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

Sabitha: Hockey, small-town Ontario, alien vampires … we love it all! Arlene F. Marks, can you tell us about yourself and your latest fantasy novel, The Bloodstone?

Arlene: I’m a Canadian and the author of eleven published books of speculative fiction. Number 12 just came out on March 29, 2024, and that’s the one I’d like to talk about here. The Bloodstone is the second installment of The Nash’terel, an urban science fantasy series about a family of shapeshifting essence vampires who have fled to Earth from a genocide on their home world, only to find themselves dealing with a whole other set of problems.

Sixteen years after the events of the first book, the Nash’terel have resumed their quiet lives on Earth, hiding their true nature from the human population. Then…

“In small town Ontario, Travis Fiore lives with his adoptive grandpas, dividing his time between school and hockey practice. Everyone, including Travis, thinks he’s an ordinary Canadian teen, until a series of uncontrolled shapeshifts and a growing telekinetic talent reveal his Nash’terel heritage. Having “superpowers” sounds great, until he has to put his dream of NHL stardom on hold and move across the country to train them.

He may not like it, but he’s going to need control of those powers in order to survive. Someone has put a bounty on dashkra, the alien mineral that all Nash’terel carry inside them. While Travis struggles to adjust to his new existence, his grandpas and their contacts must work to find out who has turned their kind into prey—yet again.”

Sabitha: What inspired you to write this book?

Arlene: Actually, it was my own family history. My mother was a first-generation Canadian, and I grew up hearing stories about what it was like for her and her parents in the early days. I believe that all beings, regardless of their place of origin, will have things in common as they settle into a new home. So, I decided to explore the new immigrant experience from the viewpoint of aliens from another world. The first book was about the older generation resisting assimilation and the younger one embracing it. In The Bloodstone, old conflicts follow the Nash’terel to Earth, making life especially dangerous for the youngsters who were born here.

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

Arlene: There are two things that I’ve always told my students. First, there’s no such thing as a minor character, just a minor role in some other protagonist’s story. Second, you should always read your work aloud when editing, since the ear will catch what the eye misses.

Sabitha: What’s your next writing project?

Arlene: I have two books coming out in 2024, The Bloodstone and The Stragori Deception, and I am currently working on a sequel to my paranormal mystery, Weekends Can Be Murder (Brain Lag, 2022).

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?

Arlene: To learn more about me and my work, please visit my website (www.thewritersnest.ca) or find me on Facebook (Arlene Marks, Arlene F. Marks). The Bloodstone can be preordered from Amazon or Amazon.ca, or from the publisher, Brain Lag.

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

Sabitha: Ready for a gritty fantasy? That’s why Bardlyre is here, to tell us about Darkhelm and a Knight which serves the realm … 

Bardlyre: “You are a brief candle in a long night. You pass through, and we are grateful, but the blackness will take you.”

Yet another village full of complaints. Daine listened, delivered all the justice she had power to give, and prepared to move on. 

All in a day’s work for a Knight of the Road.

Of course, some disliked her intrusion into their schemes, but they were of little concern. They had tried to stop her before and would doubtless try again.

Things change when Daine is charged with the protection of a simple stable boy. Shadows gather around those like Daine who seek to bring light, and their eyes are fixed on the boy.

Can Lady Darkhelm stand in their way? The realm needs heroes, and Daine Darkhelm may not be enough.

Sabitha: What inspired you to write this book?

Bardlyre: I recently became very engaged with literary role-playing-game-based fiction, but I found so many of the stories were about borderline psychotic young men. I felt, for balance, an older woman with her own mental baggage was appropriate. It’s been great to see people agree!

Sabitha: Do you have a playlist for your book? 

Bardlyre: I like to have Oasis on in the background when I write. ‘Live Forever’ is very apt for my main character. Likewise, The Verve’s ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ captured the vibe nicely!

Sabitha: If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?

