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

Zilla: Something about the world today just feels right for reading dystopias…and here’s April McCloud with a great one! April, can you introduce us to your novel, Switch? 

April: A hundred years in the future, Complete Life Management is selling perfection in the form of the latest technologically enhanced bionic body, the Apogee. As an elite runner and inadvertent spokesperson for humanism, NYPD Detective Naomi Gate has eschewed vanity upgrades. However, if she hopes to survive in New York City’s fierce criminal Underground and find her wayward brother, she has no choice but to undergo an illegal body transfer. 

Plunging into the Underground’s den of black-market body modifications and bionic hit squads, it turns out to be the first of several body transfers. And as the stakes rise, Naomi fears the price for saving her brother may be the thing she values most—her own humanity.

Zilla: What inspired you to write this book?

April: The Switch is a work that focuses on embodiment, and what it can mean for a variety of marginalities (with special focus on trans people and disabled humans). Two ways in which I have personally learned to be more inside of my own body is through martial arts and zen meditation. The focus on our inner world coupled with tying that to our physical body, was a concrete way to explore the theme of what it means to be human in a world of advancing technologies.

Zilla: Do you have a playlist for your book?

April: I find music inspirational and for The Switch, I have different songs for the various energies of the novel. There’s Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels by Todrick Hall for the glorious gender-bending and chaotic pansexual vibe. On My Way by Alan Walker, Sabrina Carpenter, and Farruko, leans into the emotional heart of how hard it is to be a warrior. And Light ‘Em Up by Fall Out Boy for the sheer explosive fun of kicking butt and blowing stuff up.

Zilla: If you could meet your characters, what would the conversation look like?

April: I think if I explained to them that I was their author, they might just arrest me for violating the Geneva Convention’s rules against cruel and unusual punishment. Otherwise, though, I’d try to distract them with talk of running and weapons, as well as introduce them to my cat. If I could have any one thing though, I would want my character Inari to meet my cat who inspired her, also of the same name. It’s possible if they teamed up that they would take over the world, but there are some things that just can’t be helped.

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

April: I had a lot of fun researching the current state of bionics. There’s incredible work being done with jaw-dropping results. My favorite spokesperson for bionics and physical disabilities is Tilly Lockey, who can often be seen showcasing her Hero Arms from Open Bionics. Odes to Tilly’s personal journey can be seen in my work, especially how unfair the health care system can be.

Zilla: What’s your next writing project?

April:I’m working on an adult romantasy, lovers-to-enemies novel that looks at the thin line between good and evil, and what drives us to both.

Zilla: 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?
April: The print book and ebook are available from Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/msz7pn62. You can find me at my website (www.aprilmccloud.com) on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/50156312.April_McCloud) or on Twitter/Instagram (@mccloudwrites).

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

Zilla: Sometimes we want to cuddle up with a cozy book in the dark of winter, and E. M. Anderson has just the thing! They’re here to tell us about their paranormal mystery, The Keeper of Lonely Spirits.

E.M.: The Keeper of Lonely Spirits is a queer cozy fantasy in which an old man cursed with immortality hunts ghosts rather than making mortal friends who will die one day. When the residents of an Ohio town beset by a vengeful spirit adopt him as their own, he must decide: leave to protect his heart, or stay to save their lives?

Zilla: What inspired you to write this book?

E.M.: There’s a soft old man character in my debut, The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher. While he’s a more minor character, he’s also one of my favorites. I really wanted to write a book about a soft old man, and then when my nesting partner drove us past a cemetery one day, I had a vision of a soft old man working the grounds. That was the initial inspiration for The Keeper of Lonely Spirits, although the main character is also inspired by my maternal grandfather in many ways.

Zilla: That’s very sweet—and shows that you’re a character-centered writer. If your characters met you, what would they say to you?

E.M.: I’m pretty sure my characters would mostly go, “DEAR GOD WHY” if they met me! Peter, the main character of The Keeper of Lonely Spirits, has even more reason to react to me that way than most of them do, between the immortality, the unsettling relationship with ghosts, and the sheer number of people he’s lost, but maybe he’d refuse to speak to me at all. Which is too bad, because I’d really like him to be my grandpa.

Zilla: Oh dear! Who is your favourite character you’ve written, and why?

E.M.: I love all my characters, but Edna Fisher—the titular character from The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher—is a massive comfort character. She’s the quintessential grandma, she’s cheerful, she’s always there for anyone who needs her, and she aggressively adopts every young person who walks into her life. No problem is too much for her, even if she has to sit and feel things about it for a while before tackling it. And even though she isn’t cursed with immortality, in my head she’ll live forever.

