Though always fascinated with the written word, Michael ended up with only a minor in writing, instead majoring in Psychology (Hiram College, OH). He later went on to complete his M.S. and Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology (Bowling Green State University, OH)—overall spending a larger portion of his life than strictly necessary in school. Following, Michael was a psych professor for a time, and then moved into the real world to help organizations hire the right people.

He attempted to write some childish fantasy novels in the past, all abandoned as derivative refuse. It wasn’t until his daughter was born that he decided to begin writing in earnest. The outcome is the Pandemonium Rising series, currently 50% complete with Solace Lost and Wisdom Lost having been published. It explores complex psychological themes of isolation, coping with trauma, faith, warfare, prejudice, magic, explosions, and fantastical violence. Also more magic, plus a couple more explosions.
​
Today, you can find Michael back in the Cleveland area, where he lives with his wife, daughter, and chiweenie. They are quite tolerant of his writing, reading, video game, and racquetball habits.




Solace Lost is the the first installment in Michael Sliter’s Pandemonium Rising series, and is a merciless and devastating character-centric grimdark novel defined by its brutality and tone of utter desperation. At its heart, beneath the blood and gore, it's a tale of strength and holding onto faith when all hope is lost. It's about finding your rightful place, despite the hostilities of the world, or the all-powerful urges to conform. While this is a story of war, it’s also a true examination into one angle of the age-old psychological debate of nature versus nurture; everyone is born with the predisposition to good and the propensity to evil, and they are a product of their environment. I’ll be completely honest with you, there surely is no rest for the wicked in Sliter’s debut, as heinous atrocities gloriously seep from almost every single page, and the world we're delivered to aptly reflects this.

This is a story that focuses most on its characters and their development in response to the bleak environment they’re subjected to. Presented with four points of view of highly diverse backgrounds – namely those of Fenrir Coldbreaker, Emma Dran, Hafgan Iwan, and Merigold Hinter – each chapter follows one certain character, and also expresses a subtly distinct tone. It isn’t difficult to decipher whose eyes we’re peering through due to this well-executed mechanism. As the story progresses, and they’re each exposed to the savagery mankind is capable of, we begin to see the evolution of the characters’ mindsets as tones begin to shift. Once proud, now apathetic. Once broken, now steadfast. Once callous, now righteous. Once innocent, now corrupted. I thought this gradual deviation was a brilliant way to showcase advancement without forcing us to make judgements based on their actions alone.

In addition to carefully crafted characters, the worldbuilding is where Sliter truly shines. Ardia is a land rich in deep, complex history, and full of many different walks of sentient life, all struggling to coexist. The detailed lore and religious foundations, both explained in short insights peppered throughout, also serve as driving forces for events in this story. We’re initially introduced to slight instances of magic, one that continues to grow and become more interesting and destructive as the chapters progress. Vividly described environments and systematic social structures strongly draw you into this fleshed out world dominated by violence and bloodshed. I will admit that at times I felt like I was being presented with too much information that seemingly had no effect on the story at hand, but as this is the first book in an epic fantasy series, an ample amount of details is expected to set up the rest of the slated tetralogy.

Sliter tells this tale with simple, straightforward prose, overflowing with cringe-worthy, lucid details that managed to make even me uncomfortable at times (this is a feat in itself). His ability to evoke emotional feedback is outstanding, touching upon some genuinely shocking topics, taking those grimdark tropes we all know and love, and cranking up the volume to max. As with many stories in this particular genre, mostly everyone and everything falls into a morally gray area, concrete heroes are nowhere to be found, but villains are immensely villainous. My only bits of criticism for the entirety of the book would be pointed towards several parts of the narrative suffering from slow pacing, and I also found myself looking forward to chapters pertaining to certain characters rather than the others.

Solace Lost is a solid debut and treat for fans of (extremely) dark and grimdark fantasy. Regardless of its slow pacing, the underlying plot is highly intriguing, keeping the pages turning just to discover what happens next. Fair warning, this book contains several events that may be difficult to read, including rape and torture, but I thought they were successfully used as vehicles for both plot and character development as the story continued. We're left at a point where the fate of all hangs in the balance with lots of 'what-if's and 'WHAT?!'s – that epilogue blew my mind...it's imperative I continue with Wisdom Lost, book two of Pandemonium Rising, to see the consequences of that little morsel of deviousness! If you're on the hunt for a read involving the bloody politics of war, some beautifully constructed characters, and a highly detailed world, then I recommend giving this one a shot.

