Meet the Gatekeeper on a Mission from Hel

I mailed my backlist Valentine to the first book in The Immortal Spy Urban Fantasy Series...but with DeJoy still running the post office, it probably won't get to Bix in Old Town Alexandria, VA, until St. Paddy's day.  

~cough~ 

Political snark aside, with the snowstorms locking down the nation more securely than the pandemic, now is a great time to meet Bix, a gatekeeper with amnesia and a vendetta; Tobek, the don't-call-me-a-Viking commander of the Berserkers; and Gurp, the walking forensics lab goblin. Oh, and did I mention Bix's best friend is a body thief and her mentor in the spy game is an electricity-wielding demigod? Go ahead, start a new adventure that will take you across this World and many others.

THE BURNED SPY
The Immortal Spy: Book 1

Gods. Always ready to screw you.

When Bix the Gatekeeper is summoned from exile a hundred and seventy years early by the goddess of the Norse Under World, the former Dark Ops agent knows there’s a catch. On the surface, the terms of the deal are simple. Someone attacked the pantheon’s ambassador to the Mid Worlds and left the ambassador in a coma. In exchange for early parole, Bix must identify the perpetrator and drag their soul to Hel.

It’d be a sweet contract, if not for the details. The ambassador is Bix’s ex-girlfriend, the lead suspect is the key witness from Bix’s trial, and the organization leading the official investigation is the same intelligence guild that disavowed Bix when a covert op went pear-shaped. Undeterred, Bix returns to her old stomping grounds where clues in the smoldering woods of Centralia, Pennsylvania, lead to the waterfront of Washington, DC, and Worlds beyond.

Once valued for her skills creating passageways as small as a capillary or as large as a continent, Bix’s success now depends on the relationships she was forced to abandon. As she squares off against friends who betrayed her and enemies keen to destroy her, Bix follows a trail of secrets, torture, and treason that leads to the very superpowers who banished her. With her freedom on the line and revenge within reach, this highly-trained operative will take on Fates, dragons, angels, and gods to get exactly what she wants.

Hel hath no fury like a burned spy.

BUY IT NOW: 

Amazon (affiliate link)

Apple Books | Kobo | B&N

Google Play

Overdrive (for Libraries)

Find Out More About The Seven Book Series Here

Backlisted

 As Jeffe already pointed out, the backlist is basically all of the books an author has that are, well, frankly, older. They are not front and center. They are not about to be released, and therefore they end up on the back burner as it were. 

naa0w, the trick here, is to do something with those pieces. In the past, well, frankly you hoped someone would come along who could put them out for you. 

The past is gone. Celebrate the new norm. These days you can put them out yourself. Something I need to do with several of my titles, frankly. desperately. I have plans, of course, b8ut between life's general chaos and a year and a half of cancer treatments and recovery, I need to get my butt in gear. 

I recently, like right before I started dealing with the cancer issues, had a book come out called BOOMTOWN.

I started the novel when my first wife was dealing with hemodialysis three times a week. I put the novel on hold when my wife passed away. It was simply too much to deal with. I couldn't look at the manuscript without thinking about all of the suffering and pain both she and I dealt with as she was dying by inches. As I have been known to express previously, it is what it is. 

So I shelved the book. Then, because it was a project near and dear to me, I started writing the sequels to a boo that was not in print. Mostly it was short stories. They came to my mind and I write them for various requested projects. I had not fin9shed the tale of Jonathan Crowley, my immortal monster hunter, in the old west, but I wrote the sequels because I wanted to continue his untold tale. And I gave him a sidekick in the form of Lucas Slate, a cursed individual who had already had a life that was far from normal. 

And then, one day, when my mind decided it was time, I picked up that BOOMTOWN manuscript and started writing again. By the time it was fin9shed and sold, I decided it was time to do something with the short stories I had written and collected them in a new book, WHERE THE SUN GOES TO DIE. 

They're fun books and I had a blast with them. 

Those r4 my backlist suggestions this time around. You can find BOOMTOWN right here. And you can find WHERE THE SUN GOES TO DIE right here.

Why Do We Love Our Backlists?

This week at the SFF Seven we're giving our backlists some love. For those not in the swim of publishing lingo, the backlist is any of an author's books that aren't the front and center new release. 

It's good to send some love to those backlist aunties, the books that are not the fresh, sweet debutantes, but who truly keep the family going. When I first started out, an author told me that the key to making a living as a writer is to have a healthy backlist. That's the steady bread and butter, that passive income that keeps earning for you without additional work on your part.

It was such great advice!

So I'm giving a valentine to THE SHIFT OF THE TIDE. This is still one of my bestselling Indie novels, and remains one of my favorite covers and characters. A friend once remarked that Zynda is more like me than most of my heroines, and it's true. Which is odd because she's a shapeshifter, not human at all.

