Welcome to the folkloric fever dream that is Crom Cruach. I’m so thrilled to chat with Val about how this novella-in-verse came to me. From the origins of the horrors within, the writing process, the soundtrack, what they’re working on next, this interview has it all. Crunchy, terrifying, and deeply human, this work is such a treat for horror and horror music fans alike.
Buy Links: Tenebrous Press Site | Kindle Edition | Bandcamp
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Bone Weaver tells the story of a girl raised by benevolent undead, a tsar on the run, and a boy witch helping each other survive in a secondary world fantasy inspired by imperial Russia. Its layered world-building, examination of monstrosity, sisterly love, and queer characters make this an enchanting read that will delight any fan of historically-grounded Slavic dark fantasy.
Today, Aden tells me a bit about putting this dark fantasy adventure together, from its open image to the research behind the tale. He also shares how the story evolved and what he’s working on next.
Buy Links: Bookshop.org | Unabridged Bookstore | Libro.fm
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I’m so thrilled to have Freydís Moon on my blog today to talk about their debut novel, With a Vengeance. Kye is a human who has a lot on their shoulder: grief, a family estate, a demonic haunting, and a rogue ICE agent sniffing around. This dark paranormal erotic romance is as affirming and as it is hot, while featuring a nuanced exploration of culture, family, grief, healing, and the things people do to keep their community safe.
Today, Freydís chats with me about the origins of this novel, the myriad projects coming down the pipeline, and the works they’re looking forward to most.
Buy Links: Amazon | Signed Paperback
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Happy debut day to Victor Manibo and The Sleepless. If you’ve ever been in the depths of toxic productivity and wondered, “what if I just stopped sleeping,” well, this twisty science fiction mystery presents several arguments as to why that’s a terrible idea. Add in a layer of biohacking, and Jamie, our intrepid journalist protagonist, is in for a bad time when his boss turns up dead, and it looks like he might be the culprit.
I’m thrilled to have Victor on the blog today to talk about putting together a compelling mystery as a mystery lover, adding the speculative elements, what he’s working on now, and what he’s reading next.
Buy Links: Bookshop.org | Unabridged Bookstore | Libro.fm
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Happy release day to I Never Liked You Anyway! In this contemporary novella with afterlife elements, Orpheus and Eurydice get the CW treatment in this retelling that puts the tragic couple in college. Music, muses, performance, coffee, and “coffee”—this queer as all get out story is so much fun. Perfect for fans of drama and Greek mythology.
Author Jordan Kurella is here to tell us about he pulled this story together, decided the musical motifs, and what he’s reading and working on now.
Buy Links: Indiebound | Kindle Edition
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Happy debut day to The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia. This novella is among the tightest I have ever read. It has a bit of everything: medical fantasy, slice-of-life, a mystery, found family, given family, the difference between the best choice and the right choice, and a world that centers trans people and people of color. It’s so dense, and I’m so thrilled to have gotten to read this one early.
Today, Naseem Jamnia tells me all about how the layers of Qilwa came together, the research and craft journey of this novella, and what they’re reading and working on now.
Buy Links: Tachyon Publications | Bookshop.org | Unabridged Books
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Happy release day to All The Hometowns You Can’t Stay Away From, a collection of speculative fiction short stories from Izzy Wasserstein. There are multiverses, quests, terrifying boarding schools, haunted museums that need to be emptied, people resisting, people trying their best, and more. I’ve found many treats within these pages, and I can’t wait for other people to discover them as well.
In today’s interview, the author tells us about how she finds inspiration, the spawn points of stories, putting this specific collection together, and what she’s working on now.
Buy Links: Neon Hemlock | Unabridged Books | Bookshop.org
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If you like serial killers, messy families, and houses that are metaphorically and literally haunted, Just Like Home is just for you. Claustrophobic and melancholy, this read sent chills down my spine with most scenes when it wasn’t also playing games with my heart.
I’m hype to have Gailey back on the blog to talk about how the different elements of this work came together, the research into it, writing comics compared to writing books, and what they’re working on next.
Buy Links: Bookshop.org | Unabridged Books | Libro.fm
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Lure tells the story of a family who came to a fishing village named for a hero and the aftermath of a literal mermaid showing up on their shores. Full of gnarly fisherman, preachers in denial, lovestruck idiots, and kids who don’t know better, this novella is a treat for those who like watching characters struggle with goodness, heroism, and mythologic reverence. It’s great for fans of Robert Eggers films and other folk horror tales.
In today’s release day interview, author Tim McGregor shares with me the origins of this haunting tale, his experience working with Tenebrous Press, and the stories he’s working on now.
Buy Links: Tenebrous Press Site | Kindle Edition
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Hell Followed With Us came out this week, and if you’re a fan of Resident Evil and The Last of Us, but want more books with trans and autistic characters, you’re in a for a treat. Benji is a trans boy raised by a cult to become the ultimate monster weapon, Seraph. But he wants none of that, and instead runs away to find a survivor community of other queer kids. They team up to take down the cult which also ushered in the apocalypse in the first place.
Join me in celebrating this gory debut in this interview with author Andrew Joseph White. Learn more about the inspiration behind this ferocious book, outlining versus pantsing, what he’s working on now, and what he looks forward to reading later.
Buy Links: Bookshop.org | Unabridged Books | Libro.fm
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Jo Writes Fantasy 