You searched for Stephen King | The Nerd Daily https://thenerddaily.com/ All Things Nerdy Fri, 19 Jul 2024 12:22:06 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6 https://i0.wp.com/thenerddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/cropped-Nerd-Daily-Logo-Favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 You searched for Stephen King | The Nerd Daily https://thenerddaily.com/ 32 32 122026701 Review: So Witches We Became by Jill Baguchinsky https://thenerddaily.com/review-so-witches-we-became-by-jill-baguchinsky/ https://thenerddaily.com/review-so-witches-we-became-by-jill-baguchinsky/#respond Wed, 17 Jul 2024 22:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=51542 So Witches We Became is a curled snarl of a book. This is the type of book that seethes with rage and breaks your heart. It is no secret that I adore a good horror book and Jill Baguchinsky delivers the goods in this no holds barred YA horror that delivers spine-chilling thrills and an unleashed power in both rage and letting your voice be heard. This is not a book that holds back, it pulls power from its deep-seated […]

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]]> So Witches We Became is a curled snarl of a book. This is the type of book that seethes with rage and breaks your heart.

It is no secret that I adore a good horror book and Jill Baguchinsky delivers the goods in this no holds barred YA horror that delivers spine-chilling thrills and an unleashed power in both rage and letting your voice be heard.

This is not a book that holds back, it pulls power from its deep-seated anger. I love books that unapologetically let their fury fly, particularly when it’s connected to important conversations and the type of emotion that consumes you entirely. This is definitely one where I would recommend reading the content warnings ahead of reading, as it deals with rape culture, abuse, sexual assault, rape and victim blaming as primary topics. These are dealt with sensitively and with a clear sense of nuance at the difficulty of these conversation, particularly within a patriarchal society. Characters have tricky conversations on page that tackle their own complicity and having to face their trauma. However, it is also very much a narrative around reclaiming your own narrative and power. Both are given equal weight and I think that chimes strongly with the ultimate message of allowing survivors to find their own path. It is their story and they should have control over what happens next. Forcing any judgement or recommended path upon them reduces their agency further than it has already been stolen from them. This is an impactful message and shines particularly in that balance between power and rage, it finely achieved by Baguchinsky and should be commended. Within this rage, there is a warning of letting it consume you entirely. It picks apart the idea of justice and vigilantism, questioning where exactly that line sits. There is a lot to unpack within these pages, but Baguchinsky always allow time to breathe and digest these revelations in a way that gives both characters and readers grace.

The opening sequence of this book is chilling. It immediately puts you on edge and gives you a good sense of some of the supernatural scares that may come into the book. Overall, the horror contains a great mystery and a brilliant use of atmosphere to amplify the tension. The setting is an isolated and intriguing one, with its own mythology and mystery around it. So, once the chaos starts, you are primed for an oncoming storm of death and destruction. There is certainly some bloodshed and brutality here, but it is also constantly questioning who the true monsters in the narrative are. It is a familiar narrative, but infused with heart due to the excellent characterisation. Nell is a brilliant protagonist and instantly draws you in. She’s likeable but complicated, haunted by fears and secrets. Around her is a tight friendship group, but there may be more than a few cracks beneath a seemingly easy exterior.

Also, while it is very much not the primary focus of the book, there is a gorgeous queer romance thread throughout the book. This is one that brought a smile to my face with great chemistry and dialogue, which naturally built between the two characters. It is of course amplified by the horrific circumstances unfolding around them and complicated by the truths they are not sharing with one another. Ultimately it provides some light and hope for the future amongst the darkness, giving an example of continuing to live for yourself and taking control of your own narrative. It is a hard won victory though and definitely shown to contain struggles to come as well.

So Witches We Became is the kind of horror that haunts your dreams—brimming with a poignant fury that settles under your skin.

So Witches We Became is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of July 23rd 2024.

Will you be picking up So Witches We Became? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

If boys will be boys, girls will fight back.

For high school senior Nell and her friends, a vacation house on a private Florida island sounds like the makings of a dream spring break. But Nell brings secrets with her—secrets that fuse with the island’s tragic history, trapping them all with a curse that surrounds the island in a toxic, vengeful mist and the surrounding waters with an unseen, devouring beast.

Getting out alive means risking her friendships, her sanity, and even her own life. In order to save herself and her friends, Nell will have to face memories she’d rather leave behind, reveal the horrific truth behind the encounter that changed her life one year ago, and face the shadow that’s haunted her since childhood.

Easier said than done.

But when Nell’s friends reveal that they each brought secrets of their own, a solution even more dangerous than the curse begins to take shape.

Perfect for fans of Courtney Summers nd Rory Power and reading like a YA feminist spin on Stephen King’s The Mist, So Witches We Became is a diverse, queer horror about female friendship, the emotional aftermath of surviving assault, and how to find power in the shadows of your past.

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]]> https://thenerddaily.com/review-so-witches-we-became-by-jill-baguchinsky/feed/ 0 51542 66 YA Books Hitting Bookshelves Between July and December 2024 https://thenerddaily.com/young-adult-book-releases-july-to-december-2024/ https://thenerddaily.com/young-adult-book-releases-july-to-december-2024/#respond Tue, 09 Jul 2024 17:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=51278 The Nerd Daily may obtain commissions for qualifying purchases from the links included in this article, but it’s so important to remember to shop local and indie! Any commissions received go back into funding giveaways on The Nerd Daily. Your TBR better watch out because there are so many spectacular YA books hitting shelves over the next few months! With new releases from Amie Kaufman, Lexi Ryan, Karen M. McManus, Maureen Johnson, Sarah Henning, Lynn Painter, Danielle Paige, Kalyn Josephson, […]

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]]> The Nerd Daily may obtain commissions for qualifying purchases from the links included in this article, but it’s so important to remember to shop local and indie! Any commissions received go back into funding giveaways on The Nerd Daily.

Your TBR better watch out because there are so many spectacular YA books hitting shelves over the next few months! With new releases from Amie Kaufman, Lexi Ryan, Karen M. McManus, Maureen Johnson, Sarah Henning, Lynn Painter, Danielle Paige, Kalyn Josephson, and Courtney Gould, along with a few debut novels, there’s something for every reader to pick up and enjoy between July and December!

Read on to discover just a few of our picks and also be sure to check out our Most Anticipated and Swoonworthy Romance lists for more releases!

JULY 2024

The Heart of the World by Amie Kaufman

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Magic and sacrifice will collide as lovers and gods, enemies and allies vie for the fate of the world in this heart-pounding sequel to THE ISLES OF THE GODS, which Stephanie Garber called “deliciously diabolical and full of heart.” (Now publishes in September 2024)

Our Wicked Histories by Amy Goldsmith

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A teen girl’s attempt to make amends with her former friend group takes a sinister turn during a weekend getaway at an ancestral Irish estate in this atmospheric, literary horror from the author of Those We Drown.

Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts by Adam Sass

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A swoony contemporary romance from Adam Sass following a boy who is cursed to doom any romantic relationship—and the summer that changes everything.

A Darker Mischief by Derek Milman

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The Honeys meets The Secret History in a work of dark academia like no other — a boarding school thriller about a queer teen from Mississippi who finds himself swept into a world of old money, privilege, and the secret society at the heart of it all.

A Magic Fierce and Bright by Hemant Nayak

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A young technomancer teams up with a handsome thief to save her sister in this propulsive, magic-filled young adult fantasy that is perfect for fans of Gearbreakers and Iron Widow.

The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington

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A group of friends fight to choose their own fates in this trope-savvy, self-referential young adult thriller from the acclaimed author of Their Vicious Games, about a demonic force that acts according to horror movie rules in the spirit of the Scream movies.

Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan

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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lexi Ryan comes a romantic fantasy in which a human princess armed with death’s kiss and a fae shifter on the run become unlikely allies when a mission to assassinate an evil king collides with a fatal prophecy.

Ready or Not by Andi Porretta

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An anxious teen hopes that a summer of adventure and offbeat dares will keep her friend group together after graduation in this luminous coming-of-age graphic novel with the feel-good vibes of Booksmart and Morgan Matson’s Since You’ve Been Gone.

Such Charming Liars by Karen M. McManus

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The newest mystery from the author One of Us Is Lying, the Queen of thrillers, Karen M. McManus! When mother-daughter grifters set out on their final job, the heist gets deadly and dangerously personal.

Break to You by Neal Shusterman, Debra Young and Michelle Knowlden

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Bestselling author of Scythe and Challenger Deep Neal Shusterman, here with coauthors Debra Young and Michelle Knowlden, tells an intense yet tender story of two teens, trapped in impossible circumstances and unjust systems, willing to risk everything for love—no matter the consequences.

So Witches We Became by Jill Baguchinsky

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A queer, feminist spin on Stephen King’s The Mist, this ode to female-rage is a perfect pick for fans of She Is a Haunting, and a reminder that if “boys will be boys”, girls will fight back.

Hearts Overboard by Becky Dean

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Set sail with this banter-filled rivals-to-lovers romance between a STEM-loving girl and a jock guy that will fill you with wanderlust…and have you rooting for love in the great outdoors!

AUGUST 2024

Ami by S. Jae-Jones

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Filled with adventure, romance and a race against time, Guardians of Dawn: Ami is the next book in the richly imagined Guardians of Dawn series.

The Dark We Know by Wen-yi Lee

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From Gillian Flynn Books, a lyrical young adult horror by debut author Wen-yi Lee that’s perfect for fans of She Is a Haunting, Stephen King’s IT, and The Haunting of Hill House.

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

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From the bestselling author of the Truly Devious books, Maureen Johnson, comes a new stand-alone YA about a teen who uncovers a mystery while working as a tour guide on an island and must solve it before history repeats itself.

This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings

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The first book in a decadent fantasy duology set in Jazz Age Harlem, where at night the dance halls come to life―and death waits in the dark.

A Banh Mi for Two by Trinity Nguyen

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In this sweet sapphic romance about two foodies in love, Vivi meets Lan while studying abroad in Vietnam and they spend the semester unraveling their families’ histories―and eating all the street food in Sài Gòn.

Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay

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From the author of the National Book Award finalist Patron Saints of Nothing comes an emotionally charged, moving novel about four generations of Filipino American boys grappling with identity, masculinity, and their fraught father-son relationships.

The Empire Wars by Akana Phenix

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The Empire Wars is a powerful new YA fantasy in which magic may be a young woman’s only hope for survival.

Wisteria by Adalyn Grace

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#1 New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace delivers a sensational conclusion to the deathly and decadent Belladonna trilogy, with dramatic twists and a seductive new romance that will set readers’ hearts ablaze.

Come Out, Come Out by Natalie C. Parker

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A spine-tingling LGBTQIA+ YA horror about queer teens who accidentally invoke a twisted spirit who promises help but delivers something sinister.

Silent Sister by Megan Davidhizar

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The must-read suspense novel of the summer about a mysterious sister’s disappearance, her biggest betrayal and a deadly truth screaming to come out.  

Practical Rules for Cursed Witches by Kayla Cottingham

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From the New York Times bestselling author of My Dearest Darkest comes a sapphic fantasy adventure about a teen witch who must complete her magical training by breaking a powerful family’s curse. But her own affliction—to never find true love—gets in the way when she falls for the girl she’s trying to save.

Under The Surface by Diana Urban

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An epic survival-thriller about four teens who get lost in the Paris catacombs for days—a gripping and propulsive story of love, danger, betrayal, and hope… even when all seems lost.

SEPTEMBER 2024

Payal Mehta’s Romance Revenge Plot by Preeti Chhibber

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This laugh-out-loud debut romance introduces perfectly imperfect Payal Mehta, whose plan to get her long-time crush to finally notice her is destined for success, but only if she ignores her budding feelings for her archnemesis…

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White

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A queer Appalachian thriller that pulls no punches—following a trans autistic teen who’s drawn into the generational struggle between the rural poor and those who exploit them.

The Lies We Conjure by Sarah Henning

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Knives Out meets The Inheritance Games with magic in this standalone supernatural thriller by Sarah Henning: thirteen witches, a locked-room murder, and two non-magical sisters trapped in a deadly whodunit.

The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig

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From the astonishing mind of Erin A. Craig comes the breathtaking fairy tale retelling readers have been waiting for— what does a life well-lived mean, and how do we justify the impossible choices we make for the ones we love?

Everything Glittered by Robin Talley

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In this queer historical thriller from a New York Times bestselling author, society girls try to find a murderer in a city filled with secrets and stunted by shame. Perfect for fans of Last Night at the Telegraph Club.

When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao

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From the New York Times bestselling author Dustin Thao, We Are Okay meets Wandavision in this novel about loss, and learning to let go.

The Monstrous Kind by Lydia Gregovic

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An atmospheric, haunting, romantasy inspired by Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, set in a Regency England about two sisters fighting to hold on to their manor while deadly monsters prowl along its perimeters—perfect for fans of House of Salt and Sorrows and Anatomy: A Love Story.

The Hysterical Girls of St. Bernadette’s by Hanna Alkaf

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An all-girls school is struck with mysterious cases of screaming hysteria in this chilling dark academia thriller haunted by a deeply buried history clawing to the light.

Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter

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In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling Better than the Movies, Wes and Liz struggle to balance their feelings for each other with the growing pains of being a college student.

To The Bone by Alena Bruzas

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This moving and tragic love story is also a starkly honest look at Colonial America, set during the “Starving Time” in Jamestown.

Spells To Forget Us by Aislinn Brophy

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A witch and a non-magical girl get stuck in an endless cycle of meet-cutes and breakups in this heart-stopping romantic young adult fantasy.

Faeries Never Lie, Edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker

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Faeries Never Lie, the next young adult collection in the Untold Legends series edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker, is filled with fourteen short stories to revel in, that center faeries of varying genders and cultures!

OCTOBER 2024

Tangleroot by Kalela Williams

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In this debut novel, chosen by booksellers as an Indies Introduce selection, a girl must face hard truths about blood and family, history and mystery.

Inheritance of Scars by Crystal Seitz

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House of Roots and Ruin meets The Darkest Part of the Forest in this gorgeous dark fantasy debut steeped in Norse mythology that follows a teen who accidentally awakens an imprisoned draugr and must follow him into a deadly magical forest to rescue her grandmother.

Spell of the Sinister by Danielle Paige

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In New York Times bestselling author Danielle Paige’s wickedly fresh take on beloved tales, the fairy godmothers make the rules. Be careful what you wish for . . .

Make My Wish Come True by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick

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‘Tis the season for holiday hijinks in the newest sapphic rom-com about a rising star and a small town girl going on twelve fake holidates from the New York Times bestselling authors of She Gets the Girl, Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick!

The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones

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Dive into a lush, standalone fantasy, set in the same world as The Drowned Woods and The Bone Houses, about a deadly competition—perfect for fans of Holly Black and Erin A. Craig.

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now by Jason Reynolds

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#1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds tackles it—you know…it—from the guy’s perspective in this unfiltered and undeniably sweet stream of consciousness story of a teen boy about to experience a huge first.

Eleven Houses by Colleen Oakes

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Midnight Mass meets The Vampire Diaries in this epic romantic tale of a mysterious island and the houses who have stood for centuries to guard against the dreaded nightmare of beings waiting to strike from the ocean’s depths.

For She Is Wrath by Emily Varga

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A sweeping, Pakistani romantic fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, where one girl seeks revenge against those who betrayed her—including the boy she used to love.

The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew

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Serpent & Dove meets Arcane in this dystopian romance debut that follows a cunning memory merchant who deals a little extra happiness on the side and the handsome rookie officer on her tail!

Fledgling: The Keeper’s Records of Revolution by S. K. Ali

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The first book in a gripping duology from acclaimed author S.K. Ali introduces a fractured world on the brink of either enlightenment or war.

Inferno’s Heir by Tiffany Wang

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Fearing for her life, an outcast princess joins the rebellion against her own kingdom and family. . . but when playing with fire, someone always gets burned. 

The Debutantes by Olivia Worley

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Jessica Goodman meets The Agathas in this taut, twisty YA thriller set in the glittering world of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, where secrets–and bodies–never stay buried.

NOVEMBER 2024

Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis

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The new Gambit takes Ross and her crew into the intoxicating casinos of Monte Carlo and across treacherous snow-covered slopes in Antarctica as Ross competes against Devroe in a fight for her life. Loyalties will be tested, backs stabbed, hearts broken. May the best thief win.

Darkly by Marisha Pessl

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A seemingly ordinary high school student. A mysterious summer internship. And a legendary game designer, now dead, leaving a dark legacy. The New York Times bestselling author of Night Film spins a twisted web in this masterful YA psychological thriller.

I Am the Dark That Answers When You Call by Jamison Shea

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Jamison Shea’s sharp and unflinching voice will bring readers to terrifying new heights in this vicious sequel to the “relentlessly gory and almost euphoric in its embrace of the horrific” (NPR) I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me.

The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard

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The forest is more dangerous than ever in this highly-anticipated, pulse-pounding, and swoon-worthy conclusion to the bestselling Luminaries trilogy.

Rani Choudhury Must Die by Adiba Jaigirdar

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In this sapphic dual POV Young Adult romance by Adiba Jaigirdar, Meghna and Rani (ex-best-friends-turned-rivals) realize they’re dating the same guy, so they team up to beat and expose him at a big science competition!

When Mimi Went Missing by Suja Sukumar

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The splintered relationship between two Indian American cousins is at the center of this dark, twisty YA mystery—perfect for fans of Tiffany D. Jackson, Karen McManus, and Angeline Boulley.

Midnights With You by Clare Osongco

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Fans of Susan Lee and Dustin Thao will be enchanted by this soulful YA romance about how we love, how we heal, and how we find the strength to go on.

Our Deadly Designs by Kalyn Josephson

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The Shadows Between Us meets The Scorpio Races in the epic conclusion to NYT bestselling Kalyn Josephson’s This Dark Descent, called “a fierce and darkly magical thrill ride” by acclaimed author Ava Reid.

Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart

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Jessa has been raised to be the “perfect girl”, but things go south. A killer looking for the perfect girl has targeted Jessa, and she’ll have to reject everything she’s been taught if she wants to keep herself―and her friends―alive until sunrise.

If You Can Hear This by Faith Gardner

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The twisty, intricate mystery of I Killed Zoe Spanos meets the whip-smart sleuthing of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder in the newest novel from acclaimed author Faith Gardner, in which a club of misfits must come together to solve a dangerous mystery—and learn to lean on each other all the while.

Dead Girls Don’t Dream by Nino Cipri

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There are rules for Voynich Woods: Always carry a whistle. Never go alone. Always come home before dark. And if anyone calls your name, don’t answer. Because everyone who wanders from the path is never seen again.

Flopping in a Winter Wonderland by Jason June

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Sparks are flying in Winter Wonderland this Christmas in this LGBTQ+ young adult rom-com from Jason June, New York Times bestselling author of Out of the Blue, Jay’s Gay Agenda, and Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball!

DECEMBER 2024

A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya

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A fledgling vampire and a headstrong vampire huntress must work together–against their better judgment–to rid the world of monsters in this irresistible romantic fantasy.

Dust by Alison Stine

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In this haunting, speculative coming-of-age novel about finding your place in an unforgiving environment, a partially deaf teen questions everything she knows about family, love, and her future.

Keep It in the Dark by Justin Arnold

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In this unashamedly queer, supernatural romance, Justin Arnold, author of Wicked Little Things, challenges the institutions that have sidelined queer love to the shadows, and brings it into the light.

We Are the Beasts by Gigi Griffis

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Deaths and disappearances pile up as a mysterious beast stalks the French countryside and two girls seize an unlikely opportunity that just might save them all—or serve them up on a platter.

What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould

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Yellowjackets meets Girl, Interrupted when a group of troubled teens in a wilderness therapy program find themselves stranded in a forest full of monsters eager to take their place.

You’re Dead to Me by Amy Christine Parker

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Gossip Girl meets Happy Death Day in this YA horror novel following high school outcast and anonymous social media gossip Ruby, who comes face-to-face with her own ghost dressed in a blood-splattered prom dress. With less than a week until the dance, Ruby must unmask her killer—or die trying.

