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

Certainly! I’m Carrie Vaughn, I’ve been a professional author for more than twenty years, writing science fiction, fantasy, a bit of horror, some historical, some superheroes — a little bit of everything, really, but I’m probably best known for my series of urban fantasy novels about a werewolf named Kitty who hosts a talk radio advice show for supernatural creatures. My post-apocalyptic murder mystery, Bannerless, won the Philip K. Dick Award in 2018.

What else… I’m an Air Force brat and grew up all over the country. I have a masters in English Lit, and dabble in birding, scuba diving, horseback riding, costuming, knitting…hobbies. I collect hobbies. I live in Colorado, about halfway between Denver and Rocky Mountain National Park, which means I have the best of both worlds.

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

Very early on, when I discovered books and movies could make me cry, could affect my emotions, and could stay with me forever. I wrote my first story when I was 8 years old. It was basically genderflipped Black Stallion fanfiction, because while I loved The Black Stallion it clearly didn’t have enough girls in it and I wanted a version with girls. I’ve been writing my own versions of stories ever since.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: The very first one was Dr. Seuss’s “Hop on Pop.” But the first novel I read was Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. I cried like a freaking baby and immediately went straight back to the beginning and read it all over again.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. That book made me smell sneakers. I wanted to learn how to do that with just words.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Oof, so many. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley is the one I read over and over again. On the Beach by Neville Shute got under my skin. Almost everything by Joseph Conrad sticks with me. Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy. A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter J. Miller. How much time do we have?

Your latest novel, The Naturalist Society, is out November 1^st! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Birds, science, awkward love triangles.

What can readers expect?

An immersive historical novel with a fair bit of fantasy, about the magic of nature and the power of scientific names, as seen through three main characters who develop a friendship that pits them against the world.

Where did the inspiration for The Naturalist Society come from?

It’s hard for me to remember the initial inspiration, since so many different threads came together in this. I love birds and birding, and I think a friend suggested I should write a book about them. Next I wanted to play with love triangle tropes, maybe upending a few of them in the process. The nineneenth century, when science transitioned from being an aristocratic hobby to an actual profession seemed like such an enticing setting. I put all these bits in the mix and The Naturalist Society is what came out.

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

So many. The whole thing, really. I got to do a lot of fun research, into the history of the natural sciences, arctic exploration, and I learned so much. The novel has historical interludes, where I explore the alternate history of this world, where scientific names have actual magical implications, and that was a lot of fun. I drew on a lot of actual history for that, and enjoyed figuring out how to tweak it to fit my world.

The Naturalist Society is set in 1880. Can you tell us about your research process in building the world in which your story is set?

I did quite a bit of reading about that time period. Mostly what was happening in the sciences, but also some cultural history. Just as important were the primary sources I found — scientific journals from the period, memoirs, and so on. Actually reading Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, but also discovering books like conservationist Florence Merriam Bailey’s 1896 book Birds Through an Opera Glass and Arctic explorer Matthew Henson’s A Negro Explorer at the North Pole about the 1909 Peary North Pole expedition. I think these really help capture the flavor and voice of a historical period. Also, I really did acquire a set of opera glasses and try them out for birding. Not quite as good as a modern pair of binoculars, alas!

With more than twenty novels and over a hundred short stories to your name, how do you stay motivated and inspired when it comes to writing?

Staying motivated has never really been a problem for me. At this point, writing is my job. But I have so many stories and ideas I want to write, I’ve never run out of inspiration. I journal when I travel, I’m constantly spinning out “what if” scenarios. I have so many characters running around in my head, my problem is usually figuring out which thing to work on next. I got in the habit of writing every day early on, so now it feels weird not to write.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on a sequel to The Naturalist Society, called The Glass Slide World. Microscopes instead of opera glasses this time!

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

The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey, Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi — both these authors push the boundaries of the genres they’re working in, and it’s just great to watch. I can’t wait to get my hands on Amy Tan’s The Backyard Bird Chronicles, for obvious reasons. I look forward to her take on the subject.

