1–What is the title of your latest release? UNWIELDY CREATURES 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Unwieldy Creatures is a biracial queer gender-swapped retelling of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. It follows the story of three beings who navigate life from the margins: Plum, a queer biracial Chinese intern at a top embryology lab; Dr. Frank, a queer biracial Indonesian scientist who compromises everything she claims to love in the name of science and ambition; and Dr. Frank’s nonbinary creation, brought into the world due to complications at birth, only to be abandoned. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Indonesia, Vermont, and west Texas. In terms of both Indonesia and west Texas, I wanted to work with settings that were in the world of geographic locations that had meant a great deal to me, but that felt somewhat unfamiliar. In terms of the Southern United States, it was important that one of Unwieldy Creatures’ main characters navigate the battle of abortion and reproductive rights—when I was first writing the book, that was most clearly being fought in the south. In terms of Vermont, which isn’t so much a setting as a framework to understanding…

Chapter One     If there’s one thing I’ve never been able to do, it’s blend in. Take my stint playing Christmas Tree #7 in my ­fourth-​­grade holiday pageant. Prior to this tragic bit of casting, I was positively elated at the very idea of a holiday pageant. I am one of those people who unabashedly loves the many festive markers of winter: gingerbread and cozy sweaters, mulled cider and mistletoe, jaunty snowpeople and jingle bells. Every time a movie starring multiple Christmassy Vanessa Hudgenses pops up in my Netflix queue, my heart sings just a little bit louder. My big sister Evie thinks this is because there’s so much spectacle associated with the holiday season, so much pomp and circumstance, so many of those famed silver bells jangling their way into people’s ears in the most ostentatious way imaginable. It is true that I never miss a chance to be as extra as ­possible . . . and I suppose the holiday pageant ended up being a prime example of that. I was pissed because Clara Montrose was cast as the ­lead—​­the Sugar Plum Fairy who dances in front of the shuffling line of boring Christmas trees, blessing them…

1–What is the title of your latest release? A TASTE OF GOLD AND IRON   2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? An exquisitely beautiful prince and his stoic, beefy bodyguard investigate a coin counterfeiting plot as their initial mutual dislike transforms slowly into respect, devoted loyalty, and love. Also, a scene where they wash each other’s hair and talk about the ethics of fealty.   3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The kingdom of Arasht is one nation in the broader world of Mithalgeard, the setting for all of my fantasy books. Ever since an off-hand mention of “the merchant-princes of Arasht” in my first book, A Conspiracy of Truths, I’ve been really excited to explore this part of the world in more detail. A nation with a vast trade empire and an ability to magically identify the composition of metals meant that they were a compelling setting for a plot involving coin counterfeiting.   4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? A TASTE OF GOLD AND IRON has two male leads, so I’ll assume this question is about the more “main character” of the two: Kadou, the exquisitely…

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Sabrina Blackburry!   Writes: I write adventurous escapes, treading the lines of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Stories containing love with a touch of magic. To craft characters looking for their place in the world and finding it sometimes in unexpected ways. My debut novel DIRTY LYING FAERIES is a taste of fantasy right under our unassuming human noses, filled with female friendships, fated mates, and a quieter sort of heroine that figures things out in her own way.   About: A writer from Missouri, everything I create is rooted in my love of fantasy and nature. A longtime fan of staying home in my pjs and parties that end by 9 p.m., my main characters tend to be introverts. When I’m not in my garden, I’m being harassed by my two cats or spending time with my husband and son, likely playing games in some form or another.   What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Has an attraction to inhuman…

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Tiana Warner!   Writes: YA Fantasy and sapphic romance. My new book, THE VALKYRIE’S DAUGHTER, will take you through the nine Norse worlds and all the way down to Helheim! I love to write stories that dive into relatable feelings on an epic backdrop, which is why YA Fantasy is so perfect—Sigrid wants more than anything to be a Valkyrie, and on a journey to fulfill her purpose, she gets to explore her feelings and learn about who she is.   About: I’m an author from BC, Canada, who loves to explore nature with my hyperactive rescue mutt, Joey. I’ve had horses my whole life, which you’ll probably notice when you read about the horses in THE VALKYRIE’S DAUGHTER.   What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: My ideal reader match for THE VALKYRIE’S DAUGHTER is into… Norse mythology. The story is full of mythological Norse places, people, and creatures. Underdog stories. Sigrid was never meant to be a Valkyrie, and she…

