Deby Fredericks's Blog, page 16

The Suburban Book of Dreams (Queen Titania’s Court)

Rain is a ghost hunter in Jamie Sands’ YA paranormal series, Monster Slayers. But today she’s taking a well deserved break at the Midsummer Ball!

Rain, seventeen years old with long flowing dark brown hair and a confident bearing walks in. Her posture suggests she expects to be attacked, and the fire axe in her hand confirms that. Her expression is wary as she takes in the entire room, her large eyes flicking from one sight to the next.

Character Questions

Are you a prodigy or an ordinary person? Me? I’m ordinary. Except that I seem to be a magnet for weird stuff. I’ve seen enough ghosts and weird monsters that I’m feeling more like a Chosen One every day.

Where do you live — city, country, somewhere else? If you could leave, would you? I live in a suburb of a big city in New Zealand. I would love to go somewhere bigger and more interesting, but I’m still a student.

Author Questions

What is your POV on so-called “artificial intelligence” in the arts? I think it defeats the entire point of art to remove humanity from the creation of it. We write, paint and perform art to make sense of our world. Life, emotions, society, relationships and so on are human experiences. A machine-made piece of art has no understanding of any of those things so what’s the point of the art?

Do you write according to an outline, or just let the ideas flow? Both! I use beat sheets to keep the arc of the story in mind, and then I make a basic outline based on the beat sheets. I find if I just let my ideas flow, the story isn’t well-paced and makes little sense. Having a basic outline still gives me lots of room to play, invent twists and let my characters play around.

The Suburban Book of Dreams

Some nightmares are more than just dreams! Kids are disappearing from Rain’s hometown. First it’s strangers, then it’s someone a lot closer to home. Rain’s best friend Jacky is distraught and wants to help. But to help, she’ll need to know the truth about Rain’s side hustle hunting ghosts with her boyfriend Jake.

Coming clean is one thing, but Rain has been having strange and disturbing dreams, and they might be indicating that she’s the next target – or possibly the source of the disappearances? Either way, something hinky is going on.

Rain’s done with hiding things from her family, but that doesn’t mean that the supernatural world doesn’t have more surprises for her.

Available now from Books2Read. And don’t forget Book 1, The Suburban Book of the Dead, is also available from Books2Read.

Author Jamie SandsJamie Sands

Jamie is a non-binary kiwi who’s always been wondering ‘what if?’ A number one bestseller on Amazon, they write inclusive optimistic urban fantasy and romance highlighting queer characters. Jamie grew up in Wellington but now lives in Auckland with his wonderful spouse and two formally-stray cats. Learn more here.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

“By Promises Bound” (Queen Titania’s Court)

The Dragon’s Hoard 2

Today I’m featuring one of my own characters. The Pied Piper appears in “By Promises Bound,” one of the short stories in the recently released anthology, The Dragon’s Hoard 2.

The Pied Piper paused on the threshold. His patched and parti-colored robes seemed much out of place, but he knew he was just where he needed to be. “Ripe for the picking,” he smiled to himself.

A tall, spindly creature with eight legs and a coronet of glinting eyes lowered itself to greet him. “Welcome, minstrel. Who shall I say is attending the ball?” The voice was a disconcerting, high whistle.

The vagabond bowed with a theatrical flourish. “The Pied Piper, second of my name. Might I be allowed to join in the music?”

Character Questions

What is the rarest and most precious thing in your land? Nothing less than a promise. When broken, they bring the greatest disaster, and when kept, they are beyond price.

In your world, do people trust magic or think it is evil? There is much distrust, but magic is merely a tool. The goodness or evil lies in the wielder’s intention.

Author Questions

What is your purpose in writing? That sounds so pompous, doesn’t it? My purpose is to tell stories that entertain, but also reveal the world and even demonstrate alternatives to the most terrible habits people have.

What is your POV on so-called “artificial intelligence” in the arts? “AI” is a lie. It’s a scam based on massive theft. People think they can use it to make a quick buck, whether by defrauding consumers or replacing human workers. There might be a million facts in a knowledge base — all of them stolen — but “AI” doesn’t understand anything.

Unscrupulous corporations want to force it on the public, but the more we experience it, the more we realize “AI” tells bold faced lies. The same corporations are trying to convince us that we can’t avoid using it. That’s a lie, too.

