Publishing | Writing | Author Spotlight | Features | Podcasts | Links | #BIPOC

Heyla!

So October...the month of my favorite holiday and I'm not sure if the Howell E.R. will go up this year. Decorating my garage and handing out candy is one of the things that fills my bucket every year but Covid, well...in the words of Hamilton, "You're the worst, Burr!" And now the election is looming and all I can do is promote, vote, and try to educate the folks around me about the dangers of a 3rd party vote, or NO vote at all.
      
Happier things:
I hosted a giveaway last month to celebrate my birthday (September 22). I also wanted feedback about which book main characters I should request next from the super talented Holly Bunn. I drew two winners from everyone who voted and commented on the Facebook post. Congrats to Laurie Johnson and Sam Brown! 

As for the poll results, at the time of the drawing there was a 1st place tie between Remember Me, Synthetica and Children of the Stars. I will commission the artwork from Holly Bunn in that order.
 
If you'd like more information on Holly, you can find her in the following places: Twitter, Instagram, or just email  (h.chesher@yahoo.com)

In other awesome news, I binged all seasons of She-Ra and the Princess of Power on Netflix and I absolutely loved it. It hit me so hard that I just sat there for 5 minutes after the last episode finished. Now I've not got a new fan fiction fandom that I follow. "Hey Adora..."
    


Author Spotlight
The Author Astronaut of the Month for October is Sydney Gibson. Sydney is a self-proclaimed "huge nerd" with  too much time on her hands growing up. Her mom shoved books into her hands when she was three years old and that created a foundation for a wild imagination. Add that with all of the best scifi television shows of the 90’s and you have the root of who she is. Sydney loves to write angst with a purpose, as well as throwing characters in situations that bring out their humanity and leaves the reader questioning the hidden meaning in their actions. She's a sarcastic, true crime loving gal with a heart of gold. Sydney is an indie author with six books on her resume. She writes mystery, thriller, and sci-fi romance and her writing style has been described as so riveting that you can’t put the book down until the last page.

Awards
Currently Entered:
Children of the Stars - Goldie Awards
Remember Me, Synthetica - Bisexual Book Awards, Otherwise Awards, Goldie Awards, Lambda Literary, & Lesfic Bard Awards
The Lost Temple of Psiere - TBD

Features
TBD Author and editor, Jae, recently posted 12 WLW & Lesbian Phone or Online Romance Novels. It was my luck to have Rules of the Road make the list.

Burn it Down was featured on Autostraddle when they posted an article a few months ago titled: Eight Great Angsty Lesbian Romance Books. I'm proud to say my novel was one of the eight. It was pretty exciting that my dark horse contemporary dramatic romance would get so much traction with the reading community. Click on the article title to check it out.

Writing Updates:

• With the completion of my Lost Temple edit pass, and much of my renovation done, I've attempted to get back to normal with my writing. It's still very hard (like dragging a wagon through wet cement) but I'm making progress. Elemental Attraction is up to 51,000 words and I'm currently writing chapter 11. Do you want me to include an excerpt in next month's newsletter? If so, let me know. As a side note, the excerpts I sent to Patty Schramm were funny enough that she begged to be one of my beta readers for it. This is the funny, fantasy, fauxmance.

Publishing Updates:
 

• I'm in the middle of the typeset review for The Lost Temple of Psiere. I'm hoping to get it back to my publisher within a week. From there I'll get the ebook copy to review, then it should be clean sailing for publication. My guess is that the sequel to The Sovereign of Psiere should see at least a few weeks of pre-order before it's release day.
• Regal Crest Enterprises will be under new ownership as of January 1st, 2020.The publishing company was bought by our Author Liaison's company, Flashpoint Publications. Patty Schramm has some great ideas going forward and I'm excited for this next evolutionary step for the RCE stable of authors. I will miss my publisher, Cathy, more than I can express but now she'll have time to spend with the grandbabies. 
• Because of the changes, if you were previously planning on submitting a manuscript to RCE, go ahead and send it to Flashpoint instead. Most of the stuff will not change with the exception of potentially adding services that RCE previously didn't have. 
• I've also taken over post scheduling for the Regal Crest Twitter page (Which will convert to Flashpoint January 1st), the Regal Crest Facebook page, AND the Flashpoint Facebook page. How fun. LOL
• Do you need reading material but don't have a big budget right now? Don't forget, all my short stories, as well as my short and long fan fiction can be found FREE on AO3.

Podcasts & Panels
The Lesbian Talk Show - Book clip and talk show links:

Now for my links:

Supercorp First Kisses Collection 
Adventures of an Awkward Scientere 
My Amazon Author Page 
My Goodreads Author Page 
Regal Crest Author Page 
The Lesbian Review: Reviewer Profile
 

As always, thank you for your continued support, because a voice is nothing without people to hear. Read, rate, and review. I'm always glad to answer emails and love to see feedback. Drop me a line for all questions, comments, and criticisms. I genuinely want to get better and I'm open to all. Thank you, my friends!

killerwit68@gmail.com

~Kelly

K. Aten
Author at Regal Crest Enterprises
WEBSITE   ~   AMAZON   ~   GOODREADS
"Some words end the silence, others begin it."
  