I’ve never read anything quite like Hunters&Collectors and I bet you haven’t either. It won't appeal to everyone. Readers enjoying linear plots will probably loathe it. Readers looking for a certain level of weirdness and unpredictability will enjoy it. While I'm not partial to comparing books I'll risk saying that fans of Scott Hawkins' Library at Mount Char will find a similar tone in Hunters & Collectors. 

My opinion? I love this book. I absolutely love it. It's hilarious, unnerving, addicting and thought-provoking.

First, we want to thank each and every one of you who took the time to participate in the contest. We sincerely appreciate it, and we had a great time reading all of your entries. After getting through the batch of thirty books, we’ve picked six semi-finalists, each for a different reason. We’ve enjoyed all of them, and the prospect of sawing off another five entries held no appeal to us. Unfortunately, SPFBO rules require us to make tough decisions. Such is the harsh reality of this bloodbath contest.

Official Author Website
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Interview with Sarah Ash
Read Sarah Ash's Eclectic World Of Artamon (article)
Order The Arkhel Conundrum HERE (US) and HERE (UK)

Sarah Ash is an author whom I got introduced to thanks to her Tears Of Artamon trilogy It was right around the time that I was discovering the wonders of the fantasy genre. Amid the titans of the fantasy genre, I found her world inspired by east European/Russian legends as well as Dracula to be refreshingly unique. Sarah's world was filled with characters of all stripes, magic that was ancient and terrifying, plus a plot that slowly turned towards an apocalypse. All in all her books hold a special place in my heart and I've over the years begged her to continue the story. Previously I've blogged about them and the fascinating world that she had created.

A few days ago she unfurled a big surprise by requesting us to hold a cover reveal for the sequel book to the Tears Of Artamon trilogy. I was able to convince her amid my giddiness to answer a few questions about the spectacular cover & what readers can expect from this fourth volume

Without further ado, may we present
The Arkhel Conundrum


•
• •
• • •
• • • •
• • • • •
• • • •
• • •
• •
•
• •
• • •
• • • •
• • • • •
• • • •
• • •
• •
•

                                        (Cover art by Les Edwards/Edward Miller)

Welcome back to Fantasy Book Critic Sarah, it’s truly a pleasure for allowing us this opportunity to host this cover reveal. How have you been?

SA: It’s truly a pleasure to be invited back, Mihir – thank you so much!

What made you decide to come back to world of Artamon after a decade?

SA: In truth, I’ve never been away. (Although I enjoyed myself very much writing Tide Dragons, the two-volume fantasy series set in Heian Japan which I brought out in 2014 and 2018.) But I was also writing about how Kaspar Linnaius first became a magus in Drakomancer (a novel I’d still like to bring out if I get the chance) and that led me to return to Gavril and Kiukiu.

You have had some wonderful cover art with the Artamon books (US, French & UK covers)? Please tell us about your artist Les Edwards/Edward Miller and why you decided to go with him?

SA: Les Edwards/Edward Miller and I go way back as Les was the cover artist for The Lost Child (Orion/Gollancz 1998) and created a very atmospheric cover image that was just right for a story set in an alternate medieval French kingdom. I then fell in love with Edward’s work when I saw his art for the Subterranean Press editions of Scott Lynch (those luminous colours!). So he was my Number One artist to go to – and I was really thrilled when he accepted the commission. Les/Edward has created a remarkable range of inspiring art for Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy and his site is well worth a visit.

Let’s talk about that gorgeous vista cover. How did it all come together? What were your instructions/suggestions for it? How did you and the artist collaborate to create the fascinating cover?

SA: I was so pleased when I saw the cover art that I confess I shed a few tears (of happiness!); it was just what I was hoping for. Here’s the brief that I sent to the artist (as well as the synopsis and first chapters):
"Much of the book is set in wintertime in Azhkendir, ‘the land of snow and shadows’ in Gavril Nagarian’s kastel which is set between the forest of Kerjhenez and the mountains."

‘My French editor, Stephane Marsan (Bragelonne) once said to me that he preferred covers with landscapes. (Something that Les Edwards and Edward Miller are very good at doing!) One of your paintings on the website that I keep returning to is the wonderfully vertiginous ‘The Gorge’, which I love. The other artwork I keep returning to is ‘Footprints in the Snow’ because of the snowscape which feels ‘right’ for a snow scene.’

