Happy Book Birthday to Nightmare on Queer Street

On October 17th, Nightmare on Queer Street officially went live on Amazon!! (I'm a little late to the party, but cue the balloons and confetti anyway.) This Halloween anthology features a collection of short horror stories (and poetry!) from the YYC Queer Writers group in Calgary, Alberta (Canada). The anthology is self-published by the group and 100% of sales are donated to Camp fYrefly, a leadership camp for 2SLGBTQ+ youth in Alberta.

The YYC Queer Writers is a group of (you guessed it) queer writers that get together about twice a month to share ideas, write to prompts, and get those creative juices flowing. The group has put out several holiday themed anthologies so far, including one for Christmas and two for Valentine's Day, Screw Chocolate and Screw Chocolate 2. This Halloween anthology is the newest addition to the collection and features some of the scariest storytelling of all - writers who write about writing, haha. 

The collection features: 

- A poem about the horrors of dating apps. 

- A clown serial killer loose at a college party. 

- Vampires hunting vampires. 

- The Devil visiting the child of a Satanist family. 

and more. 

As mentioned, all proceeds from book sales will be used to send kids from lower income families to Camp fYrefly, an arts and leadership camp for 2SLGBTQ+ youth. I'm so proud to help out this camp in any way I can - they do incredible work. When I worked in the child welfare system, I worked with several kids who were able to attend this camp through initiatives like this, and they had nothing but positive things to say. Even kids who never had anything positive to say about anything still liked this camp. The camp is run through the University of Alberta and uses evidence-based and Indigenous led programming, with Indigenous Elders running the camp's ceremonies and some programming. They also provide mental health supports, an artist in residence, and it's located in the mountains of Kananaskis Country. The camp also keeps its doors open to cis, straight, questioning or curious youth, which helps to educate allies as well as empower queer youth. 

Check out Nightmare on Queer Street and the YYC Queer Writers Group through the links below. 

Amazon  |  Goodreads  |  Facebook 

Book Review: Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory

 

Book Review: Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory by Raphael Bob-Waksberg

Goodreads Description: Written with all the scathing dark humor that is a hallmark of BoJack Horseman, Raphael Bob-Waksberg's stories will make readers laugh, weep, and shiver in uncomfortably delicious recognition. In "A Most Blessed and Auspicious Occasion," a young couple planning a wedding is forced to deal with interfering relatives dictating the appropriate number of ritual goat sacrifices. "Missed Connection--m4w" is the tragicomic tale of a pair of lonely commuters eternally failing to make that longed-for contact. The members of a rock band in "Up-and-Comers" discover they suddenly have superpowers — but only when they're drunk. And in "The Serial Monogamist's Guide to Important New York City Landmarks," a woman maps her history of romantic failures based on the places she and her significant others visited together.

My Review: As the title implies, this collection takes a look at love -- the good, the bad, and the downright weird. This isn't your happily-ever-after kind of love, these stories dive into its bittersweet transience: how people grow apart, how things don't work out, how hearts get broken, bandaged up, and put out there just to get banged up again. The opening and closing pieces make perfect endcaps to this theming: the book opens with a woman on a first date, wondering if the man she's with is worth trusting or if she's going to get hurt again, while the last piece features a one night stand where a couple comes to know each other completely, only to become strangers again in the morning. Throughout the collection, Raphael Bob-Waksberg plays with the concept of love -- along with the form of his poems and stories -- in order to view the traditional love story through a fresh perspective. We get a love story told through the point of view of the boyfriend's dog. The love poem about writing love poems. The rules list for a game of Taboo that explores the things you can and can't say in relationships. Whether it's playing with form, or inserting superheroes or Satanists into age-old tales of marriage or growing up, each story has something that makes it feel like it's never been done before. 

The writing style isn't overly flowery, but the narrative spends a lot of time contemplating the nature of people, things, love, etc. Any plot or action is used as a framing device for the emotions or atmosphere Bob-Waksberg is trying to communicate. Even pieces that are more plot-driven don't seat us inside the action; the focus is always on the internal and interpersonal drama playing out around it. If you enjoyed Bojack Horseman but found it a little dark, this collection may be just right for you. While many of its stories are bittersweet, it's not nearly as hopeless as Bob-Waksberg's popular Netflix show. It may make you feel lonely and like finding love is utterly hopeless, but it won't make you hate the rest of humanity (hopefully). 

The book has such a powerful emotional impact that it's hard not to dwell on some of these stories, even months later. If, like me, you love that sour punch of bittersweet love and loss, you won't be disappointed with this collection. 

TL;DR: 5/5 stars. A bittersweet collection exploring the transient nature of love. 

Release Day Blitz: 20 Shades of Shifter

Hey all! The 20 SHADES OF SHIFTERS ANTHOLOGY released on February 14th, and I'm stoked to share the release day blitz with you all in partnership with Rockstar Book Tours! 

