Author: Krista Ball

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The Crystal Key by Douglas Smith is Out Today!

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SF Canada member Douglas Smith has a new release today. The Crystal Key is the second book of The Dream Rider Saga series. Described as Indiana Jones meets Teen Titans in The Dream Rider Saga, a fast-paced urban fantasy trilogy from “one of Canada’s most original writers of speculative fiction” (Library Journal).

Will Dreycott is the Dream Rider, the agoraphobic teenage superhero who walks in our dreams but never in the streets of his city. Case is his girlfriend, a survivor of those streets haunted by voices that warn her of danger. Fader, her brother, is very good at disappearing. Together, they defeated a body swapper and a witch to save the world (The Hollow Boys).

In The Crystal Key, a trail of dark secrets leads Will, Case, and Fader to a hidden world. Trapped between warring cults willing to kill for a mysterious relic, the three friends must master strange new powers that grow stronger and wilder the closer they draw to the truth.

This time it’s not just the fate of the world at stake…but the multiverse.

You can purchase the book from various retailers. Click here for purchase links.

Praise for The Crystal Key:

“The engrossing second installment of Douglas Smith’s Dream Rider Saga trilogy. … Smith continues to demonstrate an ability to expertly weave multiple complex fantasy elements into a cohesive whole. … This fast-paced story delivers in a big way—and Smith has all his ducks lined up for an explosive conclusion [to the series] that readers won’t want to miss.”

—Blueink Review (★ Starred review)

Praise for The Hollow Boys (The Dream Rider Saga, Book 1):

“A must-read story for YA fantasy fans.” —Blueink Review (★ Starred review)

“Inventive, engaging, and boundless fun.” —The Ottawa Review of Books 

“Fast-paced and entertaining.” —SF Crowsnest 

“A fun supernatural tale with well-developed characters and a touch of romance.” —Kirkus Reviews

ABOUT DOUGLAS SMITH

Douglas Smith is a multi-award-winning author described by Library Journal as “one of Canada’s most original writers of speculative fiction.”

His latest work is the YA urban fantasy trilogy, The Dream Rider Saga (The Hollow Boys, The Crystal Key, and The Lost Expedition). His other books include the urban fantasy novel, The Wolf at the End of the World; the collections, Chimerascope and Impossibilia; and the writer’s guide Playing the Short Game: How to Market & Sell Short Fiction.

Published in 27 languages, Doug is a 3-time winner of Canada’s Aurora Award and has been a finalist for the Astounding Award, CBC’s Bookies Award, Canada’s juried Sunburst Award, and France’s juried Prix Masterton and Prix Bob Morane.

His website is https://smithwriter.com.

“The man is Sturgeon good. Zelazny good. I don’t give those up easy.” —Spider Robinson, Hugo and Nebula Awards winner

“A great storyteller with a gifted and individual voice.” —Charles de Lint, World Fantasy Award winner

“His stories are a treasure trove of riches that will touch your heart while making you think.” —Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo and Nebula Awards winner

“Stories you can’t forget, even years later.” —Julie Czerneda, multi-award-winning author and editor

 

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New Release by Skyla Dawn Cameron!

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Watcher of the Woods

SF Canada member Skyla Dawn Cameron has a new standalone novel release!

After eighteen months staying home under rolling pandemic lockdowns with her girlfriend Joy, artist Thea Palmer has decided the strained relationship has run its course and she’s ready to end it—right after the stress of her birthday has passed.

Unfortunately, her surprise party comes with a special gift from Joy that puts the breakup on hold: a week-long cabin rental in the tiny northern Ontario community of Hope Falls, for just the two of them.

No phone.

No internet.

No contact with the outside world.

Joy says it’ll give them the perfect chance to reconnect and maybe restore Thea’s creativity after pandemic stress wearing down her desire to paint. But the cabin creaks at night under invisible steps, and the woods have trees that seem to shift in the corner of her eye. Thea swears she sees a strange white figure on the lake beckoning to her and an empty boat that drifts by in the early morning mist.

And Joy…Joy seems to be someone else entirely

 

Kindle – Kobo – iBooks – Nook – Payhip – Paperback – Hardcover

Hardcover Gift Box – Paperback Gift Box

 

All About Skyla

 

Skyla Dawn Cameron has been writing approximately forever.