What YA books are you looking forward to hitting shelves between July and December? Tell us in the comments below!

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]]> https://thenerddaily.com/young-adult-book-releases-july-to-december-2024/feed/ 0 51278 Q&A: Kendra Elliot & Melinda Leigh, Co-Authors of ‘Echo Road’ https://thenerddaily.com/kendra-elliot-melinda-leigh-author-interview/ https://thenerddaily.com/kendra-elliot-melinda-leigh-author-interview/#respond Sat, 29 Jun 2024 03:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=50717 We chat with co-authors Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh about Echo Road, which sees two cross-country cases collide and Bree Taggert and Mercy Kilpatrick join forces to catch a serial killer. Hi, Kendra and Melinda! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourselves? Kendra: I grew up in Oregon but now spend a lot of my time in Florida. I have three daughters still in Oregon. I was a dental hygienist for 16 years and but left two months before […]

The post Q&A: Kendra Elliot & Melinda Leigh, Co-Authors of ‘Echo Road’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> We chat with co-authors Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh about Echo Road, which sees two cross-country cases collide and Bree Taggert and Mercy Kilpatrick join forces to catch a serial killer.

Hi, Kendra and Melinda! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourselves?

Kendra: I grew up in Oregon but now spend a lot of my time in Florida. I have three daughters still in Oregon. I was a dental hygienist for 16 years and but left two months before my first book came out.

Melinda: Hi! I’m a former banker.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

Kendra: I hated writing all through high school and college and never had any interest in writing, but I was always a voracious reader. I was almost forty when I decided to see if I could write a book.

Melinda: I came to writing late, not starting my first book until I was nearly forty.

Echo Road is out July 2nd! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Melinda: Mercy and Bree finally meet.

Kendra: I think Melinda nails the answer here.

What can readers expect?

Kendra: Readers can expect the usual awesome suspense Melinda and I deliver, but I think the unexpected is the relationship between our two lead characters. Both of our agents were surprised by the depth of respect and genuine affection that developed between Mercy and Bree.

Melinda: Readers can expect two of their favorite characters to work together and form a strong friendship. When we began writing, we had a basic plot in mind, but we didn’t know how the characters would mesh. The dynamic between Bree and Mercy developed organically as we worked. We hope readers enjoy reading the story as much as we enjoyed writing it.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring further?

Kendra: I was really pleased with the black moment. Those are always tough to develop, but with Melinda and I working together, I feel we really pulled off something suspenseful. I also really enjoyed throwing together two smart, determined, and stubborn women who didn’t know the other person but were expected to work together.

Melinda: The whole book was an adventure to write. Though we talked extensively about the plot for the four years we’ve been planning it, there were plenty of surprises along the way. One benefit to writing collaboratively is having another person as deeply invested in the story as you are. It’s easier to work through a plot hole with two brains working the problem. Now that Bree and Mercy have such a great rapport, it’s possible we might bring them together again.

How does your collaboration process work?

Kendra: Talking, talking, talking. It was so nice to be able to immediately ask another person for help or ideas. When writing my own books, I bounce ideas off Melinda but usually that’s after I’ve agonized over something for three days. With Echo Road, as soon as I had a question, I’d throw it at her. We’ve been friends for almost 13 years and know how the other person thinks and works. It’s been a good partnership. I can’t think of anyone else I’d trust enough to write a book with.

Melinda: Kendra and I have written two novella series together, for a total of twenty titles, so we were already comfortable plotting jointly. Normally though, we are both mostly pantsers when it comes to writing our individual books. A single collaborative novel required more planning than either one of us typically uses. That said, we only plotted a few chapters at a time. We were both in Florida for part of the process and wrote together often. When not together, we’d talk through issues on the phone or through messages. We were pleasantly surprised how easily Echo Road came together. Two brains are better than one!

What do you love about the mystery genre?

Kendra: I love to learn things while I’m reading. Mysteries and suspense offer glimpses into psychology, police procedure, forensics, and action. I try to entertain the reader along with giving them information about worlds they’re not familiar with.

Melinda: When it comes to writing, I love the challenge both leaving a trail of clues for the reader to follow and simultaneously shocking them with an unexpected end. As a reader, I love trying to solve the crime and seeing how the pieces of the puzzle come together. There’s nothing better than having a writer surprise me with a spectacular twist I didn’t see coming. The mystery genre makes my brain work.

What’s next for you both?

Kendra: I’m working on the first in a new series about a long time secondary character, Detective Noelle Martin.

Melinda: I am writing the 10th book in the Bree Taggert series. After that, I’ll be starting a brand new series that I’m very excited about. Kendra and I have also talked about another collaboration. Lots of exciting projects to come!

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?

Kendra: Harlan Coben’s Think Twice. I will always buy anything written by Lisa Gardner, Gregg Hurwitz, Michael Connelly, and Lee Child. Usually I’ll preorder when I see something is available by them and then get surprised when they pop up on my Kindle on release day. Looking forward to Michael Connelly’s The Waiting.

Melinda: Recently I’ve enjoyed Lisa Gardner’s Still See you Everywhere; Gregg Hurwitz’s latest Orphan X book, Lone Wolf; and Diana Nyad’s memoir Find A Way. I’m currently reading a fascinating memoir, Sociopath, by Patric Gagne. I’m looking forward to The Guncle Abroad by Stephen Rowley because I loved the first book.

Will you be picking up Echo Road? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Kendra Elliot & Melinda Leigh, Co-Authors of ‘Echo Road’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/kendra-elliot-melinda-leigh-author-interview/feed/ 0 50717 Read An Excerpt From ‘Sorry for the Inconvenience: A Memoir’ by Farah Naz Rishi https://thenerddaily.com/sorry-for-the-inconvenience-a-memoir-by-farah-naz-rishi-excerpt/ https://thenerddaily.com/sorry-for-the-inconvenience-a-memoir-by-farah-naz-rishi-excerpt/#respond Thu, 27 Jun 2024 10:27:22 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=51076 From a Pakistani American author comes a bracing memoir about tradition, upending expectations, and the volatility of family, friendship, and, inevitably, love. Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Farah Naz Rishi’s Sorry for the Inconvenience, which is out July 1st 2024. Pakistani American Farah Naz Rishi’s first year of college was perfectly, thankfully, uneventful. After all, she was in college to learn and forge a path of self-sufficiency, especially after her last relationship fell apart―dashing […]

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Sorry for the Inconvenience: A Memoir’ by Farah Naz Rishi appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> From a Pakistani American author comes a bracing memoir about tradition, upending expectations, and the volatility of family, friendship, and, inevitably, love.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Farah Naz Rishi’s Sorry for the Inconvenience, which is out July 1st 2024.

Pakistani American Farah Naz Rishi’s first year of college was perfectly, thankfully, uneventful. After all, she was in college to learn and forge a path of self-sufficiency, especially after her last relationship fell apart―dashing her mother’s aspirations for an early marriage. What could Farah expect, anyway? For the ideal guy to just conveniently waltz into her life? Life isn’t a love story.

Enter Stephen, a Jamaican student with an open smile and a disarmingly laid-back attitude. It’s not love at first sight. And there’s no way Farah’s mother would approve of him as marriage material. But they have something better: an inexplicable connection. Through a series of impossible tragedies, grief, and trying to find her place in the world, Stephen is always there as Farah’s confidant, champion, and, most of all, best friend. Anything more could ruin a perfectly good thing…Right?

Spanning thirteen years of complex family dynamics and a surprising kinship, Farah Naz Rishi’s story explores the unpredictability of love―familial, platonic, and romantic, but never truly instant.

Chapter 1
Like Summer

It’s embarrassing to admit—and it’s definitely up there with one of my more desperate, delusional moments in life—but one of the only reasons I decided to take a class at Haverford College was the prospect of meeting a boy. Preferably a nice Muslim boy my parents would actually approve of.

But as my fellow students filed into the classroom—ignorant of my silent appraisals as they simply minded their business—I realized none would be good enough for my parents. Hell, on most days, I wasn’t good enough for them.

A minute before class had started, and already my hopes were shattered.

To be fair, it was my fault for holding such ludicrous expectations. Would the love of my life just conveniently waltz into the same class I was taking at Haverford—in a Japanese Civilization class, of all options? No. If he existed, he’d be in some premed class, like biochem or How to Save Babies 101. Or he wouldn’t be on campus at all because he’d be busy saving some nice old lady’s cat from a tree.

Only I wanted to meet someone in college, and I couldn’t do that at Bryn Mawr, the all- women’s college I attended as a first-year student. And in my mind, I had to meet someone, if only to stop Mom from making snide comments about never finding anyone who could, in her words, “put up” with me.

So there I sat, in my Japanese Civilization class, sitting on my fingers to keep them warm (it was January, and freezing cold) and to stop myself from anxiously bouncing in my seat.

Finally—finally!—the last student arrived: a boy named Stephen, with warm, russet skin and close-cropped black curls, slightly smooshed on one side, like he’d just rolled out of bed. He wore flip-flops and khaki shorts in the middle of January, like he’d made the conscious decision to never acknowledge the existence of winter. And of all the available seats left, he chose to sit front and center—as if he hadn’t just ambled into class over five minutes late.

I watched Stephen from my seat at the back of the classroom, baffled. Not because I particularly cared about the tardiness of other students, but because I swear I’d sensed the world ripple around me the moment he’d walked in with that easy smile of his.

But it wasn’t love at first sight. I don’t believe in love at first sight. What even is that? A person can’t love someone they don’t know. Love is many things, but it isn’t, by my definition, instant. What I felt was more of an inevitable, inexplicable connection. I’d felt the same thing before, recently: with Kaya—another first-year in my hall, and the only other Asian. When our RAs forced the first-years to do icebreakers the day we’d moved in, Kaya had looked ready to bolt, like she wanted to be anywhere else but there. Watching her felt like looking in a mirror, and, naturally, we became fast friends.

With Kaya, that feeling was reassuring. With Stephen, though—I felt myself scowling. Maybe it was the palpable way Stephen had stumbled into my life out of nowhere, tripping over my loose threads. A promise of an inevitable unraveling. When I saw him, that ripple in the world felt like a warning that this person was about to change my life, forever, and I couldn’t predict how yet.

