Author: Ellen Zielinski Whitfield

Ellen Whitfield is senior publicist at Books Forward, an author publicity and book marketing firm committed to promoting voices from a diverse variety of communities. From book reviews and author events, to social media and digital marketing, we help authors find success and connect with readers.  Interested in what's possible for your book sales and building readership? Check out our services, tell us your goals, and get a customized publicity campaign tailored just for you.

Reading list for summer Olympic sports

Posted on | by Ellen Zielinski Whitfield

While I generally think the amount of people yelling “LET’S GO” has gotten out of hand, the Olympics is an appropriate venue. You could say I’m pretty excited to watch the best athletes in the world compete in Paris. And if you get inspired to read a book about some of the summer Olympic sporting events, check out this list.

Gymnastics: Vaulting Through Time by Nancy McCabe

Sixteen-year-old gymnast Elizabeth Arlington has a lot to worry about: an embarrassing crush on her ex-best-friend Zach, and changes in her body that affect her center of gravity and make vaulting and tumbling more terrifying than they used to be. But when she makes a discovery that throws her entire identity into question, she turns to Zach, who suggests a way for her to find the answers her mother won’t give her: a time machine they found in an abandoned house. As Elizabeth catapults through time, she encounters a mysterious abandoned child, an elite gymnast preparing for the Olympic Trials, and an enigmatic woman who seems to know more than she’s revealing. Then when a thief makes off with an identical time machine, Elizabeth races to stop the thief before the world as she knows it is destroyed.

Track and field: Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Ghost. Lu. Patina. Sunny. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team—a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other but to themselves.

Swimming: Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas

Bree can’t wait for her first day at her new middle school until she’s stuck with the only elective that fits her schedule, Swim 101. The thought of swimming makes Bree more than a little queasy, but, Etta, an elderly occupant of her apartment building and former swim team captain, is willing to help. With Etta’s training and a lot of hard work, Bree suddenly finds her community counting on her to turn the school’s failing team around. But that’s easier said than done.

Tennis: Drop Shot by Harlan Coben

Once, Valerie Simpson’s tennis career skyrocketed; now, the headlines belong to a player from the wrong side of the tracks. But when Valerie is shot dead in cold blood and dropped outside the stadium at the U.S. Open, sports agent Myron Bolitar investigates the killing and uncovers a connection between the two players and a six-year-old murder at an exclusive mainline club. As Myron is drawn into the case–along with a dirty U.S. senator, a jealous mother, and the mob–he finds himself caught between a killer and the truth.

Boxing: Boxer Handsome by Anna Whitwham

Boxing runs in Bobby’s blood. His Irish dad was a boxer. So was his Jewish grandfather. And Bobby knows he shouldn’t be messing in street brawls a week before his big fight with Connor ‘the Gypsy Boy’, an Irish traveler from around the way. They’re fighting over a traveler girl with Connor’s name all over her. But Bobby’s handsome, like his dad; boxer handsome.

Fencing: It’s All or Nothing, Vale by Andrea Beatriz Arango

No one knows hard work and dedication like Valentina Camacho. And Vale’s thing is fencing. She’s the top athlete at her fencing gym. Or she was . . . until the accident. After months away, Vale is finally cleared to fence again, but her body doesn’t move the way it used to. When the new number one sweeps Vale aside with her perfect form and easy smile, Vale just can’t accept that. But the harder Vale fights to catch up, the more she realizes her injury isn’t the only thing holding her back.

Equestrian: Horse by Geraldine Brooks

Kentucky, 1850. An enslaved groom named Jarret and a bay foal forge a bond of understanding that will carry the horse to record-setting victories across the South. When the nation erupts into civil war, an itinerant young artist who has made his name on paintings of the racehorse takes up arms for the Union. New York City, 1954. Martha Jackson, a gallery owner, becomes obsessed with a nineteenth-century equestrian oil painting of mysterious provenance. Washington, D.C., 2019. Jess, a Smithsonian scientist from Australia, and Theo, a Nigerian-American art historian, find themselves unexpectedly connected through their shared interest in the horse–one studying the stallion’s bones for clues to his power and endurance, the other uncovering the lost history of the unsung Black horsemen who were critical to his racing success.

Archery: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity.

Rowing: The Boys In the Boat by Daniel James Brown

It was an unlikely quest from the start. With a team composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew team was never expected to defeat the elite teams of the East Coast and Great Britain, yet they did, going on to shock the world by defeating the German team rowing for Adolf Hitler. The emotional heart of the tale lies with Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not only to regain his shattered self-regard but also to find a real place for himself in the world. 

