Paige Orwin: The Interminables

Paige Orwin: The Interminables


It’s 2020, and a magical cataclysm has shattered reality as we know it. Now a wizard’s cabal is running the East Coast of the US, keeping a semblance of peace.

Their most powerful agents, Edmund and Istvan — the former a nearly immortal 1940s-era mystery man, the latter, well, a ghost — have been assigned to hunt down an arms smuggling ring that could blow up Massachusetts.

Turns out the mission’s more complicated than it seemed. They discover a shadow war that’s been waged since the world ended, and, even worse, they find out that their own friendship has always been more complicated than they thought. To get out of this alive, they’ll need to get over their feelings, their memories, and the threat of a monstrous foe who’s getting ready to commit mass murder…

Praise for The Interminables:

“If you’re looking for an entertaining piece of dystopian fiction, with magic and heroes and..er..a cat, then this will suit you very well indeed.”
– SF & F Reviews

“Vivid worldbuilding of a fascinating alternate Earth, peppered with touches of whimsy. This is a promising debut!”
– Emmie Mears, author of the Ayala Storme series

Paige, vital stats:

Location:
Washington

Of note:
Loves Panchito, her writing netbook
Is a big fan of, and lived in, Chile
Is actually a battleship, disguised as a human

Alyc Helms: The Conclave of Shadow

Alyc Helms: The Conclave of Shadow

The line between enemy and ally is thinner than a shadow’s edge.

Ever since she saved the spirit guardians of China by selling out to her worst enemy, Missy Masters – a.k.a. the pulp hero Mr. Mystic – has been laying low. But when knights serving the Conclave of Shadow steal secret technology from a museum exhibit on the Argent Aces, everyone looks to Mr. Mystic for help. If Missy doesn’t want her masquerade blown, she’d better track down the thieves, and fast.

But stolen tech turns out to be the least of her problems. Recent events have upset the balance of power in the Shadow Realms, removing the barriers that once held the ravenous Voidlands in check. Their spread threatens destruction in the mortal realm as well… and only the Conclave stands ready to push them back.

In a world of shadow, telling friends from enemies is easier said than done. But if she wants to save San Francisco, Missy will have to decide who to trust. Including her own instincts, which tell her that something is stalking her with murder in mind…

Praise for The Conclave of Shadow:

"Not only is the plot highly original, it is filled with fascinating characters."
– Crittermom

“If you are looking for a fresh urban fantasy with superheroes, Chinese folklore, realistic heroine and a great story, then you must try it out!”
– Bookworm Dreams

Alyc, vital stats:

Location:
San Francisco

Interests:
San Francisco (she loves it, she really does)
Theatre and costuming
Travel
Amigurumi

Jen Williams: The Copper Promise

Jen Williams: The Copper Promise

US/CAN RELEASE ONLY

There are some tall stories about the caverns beneath the Citadel – about magic and mages and monsters and gods.

Wydrin of Crosshaven has heard them all, but she’s spent long enough trawling caverns and taverns with her companion Sir Sebastian to learn that there’s no money to be made in chasing rumours.

But then a crippled nobleman with a dead man’s name offers them a job: exploring the Citadel’s darkest depths. It sounds like just another quest with gold and adventure … if they’re lucky, they might even have a tale of their own to tell once it’s over.

These reckless adventurers will soon learn that sometimes there is truth in rumour. Sometimes a story can save your life.

Praise for The Copper Promise:

“Williams’ fast-paced narrative never leaves room for a pause and captivates from page one.”
– Sci-Fi Now

“A fast-paced and original new voice in heroic fantasy.”
– Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of Children of Time and the Shadows of the Apt series

Jen, vital stats:

Location:
London

Of note:
Loves mead and Star Wars
If not an author would be a paleontologist
Unusually good at finding things
Thundercats are the best, okay?

Lavie Tidhar: Camera Obscura

Lavie Tidhar: Camera Obscura


In the last decade of a 19th century unlike our own, Milady de Winter is called to the scene of an impossible crime. A gruesome murder on the Rue Morgue sets her against a ghostly serial killer, and on a voyage that leads from the catacombs of Paris to the wonders of the New World – where new horrors lie in wait.

In Camera Obscura, World Fantasy Award winner Lavie Tidhar combines the Victorian penny dreadful with exploitation cinema to create a wide-screen thriller of redemption: complete with mad scientists, secret societies, Shaolin monks and figures liberally borrowed from the literature of the era – as only he can.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! For the first time, the 2016 edition also includes ‘Titanic’, a short story from the Lost Files of the Bookman Histories.

