A.L. Kaplan's Blog: A. L. Kaplan, page 4

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Book Review: Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

Dragonfruit is a beautifully imagined world with a Pacific Island flare. Hanalei has been living as an exile from her homeland of Tamarind since she was nine. Her love and affinity for sea dragons is much deeper than it seems.

Makiia Lucier’s characters are rich and well developed. Some even pop out of the page. Or at least the tattoos magically move and come to life. This exciting adventure is entwined with betrayals, loyalty, and love.

My Sunday Balticon Schedule

Here are some fun Sunday activities at Balticon 59

Sun 1:00 PM, May 25, What’s in a Name? (Kent) 

Andrew McDowell (moderator), Bjorn E. Hasseler, Martin Wilsey, A. L. Kaplan, Jo Miles

                          
Sun 2:30 PM, May 25, Short Fire Readings: (St. George)

J. D. Blackrose, Carolyn Ives Gilman, Somto Ihezue, A. L. Kaplan, Mary G. Thompson

Sun 5:30 PM, May 25, The Prop Shop: Making Cosplay Props and Weapons (James)

Tyaz Cosplay, A. L. Kaplan, Aaron Fors, Hanna Fors

  
Sun 8:30 PM, May 25, Eye of Argon Reading (Mount Washington) 

Ian Randal Strock, Jean Marie Ward, A. L. Kaplan, Mary G. Thompson

My Saturday Balticon Schedule

Looking for something fun to do this Saturday?

Come to the ‘Everybody Eats’ panel at Balticon.

Sat 11:30 AM, May 24, Everybody Eats (Pride of Baltimore II) 

Mark L. Van Name (moderator), Ruthanna Emrys, Martin Wilsey, A. L. Kaplan, Jo Miles

Happy Book Birthday to STAR TOUCHED!

Great news! Star Touched is back in print.

You can now get it as an e-book, audio book, and in print!

Check with favorite book store and buy a copy.

Here are links to Amazon and Barnes & Noble

It’s been out of print since my previous publisher went out of business last year. The road to re-publishing entailed extra editing and reformatting. I love the way it looks.

It’s hard to be who you are meant to be.

Especially when your powers can get you killed.

Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.

Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble. Will Tatiana flee or stay and fight for the new life she has built? Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

“A unique and finely crafted novel, the characters touched my heart as I was drawn into their plight and compelled to finish!” — New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder

“Star Touched is fast-paced with well-defined characters and dialog that snaps. The ravaged, post-technological American society is depicted with sure strokes. The story draws one in and keeps one reading. And that’s exactly what one wants from a book.” — A. L. Sirois, author of THE BOHEMIAN MAGICIAN

 “A great YA dystopian novel exploring the challenges of being different, acceptance, maturity, and friendship.” — Steven Southard

Book Review: The Seastead Chronicles

The Seastead Chronicles is a nice collection of stories all connected by underwater cultures and communities. Steven Southard has created a rich undersea culture with varying beliefs and traditions. Even the language and music are water centric.

The stories range from mysterious islands that rise and sink, to smugglers in ships that mimic whales. There are war mongering dictators and religious fanatics along with goodhearted people and nods to racism and overcoming hate. It just goes to show that no matter where it lives, humanity suffers the same faults and weaknesses along with the unending resilience to do more than simply survive. To grow, learn, and defeat obstacles.

Some of my favorite stories were Eyes of Blue, which was about a whale poacher, and Gazelle’s Last Run, an exciting story concerning a smuggler. I love the way that the first story, Arrow of Life, comes full circle with the last story, The Whole Fish.

The Seastead Chronicles

Steven R. Southard

Pole to Pole Publishing

Did you get my Spring Newsletter?

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