When you're writing a guide to subgenres, you inevitably end up becoming an expert on the weirdest things. Enter: Val Nolan, who's joining our search party to share what he learned about the medical professionals who investigate Near Death Experiences while writing the latest (and final) edition of the Spec Fic for Newbies trilogy.

Follow the white light and meet Val ⬇️

#horror #fantasy #scifi #occult #neardeathexperiences #writers #writing #fiction #creativity #creativetoots #specfic

Val Nolan is a Research Fellow at Aberystwyth University. He is co-author of the BSFA/BFA shortlisted and Locus recommended writing guide trilogy Spec for Newbies: A Beginner’s Guide to Writing the Subgenres of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror (Luna Press, 2023-2026) and author of a monograph about the filmmaker and novelist Neil Jordan (Neil Jordan: Works for the Page, Cork University Press, 2022). 🧵⬇️

He has published peer-reviewed articles in Science Fiction Studies, Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics, Irish University Review, Foundation, and elsewhere. He reviews books for the Irish Times, has written for Reactor, and contributes a regular column to Interzone looking at the history of SFF criticism.

Tickets for Writing the Occult: Seekers are now on sale, with more speaker announcements to come.

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