse voices. And honestly, I also just love the aesthetics of WiS. The website and the cover designs for the magazines are gorgeous!
What impact did working with Wizards in Space have on you?
"Tadpoles” was only my second-ever publication, so when that editor made me choose between seeing it in print or denying my identity, I was absolutely gutted. The fact that WiS sought me out and encouraged me to submit at that moment gave me the confidence to keep going, to believe that I don’t have to compromise who I am in order to publish my work.
What kind of work would you like to see Wizards in Space publish in the future?
I think they should keep on keeping on with actively seeking out excellent speculative fiction by underrepresented voices. I am a bit addicted to spec fic podcasts, so I would selfishly love for them to someday be able to offer their stories in that format.
What are you working on these days?
Lots! I recently signed with an agent, Kerstin Wolf of the D4EO agency, for my YA novel Sand and Swarm. Right now I’m working on revising the manuscript with her, and will hopefully go on sub sometime next spring. I also recently completed drafting an adult novella, Ibbur or Dybbuk in Dallas, which is about Jewish ghosts and transmasc feels, set at the moment the climate crisis becomes unavoidable. So I’m also hoping to finish revisions on that soon-ish and publish sometime in 2020.
Follow Sim Kern on twitter and check out their website. You can support us in our efforts to create more inclusive publishing spaces during our crowdfund now.