Episode 223: Larry Correia – American Paladin

A chat with New York Times bestselling author Larry Correia about his new contemporary fantasy American Paladin.

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monsterhunternation.com

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@larry.correia

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@monsterhunter45

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@larry_correia_author

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About American Paladin

One Man to Step Into the Darkness 

Mike Spears is a drifter, a vigilante, an expert in taking down the evil in our world one monstrous incursion at a time. He’s anonymous and low profile because he needs to be. A man with a name only whispered in legend and only spoken aloud in desperate straits. 

Welcome to the dark places of the modern American west—a west where mythic worlds roam the landscape like so many weather fronts. And when those fronts collide, horror often spills out. Blood-soaked ground. Vanished neighbors. Towns gutted by monstrous horrors no one dares name. The so-called authorities won’t touch this stuff. Most won’t even admit it’s real. But when the last shred of hope is nearly spent, there’s one man who will step into that darkness—and deal with it. 

Now a true-crime podcaster is closing in on the truth about Spears and the strange world he navigates. Too close. She’s drawn something demonic through the door between worlds—a kill team from another deeply twisted reality. And, if Spears is right, these techno-Aztec operators are only the tip of an apocalyptic invasion set to bathe our land in blood. 

But first they’ll have to get past Spears.

Praise for American Paladin

“Lighthearted and testosterone-soaked . . . Will delight fans of action horror with elaborate weaponry, hand-to-hand combat, disgusting monsters, and an endless stream of blood and body parts.”Publishers Weekly 

“Mike Spears is the quintessential Larry Correia hero—tough, flawed, and locked n’ loaded. The modern master of firearms and fantasy is back again, with another tale that the woke and the weak would never dare write. American Paladin is a wild ride, with no apologies, one in the chamber, and the safety off.”—Kurt Schlichter, best-selling author of The Attack

“Intense action scenes, evil in horrifying array, good struggling against the darkness, and human beings faced with gut-wrenching moral choices.” —Jim Butcher

American Paladin offers a refreshing world of elusive cryptids, mysterious lands, and conspiracy-minded schizos trying to make sense of it all. Its magic and monsters feel genuinely eerie, and its hero stands out by being capable but entirely uncredentialed. . . . Fans of cryptid lore should get a kick out of this working hero in America’s lonely places.”David Hines, Daily Wire

About Larry Correia

Larry Correia

Larry Correia was raised on a dairy farm in El Nido, California, where he learned early that hard work, guns, and books all had their place in a well-rounded life. A childhood spent hoisting hay bales, reading everything he could get his hands on, and blasting varmints turned into a life marked by grit and storytelling. He’s been a farmhand, warehouse grunt, accountant, firearms instructor, and gun shop owner before turning to full-time writing.

Correia’s stories reflect that same ethos—tough men, hard choices, and no room for flinching. His breakout novel, Monster Hunter International, launched an internationally bestselling series. His fiction blends folklore, firepower, and blue-collar realism with a touch of humor into fast-paced tales in which tough men stand their ground against overwhelming odds. American Paladin is the first entry in a new series. 

Correia lives in Utah with his family.

Episode 222: Melissa Olthoff – Tempered by Fire

A conversation with author Melissa Olthoff about Tempered by Fire, the second book in her Griffin Corps series.

Website
melissaolthoff.com

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@salvagebunny

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@melissaolthoff4

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@MelissaOlthoff

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About Tempered by Fire

You can do everything right . . . and still lose.

Harper Tavros always dreamed of being a dragon rider. But after a prank went horribly wrong—or right—she ended up bonded to an utterly ridiculous and insanely brave griffin instead. A bond that can only be broken in death. Together, Harper and Felix graduated the Tennessan Bonded Training Academy and proved themselves during their first six months on active duty even as the war with Savinia heated up.

Now, every mission is more dangerous than the last.

Griffin riders are the eyes and ears of the Tennessan military, an advantage unmatched ever since their enemy’s griffin riders vanished from the battlefield years ago. So when a dying Savinian griffin shows up at a Tennessan fort, Harper and Felix are dispatched to retrieve the message she carries—a plea for help from Savinia’s last griffin riders.

A plea Tennessan can’t afford to ignore.

