Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Rachel: Today we’re joined by author—and my long-time Star Trek Adventures RPG buddy—Lyda Morehouse, whose science fiction and fantasy series AngeLINK is back in paper–including, for the first time ever: hardback. Lyda, can you tell our readers about the series?

Lyda: AngeLINK begins with Archangel Protocol, a novel originally published by Penguin in 2001. It eerily echoes the current US political climate–including a joke/proto-fascist candidate who, nonetheless, gains ground on the internet, or “the LINK.” Angels claiming to support this fascist appear online. Our heroine, Deirdre McMannus, is ex-communicated, cut off from all social media–a fate worse than death. Into her life, like a reverse femme fatale, walks a handsome man claiming to be the archangel Michael. Michael often speaks of God in the nonbinary, as “Them,” which rocks the Catholic heroine’s worldview.

Rachel: That sounds eerily and disturbingly prescient. You wrote this well before a certain tangerine authoritarian waddled onto the scene, so what was the inspiration?

Lyda: The X-Files. Specifically, Season 2, Episode 14, ‘Die Hand Die Verletzt. It’s the episode where you think that the School Board is upset that the local high school is staging Jesus Christ: Superstar because they’re uber Christians. But, as they begin to pray for guidance, you see that they’re clearly Satanic! I spent the whole time watching, waiting for Scully, the more religious one, to turn to the skeptic Mulder and say, ‘You know what this means! If there is a devil, then angels exist.’ But it never happened. I figured you could do it subtly, right? Saint Michael is the patron saint of police officers. All you need is some help from a cop named Mike and it’s a clever little nod. So I started writing that and then because I wasn’t raised Christian and my writers’ group wouldn’t allow fanfic, things got very weird.

Rachel: As a X-Phile back in the day myself, I totally get wanting to correct that show’s shortcomings. And it’s definitely something that, at least for me, reads quite differently—to its detriment—in today’s world. Do you think, over two decades later, that AngeLINK will resonate with modern readers?

Lyda: One warning to modern readers who may not have read these books previously: when I wrote these, different words were used to describe trans folks. Likewise, a trans archangel, Ariel, gets misgendered often. In the forward there is an explanation why this wasn’t changed for the new editions. I’m an out lesbian myself. I need to stay aware and to acknowledge my past mistakes, not ignore the historical record, but to stand up, face those I’ve injured, and apologize.

Rachel: I really respect that approach. What are you working on these days, and where can readers find more of your work?

Lyda: I’m putting the finishing touches on Welcome to Boy.net, due out from Wizard’s Tower Press later this year. It’s a fun lesbian romance adventure romp in a ‘Wet Venus’-retro universe, but which also touches on the intersections of cybernetic enhancements and transness. You can find my equally retro, although up-to-date website at: lydamorehouse.com. I’m also on the socials either as Lyda or in my paranormal romance guise, Tate Hallaway.

Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Sabitha: Horror can take many forms as it holds a funhouse mirror to our everyday existence. J.V. Sadler shares her alluring horror anthology, Licking. J.V., can you tell us about your book?

J.V.: My first collection of horror short stories is titled Licking (published January 22). It is a smorgasbord of surreal horrific poetry, micro fiction, flash fiction, and long-form short stories. The stories balance between the nightmare world and the conscious, blurring the lines of reality.

Sabitha: What inspired you to write this book?

J.V.: Since many of the stories came from my actual dreams and nightmares, I would say that it was my subconscious mind that inspired me to write the book. I am a very vivid and lucid dreamer, so I said to myself “I can’t let these fantastical dreams go to waste.” So, I go to writing. When I wrote this book, I was going through some of the toughest depressive episodes I’ve ever been through. Later, I’d be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, bipolar II disorder, and mild autism. The book became my solace from my intrusive thoughts. And, in some ways, saved my life.

Sabitha: I’m very glad! Do you have a playlist for your book?

J.V.: I didn’t have a set playlist per se. I listened to a lot of Lofi radio while writing. Funny enough, I would turn on Mystic Stylez, the debut studio album from Three 6 Mafia. For some reason, that album got me in the mindset of the book.

Sabitha: Do you have any suggestions to help people in our community become better writers?

