A metafictional tale from the publishing trenches, packing poignant queer realism and a fragmented story of loss and climate change, told through wry asides. Don’t miss this witty, melancholy story.
–Michelle Browne, The Meaning Wars
The influences on my work are too many to be detailed on one sheet of A4. It takes a library to write a novel. But if I have to pick just one, I’ll take Pirkei Avot 2:16.
— Query by Zilla Novikov
an environmental activist / aspiring writer’s query letters get increasingly unhinged as the rejections pile up
the special-edition book box will contain rejection swag, among other unexpected items
If you like great podcasts to find new books, check out This Book I Read… a podcast from Beyond Cataclysm. Each episode explores the ups and downs of a particular book or author’s work, highlighting the great bits, and critiquing the bad stuff. Get inside the minds of other writers and the works that inspire them!
Our very own Rachel A Rosen is on to talk about Brown Girl In The Ring by Nalo Hopkinson.
Topics covered include:
Post-apocalyptic Toronto & Ontario.
‘White Flight’, inner city decline, ‘Donut cities’ and gentrification.
The Afro-Caribbean diaspora, The Jab Jab & Roti Shops.
The challenges of predicting the future back in the 1990s.
WHY DO I KEEP DOING THIS TO MYSELF (102,000 words) is a cozy mystery, where the mystery is when I’ll give up querying. I’m quietly terrified that it’s got series potential.
— Query by Zilla Novikov
Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.
Sabitha: We have Whitney L. Spradling with us, to talk about her new release, Of Flames and Curses. Whitney, tell us about your fantasy romance!
Whitney: I write adult fantasy/paranormal romance. Of Flames and Curses is an adult urban-to-fantasy romance. It takes place in two realms, the human realm (New York City), and the Faerie Realm. It is a slow burn romance that contains mystery, curses, magic, evil queens, and so much more. It has been compared to the TV miniseries The 10th Kingdom. I’m horrible at elevator pitches, but if I had to give one, it would be: Her sister has just been mysteriously murdered and her quest for answers leads her to life-changing revelations; thrown into a magical world she didn’t know existed, this newly discovered half-breed must overcome her fear of loss while searching for a way to break a curse, or she will lose more than her sister to this magical world.
Sabitha: That sounds like so much fun. What inspired you to write this book?
Whitney: The opening paragraph came to me in the shower. I kept repeating it to myself until I got out and could write it down. From there, I planned out a rough idea of what I wanted to happen, then just let the words flow.
Sabitha: Was there any music that inspired you while you were writing?
Whitney: Music is my biggest inspiration when writing. For this particular book, I listened to Yellowcard a lot. Also, the song Dangerous Night by 30 Seconds to Mars has kind of become the theme song for this book. Usually, I listen to whatever genre tends to fit the book I’m writing. For Of Flames and Curses, it was a lot of old school punk.
Sabitha: We have a lot of writers in our community. What’s your writing process?
Whitney: I’m a pantser. I have a general idea of the direction I want the book to take, and a general idea of the ending. From there, I just let the words flow, and let my characters go where they please.
Sabitha: Do you have a “fan-cast” – do you have actors you’d cast as your main characters?
Whitney: Yes! Lucy Hale is my Lainey 100%. For Phoenix I’m torn between Liam Hemsworth and Lucas Bravo. Lucas Till (if he were just a tad bit older) is who I picture for Ash, however Victor Seitz (model) is the inspiration for him.
Sabitha: What book do you tell all your friends to read? Besides yours of course!
Whitney: Anything published by Midnight Tide Publishing. Brindi Quinn’s Come True genie series is amazing. As is Lou Wilham’s Heir to Moondust series. H. R. Truelove’s Alter, Morgan Gautheir’s Mark of the Hunter, and so many more.
Sabitha: You have great taste – we love Midnight Tide. Which character do you relate to the most and why?
Whitney: Probably, Lainey. She is kind of a loner. While she’s a loner due to her circumstances in life, mine is by choice. She’s quiet, but fierce when she needs to be. In this first book, she is definitely the damsel in distress, but in book two, she decides she’s had enough and steps up to the plate. I feel like her determination is similar to mine when I decided to write and publish books. It was out of my comfort zone, but I pushed through to do it anyway.
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?
Whitney: You can find all of my socials and websites here.
Whimsical and dolorous, ironic and absurd, this slippery assortment of stories and fragments masks existential dysphoria with deceptive simplicity and hangdog comedy—all the while asking you to read what is not there, what is also there, what is parabolic.
Whimsical and dolorous, ironic and absurd, this slippery assortment of stories and fragments masks existential dysphoria with deceptive simplicity and hangdog comedy—all the while asking you to read what is not there, what is also there, what is parabolic.
I look forward to hearing from you. Or not, since your policy is not to respond if you’re not interested. But I’m not exactly looking
forward to being rejected.
I dread not hearing from you.
— Query by Zilla Novikov
tRaum Books’ weird, queer, agenre books are half price for the Winter’s Death-Rattle sale.
Darknesses
by Lachelle Seville || Dracula’s back and she’s not happy with Bram Stoker…
Most Famous Short Film of All Time
By Tucker Lieberman || Get ready!!!
Noema
By Dael Akkerman || Twelve thousand years ago, She chose two girls to save humanity…
It Helps with the Blues
By Bryan Cebulski || Jules leaves. Gabriel rages. Estelle changes. Joshua hides….
Airy Nothing
By Clarissa Pattern || Two boys find danger, love, adventure–and Shakespeare!
a + e
By Rysz Merey || My God, help me survive this deadly love…
The Pink and The Blue
By R Merey || aka ‘You can’t get fucked by the same river twice.’
Coming soon…Zilla Novikov’s satirical novella about publishing and activism, Query.
We are delighted and terrified to announce the impending publication of Query as a joint tRaum Books/Night Beats co-production!
City planner by day, novelist by night, Zilla Novikov is coping with her climate anxiety by working as a cog in the wheel of local government and querying literary agents with her postmodern ecofiction novel. But becoming the latest literary sensation isn’t easy.
Zilla’s query letters to literary agencies quickly devolve into a darkly funny exploration of her own psyche. As her frustrations mount, her novel blurbs and biographies grow increasingly unhinged. She finds unexpected solace in her newfound relationships with a community of fellow activists.
When Zilla discovers that becoming a bestseller means navigating a neoliberal hellscape, she is forced into questioning how much meaning that kind of success holds.
Interested in reading and reviewing a free e-book of Query? We’re looking for advance copy readers to publicly review! Sign up at here.
Night Beats Extended Universe 