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

Zilla: Cherry-Rose: Blood & Wishes is a fairy-tale that exists at the boundary of reality and fantasy, and a book that I unabashedly loved. We’re lucky enough to have Jeff Wiederkehr with us to tell us about his moody, atmospheric novel. Jeff, take it away!

Jeff: Cherry-Rose: Blood & Wishes is a horroresque fairy-tale retelling that turns wishing upon a star into an allegory for when wishes go wrong. Set in modern California, this coming-of-age story is woven with beasts, a Blue Fairy, and an unexpected romance all set against the backdrop of classic fairy tale horror.

Cherry-Rose finds herself reborn into a world that seems too good to be true, because it is exactly that. Too quickly her loving sisters vanish and the dark secret behind her mother’s magic is revealed. In time she breaks free from the isolation of the forest and her mother’s spell in the hope of finding her sisters. However, on the other side of the forest, she seems to have found more trouble than she had at home.

On the journey to find her sisters, Cherry-Rose is pursued by a gang peddling a drug called pixie-dust, she finds help in the form of a beastly mentor, and she is presented with the prospect of love in a world that just might be more dangerous than the forest filled with all of its chasing wolves.

Zilla: The theme of the cycle of abuse really spoke to me. Even Sal, who recognises the lure of the cycle, can’t stop himself from repeating it. Is it the animal or the human, the wolf or the mother, bear or father, which compels this cycle?

Jeff: That’s the thing, it is the great universal Mother-Animal-Man which is compelled by the Hunger. Mother, because it is the omnipresent. Animal, because it is hungry and it must eat. And the human, to ensure that the cycle is unbreakable.

Zilla: Everyone in this book has something they need to escape, whether it is in their past or present. Sometimes they run, sometimes they turn to the Blue Fairy, and sometimes they turn to blue pixie dust. How intertwined are these three options?

Jeff: These options, like the cycle of abuse, are inescapable, we have fight or flight, drugs and dreams, and … or death. Here we have the desire to escape, the desire for something other than our station, and we have methods of distraction (pixie-dust) and hope for something greater than ourselves (the moon, the stars, the Blue Fairy).

Zilla: There are many births in this book, but every birth comes with a death. Is the reverse true? Or is there death without birth?

Jeff: The silly answer, the quip of an answer, and the real answer are all the same: yes (to all).

Zilla: Many of the characters carry double names: Marybelle/Mother, Just John/Brother John, lost/Gideon, Sky Blue/Shy Blue. Often in stories, a character with two names chooses the second name for themselves, as a sign of agency. Here, both names are gifted to them by others, or represent their relationship to others. Is it possible for a person to define themselves?

Jeff: Possible? I could make an argument, that no one could do it without help. Foucault would say, we cannot be who we are until we see ourselves reflected back from another. Think about it, who would we be if we lived alone on the moon? All of our insecurities, our issues with our own bodies, the fight between who we want to be and who we think we should be … it wouldn’t exist. For me, I’d say that others are signposts, not intentionally guiding, but unconsciously showing us the ground we are standing upon. Cherry-Rose had to go through a lot to accept the truth that we all know and rarely accept and look where she ended up ~ you have to read the book to find out.

Zilla: You mix together the real and the unreal–Hollywood and William Hale Academy for Children of All Sorts, wine and pixie dust. What is the line between reality and fairytale? Is there a line?

Jeff: This is the fun of writing fiction. I wrote and wrote as if I were on the moon and then when I came back down to earth too soon, often I was shocked by what I read. Whenever that happened I’d stop writing until I could get back to the moon. At every turn, whenever I got insecure and wanted to tell myself that I had gone too far, that there is no way … I somehow found a way to go further. And in the end, when I had to write ‘The End,’ I was pleasantly surprised by how shocked I was. For example, the chapter titled Moon Love Ritual … it is bizarre and beyond and I wish I could say more, but I don’t want to spoil the fun. The intention was to blur all of the lines. To say, “Why not?, Why the hell not?!, Hell yes!” Because we, the reader and the writer, decide where all the lines go.

Zilla: And last but not least, I know there’s a Spotify playlist—can we have it?

Jeff: It is called Honey and Gold. You can find it here.

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?
Jeff: Find me and the book at my website.

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

Zilla: Danger and romance are hand-in-hand with Frankie Sutton’s paranormal romance, Vampiric Crush. Frankie, can you introduce us to your book?