Soccer: Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez

In Argentina, Camila Hassan lives a double life. At home, she is a careful daughter, living within her mother’s narrow expectations, in her rising soccer star brother’s shadow, and under the abusive rule of her father. On the field, she is La Furia, a powerhouse of skill and talent. When her team qualifies for the South American tournament, Camila gets the chance to see just how far those talents can take her. But her parents don’t know about her passion. And the boy she once loved is back in town. But Camila doesn’t have time to be distracted by her feelings. Camila is forced to face her secrets and make her way in a world with no place for the dreams and ambitions of a girl like her.

 

Exploring AI Part 3: benefits for authors and books

Posted on | by Ellen Zielinski Whitfield

Content alert: the following was written by a human.

In this three part series exploring AI, Books Forward is chatting with Dr. Andrew Burt, author of lots of published science fiction, including his newest novel, “Termination of Species”, for those who like AI, biotech, chess and a bit of romance.

Dr. Burt was VP of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) for several years. He heads Critters, the first writers workshop on the web and home to other writerly resources. He runs ReAnimus Press and Hugo-winning Advent Publishers, helping award-winning and bestselling authors breathe life into great books. Outside of writing, he’s been a computer science professor (AI, networking, security, privacy and free-speech/social issues); founder of Nyx.net, the world’s first Internet Service Provider; and a technology consultant/author/speaker. For a hobby, he constructs solutions to the world’s problems. (He jokes: Fortunately, nobody listens.)

PART 1: Changes in publishing

PART 2: Limitations and legalities

PART 3: How, specifically, can authors use AI to benefit writing, publishing and selling a book?

As for help in the writing aspect, that depends if you want the result to be your voice. If that aspect is important to you, be careful using AI. Some AI’s can try to mimic a style, but it won’t be as authentic as your actual voice. Just like if you ask your cousin Pat to help; whatever Pat does on the project reduces your part in it.

If that isn’t important to you, then AI can do all sorts of things, from suggesting avenues to explore in your project, creating outlines, tightening up what you’ve written, summarizing it, to writing all the actual text itself (at least at shorter lengths).

AI’s are decent at language translation, though you’d still want a native speaker of the target language to smooth out rough edges.

AI’s probably can’t help a whole lot with publishing a book. They might offer some generic advice, but a search engine is probably going to point you to more helpful advice. Same with selling a book; AI might give you some generic strategies, but will be light on specifics.

Are there AI systems you would recommend?

The go to’s for general uses are the well known ones, ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. These have generally been trained on the largest amount of data and tweaked to produce the overall best output. (But beware using them as a replacement for a search engine, since they will lie like a slick politician and smile while they’re doing it).

There are various systems geared for various tasks. Grammarly is a well known tool for checking your grammar. (But not so useful in fiction, where perfect grammar doesn’t always hit the spot.) Some fiction writers find Sudowrite useful for generating ideas and plot points. Jasper has a lot of features geared to a variety of types of writing. Some target specific types of writing: Many folks like Copy.ai for writing marketing content and ad copy. Something like Rytr can help create website copy, high volume blog posts, etc. (i.e., written material that non-writers would like to create without hiring a writer).

There are lots of these, just google “AI to help me create ____” for whatever kind of writing you’re looking for, or “AI to help me ____” for whatever activity you’d like help with. There’s a gazillion of them, and more every day, so it’s hard to give a one time list.

Okay, so let’s say I’m an author who has opened text-generative AI software for the first time. How, specifically, should I approach it in order to get the results I want?

First you have to know what you want it to do for you. Saying, “write me a bestselling science fiction novel” is too grandiose at this point, so you’ll have to know what smaller piece of the writing pie you want help with. Then just ask in plain English. 

You might ask it, “What are some plot points for a novel about a young unicorn searching for horn cleaning powder?” Here’s the kind of answer you might get: (This is from ChatGPT 3.5)

In a magical land filled with enchanting creatures, our protagonist, a young unicorn named Sparkle, discovers an ancient prophecy that foretells a great danger if unicorns do not maintain the purity of their horns. To ensure the safety of their kind, Sparkle embarks on a quest to find the elusive and legendary horn cleaning powder.

Prophecy Unveiled: Sparkle stumbles upon an old library where she discovers a hidden prophecy that warns of a looming darkness threatening the unicorn realm. The prophecy reveals that only the purest of horns can protect the unicorns from this impending danger.

Mysterious Ingredients: The ancient texts provide clues about the ingredients needed for the horn cleaning powder. Sparkle sets out to gather these rare and mysterious components, facing challenges and overcoming obstacles to obtain them.

Fellowship of Creatures: Along the journey, Sparkle encounters a diverse group of magical creatures, each with their unique abilities and knowledge. Some become allies, while others pose unexpected challenges. Together, they form an unlikely fellowship, united by a common goal.

Trials and Tests: The quest is not without trials. Sparkle and her companions face magical puzzles, dangerous creatures, and tests of character that push them to their limits. Each challenge brings them closer to the truth about the horn cleaning powder.