We can and must reject “AI” whenever it is offered to us, with the same persistence and attention to details that we have learned to use in our writing.

The Dragon’s Hoard 2

Welcome to realms where dragons reign, treasures abound, and every adventure leads to magic. Explore stories that spark the imagination and might just awaken the dragon within. Are you brave enough to face the dragon and claim your prize?

From the unyielding grip of ancient magics to the cunning of those who seek dragons, their treasure or both—each story weaves a rich tapestry of magic and lore. Whether it’s a battle for survival, the forging of an unlikely alliance, or a humorous twist on hoarding habits, our authors invite you to delve into realms where dragons not only hoard gold but also secrets, spells, and sometimes, even friendships. After all, in the world of dragons, not all treasures are silver and gold—some are stories waiting to be told.

Featuring stories by: Adam Strassberg, Brooksie C. Fontaine, Harding McFadden, Deby Fredericks, J.S. Rogers, Christopher Powers, Laura J. Underwood, Anka B. Troitsky, John Lance, Laura Ruth Loomis, Jonah Jones, Nicholas Samuel Stember, Peter Sartucci, Brian MacDonald, Chad Gayle, Jennifer Caracappa, D.J. Tyrer, A.B. Martin, M. Bloom, Alexandria Wyckoff, Mabel Ginest, and L.A. Knight

Now available directly from Wolfsinger, or from Amazon, Smashwords or Barnes & Noble.

Photo courtesy of Fall Folk Fest.Deby Fredericks

Deby Fredericks has been a writer all her life, but thought of it as just a fun hobby until the late Nineties. Since then she has published twenty fantasy novels, novellas and novelettes, either with small presses or independently. Her short fiction has appeared in Andromeda Spaceways, selected anthologies, and small magazines.

Since 2018, her significant work has been the Minstrels of Skaythe series, about a group of pacifist mages who seek hope in a world ruled by darkness.

In addition, Fredericks writes for children as Lucy D. Ford. Her children’s stories and poems have appeared in magazines such as Boys’ Life, Babybug, Ladybug, and Spider. In the past, she served as Regional Advisor for the Inland Northwest Region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, International (SCBWI).

But wait, there’s more! Fredericks has been involved with science fiction fandom in Eastern Washington since the early Eighties. She worked on the convention committees of Spokon, InCon, WesterCon 49 and SpoCon. In addition to her leadership of Telgar Weyr (Pern fandom), she was involved with Star Trek and Elfquest fan groups, and a few independent comic projects. Fredericks was the Fan Guest of Honor at RadCon 1, RustyCon 21, Author Guest of Honor at RadCon 9, and has been a frequent panelists at Inland Northwest conventions. Learn more from her web site, www.debyfredericks.com

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

The Cost of Power: Return (Queen Titania’s Court)

Gabriel Martinierre is visiting from Joyce Reynolds-Ward’s contemporary western science fantasy, The Cost of Power, Book One: Return.

Gabriel Martiniere glides into the ball, dressed in a black pinstripe morning suit with a brocade gold and black vest, a black Stetson on his head, pointed-toe black Nocona Western boots that faintly jingle with each stride he takes, as if invisible spurs fit on his heels. Two rings glimmer on his right hand–one a golden signet, the other a heavy gold ring with a big emerald that glows with red and gold lights within it. While his carriage is regal, there’s a wariness in his expression as he looks around the room, frowning slightly. He moves with the grace of a trained and conditioned fighter, and while there isn’t a sword strapped to his side it wouldn’t seem out of place–though a gunslinger’s pistol hanging low on his hip would also fit. A faint golden glow surrounds him as he bows to the Queen. Is he completely mortal, or is there more to him than it seems?

“Well met, my lady Queen.” A cultured speaker, but there’s something compelling about that tenor voice. A voice that could command others into battle. Is he truly a modern man, or a throwback to an earlier era?