Will you be picking up The Naturalist Society? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Carrie Vaughn, Author of ‘The Naturalist Society’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Mother Code by Carole Stivers
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What it means to be human-and a mother-is put to the test in Carole Stivers’ debut novel set in a world that is more chilling and precarious than ever.

Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles
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Where Dreams Descend is the startling and romantic first book in Janella Angeles’ debut Kingdom of Cards fantasy duology where magic is both celebrated and feared, and no heart is left unscathed.

The Doors of Eden by Adrian Tchaikovsky
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From the Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning Adrian Tchaikovsky, The Doors of Eden is an extraordinary feat of the imagination and a page-turning adventure about parallel universes and the monsters that they hide.

Architects of Memory by Karen Osborne
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Millions died after the first contact. An alien weapon holds the key to redemption—or annihilation. Experience Karen Osborne’s unforgettable science fiction debut, Architects of Memory.

The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska
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The Wicked Deep meets A Curse So Dark and Lonely in this gripping, dark fairy-tale fantasy about two girls who must choose between saving themselves, each other, or their sinking island city.

The Hierarchies by Ros Anderson
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Set in a recognizable near future and laced with dark, sly humor, Ros Anderson’s deeply observant debut novel is less about the fear of new technology than about humans’ age-old talent for exploitation. In a world where there are now two classes of women—“born” and “created”—the growing friction between them may have far-reaching consequences no one could have predicted.

The Heirs of Locksley (The Robin Hood Stories, #2) by Carrie Vaughn
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Carrie Vaughn follows up The Ghosts of Sherwood with the charming, fast-paced The Heirs of Locksley, continuing the story of Robin Hood’s children.

Ignite the Sun by Hanna Howard
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Once upon a time, there was something called the sun… In a kingdom ruled by an evil witch, the sun is just part of a legend about light-filled days of old. Luckily for everybody in the kingdom, Siria Nightingale is headed to the heart of the darkness to try and restore the light–or she will lose everything trying.

Set Fire to the Gods by Sara Raasch
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Avatar: The Last Airbender meets Gladiator in the first book in this epic fantasy duology in which two warriors must decide where their loyalties lie as an ancient war between immortals threatens humanity.

Twin Daggers by MarcyKate Connolly
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This action and adventure spy thriller—a fantasy spin on “Romeo and Juliet” from New York Times bestselling author MarcyKate Connolly—is perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer and Elly Blake and is about to become your new obsession!

Ink & Sigil by Kevin Hearne
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New York Times bestselling author Kevin Hearne returns to the world of his beloved Iron Druid Chronicles in a spin-off series about an eccentric master of rare magic solving an uncanny mystery in Scotland.

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
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An outsider who can travel between worlds discovers a secret that threatens her new home and her fragile place in it, in a stunning sci-fi debut that’s both a cross-dimensional adventure and a powerful examination of identity, privilege, and belonging.

What other fantasy and sci-fi releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post August 2020 Book Releases: Fantasy + Sci-Fi appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

This months sees books featuring Robin Hood’s children, unfamiliar planets, a novel inspired by West African folklore, an alternate 1880’s London, an d much more!

The Ghosts of Sherwood by Carrie Vaughn
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Carrie Vaughn’s The Ghosts of Sherwood revisits the Robin Hood legend with a story of the famed archer’s children.

Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross
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From the author of The Queen’s Rising comes a thrilling YA stand-alone fantasy about the unbreakable bond between sisters. Perfect for fans of Ember in the Ashes, Sky in the Deep, and Court of Fives.

Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks
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The #1 bestselling author of World War Z takes on the Bigfoot legend with a tale that blurs the lines between human and beast–and asks what we are capable of in the face of the unimaginable.

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
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The first in an fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess and a desperate refugee find themselves on a collision course to murder each other despite their growing attraction.

The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho
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Zen Cho returns with a found family wuxia fantasy that combines the vibrancy of old school martial arts movies with characters drawn from the margins of history.

Interlibrary Loan by Gene Wolfe
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Interlibrary Loan is the brilliant follow-up to A Borrowed Man: the final work of fiction from multi-award winner and national literary treasure Gene Wolfe.