Betrayal and Deception: As Sparkle gets closer to completing the powder, she discovers a traitor within the fellowship who has sinister intentions. This revelation leads to a heartbreaking betrayal that tests Sparkle’s resilience and determination.

Race Against Time: The darkness foretold in the prophecy looms ever closer. Sparkle realizes the urgency of her mission and faces a race against time to create the horn cleaning powder before it’s too late.

Epic Confrontation: The climax sees Sparkle and her companions confronting the source of the impending darkness. In a grand and magical showdown, they must use the horn cleaning powder to protect their realm and preserve the purity of unicorn horns.

Resolution and Transformation: The successful use of the horn cleaning powder not only averts the danger but also brings about a transformation in Sparkle and her companions. They return home as heroes, having forged unbreakable bonds during their epic quest.

This novel combines elements of fantasy, adventure, and friendship as Sparkle’s journey unfolds, offering readers a magical and enchanting experience.

Wow. That’s quite an answer. There are a lot of pretty detailed ideas one could follow up on in that. (Yet, generic in many ways.)

I must say I feel there’s also something sort of creepy about that answer. Just guessing what each next word might be has led to a pretty detailed and on-point answer. It doesn’t feel like just random word guessing going on. As a computer scientist, I understand the math and algorithms behind the curtain, but it’s pretty mind boggling that “what’s the next word” has produced this. One possible explanation is that human language and thought isn’t as complex and unpredictable as we think it is. That’s a mind-blowing thought.

There’s also something I find unnerving about the path it took of “purity” of horns and the danger to the existence of their species if their horns aren’t pure. My prompt was only about cleaning horns; I didn’t give a reason for cleaning them. ChatGPT decided “purity” was a reasonable underlying reason for a unicorn wanting a clean horn. I was a bit disturbed, I’ll admit, that some kind of racial/species purity concept popped out. Since we know the algorithm is based on next-word probabilities, maybe it suggests there’s a lot of human created text it gobbled up talking about… “purity.” Sadly, that maybe says more about humans than it does about AIs. Ultimately all the text these AIs work with represent a sort of sum total of what humans say and think about the world. The AI output we get is a kind of mirror on humanity, and we may not always like what we see. On the other hand, really? If I think about cleaning clothes with a powder, or dishes, or teeth, or a carpet… I really don’t jump to “purity.” There are a lot of synonyms in the thesaurus for “cleaning.” Why did it go with “purity”? Hmm.

And again, if one followed this as an outline for a novel, one has ceded a lot of the human creativity to a software system. There’s a lot of generic plot coupons listed there. If I were writing a novel about a unicorn, I’d rather come up with my own creative points. Although, on the flip side, there are only a certain number of categories of conflicts in fiction; so the category ideas might be fine, but the specific implementations, maybe you should come up with on your own to keep it your own story.

Nonetheless, I can easily see generic-loving Hollywood movie studios eating up this kind of derivative, template storymaking. (And video creation, etc.) M-M-M-Max Headroom, anyone?

Can you give examples of a less effective AI prompt, vs. a more effective one?

Interact with a chatbot as if it were a person. Give it background, ask it questions, and use complete sentences.

The more specific the better, so the AI can find information that’s more on point. “Write me a poem” will get you a poem on some random topic, whereas “Write me a love poem I can send on Valentine’s Day to my partner, who has recently had a lot of medical problems” will get you something much more on topic.

You can ask a series of questions, so you can start with one prompt, see where you think it’s lacking, and get more specific.

Don’t be afraid to give lots of context. If you have a specific question, give it as much background as you can. For example, in the unicorn idea above, I could have provided details of other characters I have in mind, my reasons behind wanting horn cleaning powder, other details of the world setting, etc. Many AIs will accept whole books as input in order to answer your questions about them.

If you want it to create a certain style of text, tell it that. You can ask it to write like it’s a pirate. If you give it lots of your own text as input, you can ask it to write in your style. (But be wary for your artistic voice, since some software imitating your voice is not really your authentic voice.)

Asking the same question again, exactly the same or slightly different, can get you quite different answers, so play around. AI’s keep the context of your discussion for a certain amount of time (e.g. while the web page is open), so you can get different answers because of this context, or lack of it.

You can ask for specific kinds of output format, like tables, bullet points, HTML, etc. You can ask for a specific length of output, like a number of words or sentences.

Remember that the data in the AI may not be the most recent, nor all inclusive of everything humankind has ever written. They’re all trained on some specific set of (very large) text, but it’s not everything. And it doesn’t store a copy of all that text; it just uses the text to generate a kind of map of how words appear near each other.

You can tell it when you think it’s not giving you what you want.

Try the various AIs, as they’ll all give different answers.