Character Questions

Are you on the run from the law? Not exactly. That is, I’ve told my beloved Ruby that indenture bounty hawks are after me to force me into indenture because I owe a lot of money for college and medical expenses for my family. In reality, I testified against my family’s privately-held company for their human rights abuses using mind control techniques to create an indentured military program. As a result of my testimony, I have a price on my head, set by my uncle Philip. I don’t dare tell Ruby the truth because it puts her at risk. I’ve lived in peace with Ruby for four of the five years I’ve been in hiding. But that could all go away. I’ve heard that a true crime streaming show, Criminal Injustice, intends to not only cover what happened at the trial but use actual footage from my testimony. What must I do to keep Ruby and her aging grandfather safe–especially since I suspect that Ruby is now pregnant?

In your world, do people trust magic, or is it evil? In my world, most people don’t think magic exists. I know otherwise. There are several magical artifacts that belong to my family, including a poniard that certifies all oaths sworn on it are valid. We claim descent from the fairy Melusine, and I’ve had–several odd encounters in the past that may involve the Melusine. The foundations for mind control technology are hazy enough that they might as well be magical. For me? I don’t trust magic. I trained in agricultural robotics and am a decent programmer in my own right–I managed to insinuate a worm that trashed the research databases tied to mind control technology. It worked better than it should have. Technology, or magic? I’m inclined to think that magic, if it exists, is problematic at best.

Author Questions

What is your POV on so-called “artificial intelligence” in the arts? First of all, I come at this question based on my training in special education evaluation as well as ten years experience as a special education caseworker. I do not believe that artificial intelligence is now or ever can exhibit the sort of creative thinking that will allow it to independently create works of art. What we are seeing now is brute force large language models that have quick access to massive amounts of information. However, those LLMs cannot extrapolate or generalize effectively based on that information. They can only reorganize and restate what has been fed to them. They are incapable of making those intuitive connections that the human brain can make.

At the moment, I believe that A.I. is at the high point in the hype cycle, and will plunge into a massive trough of disillusionment sometime in the next eighteen months.

What is your purpose in writing? I like to tell stories that I would enjoy reading.

The Cost of Power, Book One: Return

When rodeo queen Ruby Barkley fell in love with broke saddle bronc rider Gabe Ramirez, she thought he was on the run from indentured servitude due to massive debt. Then she learned that her love was really Gabriel Martiniere, wealthy descendant of aristocratic brawlers, in hiding due to his testimony against mind control programming abuses of indentured workers performed by his family’s company, the Martiniere Group.

Not that brawling has been a part of the Martiniere heritage since the mid-nineteenth century. These days the Martiniere Family’s income relies on agricultural technology, security services, and pharmaceuticals. Not fighting. Not mercenary companies. Their battles are waged in corporate boardrooms and financial manipulations. But the hidden history of the Martiniere Family surfaces in Gabe—and his father Philip.

Gaining power always demands a cost. Ruby and Gabe walk a knife’s-edge balance between victory and defeat—not just for them, but for the multiverse. And if they lose themselves in the quest for power, they might just lose who they really are.

Joyce Reynolds-Ward

Joyce Reynolds-Ward’s work includes themes of high-stakes family and political conflict, digital sentience, personal agency and control, realistic strong women, and (whenever possible) horses, frequently in Pacific Northwest settings.

She is the author of five speculative fiction series: The Netwalk Sequence, Goddess’s Honor, The Martiniere Legacy, The People of the Martiniere Legacy, and The Martiniere Multiverse as well as standalones Federation Cowboy, Beating the Apocalypse, Klone’s Stronghold and Alien Savvy. Her new trilogy, The Cost of Power, will be released in September, 2024.

Joyce is a Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off Semifinalist, a Writers of the Future SemiFinalist, and an Anthology Builder Finalist. She is a board member of the Northwest Independent Writers Association, a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, and a member of Soroptimists International. Follow her online at X/Twitter, Instagram, CounterSocial, and Bluesky.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

Intrigue Among Vampires (Queen Titania’s Court)

Today we are joined by two sisters who are more than they seem. Loretta and Pascaline appear in Elizabeth Guizetti’s historical vampire novel, Intrigue Among Vampires.

Emissaries from King Louis XIV, a human girl, Loretta, and her elder sister and recently transformed vampire, Pascaline, glide into the ball. At the sound of the herald, the sisters approach Queen Titania with balletic grace and perfect etiquette. As she speaks, Pascaline hides her vampiric nature with a well-placed fan and the Court fashions of Versailles. Loretta bides her time for her turn at transformation is coming. For now, she pleases the court with a voice as lovely as a chorus of angels.