Let’s talk about The Arkhel Conundrum’s chronological place in the Artamon saga, how far along is the book set after the events of Children Of The Serpent Gate & Flight Into Darkness?

SA: Even though I was tempted to do a Twenty Years After (or Artamon TNG) and even began to outline what would happen to the grown-up children of the main protagonists, I knew instinctively (and from readers’ requests) that I just had to explore what happened immediately after Children of the Serpent Gate. So it starts roughly nine months after the fall of the Serpent Gate. I wanted to find out how Gavril would fare without his daemon Drakhaoul, Khezef. Has he returned unscathed from the Serpent Gate after Khezef’s final departure – or is he damaged in some way? And then there’s the matter of the promise made by Kiukiu to the Guardian of the Jade Springs in return for the restoration of her youth. Embarking on married life with so many secrets that can’t be mutually shared is probably not the best start for the young couple. Is their love for each other strong enough to survive?

Can you share something about the book that’s not mentioned in the blurb and why fans of the Artamon saga should be excited for this new addition?

SA:The hint is in the title: The Arkhel Conundrum! And here is a little extract from a conversation between Emperor Eugene and Baron Sylvius, the imperial spymaster:

“But all the Arkhels perished in the Clan Wars; all, except Jaromir.”

“Apparently not. My agents were following up on a quite different lead in Tourmalise when they stumbled upon some unexpected information.”

If I mention that adventuress Lilias Arbelian is also in Tourmalise, fans of the earlier Artamon stories will realize that she’s probably up to no good...

Thank you for your time Sarah and for giving fans like me a return into the lives of Kiukiu, Gavril, Eugene, etc. According to you, what will be thing that makes this fourth volume a special one?

SA: Thank you so much for inviting me to talk about the new book, Mihir – it’s because of your encouragement and the much appreciated comments from other fans that I’ve been able to return to the world of Artamon and spend more time with the characters! But what also makes this fourth volume special for me is the appearance of new characters (that I hope readers will enjoy meeting) and the chance to investigate some of the darker mysteries that lie behind the origins of the Drakhaouls.

Order The Arhkel Conundrum HERE (US) and HERE (UK)

OFFICIAL BLURB: Azhkendir, land of snow and shadows, harbours many secrets – and a powerful ancient winter deity is awakened when a foreign mining company begins to strip out the rare mineral resources beneath the mountains. Old clan hatreds are stirred up. The High Steward of Azhkendir, Lord Gavril, and his wife, Spirit Singer Kiukiu, hope to seek help from the Emperor Eugene. But their onetime enemy turned ally is distracted by his competition to build a flying machine. Is someone from their past trying to destabilize the fragile peace of the empire? Or are there supernatural forces involved? The Magus, Kaspar Linnaius, may have the answers...but he has disappeared and no one knows where he is or how to contact him.

Travis M. Riddle's Balam, Spring was a read so remarkably distinct and unlike anything I had read before, so I was beyond excited when he reached out to us to help him present the cover of his upcoming novel Spit and Song. Balam's in-depth character-centric plot, ability to convey such strong tones of both sorrow and hopefulness, and its impeccable worldbuilding were such standout traits that left me craving more. In fact, I pulled this directly from my review: "I'm really looking forward to exploring more of this world in the future." And guess what! We finally get to continue our journey through this weird and wonderful world Travis has created! He was also kind enough to stop by give and us a sneak peek along with some details on the content behind the cover, which we're thrilled to share with you all today.



TMR: Thank you all for having me! As everyone has probably surmised by now, my name is Travis Riddle, and I’m a writer living in Austin, TX. I’ve been writing ever since I was a kid, ripping off all my favorite stuff and writing a novelization of Final Fantasy IX. I published my first book Wondrous in early 2017, then followed that up with Balam, Spring and The Narrows last year.

TMR: My original idea for the story came from a seed planted at the end of Balam, with one of its main characters Aava going off to see her brother Svend, who requests her help. There were some bones of this story that ended up staying the same, but in the initial version Svend was a POV character and Aava was supporting, with a few other characters that never came to be. Eventually as I kept writing I realized the story was going in a far different direction, and I ended up excising Aava and Svend completely and setting the story 30 years after Balam, in a totally different country. But there are certain (spoilery) elements from that version that carried over! In fact, Svend’s storyline was part of the original idea that became Balam, so…maybe someday I will finally get to divulge what’s going on with Svend.