What else do you want authors to know about AI?

AI’s don’t “understand” the text they’re dealing with; they’re working based on probabilities of what words should come next, based on all the massive amounts of text they’ve been fed. It’s worth noting that AI developers don’t themselves fully understand what’s going on inside these AIs. There’s a certain amount of art/magic/luck involved in what they’ve created.

Despite how human they might appear in a conversation, today’s AIs (probably!) aren’t at the level of actual human-ness. (Yet.) We don’t really know what makes humans human, and these AIs are built to mimic how our brains work in various ways. Just looking at the design of the software, all they’re doing is comparing input prompts to the network of probability data stored inside it. On the other hand, we don’t really know how the human brain works either, although we definitely possess the concept of personal freedom, personal goals, and we clearly have emotions; none of which the current crop of AIs have shown.

Nonetheless, these AIs can do some amazing things, both within the domain of writing, and in all the areas outside. We have to be sure we each think about personal limits to how we use them. At the society level, as with any large, complex piece of software, unpredictable things can happen. We have to be wary of letting them act upon the real world without tight supervision. And that’s just today.

Whereas tomorrow…..!!

Book recommendations for your favorite summer movie

Posted on | by Ellen Zielinski Whitfield

We’re planning to beat the heat at theaters this summer (and on our couches), and we came up with some book recommendations based on the movies we’re planning to see.

If you’re buying tickets to Inside Out 2, try Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango

Tweens explore their emotions while dealing with unexpected issues

If you’re buying tickets to Babes, try Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

Accidental pregnancy for young women who don’t exactly have their lives together

If you’re buying tickets to Thelma, try The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons

An older woman’s adventures leads her to find new joy in life 

If you’re buying tickets to Fly Me To the Moon, try The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

Strong women find their place in the space race

If you’re buying tickets to A Quiet Place: Day One, try Blindness by José Saramago 

The human race’s drive to survive and a loss of senses

If you’re buying tickets to My Old Ass, try Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore

Young women learning lessons from time travel escapades

If you’re buying tickets to Furiosa, try A Big Ship at the End of the Universe by Alex White

Dangerous races in a dystopian future

If you’re buying tickets to Hit Man, try Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Accidental contract killer shenanigans

Day In the Life: vice president of a literary publicity company

Posted on | by Ellen Zielinski Whitfield

We’ll be launching a new blog series in 2025 where we take a peek at a day in the life from various professionals in the book industry. You can follow along starting in January, but in the meantime, here’s a look at what a typical day looks like for Books Forward vice president Ellen Whitfield (that’s me!).

6:30 a.m.: Hobble out of bed to wash face, grab the baby and start making breakfast/lunches for the day. Also, coffee.

7 a.m.: Leave baby with husband and bring laptop to 7 year old’s swim practice to start catching up on emails by the pool.

8 a.m.: It’s my turn to take the neighborhood kids to the theater camp they’re attending this month!

8:30 a.m.: Back home for more coffee, meds, and a quick breakfast while I jump into the campaign I’ll be working on today, which is a memoir told from the POV of the author’s sassy poodle, Dea. I’ll be putting together some ideas and tips for guest articles the author could write, concentrating on important points of the book I think outlets would be interested in, scheduling out pitching, compiling digital marketing options that would make sense for this campaign, and emailing her updates on all of this for the next few hours. Listening to Noah Kahan!

10:30 a.m.: First meeting of the day with our president, Marissa, and our marketing director, Jenn. Going over the schedule for our upcoming in-person team meeting in a few weeks, some of our current digital marketing clients, and a few promotions we’re thinking about testing out.

11 a.m.: Checking in on our two wonderful interns to make sure they have everything they need for today’s tasks, answering any questions they have, and making sure their workload is balanced.

11:30 a.m.: Brainstorm and go over some specific pitching strategies and outlets we want to try for a new campaign with a few of our publicists.

Noon: Answering a few AMA questions on Instagram stories, then meeting with Simone, one of our publicists – going over her pitching schedule for a new client, and an extension another of her clients wants to set up for continued work on their audiobook!

12:30 p.m.: Quick lunch while I catch up on some emails that have come in.

1 p.m.: Meeting with another publicist, Corrine, who was at Thrillerfest this past weekend – she’s playing catch up, so we’re going over what’s a priority on her schedule and moving some things around. 

1:30 p.m.: Last scheduled meeting of the day with Jackie, our senior publicist, to celebrate an article from one of her clients on the homepage of Writer’s Digest, and talk about options for a client who wants to extend to pitch events.

2 p.m.: Work on compiling some book recommendations for a blog post.

2:30 p.m.: Review the first month of progress for a new client to make sure we’re set up for success when we start pitching their book.

3 p.m.: Design a social media post in Canva.

