L.R. Braden's Blog, page 4

CIBA Finals

I'm thrilled to announce that two of my books have made it through the many rounds of rigorous judging to reach the Chanticleer International Book Award's Finalist lists in two categories! Of Mettle and Magic is in the running for the OZMA award for fantasy fiction, and Personal Demons is in the running for the Paranormal award for supernatural fiction.

1st Place Category Winners and Grand Prize Division Winners will be announced on Saturday, April 20th, 2024 at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony. In the meantime, you can see the complete list o finalists in all the fiction categories on the CIBA website HERE.

Review: Assistant to the Villain

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's been a while since I've had this much fun with a romance novel, but Assistant to the Villain was a superb read! A great balance of comedy and romance with a dash of mystery to spice things up.

The one thing that I would warn people of: this book has a MASSIVE CLIFFHANGER. There isn't much in the way of resolution at the end, so the novel reads more like the first half of a larger story. If you don't like cliffhangers, don't start this book until the series is finished. That said, the dreaded cliffhanger was not enough for me to lower my rating for this otherwise well-written book.

The highlight of the story was definitely the colorful characters. Both the two narrative characters and their supporting cast were well-realized, with distinct personalities and hinted at or explicit backstories that help perpetuate the world outside of the events of the main plot. The backbone of said character development was done primarily through the use of dialogue. At times the "dry whit" was a bit overdone, but usually it was deftly balanced with the character's internal monologue to help ground the scenes and walk the fine line between amusing and eye-rolling silliness (though there was a considerable amount of eye-rolling in the story).

The main female protagonist, the villain's assistant, is a headstrong young woman with no brain-to-mouth filter and a rather low sense of self-worth but a determinedness to prove to herself that she is not a waste of space in the world. The main male character, and the second half of the romantic arc that is the main focus of the story, is "the Villain." He is a person defined by his traumas who's closed himself off from positive emotions like love and mercy, except that he hasn't. Not really. He just hides them.

The main plot of the story is that there is a mole in the Villain's evil empire, and he and his assistant must discover who it is. Their forced proximity and growing admiration for each other blooms into indisputable love over the course of the story, though there's also an element of love-at-first-sight that has them making somewhat irrational decisions from the very beginning. The plot line has a satisfying twist, with plenty of clues scattered throughout to keep the reader engaged, though the mystery definitely takes a backseat to the romance and comedy in this story.

All in all, this was a wildly successful story that left me cheering for the characters and eager for the next book.

