Hi, my name’s Tansy Rayner Roberts. I’m an award-winning writer based in southern Tasmania, Australia, and I’m one of the three voices of the Galactic Suburbia podcast.

I’m now also writing crime fiction under the name Livia Day, and my first release A Trifle Dead will be out early in 2013.

I was first published at the age of 20 back in 1998 with a comic fantasy novel called Splashdance Silver, which won the inaugural George Turner Prize. Since then I’ve written for several different genres and audiences, taught creative writing, acquired a PhD in classics (my special subject is Wicked Imperial women of Ancient Rome!), and embarked upon the journey of raising two daughters with my lovely partner.

My recent book releases include The Creature Court (Harper Voyager) featuring flappers, shape-changers and bloodthirsty court politics. It tells the story of Velody, a dressmaker who discovers a hidden war being played out in the night sky of the city of Aufleur, and of Ashiol, the exiled Ducomte who would do anything to avoid ruling the people who cast him out. Book One, Power and Majesty, won the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel and Ditmar for Best Novel in 2011. Book Two, The Shattered City, was released in 2011, and Book Three, Reign of Beasts, in February 2012.

I’m also the author of Love and Romanpunk, a boutique collection of short stories about Caesars, lamia, airships, eternal warriors, and werewolves. But mostly Romans.

I wrote the Siren Beat half of Siren Beat/Roadkill, a pair of urban fantasy novelettes published as a Double (two covers, back to back!) by Twelfth Planet Press, an awesome Aussie indie publisher. The Roadkill half was written by World Fantasy winner and all around awesome Doctor Who writer Robert Shearman. My story features leather trousers, tentacles and a sexy sea pony. Also I stage a Kraken invasion of Hobart, Tasmania – after all, someone had to! You can purchase Siren Beat/Roadkill here or Siren Beat on its own as an e-book here. Siren Beat won the WSFA Small Press Short Story Award, and was shortlisted for the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Short Story and Ditmar Award for Best Novella/Novelette.

Currently, I’m working on a novel about Nancy Napoleon, the heroine of Siren Beat, because bringing monsters and magical mayhem to the streets of Hobart is too much fun to resist! I’m also starting a new fantasy series that mashes Shakespeare with tropical islands and necromancy. And a children’s novel about superheroes on the moon. And – and – and…

I am a member of the writing group ROR and occasionally post at our shared blog Ripping Ozzie Reads. I write book reviews at Australian SpecFic in Focus (ASif!) and recommend the best short stories of the year at “Not if You Were the Last Short Story on Earth.

Come and find me on Twitter! Or email me at creaturecourt (at) gmail (dot) com.

I’m on Tumblr twice, as Pendlerook Designs (mostly posting pics of Deepings Dolls, costume dramas, and Downton Abbey gifs) and on my own behalf at Tabitha Darling’s Bedroom Floor (mostly posting about frocks, superheroines, and Doctor Who). I’m also flirting with Pinterest because, well, Pinterest.

Galactic Suburbia is a crunchy feminist podcast about science fiction reviews, publishing news and chat. Check out our episodes over here.