Curtis C. Chen

Once a Silicon Valley software engineer, Curtis C. Chen (陳致宇) now writes stories near Portland, Oregon. His debut novel Waypoint Kangaroo (a 2017 Locus Awards and Endeavour Award Finalist) is the first in a series of funny science fiction spy thrillers, followed by Kangaroo Too (which received a starred review from Publishers Weekly) and True Blue Kangaroo (a Smashwords bestseller for three months running). He has written for the Realm original podcasts Echo Park, Ninth Step Murders, and Machina.

Curtis’ shorter works have appeared in Playboy Magazine; the ENNIE Award-winning Kobold Guide to Roleplaying; The Year’s Best Fantasy, Volume 2; Aliens vs. Predators: Ultimate Prey; and elsewhere. His homebrew cat feeding robot was displayed in the “Worlds Beyond Here” exhibit at Seattle’s Wing Luke Museum. He is a graduate of the Clarion West and Viable Paradise writers’ workshops. 

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Related Events

2021 SUMMER SFWA Member Business Meeting

Kansas City Local Time:
June 23, 2021 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

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Every year as part of the Nebula Conference, SFWA holds a member business meeting where the Board of Directors, the Executive Director, and other staff and key volunteers talk to you about what we’re doing and where the organization is going, as well as respond to your questions.

Finding the Right Literary Agent & Maintaining Your Sanity Along the Way

Kansas City Local Time:
May 22, 2022 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm

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For writers seeking traditional publication the right agent is key. We cover practical querying techniques, time management tactics, and when to call in your support triangle. We cover mindset issues that crop up as you submit to the slush piles, and help you focus on finding the right long-term business partner/agent. This isn’t a class about query letters, or polishing your first five pages. This is a class about navigating the slush piles from a place of empowerment. Walk away with a list of agent author interview questions and more.

Cyberpunk in the Asia Pacific

Kansas City Local Time:
May 22, 2022 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

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Writers from Oceania, East Asia, and Southeast Asia discuss cyberpunk literature outside of the US, and the storytelling role the genre has in the region.

Writing Scripted Sci-Fi/Fantasy Podcasts

Kansas City Local Time:
May 13, 2023 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm

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Want to know how authors are writing podcast audio dramas and finding their audience? Join writers who have broken in to this space to discuss storytelling, casting, recording, and more!

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Trauma and Time Travel

Kansas City Local Time:
May 13, 2023 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm

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In an era of mass shootings, violence by law enforcement, rising rates of suicide among young people, and other crises, issues of trauma and PTSD loom large. Time travel, a mainstay of speculative fiction for more than a century, can offer insight into and reflection on key aspects of trauma, such as bodily dissociation and perseverative memory. Members of the SFWA community discuss the roles sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and related genres play in conversations about trauma and PTSD.

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Welcome to the Writers’ Room

Kansas City Local Time:
May 14, 2023 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm

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Come meet our panel of experts who explore the collaborative environment of the TV writers’ room, what it’s like to write for TV, and other considerations when writing for the screen.

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It’s No Joke: Honing Humor in Your Work

Kansas City Local Time:
June 6, 2024 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm

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Panelists: Erik Grove, Neve Maslakovic, Curtis C. Chen and Kate Ristau (moderator)
This is a panel that will discuss the merits of adding humor to any story, as well as the ways to do it in a nuanced way. A well-timed joke can break the ice and bring readers into a story but misplaced humor can do the opposite. Writing “funny” is serious business. From quips to pointed satire, comedy comes in many forms; this panel will offer a sample of them and discuss when and how to use them.
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Almost Home: Stories Set in our Solar System

Kansas City Local Time:
June 7, 2024 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm

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Panelists: Curtis C. Chen, Humphrey Price, Phoebe Barton and Erik Grove (moderator)
Science Fiction often takes us to settings that are far, far away, but we live in a vibrant system of celestial bodies that can also inspire wonder. Whether it’s alternate Earths or planets like Mars, the asteroid belt or moons that orbit gas giants, there are great stories to be mined. Join these creators who have crafted science fiction stories that are set a little bit closer to home.
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Genre Wars – Mashups Instead of Knockouts (In-Person Edition)

Kansas City Local Time: June 7, 2025 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
June 7, 2025 9:00 am to 10:00 am

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Urban Fantasy is the best genre ever! What are you even talking about? Space Opera forever! Pfft. You’re both wrong. Romance holds the largest share of the publishing market for a reason! Whatever. Epic Fantasy all the—STOP! We all have our personal preferences, both as readers and as writers. But what if instead of genre knockouts we explored genre mashups? This panel will explore the rich and vibrant spaces between genres and effective strategies for creating subgenre mashups that are greater than simply the sum of their parts.

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