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Olivia Atwater! Writes: Olivia Atwater writes whimsical historical fantasy with a hint of satire. HALF A SOUL ties together the best parts of Regency romance and faerie tale fantasy, with curmudgeonly magicians and clueless, subtly sinister faeries causing trouble in the London marriage mart. A young woman who’s lost half her soul and most of her emotions just wants to help her cousin find a husband—but between dark curses, deep injustices, and one handsome, miserably cynical magician, she’ll be drawn into dangers both social and otherworldly. About: I live in Montreal, Quebec with my fantastic, prose-inspiring husband and my two cats. I have been, at various times, a historical re-enactor, a professional witch at a metaphysical supply store, a web developer, and a vending machine repairperson. I prefer Pathfinder to Dungeons & Dragons, and I always want to hear about your character. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Loves witty banter Enjoys traditional faerie folklore Wants to eat the rich Attracted to…

What inspired you to write HARMONY OF FIRE? Brian: I should have a simple answer, but I do not. In part, I created Harmony of Fire out of my love of artists and musicians and the struggles they go through to be who they are. I also have a great passion for music and love the way it bonds us and connects us to our past. Music is magic, and I wanted to write about it.   Since this is listed as the “Alice & Owen” series, I assume these two characters are the focus of each book in the series. What made you decide to go that route versus having each book focus on a new set of characters? Brian: Yes, Alice and Owen are the two main characters. I didn’t know I would write them as a series until I wrote the last word. When that moment happened, and I knew in my soul who these characters were, it became crystal clear that Alice and Owen needed to stay in the spotlight because they had so much more to give. As a reader, I believe their story, and stories to come, will help give us strength as they…

QUILLER   Mink, RabbitEar, and I fall back with our hands clutched around our weapons. The old witch lifts his torch higher, and every fissure and crack in the cave flutters with shadows. He notes the dead piled against wall, then the women and children who huddle far back in the tunnel. Finally, his gaze focuses on my face. His examination seems to take forever, as though he’s comparing what he sees now to the woman in his spirit dream, making sure we are the same person. “Let us go and sit down,” he says. As he walks toward me, I back up to the center of the cave and adopt a fighting crouch. Mink and RabbitEar silently close in behind Trogon. As though completely unafraid, the elder sits down on the floor, leans his torch on a rock, and politely gestures for me to join him. “Please, sit down, Quiller.” “I’ll stand.” His lips turn up, but no one would call it a smile. He’s a caricature of a man, just the sort of monster you do not want to get too close to. I am much taller than he is, but his thick chest and shoulders leave no…

What made you want to do a reimagining of the classic Peter Pan story? Was it always a favorite or, given the dark turn this story takes, not-so-favorite of yours? I’ve always loved fairy tales in general, especially the dark ones. And I’ve always loved Peter Pan — the original is such a slim volume, but so beautiful and complex. But I hadn’t thought of it in years, until I had a crazy dream featuring a Wendy in a stone tower and Peter Pan boys flying in and out of the windows. When I woke up, I thought “Hmmm. That’s interesting,” and started reading everything I could about J.M. Barrie and his work.   Besides Wendy and Peter Pan, do you bring back any of the other characters from the classic? Yes. Tinker Bell makes an appearance, as well as one or two other characters I don’t want to give away!   Your story, like many fairy tales, taps into deep fears that many people have – sickness, a child’s disappearance, aging. Have you entertained the idea of using these elements in a more traditional thriller? Fairy tales were some of the original thrillers. Think about it — missing children,…

THE HUNT BEGINS: How much heartbreak can one person take? Perizada, high fae, ambassador, mate, and friend to those in the Romanian pack, has lost her way. Everything about the fae is in question: her loyalty, her love, even her very existence. Still, her friends refuse to give up hope. The Order’s compound has been brought to the ground, reduced to ash, but can Perizada’s attack even be considered a victory given the sacrifice made to achieve it? What of the innocents trapped within the compound’s walls? Were any of those lives spared? Even with all they have faced, the challenges, the loss and pain, Fane, Jacque, their pack, and allies remain steadfast in their fight against evil. Past experiences give them hope that not all is as it seems. Perhaps there are hearts that still beat where others perished. And always with them is their Creator, the Great Luna, an ever-present help in trouble. She offers light when there is only darkness, love when the heart is broken, and forgiveness when transgressions overwhelm them. Their battle is far from over, but there is no victory without sacrifice. There is no light without darkness. There is no joy without sorrow….