Harper and Felix are assigned to the team tasked with unraveling the mystery of Savinia’s griffins. Their mission will take them deep behind enemy lines and into the dreaded Southern Smoke Mountains. After everything goes wrong, Harper and Felix will be pushed to their limits.

When every choice leads into the fire, their only option is to burn . . . and let the flames temper them into something stronger.

Praise for Rise from Ruin, the first book in the Griffin Corps series

“Melissa Olthoff is a fantasy master like no other. Rise from Ruin is a fun-filled tour de force and I can’t wait to see what she does next. Dragons have never been so fun!” —Sherrilyn Kenyon, author of the New York Times best-selling Dark-Hunters series.

“In Rise from Ruin, Melissa Olthoff brings a new twist to dragonrider tales. Olthoff creates not only a believable and immersive world, but populates it with people whom you can respect, understand, care for, and sometimes want to punch in the face. I love the camaraderie between the dragon and griffin corps.” —Jody Lynn Nye, New York Times best-selling author

“[V]ery reminiscent of Anne McCaffery’s Dragonriders of Pern and Mercedes Lackey’s The Black Gryphon, in all the best ways. . . . a fast-paced book, with elements of romance, coming-of-age, military, fantasy, and even bits of SciFi. . . . a fun read . . .” —Kal Spriggs

Fourth Wing meets Dragonriders of Pern.” —Edie Skye

About Melissa Olthoff

Melissa Olthoff

Melissa Olthoff spent her youth daydreaming about riding dragons and slaying monsters. After joining the United States Air Force, she might not have gotten to ride a dragon or slay any monsters, but she had plenty of real-world adventures over the years—including flying the T-6, becoming a certified Air Traffic Controller, and her personal favorite, somehow surviving the shenanigans of her airmen.

Eventually, she rejoined the civilian workforce as a responsible adult. Sort of. She now works as an accountant (seriously) and is back to daydreaming of adventure. Sometimes those daydreams even make good stories.

Melissa currently resides in Tennessee with her husband, two children, and two dogs.

Episode 221: Kathleen Schwab – Queenswood

A conversation with author Kathleen Schwab about her debut eco-fantasy novel, Queenswood.

Website
authorkathleenschwab.squarespace.com

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@writerkmschwab

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@QueenswoodAFaerieworldNovel

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@kathleenschwab4645

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About Queenswood

A lush, lyrical historical fantasy debut that transports readers to twelfth-century Ireland.

In twelfth-century Ireland, girls go missing–fleeing arranged marriages, carried off by outlaws, abducted by faeries. Rhiannon, treasured daughter of nobility, believes herself secure, shielded by her parents’ stone manor and friendship with the king. But as her beauty grows and suitors jostle for her dowry, she watches her father’s tenants wrung dry in order to supply the banquet for her older sister’s wedding, and realizes the marriage market is a game she does not want to win. A convent offers a life of books and learning, although it means turning her back on mortal men for good.

Angus, Crown Prince of Faerie, grew up in the Queenswood, the enchanted old-growth forest that feeds all the woodlands of Earth and Faerie. Even once he comes of age, Angus much prefers roaming the wilds over the High Court and the responsibility of choosing a bride. But when he sees his mother fading–and the Queenswood dropping its leaves in mourning–he knows he cannot put it off any longer. He must do his duty as the prince and journey to the human world to find a maiden who can become the next Queen of Faerie.

Set in an Ireland still reeling from the Norman invasions, Queenswood combines a deep and immersive historical world with folkloric fantasy adventure.

Praise for Queenswood

“Set between worlds—among wise women, breathless abbeys, sentient trees, and fae both benevolent and cruel—Queenswood is a sweeping tale about mortals, sìdhe, the dead, and the sacred ties that bind them.”—Mary McMyne, author ofThe Book of Gothel and A Rose by Any Other Name 

Queenswood, Kathleen Schwab’s fantasy novel, is an impassioned homage to the power of community. The reader quickly becomes immersed by the novel’s dynamic interplay of humanity, nature, and the world of fairies as the author paints vivid images which will long linger in memory.”—Gregory W. Slayton, bestselling author 

“A beautifully written fantasy debut! Lyrical, enchanting, adventurous—a book that you will remember long after you turn the last page.”—Stacey Marie Brown, USA Today-bestselling author 