View all my reviews

Top Ten: Co-op Video Games

My husband and I are always on the lookout for co-op video games, so I'm putting together this list of our top ten recommendations. If you're like us and want to work together toward a common goal rather than battling it out in your games, give these a try: Terreria
Type: Sandbox
Plaform: We play this on Steam.
Why it's on this list:
This is probably one of our all-time favorite games to play together. We've played it probably a dozen times, together, with out friends, with our family. When you play on Steam, each person needs their own copy of the game, but they're usually pretty cheap, and around the holidays you can often score a four pack to share among your firends. The game itself is fairly basic, but there is beauty in its simplicity. You mine for materials, craft what you need to upgrade your weapons and armor so that you can survive harder and harder fights, build a fortress, and arena, and anything else you like. There are seasonal events, killer bosses, and oh so much to explore. This game is an easy way to spend 100+ hours.
Borderlands
Type: FPS
Plaform: We play this on Xbox 360.
Why it's on this list:
The whole Borderlands franchise is great, but I think our favorite installment to play is number two. I was hesitant to pick up the first Borderlands game when it came out since I don't tend to like first person shooters, but I so glad I took a chance on this one. What origionally convinced me to buy it was the art. While it's a 3D game, the graphics are done in a weird sketchy style that makes it all look illustrated. The gameplay, characters, and story are all fun as well, and there's plenty of humor, which I always appreciate. Some of the quests can feel a little grindy, and you can spend a lot of time comparing loot to make space in your backpack (I highly recommend you upgrade your backpack asap!), but you'll have a blast exploring the expansive world and blowing sh!t up.
Nine Parchments
Type: Adventure
Plaform: We play this on Nintendo Switch.
Why it's on this list:
If you've played any of the Trine games, you'll recognize the art style, tone, and even a few characters in Nine Parchments. The basic idea is that you are a student at a magic school on a quest to collect spell pages that have been scattered throughout the kingdom. You start out with three basic spells that are determined by the character you choose, then add to you repertoire. You can play the game with anywhere from 1 to 4 players.
Portal 2
Type: Puzzle
Plaform: We play this on Xbox 360.
Why it's on this list:
This is one of the first two-player puzzle game I ever played, and it's still one of my favorites. The robot characters are adorable, the sadistic AI antagonist's running commentary is hilarious, the puzzles are an excelent balance of logic, timing, and teamwork, and there's a fun story to boot. (I also suggest playing the single-player version of this game, which is totally different but equally awesome.)
It Takes Two
Type: Puzzle
Plaform: We play this on PS4.
Why it's on this list:
This is a great example of a game designed specifically for two players, and there aren't many of those out there. "Hey, Developers. Are you hearing me? Make more games like this!"
The storyline is a little cringe, being about a couple getting divorced and the stress it puts on their young daughter, but the levels are well-developed and fun to play. The originality of this title is off the charts, and you need *both* player characters to succeed. There are also a bunch of competitive mini-games for people who just have to prove they're the best, but they aren't required.
Unravel Two
Type: Platformer
Plaform: We play this on PS4.
Why it's on this list:
This is such a great game in every regard. The art is beautiful. The story is sweet. The puzzles are challenging. The controls are intuitive. Ten-out-of-ten in all categories.
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
Type: Shooter
Plaform: We play this on Nintendo Switch.
Why it's on this list:
Rescuing cute little critters imprissoned throughout space in your customizable bubble ship, all in the name of love. What's not to like? You fly through space in a ship with various control stations that you and your crew have to run between depending on the situation. You've got a pilot station, a map station, a shield station, four gunner stations, and the powerful but costly Yamada. You and your friends will have to scramble to balance your offence, defense, and the ever popular "Run away!" You *could* play this game by yourself, but where's the fun in that?
Putty Pals
Type: Platform
Plaform: We play this on Nintendo Switch.
Why it's on this list:
I bought this game specifically to play with my young daughter, who wasn't a very experienced gamer at the time, and I was pleasantly surprized by how enjoyable it was to play. The controls were simple to learn, the graphics were cute, the music was fun. There were a few maneuvers that my daughter couldn't manage at first, and the "boss" level where you had a timed element stressed her out, but overall it was a great game for us to play together without either her getting too frustrated or me getting too bored. We've since played through it three times, and while me daughter can play much more difficult games now, we still enjoy playing this relaxing, well-balanced game together. If you're looking for a fun co-op for a younger gamer, I recommend this one.
Overcooked 2
Type: Cooking Simulation
Plaform: We play this on Nintendo Switch.
Why it's on this list:
This game is best played in short bursts, as some of the levels can get rather frustrating. That said, if you're looking for a fast-paced game of adrenaline-pumping chaos and probably more than a little shouting at your co-chefs, grab an apron and see how many meals you can recreate in a variety of ridiculous environments. You can earn anywhere from 1 to 3 stars on a level, but you need a certain amount of starts to unlock the higher levels. This game is challenging enough that we've never actually beaten it. I recommend the second game in the series just because I feel like they smoothed out the gameplay a little, but number one was fun, too.
Battleblock Theater
Type: Puzzle / Platform
Plaform: We play this on xbox 360.
Why it's on this list:
This game is laugh-out-loud, split-your-sides hillarious! If you enjoy challenging gameplay matched to a weird story, you've got to check this one out. But be prepared to blow up... a lot.
Runners-up include: Diablo (2, 3, 4) - Action RPG / Hack-N-Slash Trine (any/all) - Puzzle Platformer Death Squared - Puzzle Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Action RPG Don't Starve Together - Survival Snipper Clips - Puzzle / Party

Review: Rhenn the Traveler

Rhenn the Traveler: Legacy of Shadows by Todd Fahnestock
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great story in the Eldros Legacy series! This book is the third in Todd Fahnestock's "Legacy of Shadows" arc, and the books absolutely need to be read in order. So I'm going to assume that if you're looking at this review, you've already read books 1 and 2. If not, go read them.