I dismissed the warning. It had to have been all in my head. After all, Stephen was emblematic of a Haverford boy: ridiculous and sloppy and inconsiderate. I mean, flip-flops in the snow? Being that unapologetically late to your first class? If anything, he was a perfect example of why I would never find my future husband at college. No, no, no, clearly the situation was hopeless. And as our professor read from the syllabus, I decided that if I wanted to avoid becoming like Mom and replicating her mess of a marriage, I was better off tossing the idea of marriage in the garbage altogether.

At least I could tell Mom I tried, and now I was free! No more talk of being introduced to young men from my family’s Pakistani community! No more being asked if I’d somehow scared away all the good Muslim boys with my uniquely strong case of RBF! I did my due diligence, but there were simply no options, and now I could focus solely on learning and forging a path to self- sufficiency. What a concept.

I settled in my seat, pleased—at least until Professor Tanaka announced that we would be required to get into assigned groups for a project presentation. And like a ridiculous setup for some young adult rom-com novel, I was put in a group with him.

Our group had four people: me, Stephen, Cecilia, and Meg. I was the only first-year student. Cecilia was a Haverford student who’d been born and raised in France. Everything about her screamed French: she was tall, effortlessly pretty, and could probably wear a potato sack and make it work. Meg was a Bryn Mawr student and wore black combat boots (very cool, in my opinion) and a small neon-pink-and-black backpack with a Hello Kitty character, Badtz-Maru, on it. And Stephen was . . . someone I’d rather avoid.

It took the four of us weeks to coordinate a time to meet, in part because no one wanted to be the first to reach out. Eventually it was Stephen who emailed everyone, and resorted to calling me when I never emailed him back. When I realized it was him on the other end of the line, I nearly dropped my phone in panic. I didn’t want to talk to him. I just wanted to get through the project and be done with it.

Even though I’d come across as rudely frosty when I picked up the phone, Stephen remained relaxed, polite. Unbothered.

“So I’m thinking it’d just be easier to meet at Haverford,” he said. “We probably only need one in-person meeting, and then we can coordinate the rest through email. What about you? What do you think?”

“Huh?” I’d been pacing around my dorm room, and his question stopped me. “Have any thoughts on the plan?” he asked again.

“Oh. Um, no. It makes sense.” It did mean Meg and I would have to take a ten-minute bus ride to Haverford, so that was annoying. But I kept my mouth shut. “Have you asked everyone else yet? Are Meg and Cecilia on board?”

“No, not yet,” Stephen answered, hesitating. “I called you first, sorry. But I’ll ask the others after this.”

I couldn’t help wondering why Stephen called me first, but I decided not to think any more of it. There was probably no significance to it.

“All right,” I said. “Just text me if everyone’s on board, and I’ll see you there.” “Great!” Stephen’s enthusiasm on the other line was palpable. “See you soon.”

When I hung up, I felt confused. I’d thought of myself as someone who was fairly good at reading people. But I was starting to think that Stephen wasn’t ridiculous or sloppy or inconsiderate at all. If anything, he was so disarmingly friendly I hadn’t realized, until the phone call was over, that he’d effectively melted the frostiness I’d encased myself in.

I’d never met anyone like that before.

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]]> https://thenerddaily.com/sorry-for-the-inconvenience-a-memoir-by-farah-naz-rishi-excerpt/feed/ 0 51076 Get Your Hands On These Anticipated July To December 2024 Book Releases https://thenerddaily.com/anticipated-july-to-december-2024-book-releases/ https://thenerddaily.com/anticipated-july-to-december-2024-book-releases/#respond Sun, 23 Jun 2024 17:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=50960 The Nerd Daily may obtain commissions for qualifying purchases from the links included in this article, but it’s so important to remember to shop local and indie! Any commissions received go back into funding giveaways on The Nerd Daily. As we approach the halfway mark of 2024, it’s time to start looking ahead to the phenomenal new books that will be hitting shelves over the rest of the year! We’ve put together a small sample of anticipated releases that you […]

The post Get Your Hands On These Anticipated July To December 2024 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> The Nerd Daily may obtain commissions for qualifying purchases from the links included in this article, but it’s so important to remember to shop local and indie! Any commissions received go back into funding giveaways on The Nerd Daily.

As we approach the halfway mark of 2024, it’s time to start looking ahead to the phenomenal new books that will be hitting shelves over the rest of the year!

We’ve put together a small sample of anticipated releases that you should keep an eye out for with new books from the likes of Rainbow Rowell, Stephen Graham Jones, Casey McQuiston, Ransom Riggs, Jodi Picoult, Sally Rooney, Richard Osman, Sabaa Tahir, Courtney Gould, Darby Kane, and so many more, plus even some debuts you should definitely have on your radar!

Read on to discover just a few of our picks and keep an eye out for when we round up further upcoming releases for the YA, Fantasy & Sci-Fi, Romance, Fiction, and Middle Grade genres.

Let us know in the comments below if you’re looking forward to any of them or if you have other recommendations!

JULY 2024

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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Get ready for a new series that brings readers deeper into the lush, romantic, and puzzle-filled world of the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games series (over 3 million copies sold!), set a year after we last saw Avery and the Hawthornes.

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell

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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eleanor & Park and Attachments comes Slow Dance—a bright, beaming power ballad of a novel about a love so true it refuses to be forgotten.

It’s Elementary by Elise Bryant

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A fast-paced, completely delightful new mystery about what happens when parents get a little too involved in their kids’ schools, from NAACP Image Award nominee Elise Bryant.

The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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A young woman wins the role of a lifetime in a film about a legendary heroine — but the real drama is behind the scenes in this sumptuous historical epic from the author of Mexican Gothic.

The Haters by Robyn Harding

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The bestselling author of The Party and The Drowning Woman returns with a twisted tale of fame, obsession, and the dark recesses of social media.

The Blackbird Oracle by Deborah Harkness

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Diana Bishop journeys to the darkest places within herself—and her family history—in the highly anticipated fifth novel of the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling All Souls series.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

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A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.

The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez

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Two broken hearts decide that the best way to get over their first loves is with a no-strings-attached relationship in this spicy and charming debut romance.

Our Wicked Histories by Amy Goldsmith

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A teen girl’s attempt to make amends with her former friend group takes a sinister turn during a weekend getaway at an ancestral Irish estate in this atmospheric, literary horror from the author of Those We Drown.

The Night Ends With Fire by K. X. Song

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Infused with magic and romance, this sweeping fantasy adventure inspired by the legend of Mulan follows a young woman determined to choose her own destiny—even if that means going against everyone she loves.

The Hollywood Assistant by May Cobb

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Offered a dream job in Hollywood with a famous director and his actress wife, an insecure woman becomes their personal assistant where their secrets and lies place her in the crosshairs of a murder investigation.

I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones

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From New York Times bestselling horror writer Stephen Graham Jones comes a classic slasher story with a twist—perfect for fans of Riley Sager and Grady Hendrix.

AUGUST 2024

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

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In #1 New York Times bestselling author Casey McQuiston’s latest romantic comedy, two bisexual exes accidentally book the same European food and wine tour and challenge each other to a hookup competition to prove they’re over each other—except they’re definitely not.

You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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When cracks start forming in an influencer’s curated life, she finds out that jealousy is just as viral as a video in this riveting suspense novel by bestselling author Jesse Q. Sutanto.

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

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From the bestselling author of the Truly Devious books, Maureen Johnson, comes a new stand-alone YA about a teen who uncovers a mystery while working as a tour guide on an island and must solve it before history repeats itself.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer

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White Lotus meets Kevin Wilson in this whip-smart social satire about a man who finds himself trapped on an island resort after the sun literally explodes, and suddenly must choose whether to save himself from the chaos, or help fellow guests make it off the island alive…

Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer

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A tender, laugh-out-loud debut romance about a woman who ends up in over her head after a little white lie . . .

Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown

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When a young woman is found dead on her college campus, her sister doesn’t believe it was an accident—and her search for answers leads her closer to home than she ever would have imagined in this thrilling debut novel from an exciting new talent.

The Girl With No Reflection by Keshe Chow

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A young woman chosen as the crown prince’s bride must travel to the royal palace to meet her new husband—but her world is shaken when she discovers the dark truth the royal family has been hiding for centuries—in this lush fantasy debut perfect for fans of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night and Violet Made of Thorns.

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ava Reid comes a reimagining of Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare’s most famous villainess, giving her a voice, a past, and a power that transforms the story men have written for her.

A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire by Sarah Hawley

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Ben Rosewood never meant to be bound to a vampire succubus, especially one as sexy-yet-terrifying as Eleanora Bettencourt-Devereux, but he has to admit there are some fang-tastic perks….

The Volcano Daughters by Gina María Balibrera

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A saucy, searingly original debut about two sisters raised in the shadow of El Salvador’s brutal dictator, El Gran Pendejo, and their flight from genocide, which takes them from Hollywood to Paris to cannery row, each followed by a chorus of furies, the ghosts of their murdered friends, who aren’t yet done telling their stories.

Sunderworld, Vol. I: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry by Ransom Riggs

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Visionary storyteller Ransom Riggs weaves the familiar with the peculiar in a stunning loss, triumph, friendship and magic, reminding readers everywhere that true heroes are made, not born—and that when you’re never the chosen one, sometimes you have to choose yourself. 

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

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From the New York Times bestselling co-author of Mad Honey comes an “inspiring” (Elle) novel about two women, centuries apart—one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays—who are both forced to hide behind another name.

SEPTEMBER 2024

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft

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A sharp-tongued folklorist must pair up with her academic rival to solve their mentor’s murder in this lush and enthralling sapphic fantasy romance from the New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic.

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

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For two grieving brothers and the people they love, this is a new interlude―a period of desire, despair, and possibility; a chance to find out how much one life might hold inside itself without breaking.

An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson

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A student will find that the hardest lessons sometimes come from outside the classroom in this stunning dark academia novel from the acclaimed author of The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger.

Us in Ruins by Rachel Moore

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With a blend of humour, magic, and love, Rachel Moore crafts another stand-alone adventure rom-com full of double- and triple-crosses, hilarious shenanigans, and frustration-fuelled banter, where the best treasure is true love.