Her early storytelling days were spent acting out strange horror/fairy tales with the help of her many dolls, and little has changed except that she now keeps those stories on paper. She signed her first book contract at age twenty-one for River, a unique werewolf tale, which was released to critical and reader praise alike and won her the 2007 EPPIE Award for Best Fantasy. She now has multiple series on the go to keep her busy.

In the name of research, she has planned–but not taken–extensive trips all over the world, learned to pick locks, watched dozens of hours of surgeries, and has undergone private investigator training. Her internet search terms have likely put her on numerous government watchlists, but she swears she is not actively trying to murder anyone other than her characters. Really.

Skyla is a fifth-generation crazy cat lady who lives in southern Ontario, where she writes a lot of books, works as a freelance designer, embroiders swear words onto fabric, and plays video games.

You can visit her on the web at www.skyladawncameron.com. When she’s not writing or being glared at by cats, she’s probably on Twitter–you should ping @skyladawn and tell her to get back to work. You can sign up for her newsletter at www.skyladawncameron.com/newsletter and support her work by becoming a Patron of Snark where she serializes exclusive books, offers excerpts of WIPs, and runs weekly write-ins.

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Blackmeadow Abbey by Jane Glatt

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SF Canada member Jane Glatt has a new novel out. A fantasy re-imagining of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey.

Caroline Morris, along with her brother Jack, needs to form a team for the Endeavour, the magical competition that happens every fifteen years. It’s the most important decision she’s ever had to make, and it could affect the course of her life.

The charming siblings Iona and Sean Smith seem perfect. And then there’s Ella and Henry Townsend, whose father is an Administrator for the contest.

The Endeavour is a dangerous competition, and the days leading up to it will bring out the worst, or best in people. And Caroline will need to discover who she can trust.

Kobo  Amazon

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New Release by JE Solo!

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SF Canada member JE Solo has a new collection out! Step into a world of hauntingly beautiful stories with Nature, Human, a new collection by the award-winning author, JE Solo. Nature, Human transports the reader into near and far-flung futures, and examines the fragile and often dysfunctional connections we have with the natural world. In JE’s direct and energetic style, Nature, Human contemplates the magical in the everyday while delivering unexpected twists and poignant moments that are sure to leave a lasting impression. While exploring complex themes of loneliness, separation, alienation, and despair, these ten unique stories consider how our decisions regarding nature impact the individual. Whether you’re a long-time fan of JE Solo’s work or a newcomer to their writing, this thought-provoking and imaginative collection delivers a richly rewarding reading experience that is sure to captivate and inspire.

There is a text-only version, and a special illustrated edition, so check out the publisher’s post for all of the details! https://houseofzolo.com/nature-human/

 

All about JE Solo!

JE Solo is a writer, performance and media artist, and musician best known for their work in East Coast music, and as a trailblazer in machinima, hybrid-reality, and live and networked performance art. JE’s first novel, Phreak (House of Zolo, 2020), was short-listed for the Writer’s Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador’s 2017 Fresh Fish Award, and is the Write Project’s 2020 Book of the Year. In 2022 JE released three short stories with Edge; and JE’s ten story collection, Nature, Human was published in February 2023 by House of Zolo. Currently, JE is working on presenting their latest short stories inside of Virtual Reality spaces, and collaborating with Artificial Intelligence to create poetry and artwork.

JE is the recipient of the Media Arts Prize and the Dramatic Script Prize from the NL Arts and Letters Awards; the Linda Joy Award from the Atlantic Film Festival for their screenplay, the machine; a Lifetime Membership Award from MusicNL; and the East Coast Music Association’s Stompin’ Tom Connors Award for their accomplishments in music. Dozens of JE’s stage plays, videos and performance art works have been presented across Canada and around the world including at ISEA, File Electronic Language International Festival, The IOTA Institute, Womxn From the Future, Courts Critiques, Festival of New Dance, Resource Centre for the Arts, and the 7a*11d International Festival of Performance Art. JE has released nine studio albums and EPs as a solo artist and with The Sauce (2013 – present); TrixXxie (2013 – 2017); Lizband (1993 – 2013 ); The Black Bags (2002 – 2015); Live Girls (2,000 – 2002).

JE is a member of Science Fiction Canada, Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors of America, and the Writer’s Alliance of NL. See jesolo.ca and lizsolo.com