What does this say about me? Let's not go there.

*cough*

ANYWAY, THE SHIFT OF THE TIDE has not only earned me the most money of any of my Indie books, it's my fourth highest Indie seller when I normalize over time, too. She's a good auntie to me!

Available at these Retailers

        

Or via my website store!

A QUICKSILVER HEART

Released from the grip of a tyrant, the Twelve Kingdoms have thrown all that touch them into chaos. As the borders open, new enemies emerge to vie for their hard-won power—and old deceptions crumble under the strain…

The most talented shapeshifter of her generation, Zynda has one love in her life: freedom. The open air above her, the water before her, the sun on her skin or wings or fur—their sensual glories more than make up for her loneliness. She serves the High Queen’s company well, but she can’t trust her allies with her secrets, or the secrets of her people. Best that she should keep her distance, alone.

Except wherever she escapes, Marskal, the Queen’s quiet lieutenant, seems to find her. Solid, stubborn, and disciplined, he’s no more fluid than rock. Yet he knows what she likes, what thrills and unnerves her, when she’s hiding something. His lithe warrior’s body promises pleasure she has gone too long without. But no matter how careful, how tender, how incendiary he is, only Zynda can know the sacrifice she must make for her people’s future—and the time is drawing near…

 

Diversifying Your Reading List

I am a list fanatic. Seriously. I have a list for everything. I would never get anything accomplished or keep my life in order without lists. I don't know how people survive without checkboxes. Lists, for me, make life easier and information more accessible.

What does that have to do with the SFF Seven's Black, Indigenous, and People of Color focus for this week, you ask? Well, I thought I would make your life easier by providing super helpful lists that will lead you to BIPOC authors.

I've often heard--I just never see books by people of color (I'm not rolling my eyes, okay maybe I am). So, no more excuses. We all need to work at diversifying our reading lists, and this is an easy way to do that. I'm handing you literal portals into list after list, packed with wonderful books just waiting for you to read them.

First, a few ways you can help promote BIPOC authors:

• Add their books to your Goodreads lists and share reviews. This provides much-needed visibility to your Goodreads friends.

• Buy BIPOC authors' books. I know it's hard to avoid the Zon, but it really is best if we pre-order/order books from independent bookstores. You can even carry support a step further by ordering from BIPOC bookstores. (another list here)

• Use social media. Follow these authors. Share their posts. Share pics of their books.

• This is a reader post, but try seeking out BIPOC creatives in other realms as well. Artists, poets, musicians, etc.

Now, for the actual lists. I absolutely love perusing book lists. This is how you find the gems, y'all. Most of these are for readers of SF&F, but not all. 

BIPOC Focused Posts

• 2021 ADULT SCIENCE-FICTION AND FANTASY BOOK RELEASES BY AUTHORS OF COLOR 
• 2020 Title List of SF/F by BIPOC Writers
• 15+ Must-Read LGBTQ+ Sci Fi and Fantasy Books by BIPOC Authors
• 8 SCIENCE FICTION NOVELS BY AUTHORS OF COLOR FOR THE END TIMES

Black Authors

• Black History Month: Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
• 6 BLACK INDIE SFF WRITERS YOU SHOULD BE READING
• Black SFF Authors You Should Be Reading
• 24 Fantasy and Sci-Fi Books by Black Authors to Add to Your TBR
• Most anticipated 2021 fiction books by black authors | 11 novels to read
• 20 Books To Read If You Want To Get Into Black Sci-Fi And Fantasy

Indigenous Authors

• EXPLORE INDIGENOUS FUTURISMS WITH THESE SFF BOOKS BY INDIGENOUS AUTHORS
• Popsugar 2021 #16 - A Book by an Indigenous Author (List created for the 2021 reading challenge in the Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge group)

• Indigenous Sci-Fi and Fantasy Authors to Read Now
• Speculative Fiction: Indigenous & First Nations Books
• READ HARDER: A GENRE NOVEL BY AN INDIGENOUS, FIRST NATIONS, OR NATIVE AMERICAN AUTHOR
• 7 Books That Explore the Many Worlds of Indigenous Science Fiction & Fantasy

Asian Authors

• Asian SFF Authors
• 21 Upcoming 2021 Books by Asian Authors
• Asian Fantasy Book Releases to Look Forward to in 2021
• 5 MOST ANTICIPATED 2021 SEQUELS TO FANTASY BOOKS BY SOUTH ASIAN AUTHORS
• 2021 Releases By Asian Authors I’m Excited For
• Asian Fantasy Books
• 9 Asian Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books released in 2020