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

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Combining the heart and humour of The Thursday Murder Club with a puzzling international mystery, welcome to the blockbusting new series from the biggest new fiction author of the decade, Richard Osman.

The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel

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A Hitchcock fanatic with an agenda invites old friends for a weekend stay at his secluded themed hotel in this fiendishly clever, suspenseful new novel from the international bestselling author of Darling Rose Gold.

Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma

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The Cruel Prince meets Ninth House in this dangerously romantic dark academia fantasy, where a lost heiress must infiltrate an arcane society and live with the vampire she suspects killed her family and kidnapped her sister.

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop

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A candid and captivating memoir from award-winning and beloved actress Kelly Bishop, spanning her six decades in show business from Broadway to Hollywood with A Chorus Line, Dirty Dancing, Gilmore Girls, and much more.

The Lovers by Rebekah Faubion

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A second chance at love is in the cards for two women working a stylish California wedding in this charming debut romance.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune

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Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a story of resistance, lovingly told, about the daunting experience of fighting for the life you want to live and doing the work to keep it.

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

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Filled with wonder and wild adventure, this is a story of hope and the life-changing power of a new beginning.

How to Hide in Plain Sight by Emma Noyes

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The unbreakable bonds of family and love are explored in this brilliant and tender story from the author of Guy’s Girl.

OCTOBER 2024

The Puzzle Box by Danielle Trussoni

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Two sisters. A lost imperial treasure. The world’s greatest puzzle master has twenty-four hours to solve the most dangerous mystery of his life . . . or die trying.

This Cursed House by Del Sandeen

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In this Southern gothic horror debut, a young Black woman abandons her life in 1960s Chicago for a position with a mysterious family in New Orleans, only to discover the dark truth. They’re under a curse, and they think she can break it.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch

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Red, White & Royal Blue meets The Nightmare Before Christmas in a sexy, quirky rom-com where the golden-hearted Prince of Christmas falls for the totally off-limits Prince of Halloween.

Heir by Sabaa Tahir

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Beloved storyteller Sabaa Tahir interweaves the lives of three young people as they grapple with power, treachery, love, and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed, on a journey that may cost them their lives—and their hearts. Literally.

Swordcrossed by Freya Marske

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The cozy, low stakes of Legends & Lattes meets the scorching bodyguard fantasy of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s From Blood and Ash in this enemies-to-lovers romance where, yes, the swords do cross.

Throne of Secrets by Kerri Maniscalco

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Two rivals torn apart by a dark memory reunite on a deadly hunt—and in an irresistibly twisted fairy tale—in the next steamy standalone fantasy romance from New York Times bestselling sensation Kerri Maniscalco.

Don’t Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews

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As alluring as it is unsettling, award-winning author CG Drews’ debut YA psychological horror will leave readers breathless and hesitant to venture deeper into the woods.

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak

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From the bestselling author of Hidden Pictures comes a breathtaking work of suspense about a father trying to save his daughter from a life-altering decision that will put everything he loves on the line.

Fledgling: The Keeper’s Records of Revolution by S. K. Ali

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The first book in a gripping duology from acclaimed author S.K. Ali introduces a fractured world on the brink of either enlightenment or war.

A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney

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A warm, spellbinding tale about a witch and the secrets her coven has been keeping from her, with echoes of the classic Hades and Persephone story, in the tradition of Practical Magic and Witch of Wild Things.

I’ll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong

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From New York Times Bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes a spellbinding new tale of supernatural horror involving a haunted-house, seances, lost loved ones, and a sinister spirit out for blood…

The Book of Witching by CJ Cooke

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A mother must fight for her daughter’s life in this fierce and haunting tale of witchcraft and revenge from the author of A Haunting in the Arctic.

NOVEMBER 2024

The Author’s Guide To Murder by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White

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Agatha Christie meets Murder, She Wrote in this witty locked room mystery and literary satire by New York Times bestselling team of novelists: Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White.

Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez

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Where the Library Hides is Isabel Ibañez’s stunning conclusion to the story that started in What the River Knows. A lush immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, and a rivals-to-lovers romance like no other!

Games Untold By Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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Romance, luxury, and secrets abound in this thrilling new collection that takes readers deeper into the world of the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games series.

Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens

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From the New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year, a hilarious love story about a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker.

Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch

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In this one-of-a-kind mystery with heart and humour, a hilariously grumpy pony must save the only human he’s ever loved after discovering she stands accused of a murder he knows she didn’t commit.

The Estate by Sarah Jost

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For fans of The Cloisters and The Cartographers comes a gripping speculative suspense that follows one woman with the ability to enter the dimension of art, who finds herself trapped in a French estate as the pawn in a rich man’s game…

The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea

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Two very indoor people rough it on a remote island after getting swept up in an archaeologist’s hunt for a famed jewel in this dazzling new adventure rom-com by Kerry Rea, author of Lucy on the Wild Side.

I Am the Dark That Answers When You Call by Jamison Shea

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Jamison Shea’s sharp and unflinching voice will bring readers to terrifying new heights in this vicious sequel to the “relentlessly gory and almost euphoric in its embrace of the horrific” (NPR) I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me.

The Empty Place by Olivia A Cole

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A powerful and imaginative story about a girl fighting to find her way back home from a mind-bending land of the lost.

The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson

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From NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Mary E. Pearson comes a thrilling romantic fantasy full of dangerous fae, dark secrets, and addictive romance

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent

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New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, Songbird and the Heart of Stone, where A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Dante’s Inferno, in an epic fantasy romance of love and treachery between mortals and gods.

An Insignificant Case by Phillip Margolin

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A new standalone legal thriller from the international bestselling author of GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.

DECEMBER 2024

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

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An enchanting novel about a witch who has a second chance to get her magical powers—and her life—back on track, from the national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

What the Wife Knew by Darby Kane

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Darby Kane, author of the #1 international bestseller Pretty Little Wife, returns with another twisty domestic thriller about a wife wondering who tried to kill her husband twice before finally succeeding… because that was supposed to be her job. 

Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao

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Zetian must balance dangerous politics with a new quest for vengeance in the sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Iron Widow, a blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction.

What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould

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Yellowjackets meets Girl, Interrupted when a group of troubled teens in a wilderness therapy program find themselves stranded in a forest full of monsters eager to take their place.

Alter Ego by Alex Segura

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Alex Segura, LA Times Book Prize–winning author of Secret Identity, returns with a clever and escapist mystery set in the world of comic books. In the present day, a comics legend is given the chance to revive a beloved but forgotten character. But at what price?>

A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon

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Two hearts circle each other in the eye of the storm in this highly-anticipated follow-up to The Hurricane Wars—prepare for more enemies-to-lovers romance, magical adventures, and political schemes in this Southeast Asian-inspired world.

Roland Rogers Isn’t Dead Yet by Samantha Allen

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It’s the gig of a lifetime for this ghostwriter, except there’s a the client, a closeted A-list actor finally ready to come out in his memoir, is an actual ghost.

The Shutouts by Gabrielle Korn

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A brilliant queer dystopian novel from the author of Yours for the Taking, following a cast of characters on the margins of a strange and exclusive new society.

The Close-up by Pip Drysdale

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A struggling author discovers the dark side of fame when a stalker begins reenacting violent events from her thriller in this electrifying and twisty new novel.

A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya

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A fledgling vampire and a headstrong vampire huntress must work together–against their better judgment—to rid the world of monsters in this irresistible romantic fantasy.

The Party by Natasha Preston

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Set against the backdrop of a sprawling English estate, Natasha Preston’s latest thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat until the party’s over…

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt by Chelsea Iversen

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A young woman channels the magic of the lush, fantastical plants that adorn her crumbling estate in The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt, a darkly enchanting novel for fans of The Magician’s Daughter and Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. ​

What books are you looking forward to releasing in the second half of 2024? Tell us in the comments below!

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]]> https://thenerddaily.com/anticipated-july-to-december-2024-book-releases/feed/ 0 50960 The Rise of Horror Romance in Modern Media https://thenerddaily.com/rise-of-horror-romance-in-modern-media/ https://thenerddaily.com/rise-of-horror-romance-in-modern-media/#respond Thu, 13 Jun 2024 08:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=50655 Romance in horror isn’t new. Look at Scream, one of the most iconic horror movies of all time. The plot is literally driven by murder and love. But let’s take a step back and figure out exactly what horror romance is. Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines horror as “a painful and intense fear, dread, or dismay.” If we use that definition to define the genre of horror, we can assume it needs to elicit those emotions. As far as romance, Wikipedia defines the […]

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]]> Romance in horror isn’t new. Look at Scream, one of the most iconic horror movies of all time. The plot is literally driven by murder and love.

But let’s take a step back and figure out exactly what horror romance is.

Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines horror as “a painful and intense fear, dread, or dismay.” If we use that definition to define the genre of horror, we can assume it needs to elicit those emotions.

As far as romance, Wikipedia defines the genre as “…a type of genre fiction novel which places its primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and usually has an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending.

But what does it mean when the two are blended together? According to Mystery and Suspense Magazine, “Romantic horror novels expertly blend the passionate, emotional intensity of romance with the spine-tingling dread of horror.”

It’s easy to see why romance is often entwined with horror; it humanizes the experience and gives the audience something to root for (other than survival, of course). While horror romance isn’t necessarily revolutionary, it has picked up speed in the last few years.

The Appeal of Horror Romance

Blending horror and romance creates a unique storytelling experience that capitalizes on the interplay between love and fear. At the core of horror romance is the theme of love flourishing in the face of fear.

As characters navigate their feelings for each other within a world filled with danger and the supernatural, viewers and readers are drawn into the emotional rollercoaster, experiencing both the highs of romance and the chills of horror. This juxtaposition intensifies the connection audiences feel with the characters, making every moment of tenderness or triumph resonate more deeply because of the lurking threats.

Horror romance often uses monsters and supernatural elements as metaphors for real-life relational and personal struggles. Vampires, ghosts, or other entities can represent forbidden desires, societal taboos, or internal conflicts. By externalizing these struggles through supernatural elements, the genre explores complex psychological and social issues in a visually impactful and emotionally engaging way. This not only entertains but also provides catharsis, as audiences see characters confront and overcome both literal and figurative demons.

