“Minu Freitag’s debut novel, The Fragments, the first book in The Spheres series … a highly recommended read that skilfully mixes science fiction, fantasy, and dystopian fiction.”
—SPR review
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Bio
{ – 100 words bio – }
Minu Freitag is a New Zealand-based artist and writer. Trained as an architect and multimedia producer, she has worn many heads in the creative industries, but found her creative home as a toymaker, illustrator and writer.
Minu is the author of the Spheres Series set in a post-apocalyptic future. Her visionary story telling invites the reader into a universe broken into alternate realities inhabited by unforgettable creatures. Her multidimensional characters and inventive concepts create an immersive and exciting new mix of science fiction, fantasy, and dystopian fiction.
She lives with her partner in an Edwardian cottage tucked away in the hills overlooking the Wellington Harbour, New Zealand.
{ – 150 words bio – }
Minu Freitag is a New Zealand-based artist and writer. Trained as an architect and multimedia producer, she has worn many heads in the creative industries, but found her creative home as a toymaker, illustrator and writer.
Minu is the author of the Spheres Series set in a post-apocalyptic future. Her visionary story telling invites the reader into a universe broken into alternate realities inhabited by unforgettable creatures. Her multidimensional characters and inventive concepts create an immersive and exciting new mix of science fiction, fantasy, and dystopian fiction.
The first book in the series, The Fragments, was published in 2022. The story will be continued in The House, to be published in 2023, and The Spheres, planned for 2024.
Minu lives with her partner in an Edwardian cottage tucked away in the hills overlooking the Wellington Harbour.
Recent Releases
Title: The Fragments, The Spheres – Book One
Author: Minu Freitag
Publication date: Dec 6, 2022
Publisher: Freitag Publishing
ISBN: ebook ASIN B0B4MR95WH (ebook, $4.20USD), print ISBN ISBN 978-0473659677 (paperback, $16.00USD)
Available in: ebook | paperback
Genre: Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Young Adult, New Adult
*USD excluding GST for a limited time only! Available on all regional Amazon sites, search for ASIN B0B4MR95WH or ISBN 978-0473659677!
Reviews
This bold introduction to a new series boasts starkly original characters, a thematically compelling plot, and a sprawling world design like few others in the contemporary fantasy genre, for a highly recommended read that skilfully mixes science fiction, fantasy, and dystopian fiction.”
Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★½
The concept of a multiverse is everywhere nowadays, but not like this. The Spheres is an incredibly unique concept of parallel worlds … the Fragments is a dark and scary place yet full of hope … the unique worlds and diverse characters make me look forward to the next book in this series. I definitely recommend this for a Sci-Fi TBR..”
Amazon Review ★★★★★
The Spheres Series
“A stunning new multiverse is brought to exquisite life in Minu Freitag’s debut novel, The Fragments, the first book in The Spheres series.”
Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★½
The Spheres Series follows the adventures of Easla, Tayl, Max, and Nell, who, as children, lost everything they ever knew and everybody who ever knew them.
Now coming of age, they find themselves entangled in an age-old conflict that has broken the parallel realities of the Spheres once before and threatens to do so again.
Frequently asked question
Q: What is the scariest thing about writing?
A: Everything. Words are scary. Sentences are scary. Paragraphs too. You are never good enough. Your work is never good enough. Your words, sentences and paragraphs are never good enough. You pour your soul out for everybody to see and nobody is interested. Everything about writing is scary … but giving your manuscript to somebody to read is terrifying. Really terrifying.
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Q: There are so many traditionally published books; why should I take a risk on a self-published one?
A: The same reason you pick up any book—you might just find the one book written for you and you alone. And you don’t need to take a risk as such. Download a sample and read the first few chapters to see if this is for you. Most eBook storefronts allow free samples, or you should be able to find them on the author’s website.
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Q: What are your favourite books and authors?
That depends on my mood. The authors that most influenced me as a child are Tove Jansson, Max Kruse and Michael Ende. As a young adult, John Irving, Salman Rushdie, and Gabriel García Márquez. Later, China Miéville, Neil Gaiman and William Gibson. Today, Martha Wells, Seanan McGuire and James S. A. Corey.
When it comes to books, I find it very hard to choose … His Dark Materials, American Gods, the City and the City, Embassy Town, All Systems Red, and so many more.
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Q: You are German*, right? Why do you write in English? *
A: Two reasons. By writing in English, I can improve my grasp of my adoptive language, and avoid the trap of thinking that being born into, and educated in, a language means you know how to write a book. Trust me; you don’t. Writing in English forced me to start at the beginning and to question everything I thought I knew about language and creative writing.
*) To paraphrase Arkady Martine, “That depend on how wide your definition of nationality is.” I was born and raised in Germany, but New Zealand is my home now :).
**) When people ask me that question—and they do!—my first thought is always—skies, is my English so bad!
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Q: So … will there be a German translation of The Fragments?
A: If there is ever a German translation, it won’t be me writing it … that does not mean that the translator will have an easy job with me looking over her shoulder.\_
Q: The recent paperback edition is in British English, will there be a US English one?
A: I like to think of it as a New Zealand English edition, but yes, it’s more or less British English. I have a vague idea of doing a US English edition, but I still need a date.
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Q: You decided to self-publish. Why?
A: There is no support in New Zealand for Speculative Fiction or Fantasy writers—unless you slip in some New Zealand related content, something I don’t feel comfortable with because of the sensitivities in New Zealand around cultural appropriation. Publishing traditionally would have meant finding an agent and a publishing house in Europe, something so unlikely to happen that self-publishing is the only option for me. I also find the book templates traditional publishing houses expect from Young or New Adult books too restrictive and, to be honest, slightly patronising.
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Q: Your Illustrations are stunning, but there are no people in them. Why?
A: Thank you. I tried but failed to draw my characters. The cast looked over my shoulders and screamed That is not how I / She / He / It looks! Nothing worked. It was either not edgy enough or just plain bad art. I haven’t given up, though!
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Q: The Spheres Series includes quite intellectual themes and ideas for a Young or New Adult audience?
A: Never underestimate younger readers. Ever.
A friend called the Fragments a book for people who “actually want to read”, and I agree that, in parts of the book, the reader is asked to pay attention. Asked, not coerced—somebody who is not interested in the deeper themes and motives will just read over those passages, whatever age they are.
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Q: Why bother with fantasy?
A: Good speculative fiction and fantasy stories spark the reader’s imagination, and what the world needs right now is imagination—without imagination, we are not really conscious beings.
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Q: Where do you get your inspiration?
A: Inspiration is everywhere. Experience the world with all your senses—watch, listen, smell, taste and feel. I get my inspiration from snippets of conversation, the way light reflects on water, watching documentaries, reading across a wide range of genres, looking at clouds … .
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