“Kathleen Schwab’s Queenswood is a pure joy, with prose as elegant and enchanting as the world it imagines. A perfect specimen of its genre, it elevates the typical fairyland tale with deep character studies, its protagonists balancing the expectations of their people with the need and the courage to find their own way. Here you’ll discover delight, depth, and warm comfort. Schwab is an arresting new voice, and one to watch!”—Bethany Jacobs, award-winning author of These Burning Stars 

About Kathleen Schwab

Kathleen Schwab

Kathleen Schwab grew up in Levittown, Pennsylvania, a quintessential postwar suburb, among hundreds of identical prefab homes, but that didn’t stop her from building faerie houses when no one was looking.

She earned a BA in literature and a master of arts in teaching from Smith College in Massachusetts, married the love of her life, and went on to fill such varied roles as office manager, midwife’s assistant, and professional homeschool teacher, all while raising two rambunctious children and tending a flock of parrots.

Episode 219: Sam Robb – A Sense of Murder

A conversation with author Sam Robb about his new fantasy novel, A Sense of Murder.

Website
samrobbwrites.com

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samrobbwrites.substack.com

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@SamRobbWrites

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@samrobbwrites

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@samrobbwrites

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About A Sense of Murder

In a far-flung corner of the worlds-spanning Empire, Ser Kellan tor Iaestus is a Highwayman, sworn to keep the peace in the rugged Outlands. Armed with a revolver from a forgotten war and a hidden Talent to see truth, he is an agent of justice and peace in a wild land . . . so long as he keeps his talent hidden, lest he be pressed into the service of the Empire.

When Prospero, an Imperial Magus, arrives in the Outlands hunting for a magical truth-teller, Kellan is assigned as his guide. Certain he can keep his Talent concealed and maintain his freedom, Kellan escorts the magus on his journey. All goes well until a string of seemingly unrelated murders exposes demons, dark powers, and a warlock weaving cruel designs in the shadows. As Kellan and Prospero investigate, they follow a thread that leads from the Outlands to the city of Victar de Reya, links whores and politicians, and takes them from fine restaurants to piratical celebrations.

Saddled with a suspicious young seer and facing demons clawing at them from the Unreal, the two must work together to unravel the warlock’s conspiracy before he kills again. But can Kellan locate the killer without exposing his own power, and surrendering the independence he’s fought so hard to protect?

Duty demands truth. Survival demands secrecy. Kellan can’t have it both ways . . . and time is running out.

About Sam Robb

Sam Robb

Sam Robb grew up in Pittsburgh, preferring books to football — a choice that, in hindsight, explains a lot. He attended Carnegie Mellon on a Navy ROTC scholarship, married the most amazing woman in the world, and promptly shipped out to the Pacific Fleet. After helping decommission the USS Wabash, he returned to Pittsburgh, decided people were overrated, and retreated into software development.

Then he ran for President as a Libertarian. He describes this period as “instructive.”

These days, Sam channels his restless curiosity into SF/F, prowling Pittsburgh’s back alleys with a camera and an overactive imagination. His writing proves that graffiti, old buildings, and questionable life choices make excellent creative fuel.

He lives with his wife, three daughters, and several quadrupeds who remain unimpressed by his publishing credits.

Episode 217: Caitlin Rozakis – Startup Hell

A conversation with New York Times-bestselling author Caitlin Rozakis about her new standalone novel in the Everyday Enchantments fantasy series, Startup Hell.

Website
caitlinrozakis.com

Instagram
@caitlin.rozakis

Bluesky
@caitlinrozakis

About Startup Hell

A hilarious contemporary fantasy about a junior sales witch stuck in corporate hell, who has to evade devilish pacts and her kickass, world-saving, demon-slaying mum to save a (surprisingly hot) demon, and work out how to hit her quarterly target.

Morgan Blackwater’s mother is a kickass, world-saving, demon-slaying Shadow Council wizard. As for Morgan? Morgan’s a junior salesperson at a tech startup that can’t even decide what its product is. But with magic dyslexia and a disinclination to kick ass, Morgan is doing her best to carve out a niche for herself in the mundane world.