On top of that, the fear induced by horror heightens the emotional stakes, making every romantic gesture or conflict more intense and meaningful. It taps into our deepest fears and desires, presenting them in a context that is both thrilling and touchingly human, broadening its appeal to a wide and varied audience.

Horror Romance in Literature

Literature is one pioneer in horror romance. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer was a smash hit. The romance captivated audiences from the beginning and the series made Meyer millions. The novel sparked a resurgence in the intertwining of the supernatural and romance, paving the way for other novels to breakout in the market.

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion was later made into a movie, but it started as a novel. While a zombie movie, the plot is a love story as a human and a zombie, challenging the conventions of zombie lore by presenting them as capable of human emotions and redemption through love. As they navigate their growing feelings amidst the constant threat of deadly encounters and societal collapse, the horror of their reality—where survival hangs by a thread—is palpable, amplifying the stakes of their unconventional romance.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black, another vampire novel, depicts a world in which vampires and humans exist in a precarious balance, bringing a fresh perspective on vampires along with the allure of a forbidden romance with the constant, looming threats that define the horror genre. The main character is grappling with the prospect of turning into the very monster that brutally murdered her friends.  

Besides these mainstream successes, several newer works are entering the scene. For instance, Together We Rot by Skyla Ardnt blends the supernatural and cults with in a romance that’s page turning.

Horror Romance on Television

The amount of romance in horror television shows is really astounding when you think about it. Take Buffy the Vampire Slayer for example. Set in Sunnydale, a town precariously situated on the Hellmouth, a portal teeming with demonic activity, the series delves deep into the realm of horror. Buffy, the protagonist, is perpetually in jeopardy, facing not only the physical danger of battling vampires and demons but also multiple personal sacrifices that come with her role as the Slayer.

The pinnacle of the show’s horror elements is encapsulated in her tumultuous relationship with Angel, a vampire. Their romance ultimately leads to a catastrophic turn of events when their love inadvertently causes him to lose his soul, transforming him back into Angelus, a ruthless killer.

Really, Buffy is the pioneer of blending horror with romantic elements. Buffy’s life was horrific, but the themes of love and friendship gave her something worth fighting for. It paved the way for future series and has left a lasting impact on media.

In fact, one might say Buffy walked so True Blood could run. The HBO series based on the Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, is a quintessential example of the blend of horror and romance. Set in the sultry atmosphere of small-town Louisiana, the show explores a world where vampires have ‘come out of the coffin’ to live openly among humans, thanks to the invention of synthetic blood. This setting provides the backdrop for intense romantic entanglements, particularly between Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress, and Bill Compton, a 173-year-old vampire.

As their relationship unfolds, it is continuously tested by a series of gruesome and supernatural challenges, including clashes with otherworldly creatures, vampire politics, and local bigotry. The romance is deeply intertwined with horror elements, as the show does not shy away from the violent and predatory nature of its vampire characters, creating a rich, dark, and compelling narrative that keeps viewers enthralled through a fusion of fear and fascination.

The influence of The Vampire Diaries—vampires seem to be popular, huh?—extended well into the horror genre, leading to many spinoffs, including The Originals. This series, set against the brooding backdrop of New Orleans, delves deeper into the dark mythology of its universe, exploring themes of power, redemption, and immortality, all steeped in gothic horror more intensely than its predecessor.

Then there’s Pretty Little Liars, which, while initially masquerading as a teen drama, unravels a terrifying narrative of stalking, murder, and blackmail, transforming the picturesque town of Rosewood into a landscape of fear and paranoia where secrets have deadly consequences amidst the tangled romances of the main characters.

The Haunting of Bly Manor, often labeled strictly as horror due to its ghostly apparitions and eerie atmosphere, skillfully weaves a tale of tragic romance amidst its haunting. The series delves into the heartbreak and doomed love stories of its characters, juxtaposed against a backdrop of spectral encounters and a pervasive sense of dread, showing how deeply intertwined love and horror can be.

Similarly, Midnight Mass presents itself as an exploration of faith and fanaticism with unmistakable horror elements—mysterious deaths, unsettling omens, and a community unraveling at the seams. Yet, at its core, it’s a narrative about the human capacity for love, forgiveness, and sacrifice in the face of unimaginable horror.

Each of these series showcases the powerful dynamics between horror and romance, using elements of terror not just to thrill, but to amplify the emotional stakes of their intertwined relationships, crafting stories that are as heart-rending as they are harrowing.

Horror Romance in Film

Horror romance isn’t strictly for books and television. Films have been blending the genre for years. While a couple of the books mentioned are also movies now, there are horror romance movies popping up every day.

Crimson Peak by Guillermo del Toro is a prime example of a flawless blend of the genres. When it was released, it was criticized for not being a true “horror.” That’s because the movie is also a vivid gothic romance. The movie uses its horror elements to enhance the romantic and tragic core of the story. Del Toro depicts the decaying grandeur of the haunted mansion at the center of the film, making it not just a setting but a character in its own right. The ghosts, while initially appearing as malevolent specters, are really just a metaphor to emphasize the themes of memory and loss that parallel the romance between the main characters.

Then there’s The Invitation, which leans more towards psychological thriller and horror. The film starts out as a promising romance before descending into a horror, layering romantic and horror elements throughout its progression.

The Invitation masterfully melds psychological thriller and horror elements, beginning with the promise of a blossoming romance that spirals into a terrifying ordeal. The film initially draws viewers in with the allure of a new romantic connection, setting an eerily deceptive tone as the protagonist is lured into a luxurious but isolated mansion.

As the story unfolds, this new romances= descends into a nightmare, revealing a sinister gathering steeped in ancient, vampiric rituals and hidden agendas. The romantic elements quickly become overshadowed by the growing horror as the protagonist must navigate a web of deception and survive the deadly intentions of her hosts. This chilling progression from romance to horror showcases how love can be manipulated into a tool for dark purposes, heightening the film’s haunting and suspenseful atmosphere.

There are countless others. What’s clear is that as the genre progresses, filmmakers aren’t shying away from the horror elements of the genre.

The Future of Horror Romance

As we look to the future, horror romance is challenging traditional forms of storytelling. It pushes the boundaries of genre conventions, blending elements in ways that can explore complex themes such as the nature of fear, the power of love, and the human condition itself. This genre offers space for writers and filmmakers to innovate and experiment, potentially leading to new subgenres or hybrid forms that could further enrich the media landscape.

On the other hand, horror and romance fans come with distinct expectations, and blending these can sometimes lead to dissatisfaction on both sides. Horror fans might find the romance too prominent and feel that it detracts from the suspense and thrill they seek, while the intensity of the horror elements might put romance fans off. Satisfying both audiences is a delicate act that not all works achieve.

In the coming months, we’re expecting the second season of School Spirits, and the release of books such as If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens. What’s interesting about the genre is that with the increase in popularity, audiences appear to be more open to media that leans farther into the horror spectrum. We can assume that as more titles are released, the horror is going to take a front seat.

The sustained appeal and dynamic nature of horror romance highlight its potential to continue evolving and growing in popularity. Whether through books, films, or television, it invites us to confront our fears while giving the audience a love story to root for, offering a reminder of the endless possibilities of stories.

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]]> https://thenerddaily.com/rise-of-horror-romance-in-modern-media/feed/ 0 50655 Q&A: Aimee Lim, Author of ‘The Spindle of Fate’ https://thenerddaily.com/aimee-lim-the-spindle-of-fate-interview/ https://thenerddaily.com/aimee-lim-the-spindle-of-fate-interview/#respond Fri, 07 Jun 2024 08:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=50524 We chat with debut middle grade author Aimee Lim about The Spindle of Fate, which peers into the dark and gritty underworld, while showcasing the unbreakable bond between a family and the lengths we’ll go to save them. Hi, Aimee! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself? Hi, readers! I’m a public library worker who just finished my degree in library and information science, a Jeopardy! champion, and romance novel proofreader. THE SPINDLE OF FATE is my first […]

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]]> We chat with debut middle grade author Aimee Lim about The Spindle of Fate, which peers into the dark and gritty underworld, while showcasing the unbreakable bond between a family and the lengths we’ll go to save them.

Hi, Aimee! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi, readers! I’m a public library worker who just finished my degree in library and information science, a Jeopardy! champion, and romance novel proofreader. THE SPINDLE OF FATE is my first novel, though I am a two-time finalist in a “write the worst opening line(s) to a novel” contest.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

My love of stories comes from my dad. He always took me to the library and Borders (RIP), but he also introduced my brother and me to a lot of older movies and was constantly telling us stories he heard as a kid in Myanmar or read in Reader’s Digest. He used to tell us stories serially to entertain us on the weekly drive to swim class, and they were things like an article about the theft of the Mona Lisa, the plot of the 1974 film Juggernaut, and Stephen King’s The Dead Zone. I watched the Dead Zone movie a few years ago and that choice looks absolutely bizarre to me now, but I remember I really enjoyed it!

I genuinely don’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be a writer. In elementary school I dressed up as “an author” for Career Day. I remember I went to school in my pajamas because I figured that’s what writers wear when they “go” to work, which held up pretty well.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

  • The first book you ever remember reading: Colors, Colors, Everywhere! It was about Mickey Mouse’s nephews running around while he’s painting the house and accidentally knocking cans of paint over, causing the colors to mix. This was how I learned that red + yellow = orange, blue + yellow = green etc. and I have a distinct memory of my mind being blown
  • The one that made you want to become an author: Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I’d loved writing stories since childhood, but by the time I was in high school I’d abandoned this as an impractical career choice. Finding Marissa’s website, where she wrote extensively about author life and the process of getting published, made me realize my dream had never really gone away and inspired me to seriously commit to writing.
  • The one that you can’t stop thinking about: An Immense World by Ed Yong. It’s a nonfiction book about animal senses and even if you don’t usually read science books, his writing is filled with so much wonder and empathy, and I recommend it to all humans

Your debut novel, The Spindle of Fate, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

A review described it as “If Pixar made a horror” and I don’t think I can top that, so there you go!

