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By Rick Buttacavoli
Bay Ridge resident and Xaverian High School graduate Sean P. Fodera did more than just take up space last year.
He wrote about it and got his story published in a new science fiction anthology.
THE OPPORTUNITY presented itself when Fodera pitched
his idea for a short story to popular science fiction author Julie Czerneda in late 2001.
Fodera had been a fan of Czerneda's work for years and regularly posted original works on the author's
web site as part of an online writing community.
"People would post questions and I'd respond with little stories right there on the site," said
Fodera. "They began to get noticed."
When Czerneda made it known that she intended to publish an anthology based on the future and wonder
of outer space, Fodera was eager to become a part of the project. All he needed was an idea to explore and develop.
For inspiration, he turned to his experience within the publishing industry. Fodera had spent 14 years working in the field
and learned about the process firsthand, making contacts and friends along the way.
"I
got an idea about an alien pitching a sci-fi manuscript to a human," said Fodera. "I thought it would be interesting for someone
living in space to be interested in science fiction."
Czerneda
agreed and told Fodera to write the story. A few months later, it was approved for publication in an anthology entitled
Space Inc.
"I
got a call from Julie and when she said it was accepted, I put her on hold and danced around with my family," said Fodera.
"It was quite a thrill."
THE STORY, "Attached Please
Find My Novel" follows the relationship between
an alien
author known as Dr. Aly'wanshus and a human publisher, Del Bradden.
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Fodera establishes a
literary link between two very different worlds and explores the future relationships between them.
It made sense to choose publishing as a topic for his first story because
of his work experience.
"It's what I do," said Fodera.
As a writer, Fodera was able to see how his literary heroes worked to get their own stories published. He kept in regular correspondence with Czerneda throughout the
process, working closely with her to develop his story's key ideas.
"She would send me suggestion notes to make certain passages more detailed," explained Fodera. "But
it was all helpful and constructive."
When his draft was completed, Czerneda praised his effort, then worked with him to create a memorable ending sentence.
"We debated for awhile before thinking of the perfect ending," said Fodera.
The result of his work was his first professional publication in July. It's been an exciting experience that he hopes to repeat in the future.
"It's exciting to see my story in a real book at the local bookstores," said Fodera. "Every time I go to
a mall, I check out the bookstore and look for it."
XAVERIAN HIGH SCHOOL is one place where Fodera is sure to find a
copy of his debut writing effort. The school recently informed him that it would carry Space Inc. in its library under the
Alumni Authors section.
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Fodera graduated from Xaverian in 1984 and
recalled that he had read some of his first science fiction books in that library.
As a student there, Fodera explored his
love of writing by joining the Writer's Club, the Shore Road Local newspaper and the X-Press Literary Magazine, of which he
was named editor.
He went on to earn a degree in advertising
from Iona College, where he also majored in journalism. Again, he joined the school newspaper and continued to
write.
Though he had a nose for news back then,
his true passion has always been sci-fi writing.
"Science fiction has always been my life,"
said Fodera.
Now that he has accomplished his goal of
being published in his desired field, Fodera hopes to continue to write short stories and perhaps one day he will pen a
novel of his own. "I never felt I had a novel in me," he said. "But all it takes is just the right idea
to expand upon. I want to write about people and what means something to them."
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