Mushroom Duxelles with Cold Rising

Fiction To Sink Your Teeth Into, a feature from author and professional chef Rohan O’Duill!

This month I had the pleasure to create a recipe for my debut novel, Cold Rising, that was released last month.

Cold Rising is a science fiction novella set predominantly in the underground metropolis on Mars. The agricultural zone there grows mushrooms and fungi, so I have created a miner’s version of mushroom duxelles. This is great as a snack on some toast, but is also very versatile—you can add it to almost anything. My son loves it mixed through some pasta, for example.

Continue reading

Read the best book for pay-what-you-can

Most Famous Short Film of All Time is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Period, end of sentence.

I can’t tell you why. There are books that burrow into me and change me as I read them. Vita Nostra did this too. VALIS did, thought I didn’t love it the way I love the other two, it still burrowed inside my brain and laid eggs. I am a different person because I read it, and I am glad.

I’m not telling you about the plot of Most Famous Short Film of All Time. Why would I do that? It’s not about what happened in the book. Sometimes what doesn’t happen matters more. Sometimes an absence is something too.

It’s on for pay-what-you-can. Go to Itch.io. Read it.

Cold Beans and Herbs on Bread with The Books of Earthsea by Ursala K Le Guin

Fiction To Sink Your Teeth Into, a feature from author and professional chef Rohan O’Duill!

There is a lot of food talked about in the world of Earthsea but this drew my attention as it was something that I hadn’t made or eaten previously. While it might not sound appealing at first this meal is delicious, vegan, and can be prepared in about 90 seconds. What’s not to love?

The Books of Earthsea next to a delicious plate of food
Continue reading

Announcing: Guaranteed Bestseller (That No One Will Read)

Guaranteed Bestseller offers nine sardonic tales holding a carnival mirror to writers and stories. From a deal with the Devil to the ultimate AI vs human showdown, witness the terrifying spectacle of artists who’ll do anything to clamber out of the creative trenches alive.

Sign up for an exclusive cover reveal, be part of our ARC team, and read the book before everyone else!

https://forms.gle/Rvh48t7EoLaK4wNS9

the bottom of a tablet showing paper ripped away. Underneath you can see a face on the butt of a demon. Below it, the text reads "Coming Soon"

Steamed Mantu with the Kite Runner

Fiction To Sink Your Teeth Into, a feature from author and professional chef Rohan O’Duill!

Steamed mantu was one of the scents Amir remembered during the Kite Tournament. The Kite Runner is a beautiful book with a stark reminder of how things can change drastically at any moment.

Steamed mantu is a wonderful Afghan dish, which I have made a bit easier with a few cheats. This is a vegetarian version but you can make a more traditional version by using minced lamb or beef instead of the sweet potato and peas.

Steamed Mantu with the Kite Runner
Continue reading

Sushi and Sea Lions with homemade sushi

Fiction To Sink Your Teeth Into, a feature from author and professional chef Rohan O’Duill!

Dany and Vin Vin share several meals in Sushi and Sea Lions, from accidentally undercooked chicken parmigiana to diner chicken wings to the titular sushi. While under pressure to do a chicken parmigiana, I left that surprise for the book. This is the perfect snack to keep in the fridge and pull out and enjoy with this great read. Enjoy.

Sushi and Sea Lions with Sushi
Continue reading

Make worse choices with Zilla Novikov

Strap up friends and strangers. It’s time to make bad choices … together

I wrote a novella called Query where I mash up publishing under late-stage capitalism with climate change activism and trauma-dumping on strangers. It’s also a queer love story and it’s been called “pants-wettingly funny.” Rysz published the regular version with a SFW cover but he also sold a book box with a special edition cover which I literally have to censor if people are at work, link here if you’re not at work or you work in a very chill workplace.

The query cover with a censored bar over the page the typewriter has written

We sold out of the first run of Query book boxes, which a) was fully incredible and b) what the heck guys, do you want to make a grown woman cry from happiness? Because I’ll do it.

So Rysz and I bought another round of mostly different, equally deranged swag to put in print run two for another round of Query book boxes.

Rysz was like, “wow people like book boxes huh” so he’s put on a sale so you can get any or all of the books from his press in the SAME BOX. I have read every book he’s published and I love all of them, but hot DAMN Corrupted Vessels has a good cover so I plan on getting that one myself.

The Corrupted Vessels cover in all its body horror glory

You also have the option of getting ALL THE BOOKS Rysz publishes AT THE SAME TIME. Open your heart and your bookshelves. Let something in. I can’t promise this is a good choice, but it’s a choice. Ask yourself, what could go wrong? Then do it anyway.

Classic Scones with Babel

Fiction To Sink Your Teeth Into, a feature from author and professional chef Rohan O’Duill!

After moving from Canton to London, Robin discovers the culinary delight of Mrs Pipers’ Scones (or Bannocks as she prefers to call them).

Obviously, one of the major plot points in the book is whether or not you like sultanas in your scones. While Robin’s benefactor, Professor Lovell, is a big fan of the sultana scone, Robin prefers them plain. Seeing that my wife agrees with Robin, plain scones is what I have made. But feel free to add a handful of sultanas if you are that way inclined.

Babel and scones and a cup of tea
Continue reading