Zilla: What’s your next writing project?

E.M.: Currently, I’m partway through a second draft of a queer cozy mystery starring a grumpy old lightkeeper. I’m also revising another queer cozy fantasy for my publisher, MIRA; hopefully it’ll be cozy, anyway—it’s getting a tad dark. But the main character adores romance novels, so the book has sort of turned into a 1980s bodice-ripper thinly disguised as a fantasy novel.

Zilla: 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?

E.M.: My website is elizmanderson.com, and I’m also elizmanderson on Instagram, BlueSky, and Facebook (as well as a couple other platforms where I’m less active). Here are BookShop links to The Keeper of Lonely Spirits and The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher, but a more complete list of retailers is available at my linktree (linktr.ee/elizmanderson).

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

Zilla: Social media can be a wonderful place to meet strange new people, and Mattie Bukowski, who I met on Tumblr, certainly qualifies as wonderful! He and I bonded over our shared love of deep, queer science fiction, so I am delighted to announce that he’s published a novel that promises to be as introspective and engaging as he is. Expect a review from me soon, but til then, Mattie, can you tell us about your novel Up the Entropic Hill?

Mattie: Up the Entropic Hill—my debut novel—is a queer, existential space adventure.

In the distant future, humans live in a utopia where even death is not the end—for everyone except Amber’s parents. At 25, she is a cynical, aloof Ph.D. in history who resents her sheltered life at home and yearns to find her place in the world. Then, an exciting job offer comes her way—the chance to uncover the mystery of a civilization that disappeared thousands of years ago. Teaming up with the archeologist Lullaby, Amber embarks on a hitchhiking quest to find the fabled Aquamarine Moon and, perhaps, some much-needed meaning in her life.

Zilla: What inspired you to write this book?

Mattie: A few things! First is a biophysics lecture I attended while in undergrad—it was about the laws of thermodynamics, and entropy, and information, and how those concepts are connected. This lecture was somehow quite philosophical, for me at least. It made me think about existentialism and the nature of reality and human purpose. That’s where I got the main themes of the book. Another major inspiration is Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy—I love the series and it was constantly in the background of my mind as I was writing. That’s why the novel is mostly one long space hitchhike. Lastly, I was inspired by some other philosophical questions that were tumbling around my brain at the time, especially questions about free will and anti-natalism. So this book is quite philosophy heavy, though hopefully not in an academic sense.

Zilla: If your characters met you, what would they say to you?

Mattie: I think Amber, the protagonist of the novel, would hate my guts for all I put her through! Especially because of the ending (spoilers…). Amber is not a people person to begin with, she hates almost everyone she meets. I think the idea of having an author in control of her narrative would infuriate her, even though I feel like Amber was more in charge of this book when I was writing it than I ever was. 

Zilla: You’ve told us about plot, and about characters…so is your book more plot-driven or character-driven? Or a secret, third thing?

Mattie: It might actually be the secret third thing! My first instinct is to say it is character-driven because of how much it focuses on Amber and her experiences and reflections and character development, but based on some of the feedback I’ve gotten, it’s a mix of both. The book is quite fast-paced and adventurous too, there’s something happening every chapter, so I think typical space opera readers wouldn’t be bored with it.

Zilla: Once I finish reading this, what do I have to look forward to next? What’s your next writing project?

Mattie: I’m working on a dark academia horror with a M/M romance! Here’s the pitch:

When two researchers discover a horrifying truth about consciousness and death, their obsessive devotion to each other pushes them to do the unthinkable.

Zilla: Okay, I’m sold on both of these books now! 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?

Mattie: You can find me on Tumblr.  The novel is available on publisher’s website and Amazon.

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

Zilla: The best science fiction makes us think about our own world—the people and politics that inhabit it—while still telling a great story. Which is why we have Taya DeVere here today to tell us about her novel Serf Girl (Machina Deus Book 1). Taya, tell us a bit about yourself and your book!

Taya: Hello! I spend half of the year in Finland, the other half in Spain, and visit my third happy place, Maine, whenever possible. I write dystopian sci-fi stories under the pen name Taya DeVere.

My new release tells the story of Sam, a PTSD-driven woman who volunteers in a human experiment in the year 2150. To escape the horrors of Slumland, she moves into a questionable haven; an abandoned mall. She’s no different than any other Serf in the mall program… except for the secret that would terrify them all.

Zilla: What inspired you to write this book?