Aside from that, I really wanted to write about a topic that’s been plaguing me for the past year or so, which is a struggle I’m sure a lot of artists deal with, especially those who are trying to break out independently. It’s always such an uphill battle, and I find myself flitting back and forth between feeling super driven, determined to do everything possible to accomplish my goals, and…just thinking it’s futile and wanting to chill at home playing video games or watching a movie or something. Have fun with my free time rather than continue grinding.



TMR: The artwork is done by the amazing Amir Zand (www.amirzandartist.com), who also did the artwork for Balam! Since up to this point all of my books were standalones taking place in different worlds, I felt it was important to work with different artists to give them each their own distinct aesthetic and style, so because I was returning to this world I wanted to keep that same art style, and thankfully Amir was able to slot me into his busy schedule.

I like to let the artist follow their own instincts as far as exact design and colors and all that, so all I told Amir was that it needed to be in the desert, with two people and a mount looking out at a crashed airship. I described what the characters and mount looked like, but let him do whatever else he wanted with the piece, including the airship’s design. I think it turned out fantastic, and it’s one of my favorite pieces Amir has ever done.

And that is indeed a giant armadillo! Basically, anyway; in Ustlia, that’s a creature called an ayote, the primary mount for desert travel.

TMR: There’s a lot of weird stuff in this book. I was really going for weird, and I’m hoping I delivered on that front haha. Going into it, I knew I wanted to explore something that I feel like I don’t see terribly often in fantasy, oddly enough, which is totally non-humanoid races.

In this book I introduce three races that aren’t in Balam at all (I guess four if you count qarms, since they technically weren’t in that book but they were mentioned once or twice), and I wanted them all to be very un-humanlike to set the world of Ustlia apart from others you’ve read about before. That was also why I wanted both POV characters to be non-humans.

The first new race are faifs, the most humanoid of the three. They look like humans, but their skin is different shades of swirling pastels and they sustain on sunlight and sugary foods rather than normal food—essentially, they’re flower-people. One of the main characters, Kali, is a faif.

The second are centripts, who are essentially giant centipedes who speak a language called Carsuak. They’ve built up most of the cities and other architecture throughout the desert country of Herrilock and are currently suffering from a disease called the mold, which infects different segments of their bodies, eventually causing them to burst and knock their carapace pieces off, eventually ending with the same thing happening to their heads. The third are ujaths, and we only meet one of them in the novel, but I’ll not spoil that moment for you because it’s one of my favorites.


TMR: Thank you, I really appreciate that! Truthfully, I didn’t really write Balam intending for it to be slice-of-life and in fact I never thought of it in that genre until reviewers and readers started to call it that, so now I’m rolling with it. I just wanted a large focus on the characterization and interpersonal relationships, and that’s what ended up coming out.

Spit and Song was the same way. I just started writing what felt natural for the story—again, a focus on characterization and the relationship between these two characters, so that combined with some of the pacing might lead some to call this semi-slice-of-life as well—and so a lot of the comedy ended up coming from this character Puk, who just ended up being a much more absurd, stupid, strange individual than I thought he’d be, and writing comedy around him just felt right.

As for why it’s more adventurous, since Balam was very deliberately set in one single location, I knew that when I revisited this world I didn’t want to just repeat myself. One approach could have been to craft a new story taking place in one setting, and that could be the “gimmick” for all the books set in this world, but I wanted each book to feel distinct and fresh, so I wanted to check out a lot of different locales and meet lots of varied people. I think all four of my books now are pretty hugely different from each other, aside from my focus on character, and I’m striving not to write the same book twice.

TMR: The overall process wasn’t too different, but it did take a lot longer. Ironically (or maybe not?) I found myself struggling a lot with the same issues as Puk as far as lack of inspiration, and so there were a few long stretches of time when I just didn’t write.

What I struggled with a lot, and was kind of inspiration for the story’s themes, was the self-imposed pressure of the indie publishing community and this sentiment out there that you have to be writing, writing, writing constantly in order to find any sort of success, which I wrote about a bit in a blog post (http://www.travismriddle.com/blog/2019/5/1/a-song-of-guilt-amp-pressure) when it was really weighing me down. I had to tell myself that it was alright to take a little time off and just enjoy myself, and eventually the story got out!