Bardlyre: I think someone needs to tell my villains that, no matter how foolproof they think their plan, Daine will find them. And she will kill them…

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

Bardlyre: I think the best advice, really, is to not let perfect become the enemy of good. For so many people, they never get past writing those opening few chapters because they get stuck endlessly in an edit and rewrite cycle. I was the same with the first bit of Darkhelm – and even then, there were pages upon pages of edits from my publisher. I wasted so many weeks tweaking. Blank pages are the most intimidating thing. Makes people want to keep working on their early chapters.

Sabitha: What’s your next writing project?

Bardlyre: I’m currently polishing Book Two – Stonehand! It’salso published by Nef House Publishing and on audio from Tantor Media.

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?

Bardlyre: You can order Darkheam here. I’m on Royal Road as Bardlyre, and also on TikTok and Facebook.

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

Sabitha: We love science fiction, we love queer stories—what better than the two together in one book? T.Q. Sims, could you tell us about your novel? 

T.Q.: Godspeed, Lovers (The Lovers Trilogy book 1) is about two psychics falling in love while fighting sentient storms and resisting an evil corporation that wants control. Typical gay romance stuff. 

Go deeper, and it’s about the chaos in our minds, the pain of trauma, and the love necessary to grow from a painful past.

There are also spaceships.

Sabitha: That sounds amazing as a premise. What’s the plot? 

T.Q.: Casey Isaac thinks love isn’t for him. Not since extraordinary events left him with supernatural powers and a great deal of trauma. But when Oscar Kenzari looks at him, he can’t help but change his mind.

As Divinators, Casey and Oscar have used their psychic powers to defend humanity from sentient, extradimensional storms for one hundred years.

MaalenKun, prince of the maelstrom, conqueror of countless realities, plans to turn the tables by infecting Casey’s mind.

But MaalenKun is not the only threat.

As Casey works to defeat threats around and within himself, he must open to love for his chosen family, for Oscar, and for himself to unlock a transformative power that could banish MaalenKun. And Oscar must make a difficult choice that could cost him the future he dreams of.

Sabitha: What inspired you to write this book?

T.Q.: I wanted to write a story about queer superheroes that weren’t incidentally queer. Some of the power that these characters draw from comes directly from their queer experiences. I wanted gay romance, found family, queer resilience and rage… but also superpowers. I wrote the story I wanted to read: fun, meaningful, exciting, and very queer.

Sabitha: Do you have a secret for writing clear characters?

T.Q.: While writing, I like to fan-cast certain characters. Thinking of an actor’s range or specific skill can help me see the character, hear their voice. From there, I know what they might do or say when they are fighting sentient storms or using their superpowers to get spicy. When I saw a reader’s fan-cast of the main character on Instagram, I squealed out loud. We both saw Jonathan Bailey as our lovable loner Casey Isaac. Jonathan Bailey is so sexy, and he could certainly pull off Casey’s arc of post-traumatic growth through opening to Oscar’s love. Speaking of Casey’s love interest, Oscar Kenzari—well, he’s named after two dreamy actors: Oscar Isaac and Marwan Kenzari. Who better to play a sexy, beardy space daddy with a super-powered sensual touch?

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

T.Q.: It’s my wish for readers to see themselves represented in the characters, to embrace their stories, and to not get attached. There are a few character deaths. For me, when there is a large cast, the threat feels more real when I know all the characters might not make it. While there are deaths in the story, those same moments are of great heroism. And, for what it’s worth, this story is inspired by X-Men, and those characters die and come back, so who knows? (wink, wink)

Sabitha: What’s your next writing project?

T.Q.: I’m currently at work on The Lovers Trilogy book 2.

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?

T.Q.: You can order a signed copy from TheLoversUniverse.com. Or purchase softback or digital versions through most major online booksellers. My Instagram is t.q.sims.

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

Sabitha: Is there anything more exciting than a science fiction thriller? Andria Stone is here to tell us about the action-packed fun in her novel The K5 PROTOCOL. Andria, you have the floor!

Andria: When Marshal Flint Maddox finds his best friend murdered, it triggers the K5 PROTOCOL, a long dormant neural implant, and he comes face-to-face with the deadly past he left years ago. As Maddox searches for his friend’s missing daughter, he embarks on a desperate galactic hunt filled with treacherous wormholes, feminine betrayal, and aliens who consider humans an expendable race.