3:30 p.m.: Add some outlet suggestions to a pro bono client’s target list.

4 p.m. Log off to hang out with kids and start dinner.

8 p.m. Check email and catch up on new BFF (our company’s influencer program) applications, check schedule for the next day and log off!

Ellen brings guidance and warmth to the Books Forward team as vice president, providing daily mentorship to publicists and training incoming staff members. She is an expert at organization and efficiency, and her leadership helps keep the company gears turning smoothly.

With the detail-oriented eye of a former editor and heart of an obsessive book lover, she works diligently to expand services and provide opportunities for our author family and team members alike..

She was part of the journalism community for more than seven years, working at respected print and online media outlets including The Dallas Morning News, The Advocate newspapers across Louisiana, The Waco Tribune Herald and others. Her editorial experience at these publications, along with her social and online media presence as a popular bookstagrammer, benefits authors through her savviness and creativity in media pitching.

An LSU graduate, Ellen lives in Louisiana with her newspaper-executive husband, amazing daughter and charming baby boy (and their odd little dog), and is constantly adding to an ever-growing collection of 600 books. She loves reading about quirky characters on adventures, quoting sitcoms and singing loudly to Hozier.

Books featuring characters with chronic illness

Posted on | by Ellen Zielinski Whitfield

Chronic Disease Day is marked on July 10 to spread awareness, educate and advocate for people who live with chronic health conditions every day. And there are lots of great books that shine a light on people going about their lives while dealing with various conditions — here are just a few!

Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal: She’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life.” But Chloe needs a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job. Red is a handyman with tattoos and a motorcycle, and he’s also an artist who paints at night, which Chloe knows because she spies on him occasionally. But Red clearly resents Chloe’s wealthy background. And he doesn’t want anyone to know what really lies beneath his rough exterior.

Conditions of A Heart by Bethany Mangle

Brynn Kwan is desperate for her high school persona to be real. That Brynn is head of the yearbook committee, the favorite for prom queen, and definitely not crumbling from a secret disability. But during a suspension from school, she realizes that she doesn’t quite recognize the face in the mirror. With a healthy sister who doesn’t understand and a confused ex-boyfriend who won’t take a hint, Brynn begins to wonder if it’s possible to reinvent her world by being herself.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

A reunion between childhood friends Sam and Sadie Green during college leads to a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom. They borrow money, beg favors, and, before even graduating, they have created their first blockbuster game, Ichigo. Overnight, the world is theirs. Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful, and rich, but these qualities won’t protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts.

Only When It’s Us by Chloe Liese

When Willa asked Ryder to borrow his lecture notes in class, the silent, surly, mountain man ignored her. From that moment, she’s made it clear she hates his guts. That’s fine. She is the feisty, tempting chaos he doesn’t need. When they’re forced to work together on their final project, Willa and Ryder begin a game of pranks, each determined to come out the champion. But once they catch unexpected feelings, victory begins to mean something else.

The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe

Nora O’Malley’s been with a lot of girls. As the daughter of a con-artist who targets criminal men, she grew up as her mother’s protégé. But when her mom fell for the mark instead of conning him, Nora pulled the ultimate con: escape. For five years Nora’s been playing at normal. But she needs to dust off the skills when she ends up in the middle of a bank robbery.

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Every day, Theodore thinks of ways he might kill himself, but every day he also searches for — and manages to find — something to keep him here, and alive, and awake. Violet lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her small town and her grief after her sister’s recent death. When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of a bell tower, it’s unclear who saves whom. As they grow closer, Violet’s world grows, but Finch’s begins to shrink.

Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett

Simone is starting over at a new school. She’s making real friends and making a play for the guy who makes her melt. The last thing she wants is for word to get out that she’s HIV-positive, because last time, things got ugly. As Simone and Miles start going out for real, she knows she has to tell him that she’s positive, especially if sex is a possibility. And then she finds an anonymous note: I know you have HIV. You have until Thanksgiving to stop hanging out with Miles. Or everyone else will know too. As she gains a deeper understanding of the prejudice and fear in her community, she begins to wonder if the only way to rise above is to face the haters head-on.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

What if you couldn’t touch anything in the outside world? Never breathe in the fresh air, feel the sun warm your face … or kiss the boy next door? Maddy is a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world, who hasn’t left her house in 17 years. The only people she ever sees are her mom and her nurse, Carla. But one day, a moving truck arrives next door and she sees Olly — tall, lean and wearing all black. Maddy is certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

Darius has never really fit in at home, and he’s sure things are going to be the same in Iran. His clinical depression doesn’t exactly help matters, and trying to explain his medication to his grandparents only makes things harder. Then Darius meets Sohrab, the boy next door, and soon, they’re spending their days together. And Darius has never felt more like himself.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Aza Holmes never intended to pursue the disappearance of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.

The Fall of Whit Rivera by Crystal Maldonado

Frenemies Whit and Zay have been at odds for years (ever since he broke up with her in, like, the most embarrassing way imaginable), so when they’re forced to organize the fall formal together, it’s a literal disaster. Sparks fly as Whitney — type A, passionate, a perfectionist, and a certified sweater-weather fanatic — butts heads with Zay, a dry, relaxed skater boy who takes everything in stride. But not all of those sparks are bad.

Industry Interview with the co-owner of Big Blend Magazines & Radio, Lisa D. Smith

Posted on | by Ellen Zielinski Whitfield

For our 2024 blog series, we’re highlighting industry professionals to find out more about their time in the book world. Follow along for insight on what catches a reviewer’s interest, things to avoid when pitching a media outlet, what librarians are searching for and more. 

Today, we’re chatting with Lisa D. Smith. Along with her mother Nancy J. Reid, Lisa is the co-owner of Big Blend Magazines & Radio which produces and publishes a portfolio of themed digital magazines and over 40 podcast channels. As digital nomads, they travel the country on their Love Your Parks Tour documenting parks and public lands gathering stories about communities and destinations, and pet-sitting along the way. They’ve been sailing the Big Blend media ship since 1997, and together have over 65 years of combined experience in tourism, hospitality, retail sales, marketing, publishing, media, writing, wildlife and public lands conservation, photography, art, and music. Lisa was born in Southern California but raised in Kenya, England, and South Africa, and for a short time, also lived in Mexico and the Channel Islands between England and France.

As someone who hears about A LOT of books, what makes one stand out to you?

I always look for books that will connect with the topics we cover and will appeal to our various audiences: Nonfiction and educational books that are well-researched, share stories, and perhaps some projects for the reader to work on; memoirs and biographies that are candid, to the point, with some humor along the way; and fiction that takes you on an unexpected journey with interesting characters that connect. And book covers are still important – like vinyl album covers and wine labels!

What’s the worst thing an author (or publicist!) can do in telling you about a book they’d like you to consider for coverage?

Send a pitch and then when I respond with a positive, ask me what our podcast/magazine is about. Please research us first, let me know which show you were listening to that you think is a good fit. Or just ask if the book is a fit for any of our Big Blend Radio shows.

What makes your job easier?

Please send all materials or the press kit in at the same time, along with the author’s website link and social handles. Plus, for the author to be communicative in setting up the interview and recording date.

What’s the most memorable (or maybe funniest) pitch that’s ever come your way?

One author listened to our Happy Hour show where we typically ask, “If you could spend Happy Hour with one person (alive or dead), who would it be, where will you spend it, what are you ordering, and what will you discuss?” She emailed me saying that she was recommended by another author who had been on one of our shows and proceeded to answer our Happy Hour questions. Her answers were funny and made us want to join in that virtual happy hour. In fact, we did eventually meet for margaritas, and now she is a regular Big Blend expert contributor and friend.

Did you always know you wanted to be involved in the book world?

I have a huge admiration for authors. So much work goes into crafting a good book be it fiction or nonfiction. I always knew I wanted to conduct interviews, and that includes authors of all genres. I thought it would be more for our magazine but had no clue podcasting or digital media were coming down the pipeline when we got started back in 1997.

What is your most recommended book and why?

One book…yikes, so tough! I’ll stick to my side of the industry with Richard Branson’s “Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way.” It was one of the first biographies that showcased the magazine, music, and travel industries all in one (three very dear to my heart), and how to think outside of the box (with some genius PR campaigns) and go for it as an entrepreneur. I think it’s time to reread it!

What is a book that surprised you recently?

I just interviewed David Lipsky about his latest book “The Parrot & The Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial” … it is more than eye-opening on so many levels. Even the book industry is in it with one of the most incredible marketing campaigns to keep people reading.  Another one is Clay Schwab’s biography, “Manny Shwab and the George Dickel Company – Whisky, Power and Politics During Nashville’s Gilded Age.

What is your favorite part about working in the book community?

The people for sure. I love the creativity and attention to detail of both the authors and the publicists. New books are exciting, and I love the backstories of what inspired the authors to write them and the process. Humanity may have explored and settled a huge part of the world, but authors take us to places unknown, and along the way, remind us that we humans are allowed to be imperfect, all while inspiring, entertaining, and educating us readers.   

 

Friends to lovers book recs for the Polin shippers

Posted on | by Ellen Zielinski Whitfield

I’m not gonna get in a trope-battle with romance readers, but friends to lovers has to be in my top 3 (only one bed and second chance romance are the other best tropes, for those interested). I particularly love when the dummy in the relationship who didn’t realize they were in love realizes it and basically loses their mind. So this season of Bridgerton was made for me — Colin’s face when he sees Penelope eating cake? Art!

If you’re itching for more friends (idiots) to lovers with the HEAs they deserve, check out these book recs!

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

Hazel knows she’s a lot to take — and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. Their loss. Josh has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air. Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them…right?

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Poppy and Alex have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has an insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart, but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together. Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since. Now Poppy is stuck in a rut. So she convinces her best friend to take one more vacation together. Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?

Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron

Kamila is so busy with her friends’ love lives, she’s hardly given any thought to her own. Fortunately, Kamila has Rohan, a longtime friend of the family. Only lately, her “harmless flirting” with Rohan is making her insides do a little bhangra dance. But Kamila isn’t letting herself get distracted — until her secret nemesis returns to town with an eye for Rohan. Suddenly, it seems like the more Kamila tries to plan, the more things are starting to unravel.

Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson

Jesse Strong is known for his devotion to his adoptive mom, Mama Joy, and his reputation for breaking hearts. When Mama Joy unexpectedly passes away, he and his brothers have different plans for what to do with Strong Knits, their knitting store. Part-time employee Kerry Fuller overhears Jesse’s impassioned plea to his brothers to keep the shop open, and volunteers to help. Together they make plans to reinvent Strong Knits. But the more time they spend together, the stronger the chemistry builds between them. 

Girl Gone Viral by Alisah Rai

After a stranger live-tweets Katrina King’s innocent conversation at a coffee shop, #CafeBae has the world swooning. Going viral isn’t easy for anyone, but Katrina has painstakingly built a private world for herself, far from her traumatic past. With the internet on the hunt for her identity, her bodyguard, Jas, offers his family’s farm as a refuge. Alone with her unrequited crush, Katrina is resigned to being just friends with Jas — until they share a single electrifying kiss. 

The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams

Bree Camden is helplessly in love with her longtime best friend and extremely hot NFL legend, Nathan Donelson. But he clearly sees her as a best friend with no romantic potential, and the last thing Bree wants is to ruin their relationship. But after a few tequila shots, Bree spills her deepest, darkest secret to a reporter, and now the world thinks Nathan and Bree are the perfect couple. 

Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison

In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a kid, Stella enters a contest with a $100,000 cash prize. But to make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on her application and said she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only…there is no boyfriend. Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just stopped by for some hot chocolate and somehow got a farm and a serious girlfriend in the process. But fake dating his best friend might be the best Christmas present he’s ever received.

Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

Alexis Carlisle and her cat café shot to fame after she came forward as a victim of a celebrity chef’s sexual harassment. When a new customer claims they’re sisters, Alexis turns to the only man she trusts — her best friend, Noah Logan. The computer genius has a secret: He’s madly in love with Alexis. Noah’s pals in The Bromance Book Club are more than willing to help him go from bud to boyfriend. But he must decide if telling the truth is worth risking the best friendship he’s ever had.

Book recommendations for kids who are between age groups

Posted on | by Ellen Zielinski Whitfield

Inside Out made me feel a lot of things (BING BONG), and it came out before I had kids, so I imagine that Inside Out 2 is going to destroy me even more. But I’m glad kids this age can see themselves represented in this confusing time in their lives — they’re going through so many things, and it can be tough to know the best way to deal with them. When it comes to books, they might feel a little “too old” for middle grade titles, but some of the topics in YA might feel intimidating. We put together some book recommendations that we think will speak to them, and to you, if you decide to read along!

Something Like Home by Andrea Beatriz Arango 

Laura has a plan: She will live with her parents again. While staying at her aunt’s house is okay, it just isn’t the same as being in her own space.So when Laura finds a puppy, it seems like fate. If she can train the puppy to become a therapy dog, then maybe she’ll be allowed to visit her parents. Maybe the dog will help them get better and things will finally go back to the way they should be. How do you explain that you’re not where you belong, and you just want to go home?

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Ghost. Lu. Patina. Sunny. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team — a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves.

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Ada’s mother is too humiliated by her twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute — she sneaks out to join him. Susan Smith is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan — and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. Will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime?

Drama by Reina Telegemeier

Callie loves theater, but she can’t really sing. Instead she’s the set designer for the drama department’s stage crew, and she’s determined to create a set worthy of Broadway. But she doesn’t know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the drama that occurs once the actors are chosen. And when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier!

The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine

Peregrine strives to live up to the ideal of her people, the Latki — and to impress her parents: affectionate Lord Tove, who despises only the Bamarre, and stern Lady Klausine. But just as Perry’s about to join her father on the front lines, she is visited by a fairy who reveals that Perry is Bamarre. The fairy issues a daunting challenge: Perry must free her people from tyranny.

Salt To The Sea by Ruta Septys

Winter 1945. WWII. Four refugees. Four stories. Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies, war. As thousands desperately flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom. But not all promises can be kept . . .