 

[START AUTHOR TRANSMISSION]


Name: Sydney Gibson
Publisher: ME! And maybe a little help from Amazon
Reason you started writing: I was bored in between seasons of Lost Girl and also a little disappointed in how the story was going that year. I thought, well, maybe I’ll give it a shot and write fanfiction and write my own version of a season and how I wanted it to go. It spiraled out from there, and I just really began to enjoy crafting stories.
Newest Release: Under Darkened Skies (The sequel, 2nd book, to Two Shades of Blue. A trilogy in the works)
Why we should read it: Why shouldn’t you? Mystery, intrigue, romance, strong female leads. But I do recommend you read Two Shades before you dive in to UDS, you might get a little lost without knowing all the backstory.
Genres that you've written: SciFi, Romance, Mystery, political thriller.
List of published books/novellas:

•  Redemptio Animae
• Devils in the Details
• Let the Wind Eavesdrop
• Revelry is a Decadence
• Two Shades of Blue 

Name something you're proud of in regards to your writing: I think I’m most proud of actually putting myself out there and giving a new perspective on a genre that’s a little different than the norm. I write stories I would’ve like to read growing up. And I think the response from readers when they tell me I’m the reason they started reading again, or I touched a part of their emotions and gave them an outlet to heal. Whenever a series of words smashed to together can cause anyone to feel and think deeper, I think that’s a win. K. Aten notes: Yes it is, and it's the best feeling in the world.
Click HERE to see all of Sydney's books on Amazon.US.


Cats or Dogs: DOGGOS! I have two and they’re literally my favorite people in the world. 🐕🐶🐾🦴💕
Coffee/Tea/Water: Diet Mt. Dew. (There’s water in it.) 🤢🤮LOL
Weapon of choice during Zombie Apocalypse: Lena Luthor and Dr. House, between the two of them, they’d create a cure and save humanity. K. Aten notes: Now THIS is a great answer!
Hobbies: Writing novels, writing fanfic, reading in copious amounts, and crossfit.
Do you fanfic? If so, favorite ship: I do! Currently it’s supercorp. 🢀😍 OOH! That ship is two really multilayered dynamic ladies that you can really play with and still stay canon. I’ve written Lost Girl (Doccubus forever) and a little rizzles.  K. Aten notes: #Supercorp! *swoons* Is anyone else sad that the coming season will be the last? At least we'll have fanfic. 💞


Website: https://sydneygibsonsite.wordpress.com/
Facebook: Sydney Gibson 
Twitter: @sydney563a
​
Under Darkened Skies (Book 2 of the Two Shades of Blue series) by Sydney Gibson
​
      Does time really heal all wounds? Eight months after her life was torn apart, Emma Tiernan is still questioning where it all went wrong. Now back in Chicago, promoted to Captain and sidelined, Emma is living the mundane until her former partner, Sasha Clarke, shows up on her doorstep with a unique job offer.
      Still in love and very bored, Emma joins Sasha in forming an FBI cold case unit, taking her back into a world she thought she left behind in Two Shades of Blue. Their first case together in the unit, a thirty year old cold case homicide of a young girl on a school trip to the nation’s capital, takes the two women deep into a world of politics, lies, drugs and murder. Along the way, they begin to rediscover each other and pull down the walls they’ve built up, all while digging through buried truths of dirty cops and drug cartels.
      One murder turns into many gruesome ones, leaving the two women in danger as they get closer to uncovering the truth, putting their lives on the line as Emma realizes there’s more to life than being a detective, and there’s more to Sasha as she navigates her own dark family past.
      Under Darkened Skies is the thrilling sequel to Two Shades of Blue, and the second novel in the Emma Tiernan detective series. Each page leaves you questioning and reluctant to let your guard down as the action and intrigue never stops!

   
            

[END AUTHOR TRANSMISSION]

As promised, my #BLM, #AOC, and #BIPOC content in my newsletter and on my website will remain indefinitely for anyone who wants or needs it. It's important so it will not be taken down. If anyone has suggestions for an addition, feel free to send the info my way. Thanks!

