‘He’s just staring at me with a look of wary suspicion and I bristle instantly. I’ve seen that look before, usually before some little bastard throws a rock.’
— Haruki Keen, “Statue” ExSpelled
Well hello there, Story Quester. It’s Wednesday, which means I’ve got something new to share with you! But first…
In honor of Predestined’s one-year bookversary and Bi Awareness month I’m giving away some copies of my Norse Romantasy. (Tiny spoiler if you haven’t read Predestined yet, one of the two male leads—Vespasien Kuromori—is bisexual.) I’ll be giving away paperbacks, eBooks, and even the shiny new hardcover releasing later this fall.
The anniversary edition hardcover will have a new cover design featuring both Valerian and Vespasien + the bonus short story in the back. (Of course, if you’re on my Kiss Kiss List you’ll get this bonus story on release day.)
Details on how to enter the giveaway can be found here.
Work in Progress
Walk Me Home
Another day another short story in this collection ready to be sent in for edits with my editor. So far, 3 out of the 5 stories are completely edited and have been formatted for publication. Now I’m just doing my refining pass on the last 2 stories before they head off to my editor.
Walk Me Home will have 5 Achillean (M/M) Romance stories, some of which will be on the sweeter 🧁 side and some on the spicer 🌶️ side. 4 of the stories are Contemporary Romance, while 1 is Contemporary/Urban Fantasy.
If you’re curious, here’s a preview of the story titles:
Trick or Treat
Walk Me Home
Two Turtledoves
A Second Chance with You
Unlock Me
And since I won’t be able to have the short story collections ready in time for the festival I’m probably going to include a BW interior illustration for each story as well. Now I just have to decide what to feature on the cover… 🤔
Project Word Count
31,093 words
Scenetember / ExSpelled
Scenetember! Throughout the month of September, I’m challenging myself to write a 500-word scene based on a prompt word. And for my Scenetember I’ve decided to create ExSpelled, a Dark Academia set in a magik school.
It features Zalan Astaroth—youngest son of the infamous Astaroth family who’s been expelled from the most prestigious magikal academy and disowned for unknown reasons. And cousins Haruki Keen and Tegan Pritchard who escaped their small village to attend Bealnora School of Magecraft when they were 12.
Also, there’s totally going to be a dormmates-to-lovers thing happening between Zalan and Haruki 😏
I’ll probably start sending these little short stories out in mid-to-late October so keep an eye on your inbox, Story Quester.
Project Word Count
2,890 words
My Weekly Book Recommendations
1) Three Meant to Be
by MN Bennet
Telepathic high school teacher Dorian prepares teen witches for professional casting because going in unprepared is what killed one of his partners. But new state mandates on magical proficiency make it nearly impossible, and Dorian worries he can’t give his students the education they really need. Seeking a distraction from work, Dorian kisses his still-living on-again off-again clairvoyant boyfriend, Milo. Instead of a distraction, Dorian glimpses Milo’s vague vision involving the murder of Caleb—one of Dorian’s new students.
Already devastated by the loss of his partner, Dorian refuses to stand aside and let Caleb die. He searches for clues by delving into Caleb’s mind. Rooting through Caleb’s memories alongside teaching classes leads Dorian to two more students: Caleb’s ex-best friend turned rival and the prodigy with connections to dangerous warlocks. However, each step further into his students’ minds forces Dorian to confront his deteriorating relationship with Milo.
After discovering a link involving illegal casting, Dorian resolves to work with Milo to prevent the impending vision. To succeed, Dorian will have to explore the potential of a future with Milo and find closure on their third partner, whose loss looms between them. But meddling with fate to save Caleb inadvertently draws the warlocks near, putting all his students in danger. Dorian will have to risk his life and gamble his second chance with Milo to keep his students alive.
Features: gay and bisexual male main characters
Genres & Tropes: Dark Academia, magic school, grumpyXsunshine, witches & warlocks, spicy Romance
READ IT
Book 3 in the series releases Sept 9th!
2) The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue
by Mackenzi Lee
Henry “Monty” Montague doesn’t care that his roguish passions are far from suitable for the gentleman he was born to be. But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quests for pleasure and vice are in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.
So Monty vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.
Features: bisexual male main character
Genres & Tropes: Historical Romance, Historical RomCom, friends to lovers, vacation gone wrong
READ IT
3) What If It’s Us
by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera
ARTHUR is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a show-stopping romance when you least expect it.
BEN thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.
But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them…?
Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated.
Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.
But what if they can’t nail a first date even after three do-overs?
What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work and Ben doesn’t try hard enough?
What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play?
But what if it is?
What if it’s us?
READ IT
Well, I better get back to working on Walk Me Home and Scenetember, Story Quester. Until next time, this is your friendly neighborhood storytelling Kat signing off.
Leave a Reply