Character Questions

Would you rather sneak through a dragon’s den, or swim over a mermaid’s grotto? Loretta answers: “Sneak through? I should never never, but as I don’t know how to swim, I suppose we should knock on the dragon’s door and invite them to tea.” Pascaline agrees excitedly, “Perhaps, dragons like to read? I am part of a ladies’ literary salon in Paris. It meets every Saturday, if you or the dragon should like to attend.”

What is the rarest and most precious thing in your land? The sisters exchange a glance. Pascaline answers, “There is a purple dye made from a shell of a giant mollusk, that our dear papa killed two centuries ago. Our goal is to bring it back to fashion in all the best circles.”

Author Questions

Do you write according to an outline, or just let the ideas flow? I generally have a loose plan and work from an outline for the big points I want to make in the book and then let the story travel as it wills. As I learn historical points, I do tend to understand the characters better and the book shifts to suit them.

How do you choose your next project? I let the project speak to me, but right now, I am writing a series of vampire books from the Paper Flower Consortium Universe so I know my next book will be chosen by the next vampire who was changed in a chronological manner. This means the next vampire will be Charles Onfoy and his book, Loyalty Among Vampires, should come out in 2025.

Intrigue Among Vampires

France 1685: Pascaline Aubinet watches in dread as Dragonnades terrorize the Huguenots. Isolated due to her long confinement from the Court, her concerns are dismissed by her husband. Meanwhile, her younger sister, Loretta Fabron, is immersed in the excitement of her debut, her musical pursuits, and the prospect of meeting King Louis XIV.

When the Dragonnades are garrisoned in the Aubinet home, the women are thrust into an unfamiliar and unforgiving world. Pascaline and Loretta are abandoned and struggle to secure respectable employment with skills limited to courtly behavior and a sick infant. Humans can be cruel, and those who linger in the night are hungry. As her daughter’s health deteriorates, Pascaline and Loretta seek refuge in a secluded wood and village untouched by time. There, they encounter a deathly pale count and his beautiful, uncanny wife, who offer sanctuary. Amidst sweeping political upheavals in France, the count and countess have been summoned back into the dazzling world of Versailles after a prolonged absence, borne from sickness of an entirely different nature. They struggle with modern deportment and Court fashion. Pascaline’s devotion to her humanity dies with her daughter.

Pascaline and Loretta must navigate the treacherous waters of the rules and tradition of Versailles, love, and the allure and consequences of a bloodier path.

Ebook available exclusively from Amazon through the month of July. The illustrated hardback and paperback editions are available from Barnes and Noble and the author’s online shop.

Elizabeth Guizetti

Elizabeth Guizzetti is an illustrator and author best known for her demon-poodle based comedy, Out for Souls & Cookies and her historical family dramas in the Vampires of the Paper Flower Consortium. She is also the creator of Faminelands and Lure and collaborated with authors on several projects including Dear Penpal Belgium 1980 and A is for Apex.  

To explore a different aspect of her creativity, she writes science fiction and fantasy. Her debut novel, Other Systems, was a 2015 Finalist for the Canopus Award for excellence in Interstellar Fiction. Her short work has appeared in anthologies such as Wee Folk and The Wise and Beyond the Hedge. 
 
Guizzetti lives in Seattle with her husband and dog. When not writing or illustrating, she loves hiking and waltzing.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

The Case Files of Owen Craig (Queen Titania’s Court)

From the dark streets of New York City, please welcome the magical detective Owen Craig, from H. A. Titus’ noire fantasy, The Case Files of Owen Craig.

No one is quite sure where he came from, but a clear space in the party reveals a tall man leaning against the wall, sharp blue eyes watching the revelry. He’s wearing a dark suit and trenchcoat. When he notices the Queen’s eyes on him, he tips his fedora, revealing dark, slicked-back hair and slightly-pointed ears, though the rest of his features are human.

“No worries, my lady,” he says, a smirk curling one corner of his mouth. “I’m just keepin’ an eye on the proceedings.”

Character Questions

Where do you live — city, country, somewhere else? If you could leave, would you? I live in New York City, and to be honest I ain’t too much of a country boy. I prefer the business and action of the city.

