Melody Writes

Hello and welcome to the first post in my SSBA Finalist Series. I will be highlighting a number of the finalists from the Small Spec Book Awards. The SSBA is all about promoting small press and indie speculative authors. More information on the awards can be found here . The first author I am spotlighting is Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, author of Cursed Under London, and previously included in my semi-finalist series.  Gabby Hutchinson Crouch - Author Biography Gabby Hutchinson Crouch  ( Horrible Histories ,  Newzoids ,  The News Quiz ,  The Now Show ) has a background in satire, and with the global political climate as it is, believes that now is an important time to explore themes of authoritarianism and intolerance in comedy and fiction. The Darkwood Series does so in a funny, engaging way that never loses the warmth of humanity, even as its villainous Huntsmen try to dehumanise their victims as well as anonymising and dehumanising themselves....

After a brief hiatus due to an unexpected illness, I am back with the last round of SSBA Semi-finalists before I start featuring the Finalists and Winners! Check out the first,   second , and third posts! I have two wonderful books/authors left to highlight: More Bugs by Em Reed and Moon Dust in my Hairnet by JR Creaden. Each author has been asked the same questions:  1. What inspired you to write this book? 2. What was your favourite part of writing it?   3. Where can we find you and your work? (socials, blog, website)     More Bugs by Em Reed Dumped, broke and stranded at her mother's house, Amy has few options for escape. Hanging out with her ex comes with getting to know his new girlfriend, someone who looks suspiciously like Amy's younger, straighter doppelgänger. Strapped for cash and desperate to be out of her mother's home, she ends up babysitting the UFO-obsessed kids of the hot working mom down the street. Over a dull, torrid summer in the Pennsylvani...

Today is my third post featuring the semi-finalists of the Small Spec Book Awards ! Check out the first  and second posts! I've done a feature on horror authors and one on fantasy authors, so in this post, I will be focusing on three of the science fiction semi-finalists: K. C. Aegis, author of  Her Gilded Voice,  Rosie Oliver, author of  A Truth Beyond Full , and Terry Jackman, author of  Worlds Aligned. Each author has been asked the same questions:  1. What inspired you to write this book? 2. What was your favourite part of writing it?   3. Where can we find you and your work? (socials, blog, website)     Her Gilded Voice by K. C. Aegis Lacey has a woman living inside her head … or is it the other way around? Decades from now, technology has advanced, and everyone has a ‘neuro-net’ wired into their brain. This provides each person with a ‘voyce’ inside their head that offers advice that guides and ostensibly protects them; as teen Lacey C...

Welcome to the second post featuring the semi-finalists of the Small Spec Book Awards ! Check out the first post here ! Today is Thanksgiving Monday here in Canada and I have had a busy, busy weekend full of food and family. When I think of lots of food, I think hobbits and Lord of the Rings, one of my first entries into fantasy. My father loved fantasy and Tolkien most of all. So in honour of him, I've selected three of the fantasy semi-finalists to feature today: J. A. Mortimore and Penelope Hill, co-authors off  The Harlequin: The Draper's Reel , Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, author of  Cursed Under London , and Sam Flynn, author of  The Mystery of the Pale King . Each author has been asked the same questions:  1. What inspired you to write this book? 2. What was your favourite part of writing it?   3. Where can we find you and your work? (socials, blog, website)     The Harlequin by J. A. Mortimore and Penelope Hill Question my honesty if you must, but ...

Welcome to the first of many posts featuring the semi-finalists of the Small Spec Book Awards!  Every few days between now and when the finalists are announced, I will be highlighting three semi-finalists at a time. More information on the awards can be found here . The full list of semi-finalists can be found here . Each author has been asked the same questions:  1. What inspired you to write this book? 2. What was your favourite part of writing it?   3. Where can we find you and your work? (socials, blog, website)   For this first post, since it is October, the month of all things spooky, I have decided to start with three of the horror semi-finalists: Carson Winter, author of  A Spectre is Haunting Greentree , Damien Casey, author of  Church of Skatan , and Emmett Nahil, author of  From the Belly .   A Spectre is Haunting Greentree by Carson Winter REAP WHAT YOU SOW In the wake of a series of panic attacks, isolated and introverted Carina takes...

In February, I announced that I was an official influencer for the Small Spec Book Awards. What are the Small Spec Book Awards? You can check out my post from February , or visit the website for information. Now, the first round of results are in and the semi-finalists have been announced! Between now and when the finalists are announced, I will be doing a series of posts. There are 30 semi-finalists - 10 in each category - horror, fantasy, and science fiction. I have sent out interview questions to each semi-finalist, and I will be posting mini-profiles of the authors in groups of 3 every few days or so as the answers come in. I will link to the posts here as I add them. All of the semi-finalists should be proud, and I encourage you to check out all of them and their work! So without further delay, here are the top 30 books of the Small Spec Book Awards!   Horror Fantasy Science Fiction A SPECTRE IS HA...