This book picks up shortly after Rhenn was abducted at the end of book 1, Khyven the Unkillable, and possibly overlaps the events of book 2, Lorelle of the Dark. Rhenn has been living as a "guest" in a foreign land. She's not exactly a prisoner, but neither is she free. Even as she makes a life for herself as best she can, she never wavers in her desire to go home. So when an opportunity arises that might let her do just that, she jumps at the chance despite it being a truly terrible idea. She pays the price for her choice, as do those around her, but that's what makes the story feel real.

I loved the character arc in this book, although I did get irritated with Rhenn quite a lot at the beginning. The story introduces a few new characters, mostly in the role of antagonists. The most intriguing development came in the form of Fahnestock's vampires. They aren't called vampires in the book, but you get the idea. The author did a great job of illustrating the creation, abilities, and limitations of these new-yet-familiar creatures.

Since this book takes place on a different continent than the first two, I expected a bit more world building. In that regard I was a little disappointed. Fahnestock mentions that this continent is bursting with life, but I didn't really see that reflected on the page. Mostly it just seemed like a jungle - wetter and hotter than Rhenn was used to, but not all that surprising. She fights some water goblins, but compared to the multitude of species introduced in the first two books, I didn't get the feeling that this new land was teeming with life.

Spoiler alert: Rhenn does see her friends again near the end of the book. I won't give away any of what happens, but I will say that my favorite part of all of these stories is when the protagonist characters are together. I liked Rhenn on her own, but Rhenn with her friends is so much better. And that, of course, is the point.

If you love fast-paced epic fantasy, pick up these books. You won't be disappointed.

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Review: Ruin and Rising

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a satisfactory conclusion to the Shadow and Bone trilogy. I liked that a lot more happened in this book than the previous one, though there was still a considerable amount of time set aside for lengthy descriptions. If you watched the second season of the Netflix adaptation of this series, pretty much everything from book 2 and book 3, along with the crows story arc, were combined to make that show.

Alina and Mal are on the run, as per usual, which is good. It's always fun to have your protagonist against the ropes. Alina is getting stronger in her powers but, whether due to youthful arrogance or some dopamine addiction caused by her use of merzost, Alina continuously makes really terrible decisions. She seems weirdly obsessed with visiting the antagonist even though it doesn't serve any real purpose except to expose herself to more danger. That really annoyed me. Mal is stoic as ever, though his personality does flip-flop a bit as he goes from angry and self destructive to resigned... but still self destructive, so I guess it's not such a big shift after all. Come to think of it, Mal seems to spend a great deal of this series trying to die.

I still love the character of the exiled pirate prince, though that arc does take a dark turn in this book. I won't say more since I don't want to spoil anything, but yikes! That was a heavy plot twist. The darkling continues to be calculatingly evil, able to manipulate Alina and her allies at almost every turn, though he doesn't make many actual appearances in this book save when Alina visits him through their strange astral-projection.

I enjoyed the ending. The climax was a little muddled, and I'm not sure about how Bardugo interpreted Alina's final miracle as the sun saint, but I liked the wrap-up. It had a very tidy, full-circle feel that left me satisfied. No loose ends.