What is your dream job? To be honest I can’t really see myself bein’ anything other than a private detective. I get to help people without bein’ held to the rules and regs of the police force. Doubly useful, since I’m half-fae and can see all the nonsense my fellow Sidhe get up to around the city. I don’t think the humans at police headquarters would be too excited if I was constantly harin’ off chasin’ fae.

Author Questions

What is your purpose in writing? Primarily, I hope my stories are an escape from whatever difficult things a reader may be dealing with. If someone told me I brought a little joy or a little hope to them, I’d take it as the greatest compliment.

How do you choose your next project? Usually I let two or three ideas mingle around in my head for a little bit, and I start work on the one that I’m most excited about. It gets really hard when they’re all projects I really like! (Though in that case I tend to pick which one has a good market or which one has a deadline.)

The Case Files of Owen Craig

In 1920s New York City, there’s plenty of trouble to be had — especially if you’re a half-fae private detective. Owen Craig and his assistant Roe Gillam beat the streets of the city while dodging the evil-doers and fae mobsters overrunning the city. Their cases are tough, and to crack them, the two have to be even tougher—a tall order, even for two detectives who have magic on their side.

H. A. Titus

H. A. Titus can usually be found with her nose in a book or spinning storyworlds in her head. She loves mythology, Dungeons & Dragons, and a good cup of tea. She lives in the Midwest with her weather-mage husband and two super-villain sons (don’t mind the robotic dinosaurs, they’re friendly) who enjoy dragging her into real-life adventures. Some claim she is half-fae, but that’s just unfounded rumor.

She shares short stories and serialized fiction at Substack. Find her also on Instagram.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

“Hag” (Queen Titania’s Court)

Today I’m featuring one of my own characters. Lurveska appears in “Hag,” one of the short stories in my recently released collection, Aunt Anne’s Archive.

“Well, this is a surprise.” The hag Lurveska stood poised on a hummock above the Dolarus Swamp. Muddy water dripped from her loose skirt of water weeds. Just before her was a ruined arch, part of a wall half sunk in the mire. Shifting currents and swamp creatures had spread the alarm of an incursion. Lurveska rushed to the scene, expecting to confront human invaders.

Instead, she peered into a palace filled with an array of fantastic creatures. Some were beautiful, in dazzling robes. Others were twisted spirits, like Lurveska herself. Yet none were so vile as the demons she kept watch over in the drowning Dolarus Swamp. Magic rippled and flowed here. There was music and dancing, and across from her a fairy woman sat on a glittering throne.

This was no invasion. It was an invitation for Lurveska. A respite from her desolate home and the grim watch she kept there. The magnificent fairy queen smiled in welcome as Lurveska strode out to take her place among the throng.

Character Questions

Are you a prodigy or an ordinary person? I was born as a human, but I had physical deformities. My family abandoned me in the Dolarus Swamp. A Hag found me, and through a series of rituals I was transformed into one of them. With our shape-shifting and other powers, you could say I am now a prodigy compared to humans.

Where do you live — city, country, somewhere else? If you could leave, would you? I am a hag of the Dolarus Swamp. Beneath its enchanted waters, hideous demons are imprisoned. I guard the swamp’s borders against foolish people who are seduced by rumors of buried wealth. So, it would not be possible for me to leave — unless I decide that the world deserves to be plundered by the evil Dolari.

Author Questions

How do you choose your next project? I keep my eyes and ears open. Things happen in the world that I want to respond to, or people are talking about something interesting. When I spot a likely idea, I hunt it down and take it hostage until it gives up a story!

How do you publicize your work? Like a lot of writers, I’m not my own best advocate. I’m active in a few places online, and I try to be visible locally, but it often seems futile. My best assets have been to keep my blog going on a regular basis, and keep writing great stories.

Aunt Anne’s Archive

Behind the velvet curtain, beyond the secret door, lies a lost archive of literary enchantments. From the creepy to the cozy, the mysterious and the magical, the witty and the wondrous, each tale casts its own rare spell. Welcome to Aunt Anne’s Archive.

This is a collection of fantasy short stories by Deby Fredericks. They have a variety of styles. Many are cozy and humorous, but others are swords and sorcery with darker subject matter.

Buy it from Amazon or Books2Read.

