Mur Lafferty

Guide Note

American nonfiction and science fiction author Mur Lafferty branched out into podcasting in 2004 after a number of her essays were not of interest to traditional media outlets. As a self-professed geek, her first podcast, "Geek Fu Action Grip," contained original essays about the geek lifestyle, as well as essays and thoughts on other aspects of life. This podcast eventually became the current Geek Fu Morning Show, which she hosts with Jason Adams.

Lafferty's next podcasting project was I Should Be Writing, which focused on her efforts to become a science fiction writer. She directed this towards others who wanted to write, with the intent of offering inspiration and encouragement.

She has published her novels via audio and PDF podcast in addition to print, selling directly to the public rather than going through traditional publishing outlets. In 2006, Amazon.com named her Tricks of the Podcasting Masters one of the top five reference books of the year, and in 2007 she won the Parsec Award for Best Writing Podcast. She currently lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her husband and daughter.

Fast Facts

1. Born: July 25, 1973
2. B.A. in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
3. Freelance writer
4. Podcaster
5. Co-wrote: Tricks of the Podcasting Masters
6. Podcaster of: I Should Be Writing
7. Podcast novel: Playing for Keeps
8. Author: Heaven series
9. Author: Lessons from a Geek Fu Master

Quotes

1. "If you have a voice and have something you want heard, then it is now easier to release your content, release your thoughts, than ever before; tomorrow will be even easier."
2. "I have gotten so big I am a space station. Rar."
3. "I'm a big comic book and gaming and computer gaming all-sorts-of-geek, and I'd written a couple of essays about it. NPR doesn't really want to buy those kinds of essays."