What can readers expect?

THE SPINDLE OF FATE is a Chinese mythology-inspired middle grade adventure set in the Ten Courts of Dìyù, or Chinese hell. Expect fast-paced action and a terrifying netherworld, but also a lot of humor and an emotional mother-daughter story about family, grief, and love.

Where did the inspiration for The Spindle of Fate come from?

The idea for SPINDLE came from Dhonielle Clayton (author of THE BELLES and THE MARVELLERS, but also the founder of Cake Creative Kitchen). Dhonielle is a huge advocate for diversifying children’s literature, and we talked about wanting to see a fun contemporary #ownvoices fantasy steeped in Chinese mythology. I grew up on series like Percy Jackson and The Sisters Grimm, so that immediately resonated with me.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I had so much fun writing all the different levels of Dìyù. The Chinese afterlife is such a distinctive mix of horrific torture and mundane bureaucracy, and I wanted to preserve the spirit of that while making it fun for kids. I also really enjoyed Kevin, who accompanies Evie into the netherworld. He’s very sweet and goofy and completely inept at fighting, but also more resourceful than he looks.

What a stunning cover! Can you tell us a bit about how it came to life?

I know, right?? The incredible artist is Kiuyan Ran. I’m very fortunate to have been included in the cover design process, which was so exciting. Cake sent me a questionnaire asking about ideas, covers I love, references, etc. I sent along pictures of Haw Par Villa, which is a theme park in Singapore with dioramas of the Ten Courts of Dìyù. They’re infamous for being very graphic and bizarre, but they’re also very colorful, almost garishly so. I thought a dark but colorful underworld could be an interesting aesthetic, but I was stunned by just how rich and beautiful the colors are on the final cover! I also want to mention the striking red flowers, which also appear inside the book on the first pages of each chapter. Some of my anime-watching friends recognized them as red spider lilies, which grow in the underworld in Chinese and Japanese mythology. They’re only mentioned very briefly in the book, but I think they make such a cool design element!

This is your debut published novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

I started seriously writing with the goal of publication in college. I spent three years writing and revising a middle grade superhero book and queried it after graduation. That manuscript didn’t get a book deal or an agent, but the first chapter was the writing sample that caught the attention of Cake Creative Kitchen, which is what led to THE SPINDLE OF FATE!

What’s next for you?

The sequel to THE SPINDLE OF FATE!

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?

Some 2024 releases I’ve really enjoyed: THE CURSE OF EELGRASS BOG by Mary Averling, A GAME OF NOCTIS by Deva Fagan, THE SECRET LIBRARY by Kekla Magoon, THE WRONG WAY HOME by Kate O’Shaughnessy

New and upcoming releases I’m excited for: THROUGH A CLOUDED MIRROR by Miya T. Beck, KILL HER TWICE by Stacey Lee, AMIR AND THE JINN PRINCESS by MT Khan, THE DARK BECOMES HER by Judy I. Lin

Will you be picking up The Spindle of Fate? Tell us in the comments below

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]]> https://thenerddaily.com/aimee-lim-the-spindle-of-fate-interview/feed/ 0 50524 Q&A: Jennifer Dugan, Author of ‘The Ride of Her Life’ https://thenerddaily.com/jennifer-dugan-the-ride-of-her-life-interview/ https://thenerddaily.com/jennifer-dugan-the-ride-of-her-life-interview/#respond Mon, 27 May 2024 08:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=50083 We chat with author Jennifer Dugan about her new irresistible enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine queer romcom The Ride of Her Life, which follows a wedding-obsessed city girl who inherits a horse farm from her estranged late aunt, and clashes with the cocky, unfairly hot farrier who thinks she’s going to run the barn into the ground. Hi, Jennifer! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself? Hi! Thanks for having me! I’m a writer from upstate new York, who writes adult romance, […]

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]]> We chat with author Jennifer Dugan about her new irresistible enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine queer romcom The Ride of Her Life, which follows a wedding-obsessed city girl who inherits a horse farm from her estranged late aunt, and clashes with the cocky, unfairly hot farrier who thinks she’s going to run the barn into the ground.

Hi, Jennifer! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi! Thanks for having me! I’m a writer from upstate new York, who writes adult romance, young adult romance and horror, and young adult graphic novels. When I’m not working, which is kind of rare juggling so much these days, I’m usually playing video games (currently addicted to Fallout 4) or running around outside with my Boston terrier puppy, Holly Pig. I also have two great cats, Bonks and Talullah who love to lay on my keyboard and bat pens out of my hand when I’m trying to work. Honestly, they’re the best assistants a person could have.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I fell in love with storytelling even before I was old enough to write! I used to cut pictures out of magazines and newspapers and glue them together to make my own comics and picture books which I would then “read” to anyone who would listen. It only got more fun once I was able to read and write on my own. While other kids were out playing, I was holed up in my room writing page after page. I’ve truly had the story telling bug for as far back as I can remember, it’s been a massive part of my life.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

  • The first book you ever remember reading: The very first book I remember reading on my own was Little Critter: I Was So Mad. I was absolutely enamoured with Little Critter as a kid. If we’re talking actual novels though, the first I remember reading was Sweet Valley Twins: Best Friends. I was obsessed with Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley High. I really thought I was going to grow up and marry Jessica Wakefield!
  • The one that made you want to become an author: Pet Sematary by Stephen King. A well meaning uncle gave it to me when I was in third grade (apparently he thought the misspelling in the title meant it was for kids!) and I was terrified. It really made me realize the power words have over readers, and I was excited about the idea of being a part of that.
  • The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I recently read THE LOVERS by Rebekah Faubion and when I say it’s my new favorite book, I’m not kidding. I have been forcing preorders on everyone I know, it’s that good. It comes out in September and I hope everyone reads it so we can shout about it together.

Your latest novel, The Ride of Her Life, is out May 28th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Playful, messy, swoony, funny, flirty

What can readers expect?

The Ride of Her Life is an enemies to lovers romance about Molly, a city girl turned fish out of water when she inherits a run down horse farm… and a hot grumpy farrier along with it. Readers can expect a lot of swoons, a dash of awkwardness, plenty of messiness and missteps, some laughs, and a satisfying happily ever after.

Where did the inspiration for The Ride of Her Life come from?

During the COVID shut downs, I got really addicted to watching farrier videos on tiktok. The more I watched, the more I realized that would make a great job for a love interest—farriers have to be strong yet gentle, calm, confident, and patient to gain the horses trust. What better match for a flighty, stressed out city girl?

I also love setting books in locations that get taken for granted—like the gym in my adult debut Love at First Set. Where I live, farms are part of the every day scenery, so the idea of diving into one as a setting seemed very natural.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I really loved reconnecting with my horse girl roots as I researched this book. I got to spend a lot of time with horses again, which I haven’t done since I was a kid. I particularly loved writing Otis, one of the grumpier horses at the barn. He was loosely based on my cousin’s horse that she had growing up that I always wished was mine. In a roundabout way, now he is!

I also really loved writing the changing dynamic between Molly, our main character, and Shani, the love interest. Their banter both before they realize their feelings and after was a blast to write.

This is your second adult novel! Can you tell us a bit about your process when shifting between the two audiences?

I love being about to work in both the YA and adult space, but it can definitely be tricky shifting between them, especially when the schedules overlap. I’ve found I do best working on young adult in the morning, then taking a nice long break for lunch or going for a long walk, and then going back to work on the adult romance in the afternoon. I need my characters to start young and gradually age up through out the day, especially since my adult work has some spice. I can’t get back into the YA mindset after writing adult situations, ha!

What’s next for you?

I have a young adult graphic novel coming out this fall, Full Shift, which is a coming of age romance about a sapphic teen werewolf struggling with their identity.

I also have a very fun adult romance coming out next year that we should be announcing soon. I’m dying to tell every one about it! I can share that it’s a second chance romance involving former child actors, a flower shop, and a cat named Gouda. It’s very swoony and a bit spicier than my first two!

Lastly, are there any book releases that you’re looking forward to picking up this year?

I’ve already plugged The Lovers, but I’m adding it here too for completionist sake. I’m also very excited about The Pairing by Casey McQuiston. I’m also dying to start Lucy Undying by Kiersten White. I’ve been chomping at the bit to read it since she first started talking about it, and I was lucky enough to have just gotten an arc. It’s definitely next on my TBR!

Will you be picking up The Ride of Her Life? Tell us in the comments below!

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]]> https://thenerddaily.com/jennifer-dugan-the-ride-of-her-life-interview/feed/ 0 50083 Eight Novels Starring Writers https://thenerddaily.com/anna-dorn-author-guest-post/ https://thenerddaily.com/anna-dorn-author-guest-post/#respond Mon, 20 May 2024 22:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=49804 Guest post written by Perfume & Pain author Anna DornAnna Dorn is an author and editor living in Los Angeles. She teaches writing classes at Write or Die and is an associate editor at Hobart Pulp. She was a Lambda Literary Fellow and her second novel Exalted was a finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize. Her next book Perfume & Pain is forthcoming from Simon & Schuster. Releasing on May 21st, Perfume & Pain is a controversial Los Angeles author […]

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]]> Guest post written by Perfume & Pain author Anna Dorn
Anna Dorn is an author and editor living in Los Angeles. She teaches writing classes at Write or Die and is an associate editor at Hobart Pulp. She was a Lambda Literary Fellow and her second novel Exalted was a finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize. Her next book Perfume & Pain is forthcoming from Simon & Schuster.

Releasing on May 21st, Perfume & Pain is a controversial Los Angeles author attempts to revive her career and finally find true love in this hilarious nod to 1950s lesbian pulp fiction.

They tell you in Creative Writing 101 to never write about a writer. Because writing is boring and interior and we want our characters to be active and alive. But I’ve always ignored this advice. I love books starring writers or creative people generally. Artists are messy and funny and mean to themselves in a way that makes them compelling protagonists. I made my most recent protagonist a novelist for this reason and others, including wanting to explore the challenges in managing the expectation to be messy and unhinged on the page and polished and inoffensive off of it. And so Astrid was born—my hotter, blonder, more successful alter ego writing books that the chaotic TikTok girlies love but who is unable to promote her work without offending people. Below are some of my favorite novels that also grapple with the various conflicts inherent to making up stories for a living.