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful box set, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card (where Amazon is located), courtesy of author K.L. Bone and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

About The Book:

Title: 20 SHADES OF SHIFTERS ANTHOLOGY 

Author: Demelza Carlton, Evelyn Lederman, ML Guida, Aidy Award, Carmen Fox, David Adams, Sascha Illyvich, Lynn Best, Lilly Cain, Emma Alisyn, Vonnie Davis, Brenda Trim and Tami Julka, Nina Croft, K.L. Bone, Natalie Jones, Kailin Gow, Moxie North

Pub. Date: February 14, 2018

Publisher: Laudanum House

Pages: 511

Formats: eBook

Find it: Amazon, Goodreads

Order now for only $1.99! Or read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

20 Shades of Shifter is a limited-edition collection of new and exclusive paranormal romance novels guaranteed to suck in you from page one. 

A shape-shifting dragon must win over his reluctant mate and stop Jack the Ripper. A Fae trucker becomes allies with an MC member when trying to deliver magical motorcycles to the Fae Queen. A wolf shifter is held captive in a human research lab where he is tortured until he meets one sexy scientist. An angel risked it all to steal the elixir of life and save his mortal love’s life and over two millennia later must get her to remember she once loved an angel. These stories and many more are included in this steamy, hot collection. 

Don’t wait to read this set. It is only out for a short time before it will be gone forever! 

Demelza Carlton 

Evelyn Lederman 

ML Guida 

Aidy Award 

Carmen Fox 

David Adams 

Sascha Illyvich 

Lynn Best 

Lilly Cain 

Emma Alisyn 

Vonnie Davis 

Brenda Trim and Tami Julka 

Nina Croft 

K.L. Bone 

Natalie Jones 

Kailin Gow 

Moxie North 

Excerpt from one of the books in the Box Set:

Embracing the Dragon:

The Flames of Kalleen

By: K.L. Bone

Ash fell from the sky, blanketing the charred ground like cascading snow. Amelia stretched out her fingers, finding the burnt residue cool against her pale skin, lacking the heat responsible for the land’s horrific transformation. As she searched the valley for the conflagration’s source, or any living being, toxic particles coated her lungs with each labored breath.

Normally this lush region would have been filled with the merry songs of chittering birds, and the scattering rustle of creatures hidden amid the tall grass. As she walked the field, the only sounds were the crunch of charred vegetation, and her occasional cough as her chest attempted to expel the smoke-laden air.

She scanned the horizon, seeking flames. Gloomy air surrounded her, with smoke so thick she couldn’t even discern the fire’s glow through its suffocating layers.

Amelia pushed forward, drawing shallow breaths as more particles lined her throat, turning coughs to occasional gags as she reached what should have been the forest’s edge. In place of towering trees, she found blackened stumps. Her heart skipped at the sight, her mind rejecting the ruined vision of the land she had loved.

“What happened?” she asked the desolate terrain. “What, by the gods, took place here?”

She had cherished this land with its lush shrubbery, thick enough to hide even her darkest secrets. A place all were once welcomed to enjoy shaded comfort, perfumed by the sweet scent of fresh grass and wildflowers. Now, only cooling embers remained.

When she reached the clearing’s center, a pitiful squeak drew her attention. She knelt, brushing her hand through ash and soot to find a bird chirping meekly between desperate gasps. Gently cradling the suffering creature between her hands, Amelia closed her eyes.

As though anticipating her intentions, the wren remained motionless against her palms, and its labored breathing eased.

Settling her mind upon the bird, soft-blue light emanated from between her fingers, bathing the unremarkable brown feathers in cerulean light. As Amelia’s power drew out the toxins poisoning the delicate creature, it first flapped its wings, and then flew from Amelia’s hands.

“Fly away,” she urged. “The air remains poisonous.”

The bird chirped in thanks before fluttering away, though Amelia was uncertain as to the safety of its chosen direction.

She resumed her survey of the ruined forest, helping a struggling squirrel in the same manner she had the bird. As it scampered away, Amelia stood and attempted to brush the soot from her hands, but only managed to smudge the fine black powder.

Without audible warning, orange flames surged toward her, forcing Amelia to jump to her left, rolling through the fire’s debris, hands and knees stinging as they encountered hidden rocks.

A roar resounded, shattering the unnatural silence as Amelia glanced toward the sky to face a looming figure.

Above, darker than the choking smoke, hovered an immense beast, its wingspan casting a wide shadow over her curled form. The deep purple wings had a feathered appearance, glowing with what appeared to be golden flames, though they did not burn. Instead the menacing creature’s wings fanned hotter, reminding Amelia of a forge fire amplified by a blacksmith’s bellow. From an ebony body, its back feet were hooved, but its front arms had claws similar to a bird’s, while larger talons protruded from the outer tips of both wings. A terrifying creature of utter destruction.

The dragon stared down with glinting silver eyes, glowing nostrils framing the fire within. With each methodical beat of its wings, Amelia’s blonde tresses were alternately tugged and blown back in the wash of hot air.

Fear consumed her, stole her breath, and froze every thought. She briefly considered running, but knew she would never escape the creature’s wrath.

Shakily, Amelia climbed to her feet, her blue eyes wide as she waited for her inevitable fate. The dragon’s jaws opened, flames spilling to engulf the girl below before she could even utter a scream.

Embracing the Dragon Copyright © 2017 by K.L. Bone

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Giveaway Details: All International

1 winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card (where Amazon is located), International

Ends on February 21st at Midnight EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway