Happy Release Day! The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy by Dr. Arik Kershenbaum

Hiya, folks! Today marks the release date for the first book of my friend and fellow researcher, Dr. Arik Kershenbaum: The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy! This nonfiction book discusses how life evolved on Earth and how what we’ve learned about organisms on our own planet might apply to life elsewhere in the galaxy. It’s sure to be an interesting read for animal lovers, science fiction fans, and every curious human who’s ever looked up at the stars at night and wondered what’s out there!

You can order Dr. Kershenbaum’s book through the various links here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/314/314542/the-zoologist-s-guide-to-the-galaxy/9780241406793.html I look forward to getting my copy in October. Congratulations, Arik!

Furry Book Month!

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Happy Furry Book Month, everyone!

Furry books are books that feature anthropomorphic animals. These animals could live like humans, with clothes and houses and cars and such (as in The Wind in the Willows) or be similar to their real-life counterparts in behavior and lifestyle, only sharing with humans their intelligence and/or language (as in Watership Down).

As you can tell from these two examples, anthropomorphic animals are prominent in classic literature. However, our history of telling stories about such characters predates even these beloved novels, going all the way back to the fables of Aesop and Jean de La Fontaine—and still farther, to ancient mythology.

What’s exciting about furry literature is that it is timeless. Humans have always wondered what it would be like to slip into another creature’s skin, to see through the eyes of other beings that share our planet. We still wonder this, even today. Over the years, zoologists have given us invaluable insights into the perception and cognition of nonhuman animals, and we are continually learning more. But ultimately, I think a lot about the lives of our fellow creatures will always remain mysterious to us. That’s where imagination comes in.

Furry literature is still here, and in fact there are now several publishers who specialize in furry books, not to mention a Furry Writers’ Guild and awards unique to the furry writing community. October has been chosen as a time to celebrate and promote anthropomorphic animal literature, with the goal of sharing our love for it and making more people aware of its ongoing relevance.

With this goal in mind, furry publishers often run discounts on their books this month. Goal Publications is one of these publishers. Goal Publications is offering 15% off all the books in their online store this month, both print and ebook (excluding bundle deals), if you use coupon code FBM2019 at checkout, from now through the end of October. This deal includes my hyena novelette Beyond Acacia Ridge and two furry anthologies that feature my stories, A Glimpse of Anthropomorphic Literature and The Daily Grind, the latter of which I helped to edit. If you’re interested in getting 15% off on these or other great furry books, please check out their store: https://www.goalpublications.com/storefront.html

This month, I hope to finally read Watership Down and to also read Nexus Nine, the newest novel from one of my favorite authors, Mary E. Lowd. What will you be reading for Furry Book Month?

Hyenas at the Library!

Friends from Hidalgo County, Texas! Beyond Acacia Ridge is now available at the McAllen Public Library! If you have a Hidalgo County Library System card, you can check it out! Here it is in the catalog: https://hcls.tlcdelivers.com/#section=resource&resourceid=2339874866&currentIndex=0&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab

I LOVE the McAllen Public Library! I get a lot of writing and editing done there—and reading, of course! The Black Iron Café in the library is also where I discovered the magic of frappés. MPL hosts interesting events, including the McAllen Public Library Writing Circle meetings. It’s just a great place all around, and I am honored to have my book featured in their collection.

PSA: Support your local libraries and bookstores! They are important hubs for the literary scene in your community. Keep calm and hyena on.

Goal Publications June Discount Sale

Hey everyone! To celebrate reaching 400 followers on Twitter, Goal Publications is offering a special discount in their online store for the rest of June! You can get $4 off orders of $30 or more if you use coupon code TWITTER400 at checkout!

My novelette, Beyond Acacia Ridge, is available in paperback (https://www.goalpublications.com/store/p68/beyond-acacia-ridge-print.html) and ebook (https://www.goalpublications.com/store/p72/beyond-acacia-ridge-digital.html) formats from the Goal Publications online store. Beyond Acacia Ridge is a heartwarming, exciting fantasy adventure about two spotted hyenas who go on a quest to find out where the sun goes at night.

Another book you can find at the Goal Publications storefront is The Daily Grind, an anthology of fun short stories involving anthropomorphic animals and coffee. I edited this book with Madison Keller, and it features one of my short stories, “Properly Pounced Coffee,” about a disgruntled badger and his bumbling fox butler. The Daily Grind is available in paperback (https://www.goalpublications.com/store/p46/daily-grind-print.html) and ebook (https://www.goalpublications.com/store/p65/daily-grind-digital.html) formats.

At the Goal Publications store, you can also grab a paperback (https://www.goalpublications.com/store/p3/a-glimpse-of-anthropomorphic-literature-paperback.html) or ebook (https://www.goalpublications.com/store/p73/a-glimpse-of-anthropomorphic-literature-digital.html) copy of A Glimpse of Anthropomorphic Literature. This book features short stories about anthropomorphic animal characters, as well as a few insightful reviews of books that feature such characters. A Glimpse of Anthropomorphic Literature includes my bittersweet tale “Catching the Thief,” about a singing cow, a grumpy collie, and a crafty fox.

Be sure to check out the Goal Publications storefront this month for these and other great reads! Snag your TWITTER400 discount coupon while it lasts! Thank you, as always, for your support of my work. It means the world to me.

Beyond Acacia Ridge is HERE!

My second book, Beyond Acacia Ridge, is now available from Goal Publications! It features gorgeous cover art by Julian Norwood:

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Straggletail is the lowest-ranking female hyena in the Eastern Plain Clan, the punching bag. Glossycoat is the clan’s princess, destined to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become the matriarch.

When the two hyenas form an unexpected alliance, they set off on a perilous journey in search of the place where the sun goes at night. They meet strange creatures, brave the forces of nature, and grapple with their own worst fears.

Will they find the sun, or will they find something more?

Direct from Publisher Purchase Options:

Paperback (currently available at a discount!): https://www.goalpublications.com/store/p68/beyond-acacia-ridge-print.html

Ebook: https://www.goalpublications.com/store/p72/beyond-acacia-ridge-digital.html

Amazon Purchase Options:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1949768899/

Ebook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RFTR874/

Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45627749

Live Convention Sales: If you are attending Furry Weekend Atlanta this weekend you can pick up paperback copies right at the FurPlanet table in the Dealers Den. See this map to find their table: https://twitter.com/FurPlanet/status/1126264495083610113

Many thanks to Sean Gerace for editing, formatting, and publishing this book and the late Fred Patten for inspiring me to write the story in the first place. I also owe my gratitude to the people and hyenas I met in Kenya. I hope this book will persuade others to fall in love with these marvelous mammals.

Beyond Acacia Ridge Open for Preorders!

My fantasy novelette Beyond Acacia Ridge is now available for preorders from Goal Publications! With gorgeous cover art by Julian Norwood!

Straggletail is the lowest-ranking female hyena in the Eastern Plain Clan, the punching bag. Glossycoat is the clan’s princess, destined to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become the matriarch.

When the two hyenas form an unexpected alliance, they set off on a perilous journey in search of the place where the sun goes at night. They meet strange creatures, brave the forces of nature, and grapple with their own worst fears.

Will they find the sun, or will they find something more?

Purchase at the preorder discount here! https://www.goalpublications.com/store/p68/beyond-acacia-ridge-print.html

Coffee Animals

In case you missed it, The Daily Grind has been published!

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Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1949768872/

Ebook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QS4YBRV

“What do aliens, ghosts, dragons, police dogs, and a valiant knight have in common? Fondness for a beverage made from roasted beans!

In these pages, you will find eight tales about furry characters and coffee. Whether it’s found on a spaceship far from home or in a cozy neighborhood café, coffee has its own special magic. It relaxes us, excites us, forges friendships, or brings back memories.

Snuggle up in an armchair with your favorite drink and this book, and get transported away from your daily grind.”

Madison Keller and I edited this anthology, and Sean Gerace did the copyediting, typesetting, and formatting. The cover art is by Lizspit. My original story “Properly Pounced Coffee,” about a disgruntled badger and his bumbling fox butler, appears in the book. I am very grateful to all the authors who participated and excited for you to read their stories!

Furry Book Month Deals!

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In case you missed it, October is Furry Book Month! Furry books are books that feature anthropomorphic animal characters. You can get several books that include my writing at a discount price this month! See below for deals that involve my work:

Mist: You can get $3 off paperback copies of my YA fantasy novel Mist if you order here: http://thurstonhowlpub.storenvy.com/products/21740489-mist (The deal will be applied at checkout.)

-You can get 20% off ebook copies of Mist if you order here: https://baddogbooks.com/product/mist/ and use coupon code FBM2018 at checkout.

SPECIES: Foxes: You can get $3 off paperback copies of the anthology SPECIES: Foxes if you order here: https://thurstonhowlpub.storenvy.com/products/23107239-species-foxes (The deal will be applied at checkout.)

-You can get 20% off ebook copies of SPECIES: Foxes if you order here: https://baddogbooks.com/product/species-foxes/  and use coupon code FBM2018 at checkout.

ROAR: You can buy paperbacks of the furry anthology series ROAR, including Volumes 6, 7, 8, and 9, which feature my stories, at half-price through the FurPlanet website: https://furplanet.com/shop/search.aspx?search=ROAR

-You can buy ebooks of ROAR at half-price through the Bad Dog Books website: https://baddogbooks.com/?s=ROAR&post_type=product

Exploring New Places: You can buy half-price paperbacks of this anthology here: https://furplanet.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=998 and half-price ebooks here: https://baddogbooks.com/product/exploring-new-places/

A Glimpse of Anthropomorphic Literature: 40% off the paperback here: https://www.goalpublications.com/store/p3/A_Glimpse_of_Anthropomorphic_Literature.html# with coupon code FBM2018

-20% off the ebook of Issue 01 here: https://baddogbooks.com/product/a-glimpse-of-anthropomorphic-literature-issue-01/ with coupon code FBM2018

Civilized Beasts 2015 Edition: 20% off the ebook here: https://baddogbooks.com/product/civilized-beasts-2015/ with coupon code FBM2018

These deals will only apply for the rest of October! Be sure to snag your discount copies of these books ASAP!

Many thanks,

Amy

Foxes and Dinosaurs and Crows: Oh my!

Here’s my news roundup for January!

Publications:

I have a short story in SPECIES: Foxes, an anthology from Thurston Howl Publications about foxes in lore and legend.

SPECIES: Foxes is illustrated by the wonderful Tabsley Abernathy, who made awesome illustrations of each of the authors as animals. Here’s me as a wolphicorn (wolf-dolphin-unicorn), pictured with a fox mask (my story in the book is about a fox who turns into a human and ends up working in a theater). Thanks, Tabs!

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You can get a paperback copy of SPECIES: Foxes on Amazon here or on the THP storefront here.

A haiku I wrote was published in Haiku Journal Issue 56. I wrote it near the end of my high school years, and it’s about what it felt like to be leaving that time in my life behind. You can read the issue for free here. You can also buy a paperback copy here.

I also published a poem about attending the 2018 Women’s March in Eureka, California, in North Coast Journal. You can read it for free here.

Other News:

-I became a member of the Codex Writers’ Group this month!

Mist and “The Moon Fox” were both nominated for the Leo Literary Awards! Thank you so much to whoever nominated them! ❤

-The Ursa Major Awards, Cóyotl Awards, and Leo Literary Awards are still open for nominations! The Leos will only be open until February 1, though. To see my eligible work, go here. I’d love it if Mist could get some love!

-The Dragon Awards are also still open for nominations! Mist is eligible in the Best Young Adult/Middle Grade Novel category. To nominate, go here. Thank you very much! ❤

As always, thank you for your support! I’m so grateful that amazing people like you are reading my words. Feel free to reach out to me anytime through this website, or on Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads. I’d love to hear from you!

Awards Eligibility Post – 2017

Hi, folks! Despite my raging imposter syndrome, my rampant perfectionism, and the fact that I’m a very young writer who’s still learning and growing and rather nervous about putting myself out there, I’ve decided to do a post of my published writings from 2017 that are eligible to be nominated for literary awards! I care deeply about the work I’m doing and I’d love for my words to reach more people through this post.

Novel: Mist

-Eligible for young adult/middle grade, fantasy, first novel, and small press book awards, as well as the Ursa Major, Cóyotl, and Leo Literary Awards within the furry fandom.

Short Stories:

“The Moon Fox”: My first professional, SFWA-qualifying sale!

“When Pigs Fly”, ROAR Volume 8

“Hungry,” Fossil Lake IV: Sharkasaurus!

“A Fate Purse than Death,” The Supreme Archvillain Election

-These stories are eligible for the usual fantasy/science fiction short story awards. “The Moon Fox” is also eligible for professional debut awards, such as the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. “The Moon Fox,” “When Pigs Fly,” and “Hungry” are also eligible for the Ursa Major, Cóyotl, and Leo Literary Awards.

Poetry:

“What Doesn’t Kill You,” Werewolves Versus Fascism

-In addition to general and speculative poetry awards, “What Doesn’t Kill You” is eligible for the Leo Literary Awards.

“Bite Marks,” Fossil Lake IV: Sharkasaurus!

Thank you so much for your time! I look forward to writing more and better in 2018, and to reading YOUR words, too!