Relentless in his pursuit, despite surviving a run in with pirates, Maddox uncovers a horrific genetic conspiracy—that if the details become known—will rock the galaxy. 

From a once-great Earth, to the utopian world of Anterra, to the ice planet of Degress 9, to the strange Outer Rim Territories, you will ride along with the Marshal and his crew. But buckle up because you’re in for a heart-pounding, nail-biting, climax!

Sabitha: What inspired you to write this book?

Andria: After writing a near-future trilogy, I wanted to challenge myself by branching out with a far-future story—one where humans were not alone, which would required world building on a grand scale—with planets in other systems, wormholes as interstellar highways, and alien races, some similar to us, and others who definitely weren’t.

Sabitha: Do you have a playlist for your book?

Andria: In the story, there are three bar scenes where different types of music are playing: speedcore, dreamscape, and Earth Oldies. Personally, I listen to Star Trek soundtracks while writing.

Sabitha: What book do you tell all your friends to read?

Andria: Both Patty Jansen and Lindsay Buroker write great science fiction and fantasy. For thrillers, I like Stephen King, Grisham, and Don Winslow.

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

Andria: Yes, I let a cyborg kill a female Colonel in the second book of my trilogy. Her mate was devastated, and I let him avenge her death.

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

Andria: Since I write techno-thrillers, there’s a good deal of detail in my stories, which means a greater amount of research for astronomical units, galactic regions, gravity ratio, engine room components, ship categories, and armaments—just to name a few.

Sabitha: Who did you imagine reading your book as you wrote it?

Andria: I did research: a Bowker survey found that 72% of science fiction readers make more than $50,000, and a majority of them make more than $80,000. Another survey found SFF readers were about 20% of the US population, with approximately 57% male, and tend to reduce their reading volume between the ages of 45-65. Also—no surprise—speculative fiction readers are people who read a lot.

Sabitha: What’s your next writing project?

Andria: I’m working on a sequel to K5, and it will likely be Book #2 of a trilogy. Since I’ve already built this intricate world, and the MC didn’t catch all the bad guys, he and his new partner just pick up where the story ended.

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?

Andria: All my books can be found on Amazon, or on any online bookstore. I can be found at my website, Threads, Instagram, Facebook, or Goodreads. You can watch my book trailer here.

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

Sabitha: Books can tell exciting, engaging stories, but they can also tell us important truths about our own world. Michael Solis’ Deficient does both. Can you introduce us to your book, Michael?

Michael: Deficient tells the story of Alejandro Aragon (Alé), a powerless, 15-year-old Deficient living in a world of genetically accelerated individuals. When his best and only friend is kidnapped in a hate crime against her ability type, it appears Alé has every motive and no believable alibi. With time running out, Alé has to clear his name and track down the real culprit before it’s too late, all without a superpower of his own.

Deficient is nominated for several awards, including the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel, ALA Stonewall Award, Pushcart Prize, and International Latino Book Awards.

Sabitha: What inspired you to write this book?

Michael: When I wrote Deficient, I was living in Honduras working with youth who were grappling with issues like poverty, gender inequality, pressure to emigrate, and gang violence. They possessed a sense of resilience that seemed supernatural. That was a major inspiration for the book, and it brought me back to my own journey of resilience growing up as a queer kid in the homophobic nineties. 

I also wanted to explore what would happen if people were to change in a fundamental way that affected the very nature of our human experience. Would we take the high road, or would we slip into old patterns of creating castes and constructs? I had a sneaking suspicion it might be the latter.

Sabitha: If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?

Michael: I would tell Alé all the cliché things grannies tell the protagonists in Disney movies. “You are beautiful as you are.” “Believe in yourself.” “It will get better.” I’m not sure if it would have any effect on him given the horrible nature of his circumstances, but I hope something would land.

To all the characters who bully Alé or are complicit with the violence he experiences, I would try to promote empathy and let them know how their words and actions can have forever consequences.

Sabitha: What book do you tell all your friends to read? Besides yours of course!

Michael: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. We can all use more magical realism in our lives!