Photo courtesy of Fall Folk Fest.Deby Fredericks

Deby Fredericks has been a writer all her life, but thought of it as just a fun hobby until the late Nineties. Since then she has published twenty fantasy novels, novellas and novelettes, either with small presses or independently. Her short fiction has appeared in Andromeda Spaceways, selected anthologies, and small magazines.

Since 2018, her significant work has been the Minstrels of Skaythe series, about a group of pacifist mages who seek hope in a world ruled by darkness.

In addition, Fredericks writes for children as Lucy D. Ford. Her children’s stories and poems have appeared in magazines such as Boys’ Life, Babybug, Ladybug, and Spider. In the past, she served as Regional Advisor for the Inland Northwest Region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, International (SCBWI).

But wait, there’s more! Fredericks has been involved with science fiction fandom in Eastern Washington since the early Eighties. She worked on the convention committees of Spokon, InCon, WesterCon 49 and SpoCon. In addition to her leadership of Telgar Weyr (Pern fandom), she was involved with Star Trek and Elfquest fan groups, and a few independent comic projects. Fredericks was the Fan Guest of Honor at RadCon 1, RustyCon 21, Author Guest of Honor at RadCon 9, and has been a frequent panelists at Inland Northwest conventions. Learn more from her web site, www.debyfredericks.com

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

Wrecker of Engines (Queen Titania’s Court)

Please welcome Lizzie Blythe, The Electric Girl, a superhero from Cobalt City. Her adventures with the Cobalt City Adventurer’s Club are written by Rosemary Jones in Wrecker of Engines and a number of other Cobalt City titles.

Character Questions

Are you a prodigy or an ordinary person? I was a reporter for a newspaper before Steambolt Edison zapped me. More than a century later, I’m trying to be an ordinary person again, and it’s exciting. The 21st century is very different from the 19th but there’s still dragons and other villains to battle in Cobalt City.

Do you have any pets, and if so, what are they? No pets. Tidwell, he’s the ancient house spirit who takes care of the Adventurers Club where I live, has mentioned acquiring a cat. He says cats arrive when they are needed most. A bit like superheroes.

Author Questions

Do you have a group of writer friends? How are they organized? I belong to one group who meets every Sunday for a writing session. They used to do this in person but these days it is online so I have no excuses for skipping. Even if the weather is crappy or I have a cold, I’ll sign in and do two hours of writing. Or answering questions, like today!

What do you think is important for a writer to succeed? Persistence. You’ll very rarely sell a work on the first try. But you can keep chipping away at your goals. Also you need to define “success” for yourself. Then look to see what the pathways exist to reach that goal. I wanted to write fantasy so I looked for companies publishing the type of fantasy that I like to read and write. Also who was open to working with a writer without an agent. That turned out to be Wizards of the Coast and, later, Aconyte.

Wrecker of Engines

Welcome to Cobalt City, where the adventures keep changing but some superheroes are timeless.

Dive into the complete collection of tales from the Cobalt City’s Adventurers Club. From the gaslight mysteries of the nineteenth century, to mayhem in the twentieth century, to high-tech thrills of the twenty-first century, explore the city with its champions. Meet two generations of Wreckers, American Spirit, Wild Kat, and more. This expanded edition includes the beloved novella “Wrecker of Engines” plus new stories and bonus content.

Rosemary Jones

Rosemary Jones is the author of Wrecker of Engines (Cobalt City Universe/DefCon One), Bootlegger’s Dance (Arkham Horror/Aconyte), Deadly Grimoire (Arkham Horror/Aconyte), Mask of Silver (Arkham Horror/Aconyte), Cold Steel & Secrets (Forgotten Realms/Wizards of the Coast), City of the Dead (Forgotten Realms/Wizards of the Coast), and Crypt of the Moaning Diamond (Forgotten Realms/Wizards of the Coast). Short stories have appeared in The Awakened series, Cobalt City Dragonstorm (DefCon One), Foreshadows (Very Us Artists, distributed by Baen), Close Encounters of the Urban Kind (Apex), Realms of the Dead (Wizards of the Coast), When Hero Comes Home (Dragon Moon Press), and When Villain Comes Home (Dragon Moon Press), among others. Her short story “The Takers” (published in Hitting the Skids in Pixeltown) won the Phobos Award for Best New Voice in Science Fiction. Current projects, social media hangouts, and complete bibliography available at www.rosemaryjones.com.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

Coed Demon Sluts: Amanda (Queen Titania’s Court)

Please welcome Cricket, a retired succubus and star of Jennifer Stevenson’s urban fantasy series, Coed Demon Sluts.