Taya: The idea for Serf Girl came to me while sitting in the Maine Mall food court. It’s not a brand-new idea; people living in repurposed buildings due to housing shortages and overpopulation. But that’s where the story originated—and then along came Sam. With Sam’s nightly flashbacks and nightmares, Tourette’s syndrome, antisocial ways, and PTSD symptoms, she was in for a (torturous) ride. While writing the first draft, I let Sam lead the way. I started to enjoy the time I spent in her headspace more and more. During the second draft, I pushed her to overcome her trust issues and defenses – no matter how much blood she had to spill along the way.

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

Taya: My partner, Chris, has Tourette’s syndrome. All the ‘twitches’ in Serf Girl are from real life and what we call Chris’s “Demon.” In addition to interviewing Chris about his twitches and tics, I also did extensive research on the syndrome to avoid the biggest pitfalls.

Zilla: Have you ever killed off a character your readers loved?

Taya: Yes, I’m known to kill off my characters, whether they’re loved or hated. I had to slow my roll while writing my previous series, Unchipped, because my development editor threatened to quit her job if I slaughtered any more of her favorite people. People do die in Machina Deus, but I think we’re moving in the right (happier) direction. I did read somewhere how European writers are expected to kill their characters, no matter the genre, how interesting is that? Good thing I’m not writing romance or children’s books!

Zilla: I’ve never heard that, but it checks out. Speaking of other people’s books, what book do you tell all your friends to read?

Taya: I’m currently devouring The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley. It’s a story about time traveling, romance, expats, and refugees. I can’t wait for bedtime to dive back in!

Zilla: 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?

Taya: Serf Girl is available on Amazon (e-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYX85MNB) and anywhere paperbacks are sold. 

Find me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tayadevereauthor) and on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tayadevere_author/).

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

Sabitha: We’re so excited to have Claris Lam back to tell us about her third mystery in the Harlow Mystery series. Winner Takes All and Engagement to Die For were great, so I can’t wait to hear what Bloody Fantasia has in store for us! Claris, can you introduce us to the book?

Claris: In Bloody Fantasia; Aubri Harlow and her friends believe that their days of investigating murders are over. However, when Aubri’s sister, Aria, moves into her new music school, the Da Capo Music Institution, the school’s acting president suddenly dies during the welcoming ceremonies.

However, the acting president’s death is far from the first murder committed on campus. A string of past murders haunt the school’s reputation and its students. It doesn’t take long before new corpses start piling up, and Aubri, Aria, and their friends realize they must take up the mystery-solving mantle once more and find out who the murderer is.

Will they figure out the person responsible for causing these new tragedies, or will they become part of its bloody history? Find out by reading Bloody Fantasia!

Sabitha: You’re on a roll with the Harlow Mystery Series … what inspired this third book?

Claris: Fun fact: Bloody Fantasia was initially supposed to be a crossover between the Harlow  Mystery series and a different standalone book I had planned years ago!

The other standalone book would have featured the events of what happened at the Da Capo Institution prior to the current events of Bloody Fantasia. That book, and Bloody Fantasia, were both inspired by a fusion of La Corda D’Oro (a manga series) and The Secret History by Donna Tartt, and elements from several other mystery books set in school settings.

However, I ended up dropping the standalone book idea, and Bloody Fantasia became this project that was still influenced by La Corda D’Oro and The Secret History. I had to significantly simplify the story since I didn’t have the other standalone book (which took place before the events of Bloody Fantasia) to provide context for the story to make complete sense.

Sabitha: Do you have a playlist for your book? Can you tell us why you picked a couple of the songs?

Claris: I have playlists for all the main characters! I’ll link to each of them below.

Aubri Harlow: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3BXi63oe0OFdmi24HltNhk?si=a30a0685c2b64fa2

Bastian Faulkner: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1tzPptocq3hD9wA6WNkBIs?si=91052ffc89e64627

Aria Hawthorn: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4umEcteGfZ4lTnt2nm6KO2?si=4044368c94b846bd

Nick: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2AvgBWVf9QOBhjo71jrTj5?si=238f145183d547a6

I hope to share playlists featuring the antagonists/murderers of each book and a playlist for the whole Harlow Mystery series (or separate playlists for each book) in the future.

Sabitha: I can’t wait for that! As a prolific author, do you have any tips to help people become better writers?

Claris: Please give yourself some regular breaks and take care of yourself.