J.V.: My advice: Do it anyway. Whatever doubts you have in your mind, whatever discouragement you’ve gotten from peers and outside sources, whatever limitations you think you have—write anyway. If you don’t know where to start, get a piece of paper, write “My Book” on the top, then in the center of the paper write one word that comes to mind when you think of your future book. Next, congratulate yourself. You’ve just started writing a book! Lastly, fill the white space with anything. It can be words, drawings, a picture collage, anything! Just fill in the blank space with that word in the center and use it for inspiration for your writing. That’s the advice I have for upcoming writers.

Sabitha: Sounds like you never stop writing! So what’s your next project?

J.V.: A poetry collection! I am a poet too after all. It will be a very different project to Licking and will focus heavily on themes of social justice in addition to my struggles with mental health. If you’re looking for another Licking I suggest you wait till my third project comes out—a second collection of short stories with a focus on speculative fiction.

Sabitha: Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?

J.V.: You can find Licking on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart! You can follow my author page on Facebook @JVSadlerAuthor, or find all my links here.

Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Sabitha: If you like your fantasy and science fiction epic, you’ll have Hannah Steenbock’s rich, sprawling fantastical worlds. Hannah, can you introduce us to your writing? 

Hannah: I’ve been writing for 20+ years, mostly fantasy, some science fiction. I like telling stories about people being suppressed and fighting for their freedom. They can be mages, wolf shifters, teenagers, vampires or dragons. I also write happy, satisfying endings—feel-good stories, in other words.

Sabitha: Let’s pick one to start with. What inspired you to write South Breaks?

Hannah: South Breaks is the first book in my Winds and Pillars series. I wanted to incorporate some Aztec vibes into my story and chose the perspective of a sacrifice who escapes. All my main characters in the series escape that fate, some more actively than others. I wanted to show the brainwashing that happens in captivity and how it can be undone. I also wanted to show the strength it takes to overcome life-long conditioning and to build a new life. Fortunately, South does find friends and new love. 

If you’re intrigued, South Breaks is free in all online bookstores.

Sabitha: What book do you tell all your friends to read? I’m guessing it’s fantasy too!

Hannah: I tell my friends about How I Stole the Princess’s White Knight and Turned him to Villany by AJ Sherwood. It’s a hilarious book, a male/male romance in a fantasy setting with fun adventures, an adorable Black Sorcerer (and his weird siblings) and a not so White Knight. It also makes great fun of role-playing tropes. It’s a pick-me-up book when I’m feeling sad.

Sabitha: That sounds so much fun. Now, back to your work. Have you ever killed off a character your readers loved?

Hannah: I rarely kill characters, and I haven’t killed one that readers loved. It really breaks my heart when I have to, but sometimes, the plot demands it. There are a few side characters that die. I do my best to make every death worthwhile. I mean, these are feel-good books, even if I put my characters through hell.

Sabitha: How much research did you need to do for your book?

Hannah: Not a whole lot. I mean, I do soak up knowledge, I studied archaeology for a few semesters, I can do medieval worlds easily. And I used to be fascinated by Mid- and South-American cultures as a kid. It’s one of the reasons I rarely write historical fiction, because it does take so much research. In fantasy, you can hand-wave a lot more and do your own world-building.

Sabitha: Do you have any suggestions to help people in our community become better writers?

Hannah: Writing is a craft, it takes practice. So write what your fancy tells you. You’ll grow with every story—but do your best to finish them. Also read extensively in your favorite genre, in the one you write, and beyond. Reading imprints story-telling techniques into your Writer Brain.

On the other hand, do not write by committee. Don’t let beta readers, critique circles and such water down your voice. Learn the rules and then break them with confidence. Protect your voice and your stories.

Sabitha: What’s your next writing project?

Hannah: Right now, I’m writing a vampire tale with a twist, for funsies. Another work in progress is A Wolf’s Hacker, Book 8 in my shifter series Wolves of the South. The next book I’ll publish, however, will be Sky Falls, Book 6 in my Winds and Pillars series.

Sabitha: Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?

Hannah: You can get South Breaks here. I’m on Facebook, Mastodon, and Youtube, and I have a website.