Cricket Immersang and her succubus roommates have retired from active duty, but they are still doing contract work for the Regional Office (hell) and the Home Office (heaven), solving those little problems that the bureaucracy has no official mechanism for handling. They are surprised to get an invitation from the Grand Vizier of Queen Titania’s Court to cope with a delicate problem. Cricket is selected to represent the team at a grand faerie ball, so that the Queen can decide if she’ll hire them.

Character Questions

Are you a prodigy or an ordinary person? Well, I spent most of my ninety-eight years being a normal Jewish bubbe. Cooking, cleaning, wiping noses, having hot sex with one husband after another. Guess I wore ’em out. Then I got recruited to this team of coed demon sluts, fell in love with one of them, plotted to fake my death, and here I am.

Where do you live? If you could leave, would you? I live in Chicago. Always wanted to travel. When I was younger we always had kids, we were too poor, and then my husbands kept wearing out and dying. Since I became a succubus my girlfriend and I had our honeymoon as bears in Canada, we’ve visited hell and won the All-Circles Basketball Tournament, been back a few times on business. We even went to heaven for a job. Now I’m gonna dress up schmantzy and go to a Faerie party!

Author Questions

Do you have a group of writer friends? How are they organized? I’m a member of Book View Café, the world’s oldest, largest, most prestigious author-owned publishing collective. We publish a new title every week. The mutual support and service-swapping are absolutely priceless.

What do you think is important for a writer to succeed? Persistence is all. Talented writers are a dime a dozen. Kurt Vonnegut once told my mother, who had asked that same question, “Put the seat of your pants on the seat of the chair.” He was a copyboy at City News Bureau at the time and she was showing him the ropes, but he was the one with the persistence.

Coed Demon Sluts: Amanda

Aren’t you tired of doing everything right? Wouldn’t you like a second chance to go back and do it wrong?

Cricket’s family may be ready for their 98-year-old great-grandma to go gently into that good night, but she sure as hell isn’t. So when hell comes calling in the form of Delilah, she’s ready to sign on the dotted “succubus” line.

Army brat Amanda has spent her life letting everyone else call the shots. With a shiny new contract, and a shape-shifting body as tough as titanium, she’s ready to call some shots of her own–on the basketball court.

Now roommates at the Lair, this odd couple is ready to set the Regional Office on its ear with hell’s first coed demon basketball tournament–and to discover that you’re never too old or too shy to find new friendships – or love.

The fourth adventure in the Coed Demon Sluts series!

Jennifer Stevenson

Jennifer Stevenson lives in Chicago with her husband and two bossy kittens. She swims, bikes, attempts yoga, gardens, and finds new uses for old sex demons. Find her at JenniferStevensonAuthor on Facebook, or at Book View Café, blogging and selling all her books. You can join her newsletter for great free stuff or just come over and poke around her website.

Purchase links are at https://jenniferstevenson.com or at Book View Café, where I get 90% of the purchase price https://bookviewcafe.com/bvc_author/jennifer-stevenson/

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

Winterlight (Queen Titania’s Court)

Our first guest is Saskia, from Sanan Kolva’s steampunk fantasy series, The Winterlight Chronicles. The second volume, Runefrost, is due out later in 2025.

I thought attending the Silver Prince’s Winter Ball was intimidating, but this makes it look like a stroll in the park. Saskia smoothed her dress and passed through the gates into the ball. Immediately, she felt underdressed, and it felt as if every eye that fell on her could at once see she was only a Middle City doctor, despite her noble title. All the same, she had been invited here just as they had, though perhaps not for the same reason. Whatever the magical ailment that had been hinted at in the missive she received, she was ready to find its source and end it before it claimed anyone here.

Character Questions

In your world, do people trust magic or think it is evil? I can’t speak for the world as a whole. Not even for all of our country of Calarand. But here in the capital city, Lewarden, magic is a source of power. It’s a tool, one that gives us light, allows automatons and so many amenities we now enjoy. The taming of magic has allowed us great advances in industry. And if it were not for the harnessing of magic, my husband, Alistar, would never have become an engineer, and we would never have met.

