Indie Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for September 12, 2014

Here is our weekly round-up of interesting links about indie speculative fiction from around the web:

Speculative fiction in general:

• At SFF World, Kameron Hurley discusses the problem of overly narrow genre categories.
• At the SFR Brigade, Heather Massey wonders why writers of science fiction romance seem to have such a problem recommending other science fiction romances.
• Eric Brown attempts to define the appeal of Steampunk.
• The Skiffy and Fanty Show offers an incomplete World SF reading list.
• Natalie Luhrs points out that lists of upcoming speculative fiction books often skew heavily towards male authors, while whole subgenre are neglected. 
• C.P.D. Harris explains why Jack the Ripper would make a great fantasy villain.

Writing and marketing:

• At The Atlantic, Stephen King talks about how he teaches writing. 
• Chuck Wendig explains why you should write what you love.
• At Write Publish Now! Neal Martin talks about finding your true writing voice.  
• Steampunk writer S.C. Green gives an insight into her writing process (with bonus cat pictures).
• J. Drew Brumbaugh talks about writing his novel War Party. 
• Jamie Maltman talks about his character Elysia. 
• Horror author Rick Gualtieri explains author sales milestones as told by a D&D gamer. 
• Dave Farland shares his five commandments for (indie) authors.
• Matthew Kadish discusses Facebook marketing for authors.
• At the Author Zone, Kas Thomas discusses Twitter analytics and whether Twitter can help you sell books.

Interviews:

• Karissa Chen interviews Hugo award winning fantasy writer and translator Ken Liu.
• Stacy Claflin interviews Kevin Tumlinson.
• K.J. Bryen interviews fantasy writer Michael La Ronn.
• Judy Goodwin interviews fantasy writer Brad McDowell. 
• Judy Goodwin also interview Steampunk writer S.B. James.
• The To Be Read podcast, hosted by Patrick Stemp, Michael La Ronn and Jamie Maltman, always features great interviews with indie authors.
  

Book and movie reviews:

• Elena Linville reviews Whispers Underground by Ben Aaronovitch.
• Michael Patrick Hicks reviews Beautiful You by Chuck Palahniuk.
• At Black Gate, Donald Crankshaw reviews Malarat by Jessica Rydill.
• Heidi Garrett reviews Eleanor by Jason Gurley.
  

Science: 

• DNA evidence may have unmasked Jack the Ripper after 126 years.
• A 24-year-old woman in China was found to have been born without a cerebellum.