Leaving work late one night, she discovers her boss dead from the effort of summoning a demon to trade his soul in order to make his quarterly target. The disturbingly attractive demon, Lucareoth (Luke for short), is trapped here until he finds someone to sell their soul. While trying to sneak Luke out of the building, Morgan runs into her infamous mother. Apparently, someone has been summoning demons, and she’s here to get to the bottom of it.

Trying to protect Luke from her mother, Morgan gets sucked into the Infernal Plane and discovers hell really is a corporate nightmare. She only gets back home with a promise to deliver a human soul of her own. While her coworkers are really annoying, she’s not willing to sacrifice their souls. The company’s tech bro CEO, though, is another story.

With Caitlin Rozakis’s signature wit, Startup Hell is a contemporary fantasy that exposes the demonic nature of the corporate world.

About Caitlin Rozakis

Caitlin Rozakis
Photo credit: Laura Bang.

New York Times best-selling author Caitlin Rozakis writes fantasy with a satirical twist and a cozy heart. Her debut novel Dreadful turned out not to be dreadful at all. Her Everyday Enchantments series include standalones The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association and Startup Hell (Titan Books).

She also writes romance under the name Catherine Beck; her novella “Leah’s Perfect Christmas” was adapted into the Hallmark Channel Original Movie Leah’s Perfect Gift.

Short stories have appeared under the name R. Rozakis in Cast of Wonders, Aurealis, Daily Science Fiction, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, and Weirdbook, as well as the anthologies Substitution Cipher, Clockwork Chaos, Baker Street Irregulars II, and Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2022.

Caitlin Rozakis is the pen name of Rebecca Rozakis. After graduating from Princeton, she has had too many career changes, including mechanical engineering (cut short after the murderous robot incident), finance (amortizing tequila receivables is not as fun as drinking tequila), and the American Museum of Natural History (who knew emus had birth certificates?), and a number of marketing positions, some at companies you may have even heard of. She lives in Jersey City with her husband and son.

Episode 216: Dan Desai Martin – In the Shadow of the Sanctum

A chat with author Dan Desai Martin about his debut fantasy novel, In the Shadow of the Sanctum.

Website
dandesaimartin.com

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@danmartintalks

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@dandesaimartin

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@dandesaimartin

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@dandesaimartin

Gold Dust Publishing

About In the Shadow of the Sanctum

She was afraid of the truth. She was afraid of the lies. But mostly afraid she couldn’t tell the difference between the two anymore.

After escaping from the holy Sanctum, Ehla yearns for safety. In a realm where High Priests maintain absolute power through violence and manipulation, Ehla finds herself at the center of a rebellion she wants no part of.

And the more she learns about the One God, the Serpent, and the magical power of Song, the more she questions everything she thought she knew.

With the Sanctum’s shadow growing deeper, Ehla must make choices that will change her – and the realm – forever.

Packed with religious oppression, revolution, and self-discovery, this fast-paced, thought-provoking fantasy novel is perfect for fans of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Sabaa Tahir’s Ember in the Ashes series, and Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series.

About Dan Desai Martin

Dan Desai Martin

Dan Desai Martin is a fantasy author and communications consultant. After receiving a degree in Religious Studies from Berry College, Dan spent most of his career at nonprofit organizations trying to make the world a little better.

He is active with the Maryland Writers’ Association, and was an editor of the 2024 and 2025 editions of Emerging Voices: Poetry and Prose by Maryland Teens. When not reading, writing, or working, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his amazing wife, Rachana [pronounced RUTCH-na]. They live in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Episode 213: Roger L. Simon – EMET

A chat with award-winning novelist, screenwriter, journalist, and media entrepreneur Roger L. Simon about Emet, the first book in a thrilling new series.

Substack
@rogersimon

Truth Social
@rogerlsimon

Amazon.com | Amazon.ca

About Emet

A rabbi who doubts. A city on edge. A truth older than memory rising from the earth.

When Nashville is shaken by the brutal murder of a young woman visiting from New York, Rabbi Benjamin “Ben” Golub—a reluctant spiritual leader whose faith has long wavered—finds himself drawn into a crisis far larger than grief and consolation. The crime unmoors his congregants, ignites simmering fears, and pulls the rabbi into the orbit of two people connected to the victim: Ed, a Serbian-born sculptor with a past marked by war, and Tamara, a sharp-witted New York publicist fleeing her own heartbreak.