Praise for Camera Obscura:

“Camera Obscura is dark, violent, and a fine steampunk thriller that’ll stick to your ribs in a way other thrillers don’t. It’s stuffed to the gills with action and plot … the world-building is deftly done. And Tidhar’s Milady de Winter is fantastic. If you like steampunk or just action in general, it’s well worth a read.”
– The Literary Omnivore

“A rollicking adventure…a maelstrom of pop culture and recursive fantasy.”
– Tor.com

Lavie, vital stats:

Location:
London

Of note:
World Fantasy Award winner
Has released six books already this year
Loves conventions and talking (will you be at NineWolrds? Lavie will be!)

Keith Yatsuhashi: Kojiki

Keith Yatsuhashi: Kojiki

Every civilization has its myths. Only one is true.

When eighteen year old Keiko Yamada’s father dies unexpectedly, he leaves behind a one way ticket to Japan, an unintelligible death poem about powerful Japanese spirits and their gigantic, beast-like Guardians, and the cryptic words: “Go to Japan in my place. Find the Gate. My camera will show you the way.”

Alone and afraid, Keiko travels to Tokyo, determined to fulfil her father’s dying wish. There, beneath glittering neon signs, her father’s death poem comes to life. Ancient spirits spring from the shadows and chaos envelops the city. As Keiko flees its burning streets, her guide, the beautiful Yui Akiko, makes a stunning confession – that she, Yui, is one of a handful of spirits left behind to defend the world against the most powerful among them: a once noble spirit now insane. Keiko must decide if she will honour her father’s heritage and take her rightful place among the gods.

Praise for Kojiki:

“A unique spin on fantasy, a space where dragons and elementals war with each other over broken Tokyo – then this book is worth your time.”
– Sci-Fi & Fantasy Reviews

“If you are looking for an exciting fantasy novel, I definitely recommend that you give Kojiki a try. You won’t be disappointed.”
– Masquerade Crew

Keith, vital stats:

Location:
Massachusetts

Interests:
Rollerblading (ask his broken arm!)
His family
Golf

Foz Meadows: An Accident of Stars

Foz Meadows: An Accident of Stars


When Saffron Coulter stumbles through a hole in reality, she finds herself trapped in Kena, a magical realm on the brink of civil war.

There, her fate becomes intertwined with that of three very different women: Zech, the fast-thinking acolyte of a cunning, powerful exile; Viya, the spoiled, runaway consort of the empire-building ruler, Vex Leoden; and Gwen, an Earth-born worldwalker whose greatest regret is putting Leoden on the throne. But Leoden has allies, too, chief among them the Vex’Mara Kadeja, a dangerous ex-priestess who shares his dreams of conquest.

Pursued by Leoden and aided by the Shavaktiin, a secretive order of storytellers and mystics, the rebels flee to Veksh, a neighboring matriarchy ruled by the fearsome Council of Queens. Saffron is out of her world and out of her depth, but the further she travels, the more she finds herself bound to her friends with ties of blood and magic.


Can one girl – an accidental worldwalker – really be the key to saving Kena? Or will she just die trying?

Praise for An Accident of Stars:

“An Accident of Stars‘ interwoven, beautifully rendered cultures are filled with rich details, complex family bonds of all kinds, and deeply layered politics. To enter Kena and the surrounding lands is to be irrevocably and powerfully changed. Foz Meadows has created an epic adventure unlike any I’ve read before.”
- Fran Wilde, Nebula- and Norton-nominated author of Updraft and Cloudbound

“A portal fantasy for grownups, with grit and realism,
and characters I loved from the first page.”
- Trudi Canavan, author of the Black Magician trilogy

Foz, vital stats:

Location:
Queensland, Australia

Of note:
Can sing every line of the musical Hamilton
Loves 'shipping and Dragon Age
Has previously been nominated for a Hugo Award
Self proclaimed dork

Health Update

As many of you know, i suffer from Diabetes and hearth disease and various other diseases caused by Agent Orange.

Recently I was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes caused by diabetic retinopathy and was scheduled for surgery to remove them.

Since then AO has raised its ugly head and now I have a large cataract on my left eye as well as macular edema and an ischemic bleed that makes it almost impossible to see.

The procedure consisted of an ultra sound of the eye, a retinal and corneal exam to make sure they were undamaged. as of today, they are fine, but I had to have a shot in my eye to try and remove the blood and stop the bleeder. He scheduled me for twelve treatments, once a month or until it's better. If that doesn't work, I will undergo laser surgery to stop it. When all that is done I can have my cataract surgery.

I will be erratic in posting on the blog and I hope you understand and I hpe to return as soon as I can.

Pete is working on the latest and possibly last Baryon depending on how things go.

Prayers, blessing, Wiccan rituals are all welcomed.

My best to all of you.

I hope to be back soon.