Magical People, Places, Sleuths & Wise Women

Anthologies - fantastical worlds, multifaceted characters, engaging themes, adventurous journeys

Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction

edited by Sheree Renee Thomas, Oghenechovwe Ekpeki, Zelda Knight

Tordotcom, November 2022

We're Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction 2021

edited by L.D. Lewis, Charles Payseur

Neon Hemlock Press, October 2022

All Kinds of Love

Witchful Thinking (Elemental Love #1) by Celestine Martin

contemporary speculative romance

Forever, September 2022

To avoid spoilers, my general feeling is that the author of this delightfully layered and whimsical love story about finding one's purpose, place, and people is probably a fan of some early Tom Hanks movies. Lucinda and Alex's connection exudes #relationshipgoals.

Blackmail and Bibingka (Tita Rosie #3) by Mia P. Manansala

contemporary mystery

Berkley, October 2022

Ah, family... Can't work with them without drama, can't let them get wrongly accused of committing murder--even if maybe sometimes they make you so crazed that you're tempted. Really tempted. Lila and Tita Rosie feed their family's and community's bodies and souls while figuring out who's really guilty. Cue the mayhem. Plus, scrumptious recipes!

Small Town, Big Magic (Witchlore #1) by Hazel Beck

contemporary speculative romance

Graydon House, August 2022

A bit of a more light-hearted The Witches of Eastwick collides with The Stand and ends with the suggestion of a cliffhanger, generating anticipation for the next installment of Emerson and Jacob's story in August 2023.

Comments

Our Poet Laureate's Memoir + More TWWBF2025 Prep

Educator, poet, short story author, mindfulness guide and now the moniker of memoirist has been added to the long list of creative accomplishments earned by Poet Laureate of The Write Women Book Fest Aressa V. Williams. She was born and raised in the vibrant community of Washington, D.C.'s Northeast neighborhood of Deanwood. Her Memoir evokes the nostalgia, challenges, victories, heartaches and joys of her life that connect with readers across generations and locations. [photo credit: H.L. Brooks; image: two paperback ARCs of In Deanwood, A Memoir by Aressa Verdell Williams arranged on a tabletop; cover art of a sepia toned two-story colonial house with four columns - two on each side of the front door] The ebook is currently available with print copies coming soon! https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-deanwood-aressa-verdell-williams/1147594007 Just under 3 weeks before day one of The Write Women Book Fest and we've finished decorating t-shirts for our aw...

DIY Marketing TWWBF2025 + the Usual BAC Issues

Six(!) days until day one of the 6th and grand finale year of The Write Women Book Fest!!! Last week was another hard one for federal workers in the DMV area along with other ongoing challenges, making it tough for a lot of people to prioritize joy. This coming weekend TWWBF2025 intends to celebrate and support talented authors, poets, creatives, and publishing industry professionals and their work, readers and literacy advocates while we also celebrate everything positive that this event has contributed to our community since 2019. [a two-image collage: right side - two posters atop the closed lid of a baby grand piano; both with "The Write Women Book Fest, 100+ authors Golden Angel, Eden Appiah-Kubi, Courtney Duke Foster, Jeaniene Frost, Maria Vale, Erin Wright, EC Poetry & Prose, July 19th QR Code thewritewomenbookfest.org, Use code FESTNEWS25 for 30% off!"; left side - an incomplete poster with "The Write Women Book Fest" and a blank sheet of paper with a g...

Tapping into Your Power

The following two books celebrate powerful characters who overcome their fears to manifest their greatness for the benefit of themselves, their loved ones and communities. So satisfying. [2 books from left to right: A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna, Direct Descendant by Tanya Huff] A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna contemporary speculative romance Berkeley, July 2025 Sera's story of navigating otherness was worth the wait. The advantages, responsibilities, and consequences of being powerful are explored with nuanced observations, humor, and compassion. Themes on distinctions between family by blood, choice, and intention weave throughout this poignant tale about paying attention and recognizing personal details as fundamental to the evolution of one's perspective on who and what are valuable. One of my favorite passages from the end of chapter nineteen: Like this was a thing that had, somehow, become...

Search This Blog