Leave Society by Tao Lin

In Leave Society, a novelist who resembles Tao Lin leaves Manhattan to visit his parents in Taipei for ten weeks. In Tapei, the protagonist Li tells his doctor he writes novels. “Knows about everything, then?” the doctor says. “I write novel so I know nothing,” responds Li, who is on a quarter tab of LSD. Both bickering and bonding with his parents in between drafts of his new book and various microdoses, Li contends with optimism, despair, and the idea of leaving society.

The Book of Ayn by Lexi Freiman

I easily connected with this novel about a self-centered and recently canceled novelist named Anna. Inspired by Ayn Rand’s theory of radical selfishness, Anna flees the New York literary scene for Los Angeles, a city where “magic happened to people who absolutely didn’t deserve it.” In Hollywood, she writes an animated TV show starring “Ayn Ram.” But family tragedy brings her back to New York, where she’s offered to kill her ego at a strange commune on the Greek island of Lesbos. There, Anna finds herself abandoning selfishness for community, ultimately reshaping her perspective and offering a new way to live.

Who Is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews

In this comedic thriller, struggling writer Florence lands a job assisting reclusive author Maud Dixon (who I saw as a Donna Tartt meets Elena Ferrante). Working for Maud takes Florence to a Moroccan villa, where Maud’s new novel is set. It’s all vibrant streets and wind-swept beaches until Florence wakes up in the hospital with no memory of how she got there. This one kept me up all night.

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

In a book Stephen King rightly called “insanely readable,” a struggling novelist steals a plot idea from his student after the student dies—resulting in massive commercial success that ultimately endangers his life. As the novelist tries to track down an anonymous person troll accusing him of theft, he finds out the real story behind his former student’s plot, and who stole what from whom. The reveals kept coming until the final page.

Apartment by Teddy Wayne

Like The Plot, Teddy Wayne’s Apartment is a literary thriller about literature. It’s 1996 and the unnamed narrator attends Columbia’s MFA program on his father’s dime while living in an illegal sublet. Feeling guilty about his luck, he offers his spare bedroom to Billy, a charismatic, working-class writer from the Midwest. The narrator is envious of Billy’s talent while Billy is resentful of the narrator’s privilege, resulting in a tense friendship that culminates in a climax that made me gasp.

The Valley (a void) by Vanessa Roveto

Tragedy brings disgraced poetry professor Victoria from Iowa back home to the San Fernando Valley—a place people avoid as well as a literal geographic void. There, Victoria integrates every character she encounters, absorbing then dispersing them into the landscape, the Uncanny Valley, warping time and naturalizing dreams. The narrative watches Victoria split and then recompose; the selves reunite in a strangely erotic climax. David Lynch wishes he wrote this book.

Why Did I Ever? by Mary Robison

Money Brenton is a script doctor and single mother struggling to stay both employed and sane. Consisting of 536 very short chapters, the novel was born out of Robison’s attempt to cure her writer’s block by writing small sections of text on thousands of index cards. Later, these sections were assembled to form the novel’s mysterious sequence, now heralded for its influential form.

All Fours by Miranda July

Miranda July’s latest stars a “semi-famous artist” the nature of whose work is never precisely revealed, although she does reveal, “a whiskey company had licensed a sentence I’d written years ago for a global print campaign,” so I’m calling her a writer. This writer-slash-artist embarks on a cross-country drive only to stop at a motel just one town over, where she finds a less literal form of freedom. All Fours explores niche celebrity, female sexuality, and perimenopause with Miranda July’s trademark quirky and tender-hearted wit.

 

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]]> https://thenerddaily.com/anna-dorn-author-guest-post/feed/ 0 49804 I’ll Be Waiting For You: Behind the Story https://thenerddaily.com/mariko-turk-author-guest-post/ https://thenerddaily.com/mariko-turk-author-guest-post/#respond Fri, 26 Apr 2024 08:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=49580 Guest post written by I’ll Be Waiting For You author Mariko Turk Mariko Turk received her PhD in English from the University of Florida, with a concentration in children’s literature. She lives in Colorado with her husband and daughter. She is the author of The Other Side of Perfect and I’ll Be Waiting for You. I love stories about stories. I love reading about how books come to life, from the first flicker of inspiration to the sometimes grueling, sometimes gratifying writing process to the […]

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]]> Guest post written by I’ll Be Waiting For You author Mariko Turk
Mariko Turk received her PhD in English from the University of Florida, with a concentration in children’s literature. She lives in Colorado with her husband and daughter. She is the author of The Other Side of Perfect and I’ll Be Waiting for You.

I love stories about stories. I love reading about how books come to life, from the first flicker of inspiration to the sometimes grueling, sometimes gratifying writing process to the final, shiny copy of the book heading out into the world. If you like those kinds of stories, too, and you’d like to read about how my upcoming book featuring a haunted hotel, metaphorical(?) ghosts, grief, and romance came into being, read on.

Inspiration: The Exciting Part

My family takes yearly trips to Estes Park, Colorado, and I’ve always been fascinated by this small town surrounded by the vast, 14,000-foot peaks of the Rocky Mountains. You know that feeling you get when you’re in a place that inspires you, the feeling that you have to write A Story even though you don’t know what kind yet? I didn’t have an inkling about plot or character at this point. But visiting Estes Park made me want to write a story that captured what it felt like to be there—a story that felt simultaneously small and epic, quiet and explosive, ordinary and surreal.

Glimmers of a Plot: The Fun Part

Estes Park is also home to the Stanley Hotel, which is famous for inspiring Stephen King to write the horror classic, The Shining. As I poked around the hotel, I started thinking about all the ways something can be haunted. There’s the horror movie kind of haunted, full of jump scares and blood and terrifying twin girls who ask you to come play with them forever. But a place can also be haunted in a metaphorical sense, full of memories and history and fears of a quieter, more personal kind. I realized that a haunted hotel in Estes Park was the perfect place to set a story about my own quiet fear—the one that has rattled around inside me ever since I can remember: death and what comes after.

I’ve always wanted to believe in an afterlife, but I never could. I’d watch horror movies and as the characters ran in fright from angry ghosts, I’d think: “okay, but at least they know a spirit world exists.” I’d be alone in my grandmother’s old basement, and as the feeling of an unseen presence watching me prickled my skin, I’d feel creeped out but hopeful, too. Because it meant that maybe, after we die, we don’t truly go away.

I thought that a haunted hotel in Estes Park would be the perfect setting for a book about this complex relationship with death and ghosts and grief. But in true “me” fashion, I didn’t want my main character to suffer too much. Originally, I pitched the idea to my agent as a story about Natalie, a girl who doesn’t believe in ghosts but who has that belief shaken when her crush (who was kind of an awful person) dies, and a medium from the local haunted hotel claims he’s sending her messages from beyond the grave.

My agent pointed out that the emotional punch was missing from that set-up. My protagonist didn’t have any deep connection with her handsome jerk of a crush, so when his potential “ghost” comes back, she probably wouldn’t feel anything except generally freaked out. It was, like everything my agent says, very wise and very true. So I got rid of the crush altogether, and the person Natalie deals with losing became her best friend, Imogen. Imogen, who believed wholeheartedly in ghosts. Imogen, who always believed in Natalie’s intelligence and potential, even when Natalie didn’t believe in it herself.

That’s when the lightbulb went off. Because when Imogen’s ghost—maybe, possibly—comes back, Natalie would feel all kinds of complex things. She would deny and believe, rationalize and wonder, despair and hope. She would ask herself: Are ghosts just manifestations of grief and memory? Or are they real and waiting to tell us they’re not truly gone?

Writing: The Hard Part

After I have a general idea of plot and character, I try to write a few chapters to figure out voice and the protagonist’s personality. I’ve tried to just think through this stuff in my head, but I can never figure it out without actually sitting down to write. The process was challenging but mostly enjoyable.

And then the pandemic hit. And then I had a baby. And my world fractured into a million anxious, sleep-deprived, mushy-with-love but also terrified-of-doing-anything-wrong pieces. My thoughts rocketed away from the story I was writing and into the multifaceted emotions of new motherhood. Can I really do this? I asked myself. My parents were so good at this, why aren’t I? My brother and sister-in-law make it look so joyful and easy, why doesn’t it feel that way for me?

And then I realized, maybe these thoughts aren’t so far away from my book after all. Doesn’t Natalie struggle with belief—not just in ghosts, but in herself? Natalie’s self-doubt became a bigger part of the story than I’d originally intended as I explored how Natalie both admired and compared herself to Imogen, and how, with Imogen gone, Natalie struggles even more to believe in herself. This aspect of Natalie’s character was there from the beginning, but my specific experiences as I wrote her story helped me understand it on a deeper level.

I love how every book we write is shaped by the moment in time that we write it.

Revising: My Favorite Part

I’ve always loved revising because you no longer have the overwhelming pressure of a blank page staring at you. You have a full story with a beginning, middle, and end, and now you can make it better: tie all the threads and deepen the emotions and make the words sing or whisper or cackle or shriek.

I love getting input from my brilliant editor on how to do all that. One of the main things she pointed out was that the romance in the book fell by the wayside sometimes and that there were several key romantic moments that could be heightened to bring out Natalie’s emotional journey even more. It made total sense to me. I was focusing so much on the grief and ghost angle that I forgot about this other character (the love interest) and how he could enrich and complicate those themes even more.

I usually sit with my editor’s feedback for a couple of days, and then organize it into an actionable list. Then I read over the entire book and make note of places where I can make changes according to the list. Then I dive in!

Letting Go: The Scary, Hopeful Part

It’s scary to write about your fears, and it’s overwhelming to write about them while going through an intense new experience. I’LL BE WAITING FOR YOU was an absolute rollercoaster to write. But it feels so personal, and I’m so proud of it. I hope it makes readers think about grief in new ways. I hope it gives them a gentle hand to hold as they feel impossible, overwhelming things. I hope it speaks to them in a tender voice, telling them it’s okay to believe in ghosts or not believe in ghosts or something in between, as long as you believe in yourself.

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