Get ready to eavesdrop on my lunch with science fiction writer Annalee Flower Horne — seen below about to start sipping a root beer float. Their short fiction has appeared in Fireside Quarterly, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Mothership Zeta, and the Futurescapes Anthology, where they took first place in the inaugural Futurescapes Writing Contest. They also co-edit the feminist geek culture blog The Bias with Natalie Luhrs. In addition, the two of us have a tradition of riding a ferris wheel each year during the Baltimore Book Festival, about which you’ll hear us joking at the start of our meal.

At Annalee’s suggestion, we met at Mark’s Kitchen, which has been serving customers in Old Town Takoma Park since 1990. It had a comfortable family feel, and an extensive menu, one which seemed suitable for all tastes and dietary sensitivities.

We discussed the incident at their first con which was a catalyst for wanting to become a writer, the way a glare from Mary Robinette Kowal caused them to submit — and then sell — their first short story, how the intricacies of game design can teach fiction writers to write better, why writers shouldn’t complain when editors reject stories too quickly, the first story they wrote while angry (and what was learned from the experience), the cuss word they wish they’d thought of in time to get into their first published story, the novel-in-progress that’s a feminist take on The Demolished Man, how codes of conduct can (and should) help make fandom better, and much more.

Here’s how you can eavesdrop on our conversation at Mark’s Kitchen —

1) Subscribe at the iTunes store — where I hope you’ll be tempted to download some of the 93 previous episodes.

2) Listen using the RSS feed of http://eatingthefantastic.libsyn.com/rss on the device of your choice.

3) Or check it out via the embed below.

Here’s what we shared as we spoke —

Mung Bean Pancakes
mung beans, spinach, spring onions, red pepper and cabbage

Gluten-Free Avocado and Cream Cheese Sandwich

Korean Short Ribs
beef ribs with broccoli, bean sprouts, carrots, and fried rice

Blueberry Pie
with vanilla ice cream

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I hope you’ll come back in two weeks when my guest will be Kaaron Warren, who was one of my co-Guests of Honor at the recent World Fantasy Covnention in Baltimore, and whose most recent novel, Tide of Stone, is currently a finalist for the Ditmar Award Please join us!