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Game Review: Forgotten Waters

If you're in the mood for a laugh-your-ass-off pirate adventure, check out Forgotten Waters!
I got this boardgame for my birthday, and it's been a ton of fun. You play as a member of a pirate crew and can have up to six friends join you as you play through various scenarios. Game Mechanics:

The gameplay takes a little getting used to, but after a round or two it actually goes pretty fast. The game's "board" is actually a book with multiple locations in it that you flip to depending on what's happening in the plot. (If you've played Stuffed Fables, it works like that.) In each location there are numerous activities that can be performed by crew members. Some can be done by multiple people, while others can only be done once and are then locked. If you're playing by the rules, you're supposed to set a timer and each player sets their pirate icon on one of the actions in first-come-first-served fashion. (I admit, we sometimes negotiated more than we were supposed to in this stage. Turns out my family and I are not very cut-throat pirates.) Then players resolve the actions in order. Each action can have multiple outcomes based on the choices a player makes or how well they roll a skill check. Sometimes you get magical blessings or extra supplies, sometimes you might accidentally blow a hole in your ship. This adds to the replay value, since no two playthroughs will be exactly the same.

Along with the storyline shared by all players, each player gets a unique character backstory and story arc that they uncover through skill advancement. Learning a skill occasionally unlocks a step along your character's constellation chart, which in turn leads to another step in their personal story. This also grants boons in the form of story cards, re-roll tokens, or additional skills. Fill in the whole constellation and you become a legend. Fail to do so, and even if your crew manages to succeed in the overall story, your individual character will likely come to a gruesome or bitter end. Though even those terrible endings are fun, as they are conveyed in a Mad-libs-style fill-in-the-blank story. Of the four of us who played the last game, only one accomplished their goal. One was crushed by a cart of anchors pulled by a charging rhino, one led a life of depressing mediocrity, and one (me) was beaten to death with my own weapon and eaten by kraken pups. Whatever the outcome, it's guaranteed to be hilarious due to the glib, irreverent writing style of the game developers.

Another unique element to this game is the ability to "save" your progress. I can't tell you the number of times my family has had to leave a game out on our kitchen table because we couldn't finish a playthrough in a single day but there was no way to quit partway through without losing all our progress. Forgotten Waters includes a "ship's scribe" that records all the player and game progress, as well as discovered and discarded map tiles, so that you can pack the entire game up and come back to it at a later date without having to start over. This makes longer campaign scenarios much more doable. Kudos to the game developers for addressing this problem!

Circling back to the "ship's scribe" I mentioned earlier, players stay well-engaged during the quick rounds not only while completing their own location activities but during other players' actions as well, because each player is responsible for one or more jobs onboard the ship. These include the gunner, cooper, quartermaster, and boatswain, to name a few. So everyone will have things to do even when they aren't the person making the decisions. Content Quality: The contents that make up this game are of a very high quality. The artwork is well done, the cardboard pieces are durable, the cards (while small) are not too flimsy, the location book is spiral bound with beautiful illustration. There are only two short-comings in what the game box holds. One, the rule book is light, as in, it didn't address all of the questions that came up during gameplay. We had to make up a couple of rules to account for situations that we couldn't find explained in the book. Two, the scenarios aren't included. Be aware that this game is not fully self-contained. You *must* have a phone or computer to play it, because all the scenarios are online. In that regard, I suppose Forgotten Waters is half boardgame half videogame. They did a good job with this integration, but I still find it a bit uncomfortable because if something should happen to disrupt the website the rest of the game would become unplayable, and people without internet access can't play at all. Therefore, this is not a true boardgame in the strictest sense. It's not something I'll be able to pass down to my kids or grandkids. But for the time being, it works and it's fun. If you like pirate games, I highly recommend giving it a try.

Review: Circle of Magic - Briar's Book

Briar's Book by Tamora Pierce
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The four books in the Circle of Magic really do a great job of building on each other and growing the characters as the stories progress. As the final book in the quartet, Briar's Book did not disappoint!