The Obsidian Tower by Melissa Caruso
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The Obsidian Tower begins a bold new epic fantasy trilogy in which the broken magic of one woman will either save an entire continent-or completely destroy it.

The Angel of the Crows by Katherine Addison
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Katherine Addison, author of The Goblin Emperor, returns with The Angel of the Crows, a fantasy novel of alternate 1880s London, where killers stalk the night and the ultimate power is naming.

Red Noise by John P Murphy
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Caught up in a space station turf war between gangs and corrupt law, a lone asteroid miner decides to take them all down.

Goddess in the Machine by Lora Beth Johnson
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Andra wakes up from a cryogenic sleep 1,000 years later than she was supposed to, forcing her to team up with an exiled prince to navigate an unfamiliar planet in this smart, thrilling sci-fi adventure, perfect for fans of Renegades and Aurora Rising.

The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty
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The final chapter in the bestselling, critically acclaimed Daevabad Trilogy, in which a con-woman and an idealistic djinn prince join forces to save a magical kingdom from a devastating civil war.

The Unconquered City by K. A. Doore
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The final volume in K. A. Doore’s critically-acclaimed assassin fantasy series, praised by Publishers Weekly as “a hit with fans of Sarah J. Maas and George R.R. Martin”.

Will you be picking up any of these releases? Tell us in the comments below!

The post June 2020 Book Releases: Fantasy + Sci-Fi appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

June 2020 sees new novels from authors Riley Sager, Sandie Jones, Jasmine Guillory, Abbi Waxman, and many more!

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
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In the latest thriller from New York Times bestseller Riley Sager, a woman returns to the house made famous by her father’s bestselling horror memoir. Is the place really haunted by evil forces, as her father claimed? Or are there more earthbound—and dangerous—secrets hidden within its walls?

Forest of Souls by Lori M. Lee
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Danger lurks within the roots of Forest of Souls, an epic, unrelenting tale of destiny and sisterhood, perfect for fans of Naomi Novik and Susan Dennard.

The Half Sister by Sandie Jones
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From the New York Times bestselling author of the Hello Sunshine Book Club pick The Other Woman, comes a compelling new domestic suspense novel about a family who is forever changed when a stranger arrives at their door.

The Ghosts of Sherwood by Carrie Vaughn
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Carrie Vaughn’s The Ghosts of Sherwood revisits the Robin Hood legend with a story of the famed archer’s children.

Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory
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A chance meeting with a handsome stranger turns into a whirlwind affair that gets everyone talking.

The Girl from Widow Hills by Megan Miranda
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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last House Guest—a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick—comes a riveting new novel of psychological suspense about a young woman plagued by night terrors after a childhood trauma who wakes one evening to find a corpse at her feet.

A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians by H.G. Parry
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A sweeping tale of revolution and wonder in a world not quite like our own, A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians is a genre-defying story of magic, war, and the struggle for freedom in the early modern world.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
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From the author of Gods of Jade and Shadow comes a reimagining of the classic gothic suspense novel, a story about an isolated mansion in 1950s Mexico—and the brave socialite drawn to its treacherous secrets.

The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant
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Les Misérables meets Six of Crows in this page-turning adventure as a young thief finds herself going head to head with leaders of Paris’s criminal underground in the wake of the French Revolution.

Perfectly Famous by Emily Liebert
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From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Pretty Revenge comes the story of a journalist obsessed with finding a crime novelist who disappears after a deadly attack on her beloved daughter.

I Was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman
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Squashed among a bus full of strangers, mother-daughter duo Jessica and Emily Burnstein watch their carefully mapped-out college tour devolve into a series of off-roading misadventures, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill.

Hunted by the Sky by Tanaz Bhathena
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Exploring identity, class struggles, and high-stakes romance, Tanaz Bhathena’s Hunted by the Sky is a gripping adventure set in a world inspired by medieval India.

Will you be picking up any of these June 2020 releases? Any others that should be on our radar? Tell us in the comments below!