BIPOC Author & Resource list

Thanks to KD Williamson for this graphic

#OwnVoices & BIPOC F/F fiction Authors in our community
If you are a black or indigenous author of color, or know an author who is not listed below, please send me a message and I'll include them next month. THIS LIST IS NOT GOING AWAY!
Amazon Author Page Links (99 and counting)
Alice Walker - Romance
Allysyn Jones - Romance, Erotica, Humor
Alyssa Cole - Historical Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction
AM McKnight - Romance, Short Stories
Aminah Mae Safi - Romance, Young Adults
Anna Stone - Romance
Anne Shade - Erotica
Anondra Williams - Fantasy, Science Fiction
April Sinclair - Historical Fiction, Young Adults
Arizona X Tape - Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal
Ava Freeman - Romance
Becky Birtha - Poetry, Short Stories
CB Lee - Science Fiction, Young Adults
Celeste Castro - Romance, Horror, Paranormal
Cheryl A. Head - Crime, Mystery
Chinelo Okparanta - Historical Fiction
Darlene Burns - Horror, Science Fiction
Delores Cremm - Historical Fiction, Drama, Short Stories
Destiny Hawkins - Science Fiction, Romance, Paranormal, Teen, Young Adults, Short Stories
Dillon Watson - Romance
Eija Jimenez - Romance
Elizebeth Andre - Romance, Thriller, Paranormal
Fiona Zedde - Action, Erotica, Romance
Gabrielle Goldsby - Romance, Historical
Ileandra Young - Fantasy, Science Fiction
J. Nichole - Romance
J.Y. Yang - Fantasy, Science Fiction
Jacqueline Koyanagi - Science Fiction
Jade Winters - Romance, Short Stories
Jennifer Linsky - Science Fiction, Romance
Jewelle Gomez - Erotica, Play (Theatre), Poetry, Short Stories
Junauda Petrus - Play (Theatre), Romance, Young Adults
K Arsenault Rivera - Fantasy
K. Ancrum - Romance, Young Adults
Kalynn Bayron - Young Adults
Katrina Jackson - Romance
KD Williamson - Action, Romance
Ki Love - Action, Science Fiction
Krystal Smith - Science Fiction, Short Stories, Romance
La Toya Hankins - Romance
Larissa Lai - Fantasy, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction
LaShonda Katrice Barnett - Historical Fiction
Laurinda D. Brown - Erotica
Lea Santos - Romance
Leah Johnson - Romance, Young Adults
LM Bennett - Poetry, Short Stories, Lesbian Studies
Lynda Sandoval - Romance, Young Adults
Makeda Silvera - Romance, Short Stories
Malinda Lo - Young Adults
Mason Dixon - Romance
MB Guel - Teen, Young Adults
Mercedes Lewis - Poetry
Mia McKenzie - Drama
Misa Sugiura - Romance, Young Adults
Monique 'B.T' Thomas - Romance, Drama
Nalo Hopkinson - Science Fiction, Short Stories
Nanisi Barrett D'Arnuk - Erotica, Short Stories, Romance
Nghi Vo - Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction
Nicky Drayden - Speculative Fiction
Nik Nicholson - Historical Fiction, Poetry
Nikki Harmon - Romance, Science Fiction
Nikki Rashan - Romance
Nisi Shawl - Fantasy, Horror, Short Stories
Octavia Reese - Children, Speculative Fiction
Penny Mickelbury - Mystery
Rachel E. Bailey - Fantasy, Romance
Raven ShadowHawk - Erotica
Rebekah Weatherspoon - Erotica, Romance
Rivers Solomon - Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction
RJ Samuel - Romance, Suspense
S. Renée Bess - Mystery, Short Stories
Sara Farizan - Teen, Young Adult
Shamim Sharif - Action, Historical Fiction, Romance, Thriller, Young Adults
Sheree L. Greer - Drama, Short Stories
Sheryn Munir - Romance
Shonia Brown - Drama, Romance
Skyy - Romance
Sonora Ryes - Young Adults
Stephanie Andrea Allen - Science Fiction, Short Stories, Speculative Fiction
Tanai Walker - Paranormal, Thriller
Tasha Suri - Fantasy, Young Adults
Tenea D. Johnson - Horror, Poetry, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Speculative Fiction
V Castro - Paranormal, Horror, Erotica
V.A. Fearon - Crime
Yolanda Wallace - Romance
Zaina Arafat - Drama
Zen Cho - Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction
Zoraida Córdova - Fantasy, Romance, Young Adults

#BLM support pages with many resources links
Black Lives Matter Resources
BOMB Magazine
Lecture In Progress
Time Out
FINIMPACT (UK business resource)

Lists/Sites Supporting Black & POC Authors & Stories
PBS - 10 Black Authors To Read
Black Literary Organizations
Independent Websites Dedicated to Authors of African Descent
Best Black queer books, according to Black LGBTQ leaders
25 Black Queer Books to Honor Protests and Pride Month
10 Young Black LGBTQ Authors Reclaiming Their Space Through Words
Queer Fiction by Queer Writers of Color
Goodreads Fiction about lesbian, bisexual, and queer women of color
23 LGBTQ Books With A POC Protagonist
Black Lesbian Literary Collective
Best Black Lesbian Books - Amazon.com
10 Novels & Memoirs By and About Black Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer Women
Lesfic Authors of Color Directory