Latinx Authors

• Latinx Sci-Fi & Fantasy
• 13 Latina Fantasy Books For the Sci-Fi Lover in Your Life
• Five Books by Latinx Authors Featuring Mythical Creatures
• MAGIC, MYTHS, AND ASSASSINS: 6 LATINX FANTASY NOVELS YOU CAN’T MISS
• Anticipated Latinx & Caribbean SFF Releases for Early 2021
• Latinx Science Fiction & Fantasy to Devour for Latinx Heritage Month

These are not exhaustive lists. For even more reading/author recommendations, click the link below:

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SFF AUTHORS OF VARIOUS IDENTITIES

I hope you enjoy browsing and come away with several new reads. If so, come back and let me know what you're reading!

The Gem

 Confession time: I joined a book club under protest. I didn't really want someone else telling me what to read. But it was pandemic lock down. Mom was bored. She wanted to talk to someone if only virtually and the neighborhood book club offered that option. But she wouldn't do it alone. Yes. It's true. I got guilted into joining book group. Some of the books have lived all the way up to my fears - they're hard, terrible subject books that I want no part of. Yeah, sorry, if you're gonna pick books where kids are being raped and killed you can pretty much fuck right off forever. BUT. There are glorious gems and this one is my absolute favorite.

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender.

It is YA. Felix is Black, transgender, and queer. I won't recap the story but the writing is fresh and deep in Felix's head and heart. It's a book that sticks with you long after you've closed the back cover. I think the thing I love most is that I've read a lot of transgender stories that dwell on the moment of coming out and on the reactions and feelings of everyone surrounding that moment. Felix's story starts long after that so instead of dwelling on how Felix's reality impacts everyone else around him, this story is about who Felix IS right now, growing up, looking for love and acceptance. 

This is one of those books that I liked so well, I'll go fishing for every last thing Kacen Callender has written.

Spotlight on Author Mike Chen!

 

Alexia: I love this week’s topic because it gave me an excuse to reach out to one of my auto-buy authors and fangirl! And the timing couldn’t have been more perfect because my guest’s newest release kept me from going insane while I was stuck in bed with vertigo—which was definitely not fun, but the audiobook WE COULD BE HEROES was beyond exciting! Welcome, Mike Chen! 

Mike: Thanks so much for having me! And shoutout to Emily Woo Zeller, who narrated the audiobook. She did my previous one (A BEGINNING AT THE END) and when I found out she’d signed to do this, I messaged her and asked her to bring some of the chaotic disaster energy from her lead role in STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA. Game fans will recognize her from the recent Cyberpunk 2077 -- like my wife, who loaded up the audiobook and said, “Hey, it’s Panam!”

Alexia: Yes—Aphra! Emily was the perfect voice for this superhero tale. I like to think books have saved me from a lot of things over the years, but never have I been so sure of that statement than the past couple of years. I don’t get a choice about having a chronic disease and when it flares up or its tagalongs wreck havoc on my head, books—more specifically audiobooks—save the day! Mike, have you ever had a book be your lifeline? 

Mike: Not directly, but various creative arts felt like that to me as a teen. I can count on various songs and musicians that I would lean on as lifelongs. But I would use books as a means to feel accepted and seen, specifically Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles and Timothy Zahn's Star Wars books -- Zahn's came at a time when being a nerd wasn't socially acceptable and it made it feel okay to love those things while Anne Rice fed my inner teen goth angst.

Celebrating BIPOC Artists: Abelle Hayford

Artist: Abelle Hayford
from their website

I'm a fan of Abelle Hayford's work, both creatively and for bringing attention to other amazing artists. One of my favorite February happenings is when @AbelleHayford kicks off #DrawingWhileBlack on Twitter. At one point they'd built a searchable dB of black artists who were looking for freelance/commission work from which I'd collected a wishlist of potential cover artists. Alas, the dB isn't up anymore (that may or may not be temporary), but the hashtag is one to follow if you're looking to discover great new-to-you artists for possible gigs or the simple enjoyment of their work. According to their pinned tweet, DWB will be underway at the end of this month (Feb 26-28).

Naturally, you should check out Abelle's work too, which is amazing: AbelleHayford.com

Nope, I don't know them personally. I'm just a fan.

BIPOC comic creators

 This is an insane week for me I have deadlines and a few family emergencies, but that said, I still think we need to celebrate the BIPOC creators around us. What's a pulp writer to do?

This time around I'm taking the easy way out and shooting you a link to several people who have been movers and shakers in the comic book industry. Why?? because comic books have been a HUGE influence on me over the years and I don't think those creators get nearly enough recognition for that influence. 

Without further ado: Take a look.

Have a great week, guys, and please know that this is the very tip of the iceberg.