Where do you live? If you could leave, would you? I live in the capital, Lewarden. I’ve lived here my whole life—never left the city before I married Alistar. Thanks to certain royal rewards, we live in the Venture District, amid the Noble District, but I grew up in the Middle City, just on the edge of the Lower City, helping my father run a medical clinic to treat the poor of Lewarden.

Author Questions

Do you write according to an outline, or just let the ideas flow? I let the ideas flow, for the most part. When I’m working on a series, the first book is often a very organic thing as it develops. While I don’t have a strict outline, for the rest of the books in the series, I generally have an idea of the plot, the goals, and often some key scenes.

Do you have a group of writer friends? How are they organized? I have several. I have a critique group that meets in person twice a month to review each other’s chapters or short stories, which has been very helpful for me—I like having a deadline. The other group meets once a week virtually, and that group is strictly writing time. We met in person before the pandemic, but electronically has allowed everyone more flexibility.

Winterlight

Alistar left his family’s fleets to serve as an engineer for Silverline Power in the capital city of Lewarden, working with the magical network that feeds the city’s industry and growth. As both a human and an outsider, he successfully avoids being drawn into the tangled chaos of elven-dominated court politics. However, when theft and sabotage in the depths of winter threaten to destroy Silverline and the web of magic that powers the city, risking not only his chosen work but also the lives of thousands, Alistar’s neutrality earns him the politically delicate investigation into the source of the problem. His only ally is the elven thief Onyxflame, imprisoned for his own crimes against Silverline and conscripted with the promise of a pardon. They must form an uneasy partnership and navigate treacherous political waters to resolve the situation before unrest, rivalry, and distrust plunges the city into civil war. Available from Amazon.com.

Sanan Kolva

Sanan Kolva is a technical editor by day, and writer of epic and steampunk fantasy the rest of the time. She is the author of The Chosen of the Spear series, The Silverline Chronicles, and the post-apocalyptic fantasy Ghost and Guardian. Her short fiction appears in a number of anthologies. When not writing, she enjoys baking and decorating cakes, battling the forces of evil in various video games, and appeasing her feline overlords. She can be found at https://sanankolva.com.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

Queen Titania’s Court 2024

Something smelled wonderful. There was a tantalizing aroma, like coffee with caramel, or maybe hot chocolate with marshmallows. You couldn’t resist searching for the source. It was a cheerful little café, one you had never seen although this city was your home. You went inside…

Something smelled enticing. It was an intoxicating perfume of mingled lavender and roses, or maybe wisteria, with others you couldn’t name. You knew the countryside well, but you had never seen this hedge with its silver gate. It seemed a whole garden full of flowers must be blooming just beyond…

Something smelled delicious. It was the fragrance of the richest stew, or the spiciest curry, or the smokiest barbecue you ever had craved. You found your way to a narrow alley, where smoke rose from a brick oven. It floated you toward it…

Something smelled tantalizing. In this baking desert night, left dry and unloving by the sun’s cruel heat, it was impossible. But there was the silky scent of pure water. You couldn’t resist…

And why would you wish to? The food and drink you smell are all laid out for you, a feast in the glittering night. The perfume is of herbs and flowers grown in the rich soil of Faerie. Come, follow your nose. It is Midsummer Night, and you have been led to Queen Titania’s Court!

Order of Appearances

June 1 – Winterlight, by Sanan Kolva
June 4 – Coed Demon Sluts: Amanda, Jennifer Stevenson
June 6 – Wrecker of Engines, by Rosemary Jones
June 8 – Aunt Anne’s Archive, by Deby Fredericks
June 11 – The Case Files of Owan Craig, by H. A. Titus
June 13 – Intrigue Among Vampires, by Elizabeth Guizetti
June 15 – The Cost of Power, by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
June 18 – The Dragon’s Hoard 2, by Deby Fredericks
June 20 – The Suburban Book of Dreams, by Jamie Sands
June 22 – David and the Drainosaurs, by Janyce Brawn
June 25 – Ordeal of the Scarlet Order, by David Lee Summers
June 27 – The Elf Guardian, by Lyndi Alexander
June 29 – Borne in the Blood, by Deby Fredericks
July 3 – Grand Finale

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.