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

Michael: I love all my characters, even the diabolical ones, but none are safe! 😀

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

Michael: I’ve recently carried out writing workshops with students in New Jersey and Nepal on goal, motivation, and conflict when creating characters. Understanding this was critical as I strengthened my manuscript in a way that caught the attention of publishers. I would also suggest bracing for rejection and actively seeking out and being open to constructive feedback throughout the writing journey.

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?

Michael: You can learn more about me and my work on my website, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

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

Sabitha: Romance, vampires, and murder—what’s not to love? Lizzy Gayle is here to tell us about her paranormal romance, Bitten by Surprise. Lizzy, take it away!

Lizzy: II’ve written quite a few books, but my current series started with Bitten by Surprise, so I’d love to share a bit about that.

As a vampire-hating psychic, Char should’ve seen it coming, but she didn’t. Too focused on creating a cure for vampirism after watching her father turned into a bloodsucking menace, she looks at little else, until it’s too late. Not her lab being attacked and destroyed, her life’s work being stolen along with her lab assistant, nor the attractive and dangerous vampire, Julian, who swoops in to save the day, give her a job and the chance to set things right.

But when her lost serum turns up on the streets used as a murder weapon against vamps, she’s forced to hide the truth about her involvement in its development from her new boss in order to join the investigation. As they work together, she’s inexplicably drawn to the very type of creature she should be terrified of. Suddenly, the idea of being bitten becomes a turn on if it’s Julian’s fangs at her pulse.

Forced to admit everything she thought she knew about the bloodsuckers was wrong, Char is left with a decision: Should she create an antidote to save the vampires being murdered—and possibly the one she’s falling for? Or should she finish what she started and try to cure the rest?

The wrong choice could mean a sacrifice she’s not willing to make.

Sabitha: Okay, that’s delightful. What inspired you to write this book?

Lizzy: Char and Julian’s story was born of a desire to finally write the vampire I always wanted to. So I began with the idea of combining Sookie Stackhouse with the X-Files (if the X-Files was fantasy based).

Sabitha: If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?

Lizzy: I’d start with, “I’m so sorry!” I mean as authors we have to torture our characters to make a good book. Sometimes literally. But I’d quickly follow up with, “I promise a happily ever after, so don’t hurt me.” Also I’d be lusting after my own vampire. But please don’t tell my husband.

Sabitha: Your secret is safe with me! Next secret to confess—have you ever killed off a character your readers loved?

Lizzy: Mayyyyybe…ok fine, yes. But I only kill when necessary, and I know how weird this sounds, but it’s almost always a surprise to me too. I am a pantser, which means I write by the seat of my pants and love the discovery of a first draft. I’ve tried plotting and that kind of kills the magic for me, though I respect those that are able to do that. So I’m as devastated as the reader, if that helps.

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

Lizzy: Absolutely! Don’t EVER give up! We’ve all had those low moments. We’re sensitive artists, but you know what? If you give up you may miss that golden moment right around the corner. Don’t ever stop working to make your writing better. Keep reading too.

Sabitha: What’s your next writing project?

Lizzy: Book four of the Bitten series comes out at the end of January 2024, and my plan is for five books in the series, though I also have a prequel novella out that shows how Julian became a vampire. I suggest reading that immediately before or after book three. I do a rapid-release schedule and make the books quick, fast-paced reads, so the series will probably finish around March or April. Time to catch up! 

After that? I’m toying with a high fantasy that’s been niggling at me. But we’ll see what my readers demand. 😀

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?

Lizzy: You can find all my links at my Linktree. Bitten by Surprise is on Amazon.

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

Sabitha: You’re never too old for romance! Christine Layne’s love story shows that it’s never too late to find your passion, even if your first attempt at love and career success doesn’t pan out. Christine, can you tell us about Love Hops?

Christine: After moving back to Colorado from Los Angeles, Lena Bouras began picking up the pieces of her broken life. Her cheating ex-boyfriend ruined her trust. Being unjustly fired from her interior design job obliterated her confidence. The worst blow of all, though, came at the loss of the one person who supported Lena throughout all her endeavors—her mother.