TMR: Yeah, Spit and Song is written to be 100% standalone. There are some minor connections to an event during Balam and some other subtle references, but it’s a case of the reader getting a slightly deeper experience or understanding if they’ve read that book already—you’ll still get every piece of info necessary to enjoy this book within its own pages. No prior knowledge necessary!

TMR: The title was actually one of the hardest parts of this thing, hahah. Honestly I did not fully decide on a title until the day before I fired off the first ARC to a reviewer. For the entire writing process it was called Shipwreck in the Sandswept Sea, which I thought had a neat sort of adventure-y alliteration to it and also conjured a weird image, but I was always unsure of it and it got mixed reactions from beta readers.

While revising, I was trying to come up with new titles. I came up with a few that were okay, but I settled on Spit and Song because it sounds weird and gross, which is what I want and fits the world these characters explore, and it also illustrates the dichotomy of the book’s themes pretty well, that feeling of being torn between your passion—song—and just wanting to ignore it all and enjoy yourself—spit, which is a reference to a drug in the book called fire-spit.

TMR: I hope they walk away feeling the same love for Kali and Puk as I have, and had a fun, weird, unique experience along the way in a world that’s hopefully unlike any they’ve ever seen before. And if they’re an artist, I hope they can—well, maybe it’s rude to say I hope they relate hahah, but I at least hope they can empathize and see themselves in these characters and be inspired and amused by their story.

TMR: Thank you, Justine! Spit and Song will be available on November 19, and you can preorder the e-book now for 99 cents for a limited time. For more updates you can sign up for my newsletter on my website (www.travismriddle.com) and follow me on Twitter/Instagram, both @traviswanteat.


Kali is a merchant who yearns to leave the harsh deserts of Herrilock and travel across the sea, trading goods and soaking in the sights and cultures. With a new potion on the market undercutting her profits, though, her seabound dreams are put on hold indefinitely.

Failed musician Puk hits rock bottom after yet another catastrophic performance. Wandering the city streets in search of any sip of booze or whiff of fire-spit he can get his hands on, he resigns to the fact that he’s stuck in the desert with no way back home to Atlua.

Until one day, their paths cross with an illicit job opportunity. With its hefty payday, Kali and Puk could afford to finally escape the desert heat and set sail across the gulf.

The black market job would see them travel endless dunes on a road made from a massive dead beast’s ribs and out to a mythical city in the sea, scuffling with monsters and thugs in search of a long-lost book that might be the most dangerous object in the world.

How hard could it really be?

Official Author Website
Order the book HERE

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Magpie’s Song defies easy categorization. It mixes elements of steampunk, dystopia, coming-of-age, and dark fantasy into a singular blend.

BrightStone, ruled from above by the technologically advanced Meridians, is a dangerous city rife with crime and poverty. Its citizens struggle with everyday life, lack of perspectives, and a rampaging and lethal plague known as Rot. Only Moon Children, Meridian half-breeds, seem immune to the devastating effects of the disease, and that makes them useful, but only to lead Rot victims into the dreaded Pits, a place no one returns from.

While you’ll find snippets of humor here and there, the story goes into dark places and has a serious tone overall. Titular Magpie, a Moon Child known as Raggy Maggy, is a half-breed caught between two worlds–the run-down city of BrightStone and the floating city of Meridion. When she’s framed for a crime she didn’t commit, she has to trust exiled Meridian doctor and a clanless Moon Child named Ghost to discover the cause of the Rot and the secret behind her own lineage.

Mags is a great character. An outcast who doesn’t belong anywhere. She cares for one person. She finds freedom in rooftop dancing and her prowess in climbing, leaping, gliding through the city would put most traceurs to shame. Only Ghost does it better than her.

She also has a clockwork heart, and it seems a clockwork dragon found by a Meridion’s dead body likes and follows her. An intriguing combination of the mysterious past and tenacious behavior won me over. I like Mag’s voice. Sure, she makes bizarre decisions and trusts wrong people, but hey, she’s just nineteen.

Magpie’s Song starts in the middle of the action and never slows down. Things happen, characters die, and at times I wasn’t sure where all of this was going, but I felt engaged throughout. The addition of a few subplots makes the narration unfocused in places, but at the scene level, it never disappoints.