Frankie: Shae Taizer hides in the protective Royale Realm, away from the reach of Gerard, the infamously manipulative Vampire King. She seeks a way to rid herself of the vampire’s crush on her, denying him an ally in his crushing quest for pleasure. She would rather die than become his Vampire Queen.

Her only plan is visiting the deadly Battle Realm. There, she hones her weapon and magic skills as a Deviant.

But after recalling a childhood of being raised among Civilians, she is gifted her own Pandora’s Box. She discovers a prophecy bonding her to two Civilians, Nickolas and Kiran. One is the key to defeating Gerard. However, reuniting with them ignites something more sinister—her own Vampiric Crush.

Zilla: What inspired you to write this book?

Frankie: Vampires such as Selene from the Underworld series and Saya from the Blood+ anime. And my love of swords, as well as Japan.

Zilla: Is there a visual image that inspired you?

Frankie: Oh yes. Back around 2000 I was part of a select group of Hollywood entertainers. Not mainstream, however. But they were professional tap dancers, singers, and actors. One of them was a female singer. She had a photoshoot and one of the pictures was her posing with a sword. I used that image as personal inspiration for my main character in Vampiric Crush.

Zilla: And that image inspiration made it to the cover, which is also a picture of a woman with a sword! I love that. Next question—if your characters met you, what would they say to you?

Frankie: I reckon they’d say, “Thank you for listening to us and sharing our story.”

Zilla: What background did you need to develop your story?

Frankie: When creating the prophecy for my ‘chosen one’, I discovered where exactly to set the story. Normally, the color blue isn’t associated with Halloween, but it fits for my story.

Zilla: What’s your next writing project?

Frankie: There’s actually two. One is a women’s fic inspired by my love of techno music and Celine Dion. The other one is an experimental dark fantasy—a short story collection that actually tells one whole story. It’s all connected!

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?

Frankie: Thanks everyone for taking the time to read about me and my creations. For more information about me, please visit BlueSky, Instagram, or my website. Vampiric Crush is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, Walmart, Kobo, Bookshop.org or Books-a-Million.

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).

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

Zilla: If you (like me) like your romance dark and magical, then you are the perfect reader for Beatrice Keane’s debut novel, Exiled Vengeance. Beatrice, can you tell us what we have to look forward to in your book?

Beatrice: Exiled Vengeance is my debut romance novel, and it is a dark fantasy romance. Emphasis on the dark. Trigger warnings are in the front matter of the book!

So, it’s about Eliana–a violently oppressed woman in a walled city ruled by religious fascists. When she’s pushed too far, she turns to the forbidden God of Vengeance. Unfortunately for her, the ritual texts are a little difficult to follow and instead of being imbued by his powers, he appears right in front of her and oh no he’s hot. One accidental kidnapping later, he quickly becomes obsessed with her. They join forces to take down their common enemy–and find something more than allies in each other.

Zilla: Oh, I love this! But do your characters love this as much as your readers do? What would your characters say if they met you?

Beatrice: Probably something like, “thanks for the trauma, asshole,” which… I think that’s fair.

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

Beatrice: A weird amount on desert flora and fauna, before deciding that it’s fantasy and it’s totally okay if barrel cacti coexist with jackals. Also I researched ancient clothing styles and weapons. 

Zilla: I relate to that—it’s hard sometimes to remember how much freedom we have as authors when we’re writing fantasy. So, next question, what book do you tell all your friends to read?

Beatrice: Come Out Come Out by Alexia Onyx. It’s a more contemporary dark romance with a paranormal twist. The love interest is a literal ghost. He’s hot. It’s a thing. 10/10. Would highly recommend if you were an emo kid in 2006-2010. Grab your Hawthorne Heights CD, pals, we’re reading ghost smut.

Zilla: What’s your next writing project?

Beatrice: There’s a few! Right now I’m working on Book 2 for Exiled Vengeance, which is Infamy Descending. And I just published a paranormal romcom about a coffee shop owner who just so happens to be a shifter, and a paranormal investigation TV show audio engineer—it’s called Bikes and Bear Claws.

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?

Beatrice: Primarily Instagram! I’m @beatricekeane.writes, and that’s where I spend most of my online-time. The book is available on Amazon (it’s also in Kindle Unlimited) and the link is HERE.