Hi, C.B.! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi there, thanks so much for having me! I grew up in Los Angeles, CA and my favorite thing to do as a kid was go to the library and just get a big stack of books and lose myself in them. Today I’ve developed a lot of favorite genres but I will always have a soft spot for science fiction and fantasy since that’s where I started!

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

I feel like storytelling has always been a part of me. From a very young age I would enact dramatic storylines with the ever changing cast of stuffed animals and toys, and my head was always in the clouds. I think I started really writing long form stories in 5^th grade, when our teacher had an assignment where we’d write a story, lay it out, print it and also bind it. It was so much fun, and I remember going around my classmates and asking for blurbs and making the cover look like a “real” book.

As a teenager, I definitely felt a lot of loneliness; I think I never considered my own queerness or was able to until much later. The focus of my stories now is to write the stories I wish I had when I was a teen.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Deep Wizardry by Diane Duane

Your latest novel, Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Interdimensional magic sapphic dating shenanigans

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect a cozy romance with fantasy hijinks and interdimensional travel. A sweet exploration of defying expectations and falling in love.

Where did the inspiration for Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe come from?

In my childhood neighborhood was a street lined with jacaranda trees, and it always felt magical being under the awning of those purple blossoms and having them litter the street. I walked home from elementary school everyday, and I often daydreamed to pass the time as I walked, and a longstanding daydream was about just being able to walk into another world filled with magic.The title is also obviously a homage to fandom and coffeeshop AU’s. A favorite trope of mine, I love how comforting and reassuring it is to see this iteration in any fandom, and how many different ways writers interpret it, from the quick and cute to the long slow burn. 

I think fanfiction is such a creative space where people find connection and explore character dynamics and see how that changes in a totally different universe or situation. 

Brenda’s world is inspired by our own, and Kat’s world is a huge what-if, not just about magic, but about what a Los Angeles would look like that evolved without cars. The public transportation is based on the real life history of Los Angeles electric streetcars and how thorough that system was, and a lot of the alternate world economy comes from a new idea of magic as a commodity. 

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

I love writing meet-cutes,  I think they’re so much fun! Brenda and Kat’s first meeting is a favorite of mine, especially the moment where they both are having two different conversations – Kat’s talking about real magic and Brenda is talking about DND – and they just build this connection. It was also great exploring that with their different personalities too.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

I think the most challenging part of writing is when to stop researching, when to stop editing. It’s very easy to get stuck in a research spiral – I did research on the origins of Chinese immigrants who came over during the Gold Rush to get a sense of Kat’s family, and I could have kept reading and learning more, there was so much information to process. Ultimately I had to learn that I was building a foundation for writing, and that I wasn’t writing a historical novel and that I was mainly procrastinating. Knowing I had to finish and get the project done—that’s part of editing too, knowing when to stop. Because you can pick and pick at a project and it would never be perfect, and then no one would ever read it.

What’s next for you?

Sleeping. Just kidding! (well, not only sleep). I’ve got a few secret things in the works that will be announced when they’re ready. And readers know I’m still working on Not Your Hero, the final installment of the Sidekick Squad series as well.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

Okay get ready for an all over the genre list! I really loved Dahlia Adler’s Home Field Advantage, I think it’s the perfect high school sports romance. Julian Winter’s I Think They Love You is absolutely lovely. I just reread all the Murderbot Diaries before the series came out, and can I just say how amazing the casting is? My favorite of that series is Network Effect, but I think I really started to fall in love with short fiction again because of how tightly written those novellas were. I loved a collection of Ryka Aoki’s works, Seasonal Velocities, which did a lovely job of bringing together poetry, fiction and essays.

Coming up I can’t wait for Dead and Breakfast by Rosiee Thor and Kat Hillis, and It Had To Be Him by Adib Khorram.

