We Stan [Insert Name Here]

Let’s talk favorite authors. I have lots. I mean, I read a lot, so of course there are authors I return to over and over. Let’s make a list, shall we? (I love a list.)

Recommended Authors

• Ilona Andrews: Andrews are two married authors that write together. I love almost everything they’ve written, especially the Kate Daniels books and the Hidden Legacy series. I think Andrews writes some of the best urban fantasy around (with just the right amount of romance). 

  • Start with Magic Bites, the first Kate Daniels book. Ignore the cheesy cover art. 

• Rachel Harrison: Horror with a real emphasis on women’s relationships and experiences. Feminist and scary and real.

  • Start with Cackle. Witches. Friendship. Ghosts. Do it. 

• Alix E. Harrow: Often queer, feminist fantasy. Imagery that is lyrical and very emotionally resonant. She always makes me cry. 

  • Start with A Spindle Splintered, a fractured fairytale, portal fantasy, and queer love story.

• Grady Hendrix: Horror, but funny (but still scary). Hendrix also focuses on women characters and their stories in a way I really like. 

  • Start with My Best Friend’s Exorcism for awesome 80s vibes and serious demonic possession.

• Theodora Taylor: I have written an entire essay about this over-the-top romance author but haven’t published it (yet). Taylor writes incredibly steamy, incredibly dramatic romance novels that I find wildly entertaining and enjoyable. 

  • Start literally anywhere. Paranormal romance, biker romance, billionaire romance, mafia romance--she’s written it all and it’s all crazy.

With Some Caveats

Here’s the thing about beloved authors: I love their books, I look forward to their new releases, I reread my favs year after year, but at the same time, I have almost zero loyalty to them. Sometimes, I just don't get around to reading their newer books right away. Sometimes, their backlist books don’t look that interesting. Will I read everything an author puts out? If the book is bad or not to my taste, I DNF that sucker as fast as I can. There is no waiting to see if it gets better because I love and trust the author. No, everyone is capable of writing real stinkers. I’m not going to be precious about it. 

Many people pre-order to support their favorite authors. I don’t believe in pre-ordering books before they are published. You can’t know if you’ll actually like the book when you pre-order! One great thing Amazon has done is make book samples so prevalent and easy to access. Samples give me a chance to get to know the book a little, see if it’s for me, and you can’t sample pre-orders. No, I must either have the book in my hands or have the chance to read the first few chapters. I will not blindly buy, even from my beloved, a book that I may end up not liking or even reading. 

When I was a kid, my parents absolutely refused to buy me hardback books. Too expensive for something I was going to read in a day or two and be done with. If we bought books, and that was a big if since there are plentiful books at the library, it had to be paperback or even better, used. Frugal, my parents. There were no buying sprees at the Scholastic Book Fair for me. But if you had a kid that read like I did, you probably would be frugal, too.

It’s a real struggle, buying books vs getting them from the library. In my old age, and with more disposable income at my fingertips, I have weakened the rules around buying books. The library’s dreaded 7 day loan for new releases is so frustrating, sometimes I buy the book even if the library has a copy. But there are some lines I’ll never cross. Love an author, hate an author, but never pre-order from that author. 

To the Books!

Books Added to my Wishlist

Moonflow by Bitter Karella: The blurbs on the book cover use words like “weird,” “eldritch,” and “A bizarre and fiercely original splatterpunk phantasmagoria of queerness.” I need more of that kind of energy in my life. 

The Night of Baba Yaga by Akira Otani: violent, bloody and queer, but has mixed Amazon reviews. Definitely getting it from the library.

Scarlet Morning by ND Stevenson: I loved Nimona and am excited to see what Stevenson does with an illustrated novel. 

Books I Read

Bunny by Mona Awad: I really hate to admit to giving up on this one, because I really wanted to like it. I got about halfway through and just couldn’t keep going. It didn’t grip me or hold my interest like Awad’s Rouge did. 

I finished it. It took me a couple of months but I did not give up! And I can’t write a quick summary of the book because I don’t know what the fuck I read. I’m unclear on how exactly the plot unfolded, especially at the kaleidoscopic end, and I’m not sure how real most of the characters actually were. I did cry at the end because it was sad and beautiful, even if I didn’t really get it. What a weird, wonderful book. 5 stars, purely via my gut reaction.

Black Flame by Gretchen Felker-Martin: A film restorer becomes obsessed with a Nazi-era exploitation film she is working on and her whole life unravels in horrible ways. 

This book. Whoa. I immediately texted a friend and said, “you have to read this” because I need someone else to share the experience. It wasn’t easy. This is a grotesque, violent, visceral book--in both the blood and guts way and in the emotional impact. It explores some of the darkest parts of queer and Jewish history, through an almost hysterical, hallucinatory lens. The imagery is staggering but the plot has a few holes and loose ends that never get wrapped up or explained. Still, I really had a time reading it. A good time? I don’t know. 5 stars.   

Books I Gave Up On

Razorblade Tears by SA Cosby: I really wanted to love this one, because I have heard such good things about Cosby’s books. Even Obama loves him! But, I just didn’t find it compelling enough to keep my attention from the first page. I’m not giving up, just taking a break.

Cat Pic(s) of the Month

If you’ve been following the saga of my cats, you know the two moves I made this summer were pretty hard on them. Things are definitely getting better! The cat pheremone plug-ins I got seem to be working. Everyone has calmed down. Everyone is happier. Except for me.

Why? Because I also got the cats a nice new cat tree… And no one is using it.

Operation: Get Cats in that Damn Tree is now underway. I’ll report back with my findings.

Show Me the Noods!

Yes! It’s that most wonderful time of the year when Trader Joe’s brings back their fall seasonal items. Pumpkin brioche, pumpkin spice coffee, pumpkin Joe Joe’s. You name it, it’s been pumpkinified! Even the noodles!

This is Trader Joe’s Autumnal Harvest Creamy Sauce with turkey sausage over bucatini. It was a real damn delight.

In Conclusion

Noodles are back, baby! Cats are sassier than ever! I read some difficult books and enjoyed them! Everyone is a winner this month.

Love, Marcella