The post June 2020 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Ghosts of Sherwood has made me reconsider my (non-)stance on the Prince of Thieves, however. Carrie Vaughn has written a marvellously compelling continuation of the Robin Hood story, set well into Robin and Marian’s middle age, when they have children to raise and compromises to make. Their children, Mary, John, and Elanor, likewise have their work cut out for them, but theirs is to live up to their parents’ reputations. It’s as happily ever after as can be managed in a more realistic world, with ageing heroes, old feuds, and new, uneasy peace with the new, uneasy King John.

The Ghosts of Sherwood is located in time but also timeless, just close enough to that ageless mythic core to get some of its magic. Robin and Marian and the rest are just slightly bigger than life, which works well for the dramatic sequences and also plays well with the experiences of the children. After all, everyone’s parents are heroes when they’re younger. John still believes it; Mary, older and full of questions, isn’t as certain. Navigating that transition between childhood and adulthood is all the more poignant for Mary as she reckons with parents who actually are heroes, but who are still mortal and fallible.

Her journey is brief but intense, full of action, and suspense. On its own, it’s perfectly able to hold its own against any other YA adventure, but Vaughn runs Marian’s narrative in contrast to Mary’s, adding depth of perspective and tension. Mother and daughter share a realistic outlook but also a dauntless spirit, and are eager to protect those they love. Mary soon gets to learn firsthand about how her parents’ escapades truly felt, but Marian, an old hand at adventuring, must now experience them as an outsider, full of fear and doubt.

It’s a great idea to contrast Marian and Mary, and it was an additional brilliant move to focus so much on the setting of Sherwood Forest, which is almost a character itself. Master rogues like Robin are common in modern SFF, and generic swashbucklers won’t cut it anymore, just as generic “medieval” Western European fantasy settings are played out. Particularity is so critical these days, and Vaughn gives that to us. Locksley feels inhabited by real people, and Sherwood feels suitably uninhabited, ghostly but not frighteningly so. It’s immediately treated as Mary’s haven and romping ground, and so her suspicions about it being haunted give it a sense of complex history rather than horror-movie menace.

Former audiences would have been awed by Robin’s mastery of the longbow and his brazen defiance of authority rather than his woodcraft. But now that every D&D setting and fantasy series has an archer and a high-charisma character, us jaded city-dwellers are more inclined to be impressed by the woodcraft and the politics. How do you operate in the woods? And how do you keep a long-term peace once the work of wealth redistribution is (forcibly) done? Vaughn blends these newer questions with the legends so well that I almost missed how masterful a pivot it was.

I’m very excited to read the next instalment, The Heirs of Locksley, out in August 2020. Also, thank you to Vaughn and to Tor.com’s marketing team who chose not to call anything in this series “Robin’s Daughter” or “The Archer’s Daughter” or something else with “daughter” in the title like a billion other books out there. I hate that overused trend and I hope it dies. But moving on—this is a book that is about father and mothers, daughters and sons, but also about individuals with their own skills who use those skills for the good of others.

The Ghosts of Sherwood is a thrilling little book, and one I can’t wait to give to a surprisingly wide array of readers. Fans of classic fantasy, fans of swashbuckling, fans of YA…there’s a little something of everything for readers in this book.

The Ghosts of Sherwood is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of June 9th 2020.

Will you be picking up The Ghosts of Sherwood? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Carrie Vaughn’s The Ghosts of Sherwood revisits the Robin Hood legend with a story of the famed archer’s children.

Everything about Father is stories.

Robin of Locksley and his one true love, Marian, are married. It has been close on two decades since they beat the Sheriff of Nottingham with the help of a diverse band of talented friends. King John is now on the throne, and Robin has sworn fealty in order to further protect not just his family, but those of the lords and barons who look up to him – and, by extension, the villagers they protect.

There is a truce. An uneasy one, to be sure, but a truce, nonetheless.

But when the Locksley children are stolen away by persons unknown, Robin and Marian are going to need the help of everyone they’ve ever known, perhaps even the ghosts that are said to reside deep within Sherwood.

And the Locksley children, despite appearances to the contrary, are not without tricks of their own…

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