Once again, the antagonist of the story is more what than who. The basic plot is that there is a plague outbreak (a situation that I believe we can all empathize with a little too well these days). Briar and his teacher Rosethorn are at the epicenter. Pierce does a great job of describing what it's like to be in quarantine, the difficulties of finding a cure, and the stress and paranoia that sets into a society when they can't tell who might be sick and who is not. She also dealt tactfully with the fact that not every person can be saved in such a situation. Sometimes people have to make hard decision.

For a book with so many difficult themes, Pierce wove a wonderfully entertaining tale that kept my daughter eagerly engaged to the very end. Probably my only complaint is that the sequel series seems to be out of print, so I can't easily grant my daughter's pleas to read more about these characters that she's come to love.

View all my reviews

How'd We Get Here?

Hey all,

I was recently invited to write an article about my "author journey" for the Colorado Authors League. I'm sharing it here for my blog readers. So if you're curious about how I ended up writing books, here's the answer (at least the broad strokes).

Technically, the first book I ever published was a pop-up book that I made as a visual aid for a research project in the ninth grade. I meticulously wrote out my thoughts in rainbow markers and embossed glitter, constructed elaborate movable parts to enchant my audience, and bound the whole thing in the panels of a repurposed shoebox stitched together with twine. Obviously that book didn’t become a bestseller (though I did receive an A from my very impressed English teacher).

I’m not sure why, but it never occurred to me that “writer” was an actual career when I was younger. It never crossed my mind that there were real people writing the books I gobbled up by the dozens or that, one day, I might be one of those people. Authors were like gods, mysterious beings who created whole worlds for us mere mortals to inhabit. I wrote stories and essays for school, of course, but my daydreams, like most of my thought, stayed locked away in my head.

As an English major in college, I read hundreds of books. Classic, contemporary, avant-garde. I learned to dissect and discuss them. What I didn’t learn was how to write them. I didn’t take a single creative writing class in the five years I spent earning my two degrees. Books were something I read, not something I wrote. I was a black whole of literature, constantly expanding the landscape of my imagination without every releasing anything.

It wasn’t until I was in my mid-twenties and happily married with a baby on the way that it occurred to me to write down the daydreams in which I’d spent so much of my life... that what was entertaining to me could be entertainment for others. One afternoon, while I was reading Moon Called by Patricia Briggs, I was struck by the most world-altering thought: “I could do this.” That’s all it took. Suddenly all the daydreams in which I’d romped for my entire life weren’t just dreams. They were stories. I opened my laptop and started typing.

My debut novel, A Drop of Magic, published in 2019. In four short years that passed in the blink of an eye, I’ve published eight urban fantasy novels and three short stories. Since publishing my first book, I’ve achieved the coveted “#1 bestseller” status on Amazon, won some awards, and grown a lot in my craft and confidence. For all that, my goal remains the same as it was in that light bulb moment: I want to write fun stories that people will enjoy.

I write worlds people can get lost in, worlds you might mistake for your own but for that little something extra. I write characters who feel and fail, but always come back fighting. I bring the extraordinary home and make you believe it could be true. At least, I hope I do.

You be the judge: Check out my newest book, Personal Demons, published Sep. 29, 2023.

Personal Demons Excerpt: Partners

Mira has promised to give this whole "partner" thing with Ty an honest try... but change is hard.

 

Moonlight streamed in from the building’s skylights, casting longshadows from the crisscross of scaffolding onto the concrete floor.Several large bay doors that would once have allowed trains to pullin were boarded over, each sporting the tag of a local artist. Steeltracks set flush to the floor created a ladder effect across thepitted, dirt-crusted surface.

Afigure crept along the far edge of the building. Long, matted, whitehair draped their shoulders and obscured their face save for theprofile of a beak-like nose. Pale, wiry limbs moved amid tatteredstrips of soiled fabric, fingers nearly scraping the floor as thehunched form slunk from shadow to shadow between patches ofmoonlight. One bony hand clutched something. Mira squinted, thennearly gagged as she realized the man—he had to be the rifter—wasdragging an extra appendage. A dark smear snaked across the pale-grayfloor in his wake.