But when a freak tornado hits the city, exposing strange phenomena in the rabbi’s own backyard, Ben confronts something he never expected: evidence that an ancient Jewish legend may be more than myth. What begins as a whispered joke—a lump of mud shaped like a man—soon reveals a terrifying capacity for action.

As violence escalates, anti-Jewish hatred rises worldwide, and the rabbi’s private doubts collide with what he witnesses, Ben must decide what he truly believes—and what he is willing to unleash. Because the line between protector and monster is thinner than anyone imagined. And truth—emet—has consequences.

Emet is a gripping, unsettling novel about faith, fear, justice, and the supernatural forces that emerge when an ordinary man is pushed past the limits of reason.

Advance praise for Emet

“A thriller that’s as fast and furious as it is thoughtful and smart.”New York Times bestselling novelist Andrew Klavan

“A thrilling page-turner with a satisfying ending.”- Glenn Reynolds, American legal scholar and founder of Instapundit

“A tour de force full of . . . wit and wisdom and positivity amid peril.”Kurt Schlichter, novelist and Townhall columnist

“(Emet) doubles as a political and religious commentary, making it even more captivating and enlightening . . . (it) screams for sequels and an equally riveting television streaming series.”David Limbaugh

About Roger L. Simon

Roger L. Simon

Roger L. Simon is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter, journalist, and media entrepreneur whose career spans more than five decades across literature, film, and cultural commentary. He first gained prominence with his bestselling Moses Wine detective series, beginning with the 1970s breakout hit The Big Fix, which became a cultural touchstone and later a Hollywood film starring Richard Dreyfus. Simon wrote the screenplay, beginning a career in Hollywood that also saw him write, among many others, Bustin’ Loose (with Richard Pryor), Scenes from a Mall (with Bette Midler and Woody Allen), and the Paul Mazursky-directed Enemies, A Love Story, for which Simon was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. A Better Life, for which Simon wrote the story, was released in 2011; its lead actor, Damien Bichir, was also nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award. Simon also directed the independent feature Prague Duet, starring Gina Gershon and based on a screenplay he wrote with his wife, Sheryl Longin.

Simon has taught screenwriting at Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute and at the American Film Institute. He is a former president of the PEN Center USA West, former vice-president of the International Association of Crime Writers, and a former member of the board of the Writers Guild of America.

Simon has become a leading voice in political and social journalism, co-founding PJ Media, one of the earliest and most influential digital platforms in the online commentary landscape. His work has appered in major publications worldwide, and he is known for his sharp intellect, fearless critique, and his ability to fuse narrative craft with cultural insight.

Emet launches a provocative new series that confronts the spiritual and geopolitical dangers facing Christians and Jews in the modern world. Simon, 82, calls this creative resurgence “remarkably optimistic” and feels this is arguably some of his most ambitious work to date.

Episode 209: TC Ross – Blood Diamonds

A conversation with author TC Ross about her new fantasy novel from Raconteur Press, Blood Diamonds.

Website
tcross.us

Substack
tcross.substack.com

Amazon.com | Amazon.ca

About Blood Diamonds

Every year, hunters ride into the cursed woods of Magnolia Manor chasing fortune.

Most never ride out.

September Zamfir isn’t after treasure. He’s running from a past that hunts him harder than any monster, and walking straight into the one legend no blade has ever ended.

But the beast is no mindless killer. Behind silver fur and porcupine spines is Verity: a young woman chained to an ancient curse, guarding the only family she has left.

When Sept offers the one thing no hunter ever has—help—she has to decide whether to trust the young man who sees through her claws . . . or condemn them both to the darkness that made her.

About TC Ross

TC Ross

TC Ross is an illustrator and urban fantasy author who also dabbles in related historical fantasy, romantic comedy, gaslamp, horror, and short stories.

She resides in Texas with her family, feeding the Fae and watching out for shifters. Hopefully, they never find her.

Episode 200: Annmarie SanSevero – The Butterfly’s Stroke and Other Stories

A conversation with Annmarie SanSevero about her new science fiction/fantasy short story collection, The Butterfly’s Stroke and Other Stories, just released by Stark Publishing.