Will you be picking up Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: C.B. Lee, Author of ‘Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

September 2021 is bringing it with new releases from YA favourites such as Tiffany D. Jackson and Kendare Blake, to debut authors like Alexandra Leigh Young and Sarah Hollowell, all the while featuring stories of queer love, missing (or dead) teenagers, new takes on favourite tales, vampires, magic, and so much more!

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you’re looking forward to any of them, too!

Things We Couldn’t Say by Jay Coles
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From one of the brightest and most acclaimed new lights in YA fiction, a fantastic new novel about a bi Black boy finding first love . . . and facing the return of the mother who abandoned his preacher family when he was nine.

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Haunting of Hill House meets Get Out in this chilling YA psychological thriller and modern take on the classic haunted house story from New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson!

All These Bodies by Kendare Blake
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Sixteen bloodless bodies. Two teenagers. One impossible explanation. In this edge-of-your-seat mystery from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake, the truth is as hard to believe as it is to find.

It All Comes Back to You by Farah Naz Rishi
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Two exes must revisit their past after their siblings start dating in this rom-com perfect for fans of Sandhya Menon and Morgan Matson.

A Dark and Starless Forest by Sarah Hollowell
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When her siblings start to go missing, a girl must confront the dark thing that lives in the forest—and the growing darkness in herself—in this debut YA contemporary fantasy for fans of Wilder Girls.

The Girls Are Never Gone by Sarah Glenn Marsh
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Conjuring meets Sadie when seventeen-year-old podcaster Dare takes an internship in a haunted house and finds herself in a life-or-death struggle against an evil spirit.

A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Two intrepid girls hunt for a legendary treasure on the deadly high seas in this YA remix of the classic adventure novel Treasure Island.

Tides of Mutiny by Rebecca Rode
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In a world where female sailors are executed, sixteen-year-old Lane’s dream of being a ship’s captain seems impossible. Sea life is all she knows, and she wouldn’t give it up for anything, even if it means she has to hide as a captain’s boy to avoid being killed. But Lane’s carefully constructed world begins to crumble when an old pirate enemy comes after her father. And she begins hearing rumours that her father was once a pirate as well.

The Corpse Queen by Heather Herrman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this dark and twisty feminist historical thriller, a teenage girl starts a new life as a grave robber but quickly becomes entangled in a murderer’s plans.

Before We Disappear by Shaun David Hutchinson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Prestige meets What If It’s Us in Before We Disappear, a queer ahistorical fantasy set during the 1909 Seattle Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition, where the two assistants of two ambitious magicians find themselves falling in love amidst a bitter rivalry designed to tear them apart.

The Other Merlin by Robyn Schneider
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Channelling the modern humour of A Knight’s Tale , bestselling author Robyn Schneider creates a Camelot that becomes the ultimate teen rom-com hotspot in this ultra-fresh take on the Arthurian legend.

The Jasmine Project by Meredith Ireland
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Jenny Han meets The Bachelorette in this effervescent romantic comedy about a teen Korean American adoptee who unwittingly finds herself at the centre of a competition for her heart, as orchestrated by her overbearing, loving family.

The Lost Girls by Sonia Hartl
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Sonia Hartl’s The Lost Girls is laced with dark humour and queer love; it’s John Tucker Must Die with a feminist girl gang of vampires.

Idol Gossip by Alexandra Leigh Young
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An inside look at the K-pop phenomenon, in a wry, punchy young-adult debut that probes cultural differences, sisterhood, and the minefield of fame.

Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A lush gothic fantasy about monsters and magic, set on the banks of a cursed lake. Perfect for fans of Naomi Novik and Brigid Kemmerer.

We Can Be Heroes by Kyrie McCauley
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Kyrie McCauley, author of the William C. Morris YA Debut Award winner If These Wings Could Fly, delivers a powerful contemporary YA novel about the lasting bonds of friendship and three girls fighting for each other in the aftermath of a school shooting. Perfect for fans of Laura Ruby and Mindy McGinnis.