Escaping to her now empty, memory-laden childhood home, Lena worked toward letting go of her old life. But, when her 40th birthday ended up being another failure, it reminded her of what she was missing. Disappointment weighed heavily on her shoulders.

Until Del flipped her world upside down—literally.

Handsome and charming, Del Stratton was the complete opposite of everything she looked for in a man, not to mention he owned a brewery and Lena didn’t drink beer. She promptly dismissed any idea of pursuing a relationship with him. Even though her stomach flipped every time he smiled.

Despite her best efforts, Lena found herself unable to avoid Del. Slowly, she learned to give up her old life, and embraced a new one with him. For the first time in years, Lena felt happy.

But, when an opportunity for all her old dreams to come true presented itself, it forced Lena to choose. Falling in love with Del was easy, but Lena had to decide whether easy dreams with him were better than the ones she worked so hard for in the past.

Sabitha: What inspired you to write this book?

Christine: I wrote this book because I have always imagined a romance happening in a brewery. It was inspired by one scene in particular: the beer tasting scene. It went much differently when I first imagined it (much spicier), but as I developed the story, I changed it to fit the flow. Now, it’s perfect.

Sabitha: What book do you tell all your friends to read?

Christine: My reading preferences range from romance to horror and lots of things in between, but the one book I can always suggest is The Princess Bride by William Goldman. It has something for everyone and is still one of the most entertaining books I’ve ever read.

Sabitha: Excellent choice! If an aspiring author came to you for advice, what would you tell them?

Christine: My advice for becoming a better writer would be to A) read, read, read in the genre you wish to write, B) be brave enough to let others read and critique your work, and C) be open to helping others.

Sabitha: I love that you included C. So, what’s your next writing project?

Christine: My next project is due out in the late spring of 2024. It’s my first enemies-to-lovers story, Mud, Love, and Chemistry. It follows two college students as they navigate their warring feelings while also competing for a coveted internship after graduation. It’s loads of fun!

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?

Christine: Love Hops and my debut novel, Because of Blake, can both be found on Amazon! Readers can follow me on my social medias for updates: Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, Threads (@christinelayneauthor), and X (@Chrislaynelove).

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

Sabitha: Ready for a space opera adventure that will take you around the solar system? We’ve got you covered. A.L. MacDonald, can you tell us about your book Orbiting Fortunes?

A.L.: Orbiting Fortunes is a science fiction novel set in the not-too-distant future. Alan Mercier has left his life as a cop on Mars behind and now flys a space junker, fighting over valuable debris in Earth’s orbit. One find in particular pulls him into the dangerous and murky world of pirating. He discovers that it’s harder to walk away from the cop life than he thought.

Sabitha: Dramatic! What inspired you to write this?

A.L.:  I love space and spaceships. Lots of people say that, sure, but I love them ten times more. I am a huge fan of Star Wars, Andy Weir and Chris Hadfield (both as an astronaut and an author). I regularly watch hours of live stream footage of SpaceX assembling their new starship in Texas. I wanted my book to imagine what the future of those starships will be. We can’t fly them yet, so this is as close as we can get.

Sabitha: What book do you tell all your friends to read? And what about them do you love?

A.L.: The Martian and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Also, The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield. When people say those books get a little lost in the technical detail, those are my favourite parts!

Sabitha: Since technical details are fun for you, I bet you go for scientific accuracy when you write! How much research did you need to do for your book? 

A.L.: I am not sure why, but I spent several hours – possibly days – researching spacecraft reentry. Specifically the distance between the atmosphere interface and the splashdown/landing point. I probably should have just gotten rid of the scene, but then how would I have shown off all the stuff I’d learned!?

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

A.L.: No, no. Well, I mean, don’t get me wrong, I slaughter characters, but they are usually quite evil or at the end of their usefulness to the story—I’m kidding! I don’t mean to ruin peoples’ days by reading my book! My aim is to put smiles on faces! Chuckles would be even better. I dream of guffaws.

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?

A.L.: My book is right here. You can’t turn around without finding me on social media: Twitter, Instagram, and my website.