Website
asansevero.com

Facebook

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@theItalianMuse

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@theitalianmuse

About The Butterfly’s Stroke and Other Stories

An intricate and harmonious dance between humanity and technology

Dive into Annmarie SanSevero’s gripping collection of speculative fiction, where suspense, mystery, and the supernatural collide with the frontiers of science.

Each story pulses with themes of hope, resilience, and the ethical complexities of technological advancements. A testament to the human spirit, these tales weave suspense, mystery, and supernatural elements into a tapestry of speculative fiction that resonates with contemporary societal issues.

Don’t miss your chance to experience these unforgettable narratives and embark on a journey that both challenges and inspires.

About Jonathan Handel

Annmarie SanSeverol

Annmarie SanSevero grew up in New York City but was transplanted to the south in high school.  She writes stories about hope, courage, and resilience in fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, and mystery. She loves exploring the human experience and wants readers to feel like they can do more than survive.

When she’s not writing, Annmarie enjoys learning just about everything, playing violin, and singing.  She can occasionally be found tap dancing or playing D&D. One day, she wants to go LARPing.

To keep up with her latest releases, writing news, and exclusive content, join her author newsletter

Episode 193: Dave Freer – Storm-Dragon

A conversation with Dave Freer, Prometheus Award-winning author of numerous science fiction novels for readers of all ages, about his latest book for young readers, Storm-Dragon.

Websites
davefreer.com
madgeniusclub.com

Amazon links
Amazon.ca
Amazon.com

About Storm-Dragon

On the treacherous Vann’s World, Skut battles a savage wind and deadly hamerkops to rescue a mysterious, telepathic creature. Fleeing a rising tide and a menacing Loor-beast, he forms an unexpected bond with the tiny, electric-charged being that sees him as its protector. As Skut navigates the perilous tidal tiers, his impulsive escape from Highpoint Station unravels into a fight for survival—both for himself and his newfound companion.

Podge is the new kid in town, trying to keep his head down. Meeting Skut is about the only bright spot in his introduction to this strange new world. The boys bond over Skut’s creature, and trying to avoid the class bullies. This is only the beginning; soon Skut finds his new friends do not ease the growing concerns of the adults around him while the town is coming under a mysterious threat. What can two boys and a tiny storm-dragon do?

About Dave Freer

Dave Freer

Dave Freer is a former Marine Biologist who specialized in fish (an Ichthyologist), proving that you can end up as an academic even if you did win a sports bursary (for rock-climbing) to take you through college. At seventeen was a conscripted Medic during the Angolan/South African conflict. Politically from an old fashioned ‘liberal’ (you know, believing in equality of all people before the law, equality of opportunity, that sort of thing) anti-apartheid family this was quite an experience. He lived through it and came out as a 45 year old in a nineteen year old body, which may explain his frequent confusion. He is still deciding just what do when he grows up.

His first postgraduate job was as Chief Scientific Officer for the Western Cape Commercial Shark fishery. As a biologist he’s spent a lot of time working in water no sane person would go near, having encounters (both in small boats and in the water) with sharks, crocodiles, hippopotamuses, electric rays and a number of other toxic/lethal creatures. He has worked as a salvage diver, run two major fish farms (he’s a very good plumber), as well as doing some steeplejack work. Additionally he has worked as the relief chef for a group of exclusive luxury game/ ecotourism/ whitewater-rafting lodges.

He has an obsession with food, recreating traditional fare, something he uses in his books. He’s a top mountaineer and rock-climber, opening many of his country’s best rock routes. He’s a fanatical spiny-lobster diver and flyfisherman and the author of a number of articles on both. If it is dangerous and a little crazy — he’s done it. Besides writing some amazingly boring but fundamental papers on shark age and growth and reproductive biology, he has authored or co-authored about twenty novels, most of which are sf/fantasy. He’s also written a lot of shorter fiction, appearing in various collections. 

He lives on a wonderful remote Island off the coast of Tasmania, Australia, a ten hour ferry trip to anywhere, with three dogs to do his thinking, three cats to be waited on, two sons to lead him astray, and a wonderful wife to be patient with him and them, although it is a task that would tax a saint. Sometimes he wonders why he does this. Other times he just wonders.