What YA books are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post September 2021 YA Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

In the Remixed Classics series, authors from diverse backgrounds take different literary classics from centuries past and reinterpret them through their own unique cultural lens. This collection will serve YA readers as both a series of fun, engaging reads as well as a subversive overall look at what our society has deemed “classic” — works that are overwhelmingly cishet, white, and male.

The first three books include A Clash of Steel by C.B. Lee (a Treasure Island remix), So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow (a Little Women remix), and Travelers Along The Way by Aminah Mae Safi (a Robin Hood remix). Read on to discover the series teaser trailer as well as the synopsis for these titles! You can also learn more on the Remixed Classics website where there’s also a special pre-order campaign!

A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee (on sale 9/7/21)

1826. The sun is setting on the golden age of piracy, and the legendary Dragon Fleet, the scourge of the South China Sea, is no more. Its ruthless leader, a woman known only as the Head of the Dragon, is now only a story, like the ones Xiang has grown up with all her life. She desperately wants to prove her worth, especially to her mother, a shrewd businesswoman who never seems to have enough time for Xiang. Her father is also only a story, dead at sea before Xiang was born. Her single memento of him is a pendant she always wears, a simple but plain piece of gold jewelry.

But the pendant’s true nature is revealed when a mysterious girl named Anh steals it, only to return it to Xiang in exchange for her help in decoding the tiny map scroll hidden inside. The revelation that Xiang’s father sailed with the Dragon Fleet and tucked away this secret changes everything. Rumor has it that the legendary Head of the Dragon had one last treasure—the plunder of a thousand ports—that for decades has only been a myth, a fool’s journey.

Xiang is convinced this map could lead to the fabled treasure. Captivated with the thrill of adventure, she joins Anh and her motley crew off in pursuit of the island. But the girls soon find that the sea—and especially those who sail it—are far more dangerous than the legends led them to believe.

So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow (on sale 9/7/21)

North Carolina, 1863. As the American Civil War rages on, the Freedpeople’s Colony of Roanoke Island is blossoming, a haven for the recently emancipated. Black people have begun building a community of their own, a refuge from the shadow of the “old life.” It is where the March family has finally been able to safely put down roots with four young daughters:

Meg, a teacher who longs to find love and start a family of her own.

Jo, a writer whose words are too powerful to be contained.

Beth, a talented seamstress searching for a higher purpose.

Amy, a dancer eager to explore life outside her family’s home.

As the four March sisters come into their own as independent young women, they will face first love, health struggles, heartbreak, and new horizons. But they will face it all together in this warm and powerful YA remix of the classic novel Little Women, by national bestselling author Bethany C. Morrow.

Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi (on sale 3/1/2022)

Jerusalem, 1192. The Third Crusade rages on. Rahma al-Hud loyally followed her elder sister Zeena into the war over the Holy Land, but now that the Faranji invaders have gotten reinforcements from Richard the Lionheart, all she wants to do is get herself and her sister home alive.

But Zeena, a soldier of honor at heart, refuses to give up the fight while Jerusalem remains in danger of falling back into the hands of the false Queen Isabella. And so, Rahma has no choice but to take on one final mission with her sister.

On their journey to Jerusalem, Rahma and Zeena come across a motley collection of fellow travelers—including a kind-hearted Mongolian warrior, an eccentric Andalusian scientist, a frustratingly handsome spy with a connection to Rahma’s childhood, and an unfortunate English chaplain abandoned behind enemy lines. The teens all find solace, purpose, and camaraderie—as well as a healthy bit of mischief—in one another’s company.

But their travels soon bring them into the orbit of Queen Isabella herself, whose plans to re-seize power in Jerusalem would only guarantee further war and strife in the Holy Land for years to come. And so it falls to the merry band of misfits to use every scrap of cunning and wit (and not a small amount of thievery) to foil the usurper queen and perhaps finally restore peace to the land.