<Lookslike dinner.>

Mirascowled, but since the demon was inside her, the expression didn’thave much effect. Not that the demon tended to care about Mira’sdisapproval in any case.

Therebut for the grace of God. . . . She sent a silent, gratefulprayer for the miracle that had allowed her to strike a balance withher possessor all those years ago and saved her from becoming one ofthe creatures she now hunted.

Therifter shuffled from pillar to pillar, dragging its gory meal towarda break in the south wall—a section of empty window frame partiallycovered by a loosely propped piece of plywood. At the pace he wasmoving, she had maybe a minute before he reached the opening.

Sheglanced around the rest of the interior. Plenty of open space,good solid supports, no one nearby . . . couldn’t really ask for abetter space to fight in.

<Areyou going to call Ty?>

Shefingered the cell phone clipped to her belt. Carrying thedevice—basically a tiny tracker—made her uncomfortable, but shehad eventually given in to the practicality of being able to quicklycommunicate with Ty. Yet another concession to this whole partnershipthing. The plan had been to locate the rifter, text the location,then trail it at a discrete distance until they could take it downtogether. It had seemed logical enough when she’d agreed to it.Now, watching her target move slowly away, she wasn’t so sure.

Sheworried her lower lip between her teeth, then shifted her hand to thesheathed kukri knife also attached to her belt. By the time Tygets here, the rifter will have moved on, and the next place we catchup to it might not be so accommodating. She slid the long,curved blade free. We can handle this ourselves.

Mirafelt the demon grin. <Just like the old days.>

Herlips twitched up to match. The “old days” were barely two weeksgone, hardly any time at all, but Mira couldn’t deny the thrill ofacting without the need for debate or consent. The single hunt she’dworked with Ty—not including the unofficial case on which they’dmet—had gone smoothly enough, but she’d chafed at his slow paceand meticulous planning. Right now there was a rifter in front ofher, and she was going to kill it. Simple.

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New Release: Rise Anthology

Queer Sci Fi has a new flash fiction anthology out: Rise, and my story is a part of it. And there's a giveaway too.

RISE (Noun, Verb)

Eight definitions to inspire writers around the world, and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell:

An upward slope or movement

A beginning or origin

An increase in amount or number

An angry reaction

To take up arms

To return from death

To become heartened or elated

To exert oneself to meet a challenge

Rise features 300-word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.

About the Series

Every year, Queer Sci Fi runs a one-word theme contest for 300 word flash fiction stories, and then we choose 120 of the best for our annual anthology.

Publisher | Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Google Play | Kobo | Scribd | Smashwords | Thalia | Vivlio | Goodreads | Universal Buy Link

Giveaway

Queer Sci Fi is giving away a $25 Bookshop.org gift card with this tour:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47301/

Excerpts

It's a simple recipe.

Passed down in whispers and hands tracing hands through flour and faith. Never written down, paper being too precious for such a small spell, some might say. Like something must be loud to have worth.

A common myth, one that serves her quiet magic well.

She sits pretty in commonhalls and houses, empty eye-sockets and a cloak of harmless charm enough for most to dismiss her. Certainly, her weaving or kneading is all her pretty head can handle.

She listens, and her hands move. Each stitch another secret, gossip kneaded into every loaf.

—From Simple Recipes for Small Magics – Ziggy Schutz

It wasn’t the principles that Matt Harden objected to. The principles were fine: Limited planetary resources. Circle of life. The wrongness of playing God.

But, he thought as he spread the herbs on the basement floor in the prescribed way, the principles were bullshit when you were faced with reality. When the only man who’d ever held your heart was stolen from you by a moment’s distraction behind the wheel. When you never had the chance to even say goodbye. When your body in bed was as cold and alone as a corpse in a coffin.

When the night mist was clammy on your neck and the grave-dirt heavy on your shovel.