I’ve gone through burnout as a writer back in 2023. Despite taking time to recover from said burnout, I kept going through an unhealthy cycle of getting everything writing-related done as fast as possible. I felt this pressure to keep producing content at such a fast pace to be a “successful” writer, especially when seeing other authors who published multiple books in a year with high sales and rankings.

It’s only recently (early July 2024 onwards) that I’ve decided to slow down a bit and take my time with writing. I find that by doing so, it gives me more opportunities to enjoy the actual process of writing again. I’ve missed that for a long time, and I’m glad to rediscover joy in the process again.

Also, figure out what your definition of “success” as a writer is.

Everyone’s definition of how they want to reach “success” as a writer will be different. Mine has changed drastically in the past few months so I can have a writing journey that gives me more joy regardless of how fast or slow I am with having new work published. It’s really important that when you figure out your definition of success, it’s because it’s something you genuinely strive for versus doing it because everyone else seems to be working for that same type of goal.

Sabitha: That is solid, hard-won wisdom. Taking that into account, what’s your next writing project?

Claris: I’m currently writing two poetry chapbooks and several fantasy books. They’re drastically different from the Harlow Mystery series but writing in these genres brings me the most joy right now. I also want to write more short stories and individual poems, and experiment with those forms more.

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?

Claris: Want to check out my website, socials, & newsletter? Check out all the links in my Carrd: https://clarislam.carrd.co. Currently I’m more active with my newsletter than anything else, so I’d highly recommend that you subscribe to it! I send newsletters every 2nd and 4th Tuesday each month.
Here’s the link for where you can find Bloody Fantasia: https://books2read.com/u/38veQa

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

Sabitha: It’s time for some science fiction intrigue! Joyce Reynolds-Ward is here to talk about her near-future trilogy, The Cost of Power. Joyce, can you give us a taste of what we have to look forward to?

Joyce: I write speculative fiction that deals with themes of high-stakes family and political content, digital sentience, personal agency, realistic strong women, and (whenever possible) horses. My science fantasy NeoWestern trilogy, The Cost of Power, released this fall—starting with Book One, The Cost of Power: Return.

Return focuses on exiled heir Gabriel Martiniere’s reinstatement to a leadership position within the Martiniere Family’s privately held corporation, the Martiniere Group. He discovers that not only has the Martiniere mind control technology been co-opted by a rival family that seeks to destroy the Martinieres, but that he, his beloved wife Ruby, and others he cares about face a multiverse-level threat. Digital thought clones and vengeful water spirits add to the peril that Gabe and Ruby face. Crucible (Book Two) and Redemption (Book Three) continue the story past Ruby and Gabe’s wedding, placing them in even greater challenges as they face threats both professional and personal, including situations that impact the future of their marriage. Much of The Cost of Power takes place on a ranch in an isolated part of Northeastern Oregon.

Sabitha: What inspired you to write this series?

Joyce: I wrote this trilogy to wrap up some considerations I had within the Martiniere Multiverse. I’ve written three other short series in what I call the Martiniere Family Saga, all set in different universes. This trilogy took the multiverse concept head on and expanded it, with a significant change in one secondary character who has been the villain in the rest of the books. I also laid in some significant family developments.

Sabitha: Do you have a playlist for your books?

Joyce: As far as a playlist for these books, I’d have to say that amongst the top choices would be the Disco Biscuits Tractorbeam, Serena Ryder’s Stompa, Bruce Springsteen’s Devils and Dust, Anna Nalick’s Breathe, and assorted Pink Floyd and Alan Parsons, amongst others.

Sabitha: That sounds great! Do you ever wonder what your characters would say to you if they could talk? 

Joyce: My characters have plenty to say to me. When I was writing the first Martiniere series, Gabe spoke up right away to tell me that my original framing of him was wrong, wrong, wrong. Ruby flat-out told me that she needed the final scene in The Cost of Power. It’s been my experience that when my characters speak, I’d darn well better listen.

Sabitha: That’s wise of you to pay attention to your characters! What’s your next writing project?

Joyce: Right now I’m uncertain whether my next project will be writing a NeoWestern book or continuing with a sequel to my Goddess’s Honor fantasy series. I’m about half and half between the two options. But I’m not planning to decide until the fall.

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?

Joyce: The Cost of Power can be found at Amazon, and at other retailers like Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. All my books and short stories are on my Amazon Central Page, or you can buy my ebooks directly through Ko-fi, or my paperbacks on Bookshop. I can be found on X/Twitter (https://twitter.com/JoyceReynoldsW1), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jreynoldsward/), CounterSocial (@joycereynoldsward), and Bluesky (@joycereynoldsward.bsky.social).