The post Discover The ‘Remixed Classics’ Series Teaser Trailer! appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

First of all, we would like to point out that Bi and Pansexuality are obviously not the same thing and both sexualities deserve their own post, their own appreciation and their own space. The reason why we have placed these two together is that sometimes, a character will have relationships with men and women without their sexuality explicitly stated.

That said, we have found a wonderfully array of reads for you that we hope you will enjoy as much as we at The Nerd Daily did. Again, we have divided our recommendations into genres so that hopefully everyone can find something to their interests, or perhaps expand into new genres!

Adult Fiction

Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner

A showrunner and her assistant give the world something to talk about when they accidentally fuel a ridiculous rumor in this debut romance.

The Vesuvius Club by Mark Gatiss

Meet Lucifer Box: Lucifer has a charming countenance and rapier wit that make him the guest all hostesses must have. And most do. But few of his conquests know that Lucifer is also His Majesty’s most daring secret agent, at home in both London’s Imperial grandeur and in its underworld of despicable vice.

Who’d Have Thought by G. Benson

Top neurosurgeon Samantha Thomson needs to get married fast and is tightlipped as to why. And with over $200,000 on offer to tie the knot, no questions asked, cash-strapped ER nurse Hayden Pérez isn’t about to demand answers.

Soft on Soft by Mina Waheed

Meet June and Selena in this fluffy piece about an introvert and an extrovert who cannot help falling for each other.

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

What happens when America’s First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales?

Young Adult Fiction

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren

Three years ago, Tanner Scott’s family relocated from California to Utah, a move that nudged the bisexual teen temporarily back into the closet. Now, with one semester of high school to go, and no obstacles between him and out-of-state college freedom, Tanner plans to coast through his remaining classes and clear out of Utah.

Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan

Jennifer Dugan’s sparkling debut coming-of-age queer romance stars a princess, a pirate, a hot dog, and a carousel operator who find love–and themselves–in unexpected people and unforgettable places.

Running With Lions by Julian Winters

Bloomington High School Lions’ star goalie, Sebastian Hughes, should be excited about his senior year: His teammates are amazing and he’s got a coach who doesn’t ask anyone to hide their sexuality. But when his estranged childhood best friend Emir Shah shows up to summer training camp, Sebastian realizes the team’s success may end up in the hands of the one guy who hates him.

I’ll Be The One by Lyla Lee

The world of K-Pop has never met a star like this. Debut author Lyla Lee delivers a deliciously fun, thoughtful rom-com celebrating confidence and body positivity—perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Julie Murphy.

The Brightsiders by Jen Wilde

A teen rockstar has to navigate family, love, coming out, and life in the spotlight after being labeled the latest celebrity trainwreck in Jen Wilde’s quirky and utterly relatable novel.

Fantasy & Sci-Fi

Prosperity by Alexis Hall

Prosperity, 1863: a lawless skytown where varlets, chancers, and ne’er-do-wells risk everything to chase a fortune in the clouds, and where a Gaslight guttersnipe named Piccadilly is about to cheat the wrong man. This mistake will endanger his life . . . and his heart.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

A captivating and utterly original fairy tale about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch, and who discovers what power might lie in such a curse…

Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee

Welcome to Andover… where superpowers are common, but internships are complicated. Just ask high school nobody, Jessica Tran. Despite her heroic lineage, Jess is resigned to a life without superpowers and is merely looking to beef-up her college applications when she stumbles upon the perfect (paid!) internship—only it turns out to be for the town’s most heinous supervillain.

Wolfsong by T.J. Klune

The Green Creek series follows a generation of the Bennett pack as they fall in love and fight against those who would take everything from them.

Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie

A young pilot risks everything to save his best friend–the man he trusts most and might even love–only to learn that he’s secretly the heir to a brutal galactic empire.

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post LGBTQ + Alphabet Recommendations: B and P for Bi & Pansexual Fiction appeared first on The Nerd Daily.