I liked Magpie’s Song a lot and plan to follow the series.

Official Author Website
Order the book HERE

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Ayana by Geetha Krishnan really drew me in because as an Indian, I’m deeply familiar with Hindu epic Ramayana. For those who aren’t, a wikipedia summary might be helpful. But if you were to ask me, it’s a classic story of right versus wrong. It’s a story wherein a young prince realizes his potential and becomes the great soul  that he’s destined to be. His nemesis a cruel king succumbs to his doom, by stealing the prince’s wife, a lovely princess on her own. He signs off on his and his nation’s downfall.

That’s the simplistic version, however there’s many layers to this epic. Rama for all of his glorious nature, fails just once and it matters the most. Sita has always been an instrument between forces out her control. Ravan is one of the most complex creatures in Hindu mythology, a glorious Asura king, a great Shiva devotee and one of the most deadly warriors ever to lay foot on Jambudweepa. The author smartly decides to focus on all three and gives us a in-depth look into who they are and why they behave they do. In Hindu mythology, there’s a significant focus on past lives and how the actions/curses in those affect the current/future incarnations. The author draws upon this thread really strongly and gives us a meta look into the narrative.

For me this was the icing on the cake as I was aware of what the mythology is and the backgound for this epic and the characters within. The author showcases this and perhaps that’s why this isn’t Ramayana but just Ayana and each Rama, Sita & Ravan have their own journeys and role in this story. In some ways this is more of a tragic story than the other Hindu epic Mahabharata as it draws clear cut lines about who was right and who was wrong. But if one truly looks at the undercurrents, then this is as conflicted a story as the Mahabharata. The author tries to highlight a lot of these moral underpinings and this perhaps might get lost on those who don’t know the background details. She tries her best to shine a lot on these aspects but not all of it might be crystal clear.

The writing style is very simplistic and makes this epic saga seems very easy to dwell into. The action sequences make for fun reading but aren’t the smoothest in conveying every ebb and flow. The story overall is neatly compacted and presented in a slim volume. In this regards, some readers will like the author for her efforts but some might castigate her for minimizing its complex charm.

Overall I enjoyed this wonderful dive into Indian mythology and I thought it worthy of being a semifinalist. Give it a chance if you wish to give a shot at something quite quite different in the fantasy genre.

Today thanks to Parliament Press (Erica F.) & Clayton Snyder, we are super excited to be a part of the cover reveal for Clayton’s upcoming book The Infernal Machine. Clayton came on to our radar with his debut River Of Thieves and now I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us with his next book.

To put it in own words, this is a “Gothic Steampunk version of Indiana Jones meets Hellboy". So checkout the stunning cover below with cover design & typography by Shayne Leighton.

Add the book on Goodreads

Official Blurb: Arthur White lived a simple life tending the dead in a quiet cemetery, until meeting a mysterious stranger known only as Mr. Black. In a few short hours, the stranger turns the groundskeeper’s life upside down, burdening Arthur with an immortal clockwork heart.


Over the course of years, Arthur works as Mr. Black’s right hand, doing the things the old warlock cannot dirty his hands with. The death of a mutual friend and the discovery of Lucifer’s cast-off heart catalyze them into action, setting off a global chase to recover the artifact and open the door to death.


Along the way, Arthur struggles with evils he’s committed, dreams of loss that plague him, and desperate loneliness that may be cured by the appearance of a mysterious new companion, Ava. But before they can get to know one another, they must confront a cult out to steal the heart for their own ends.


Before it’s over, Arthur, Ava, and Mr. Black will have to face who they are and what they’ve done, or perish in a brutal new world. Whatever remains from the ashes may be their only hope.


Official Author Website
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of River Of Thieves

Official Author Information: Clayton began reading the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, Madeline L'Engle, and others, at an early age. It ignited a love of the odd, the darkly funny, and the magical in him that never left. Over the past few years, he's published several short stories with various magazines, and three novels with small presses. When he's not telling stories, he works as a systems administrator for a game retailer. In his off time, he games, he cooks, and he attempts to play guitar. He currently lives in North Dakota with his wife, two dogs, and a cat that insists it's the other way around.

FORMAT/INFO: The Clockwork Detective is 317 pages long and is the first book in the Constable of Aqualinne series. The book was published by Ellysian Press in May 2019. author self-published it in June 2019. The cover art and design are by M. Joseph Murphy.