—From Principle and Reality – Kim Fielding

“He’s here,” Matt said, slamming the door behind him. “You ready?”

“Think so,” Rory said. He’d finished the salt circle, and quickly moved on to placing the candle in the center.

“Will this work?”

“It’s this or nothing.” Once Tiff told them she’d survived a run in with the killer known as The Hook, Rory knew they were as good as dead. Supposedly this bastard had been killed before, but he never seemed to stop. Much about The Hook seemed unreal, but Rory thought it was the only weapon they had - the unbelievable. Besides, they were gay; those characters always died first.

From Best Served Cold – Andrea Speed

“You do realize,” the nurse said gravely, “that without your parent permission form, this procedure can only be temporary.”

“I do,” Sharon said nervously. Sharon. That was a good name, right? Sounded like Shawn, but wasn’t. Was a girl’s name. A woman’s name. She liked Sharon.

“And that given your parent’s lack of support for this, there will be a counselor assigned to your home to ensure your safety?” The nurse continued, checking the talking points on her tablet with precision.

“I won’t need it,” Sharon said nervously. “They think it’s a phase, but they’re not, you know, hostile.”

From A New Day – Amy Lane

Author Bio

This year, 554 authors entered the Rise contest. 120 of them were chosen, and their stories are included in this anthology:

Jordan Abronson

Aisling Alvarez

CJ Aralore

Ellery Arden

Anusha Asim

K. Aten

Drew Baker

Jeff Baker

Evelyn Benvie

Eytan Bernstein

L. R. Braden

Sorren Briarwood

Kayleen Burdine

Siri Caldwell

Sonja Seren Calhoun

Jennifer Caracappa

T. D. Carlson

Caro

Minerva Cerridwen

Amanda Cherry

Dawn Spina Couper

Monique Cuillerier

Lynden Daley

Claire Davon

Ef Deal

Francine DeCarey

Nicole Dennis

Sarah Doebereiner

Kellie Doherty

Allan Dyen-Shapiro

Markus McCann Edgette

Kim Fielding

Tom Folske

Athena Foster

Ani Fox

Beáta Fülöp

Jendia Gammon

Storm Grant

Chad Grayson

Gabbi Grey

Kaje Harper

Narrelle M. Harris

Kelly Haworth

Chisto Healy

Megan Hippler

Joanna Michal Hoyt

Grace Hudson

Meghan Hyland

Jeff Jacobson

Erin Jamieson

W. Dale Jordan

Adrik Kemp

Olivia Kemper

Jamie Lackey

Aidee Ladnier

Amy Lane

Tris Lawrence

Brenda Lee

Katrina Lemaire

Gordon Linzner

Jayne Lockwood

Clare London

Nathan Alling Long

Patricia Loofbourrow

J.C. Lovero

Ilyas M.

Stacey Mahuna

Paula McGrath

Atlin Merrick

Amanda Meuwissen

Eloreen Moon

Jaime Munn

RJ Mustafa

Oliver Nash

Annika Neukirch

Jess Nevins

Rory Ni Coileain

K.L. Noone

Milo Owen

Chris Panatier

J Piper

Nia Quinn

Mere Rain

D.M. Rasch

Kazy Reed

LS Reinholt

Alexei Madeleine Reyner

Emerian Rich

Rie Sheridan Rose

Anna Rueden

Curtis Rueden

Carol Ryles

Jamie Sands

Rodello Santos

Sumiko Saulson

Aradhya Saxena

Ziggy Schutz

C.J. Scott

Alex Silver

Roxanne Skelly

sparks

Andrea Speed

Chloe Spencer

Robin Springer

Andrea Stanet

Nathaniel Taff

O.E. Tearmann

Tori Thompson

George Underwood

Avery Vanderlyle

Joz Varlo

Dawn Vogel

Rhian Waller

Dean Wells

Devon Widmer

B Wilkins

Holli Rebecca Williams

Paul Wilson

X. Ho Yen

Jamie Zaccaria

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