About Tacks

C.Z. Tacks is an Australian author and editor of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and adjacent speculative genres.

Long considered to be an urban legend, Tacks is a part-time author, part-time editor, and full time chaos enthusiast. They have been writing stories since they were able to hold a pen, although their juvenilia is largely illegible.

Tacks was born near the Condamine River and spent their childhood watching it dry up in in back-to-back ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ droughts. They moved to Meanjin just in time to get consecutive ‘once-in-a-century’ floods. They currently live on unceded Ngunnawal land, where all the largest bodies of water are man-made.

Tacks has worked in a string of strange places, including an abattoir, a courtroom, a train station, a prison, a suicide crisis line, and a brothel. They attended Clarion West in 2024, where their class voted them Shortest Attention Span and Most Tentacles.

For many reasons, including but not limited to being on the internet for all the zaniest LiveJournal fandom wanks, Tacks doesn’t love posting details about themself on the internet. They don’t mind doing that in real life, though, so come say hi next time they’re at a convention!

Frequently asked questions

  • Nope! These are stock photos sourced via the built-in thingamajig on Squarespace. They’re all of places I’ve been, though, which is why I picked them.

  • It depends! Right now I am pretty solidly booked. I might be able to take small projects, and there’s also a chance of cancellations freeing up some time. Your best bet is to contact me with clear, specific information about the project, your budget, and the timeline.

    My help-you-work-out-what-you-need consults are currently closed. If I open these again, I’ll announce it on the website and the blog.

  • I have a day job and a personal life, and I prefer not to cross the streams. What I look like isn’t a secret; I just don’t want it to be easy to Google.

  • Sure! Might not be good advice, mind.