I have been interviewed by Julia Kalman for the New Literary Society journal. The interview is published on Medium.
Dear Readers,
We’re honored to introduce you to Stuart Aken — a writer whose creative life is shaped by justice, memory, and the quiet discipline of a man who lives every scene he writes. His work spans worlds: from the cliffside childhood that sharpened his sense of wonder, to the lifelong fight against injustice that pulses beneath his stories. Whether exploring the fragile future of our planet, the dangers of myth‑driven belief, or the intimate emotional truths of his characters, Stuart writes with a rare blend of conscience, imagination, and lived experience. Through science fiction, epic fantasy, photography, and the silent rituals of his craft, he invites us into the spaces where storytelling becomes both witness and warning — and where the human spirit insists on fairness, empathy, and meaning.
Note: This story is free to read to help it reach more people.
Personal Motto:
No New Year’s Resolutions. That way, I can never break them.
1. The First Door
What was the precise moment when writing first claimed you?
SA: Difficult, partly because it was decades ago, and partly because it was gradual rather than an instantaneous event. My English teacher let me know she thought I had a talent for storytelling when I was about 14. In that same year, I entered a small writing contest aimed at all the kids in the same school year at my school. My story won the award. But at that time, I was unaware that someone from my background might become a writer.
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Stuart Aken 
Great interview Stuart! Living each scene reminds me of the eighties movie with Tom Selleck, “Her Alibi”. He wrote the book living each scene through another’s life. Great way to look at writing!
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Thank you, Spookster. I’m not familiar with the film, but, obviously, I commend the method!
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An interesting interview, Stuart. I rarely remember my dreams, also.
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Thank you, Lynette. I’ve considered dreams to be the human equivalent of computer defragging for quite a while now, simply because of the nature of dreams. Never seen them as significant or prophetic, so never made an effort to recall them on waking.
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