The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street by Lauren Oliver

Cordelia Clay loves the work she and her father do: saving and healing creatures around Boston. Their home is full of dragons, squelches, and diggles. But their work must be kept secret — others aren’t welcoming to outsiders and immigrants, so what would the people of Boston do to the creatures they call “monsters”? One morning, Cordelia awakens to discover that her father has disappeared — along with nearly all the monsters. With only a handful of clues  to guide her, Cordelia must find out what happened to her father, with the help of her new friend Gregory, Iggy the farting filch, a baby dragon, and a small zuppy (zombie puppy, that is).

Tight by Torrey Maldonado

Lately, Bryan’s been feeling it in all kinds of ways. He knows what’s tight for him in a good way — reading comics, drawing superheroes, and hanging out with no drama. But drama’s hard to escape where he’s from, and that gets him wound up tight. And now Bryan’s new friend Mike is challenging him to have fun in ways that are crazy risky. At first, it’s a rush following Mike, but Bryan never feels right acting wrong. Fortunately, his favorite comic heroes shed light on his dilemma, reminding him that he has the power to stand up for what he believes is right.

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson

Janner Igiby, his brother, Tink, and their disabled sister, Leeli, are gifted children as all children are, loved well by a noble mother and ex-pirate grandfather. But they will need all their gifts and all that they love to survive the evil pursuit of the venomous Fangs of Dang, who have crossed the dark sea to rule the land with malice. The Igibys hold the secret to the lost legend and jewels of good King Wingfeather of the Shining Isle of Anniera.

Last Day On Mars by Kevin Emerson

It is Earth year 2213 — but, of course, there is no Earth anymore. The human race has fled to Mars, but this was only a temporary solution while they prepared for a second trip. Liam is the son of two scientists who have been racing against time to create technology vital to humanity’s survival. Liam and his friend Phoebe will be on the last starliner to depart before Mars, like Earth before it, is destroyed. But Liam and Phoebe will make a series of profound discoveries about the nature of time and space and find out that the human race is just one of many in our universe locked in a dangerous struggle for survival.

When Life Gives You Mangos by Kereen Getten

A small village on a Jamaican island; a girl who doesn’t remember the previous summer; a best friend who is no longer acting like one; a new girl who fills that hole in her heart. A summer of finding fallen mangos, creating made up games and dancing in the rain. Secrets she keeps from others…and herself. The courage to face the truth even in the toughest of storms.

Alan Cole is Not a Coward by Eric Bell

Alan Cole can’t stand up to his cruel brother, Nathan. He can’t escape the wrath of his demanding father. And he can’t let the cute boy across the cafeteria know he has a crush on him. But when Nathan discovers Alan’s secret, his older brother announces a high-stakes round of Cole vs. Cole. Each brother must complete seven nearly impossible tasks. If Alan doesn’t want to be outed, he’s got to become the most well-known kid in school, get his first kiss, and stand up to Dad. May the best Cole win.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

“Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I’m delivering,” announces dreadlocked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has mad beats, too. Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price.

Ice Wolves by Amie Kaufman

Everyone in Vallen knows that ice wolves and scorch dragons are sworn enemies. So when twelve-year-old orphan Anders takes one elemental form and his twin sister, Rayna, takes another, he wonders whether they are even related. But Rayna is Anders’s only true friend. To rescue her from the brutal, cruel dragons who claimed her, Anders must enlist at the foreboding Ulfar Academy, a school for young wolves that values loyalty above all else. But for Anders, loyalty is more complicated than obedience, and friendship is the most powerful force of all.

The Last Cuenista by Donna Barba Higuera

Petra Peña wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita. But Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children — among them Petra and her family — have been chosen to journey to a new planet. Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to this new planet — and the discovery that she is the only person who remembers Earth. A sinister Collective has purged the memories of all aboard, or purged them altogether. Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, any hope for the future. 

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’ s heart with just one smile. The students of Mica High are enchanted. Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal. 

York: The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby

The Morningstarr twins arrived in New York with a vision for a magnificent city running on technology no one had ever seen before. When the enigmatic architects disappeared, they left behind the Old York Cipher — a puzzle laid into the shining city, at the end of which was promised a treasure beyond all imagining. By the present day, the puzzle has never been solved. Tess and Theo Biedermann and their friend Jaime Cruz live in a Morningstarr apartment — until a real estate developer announces that the city has agreed to sell him the remaining Morningstarr buildings. If Tess, Theo, and Jaime want to save their home, they have to solve the Old York Cipher. 

Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder

On the island, the wind, water, and trees shelter the nine children who go to sleep in their cabins with full stomachs and joy in their hearts. Only one thing changes: Each year, a boat appears from the mist upon the ocean carrying one young child to join them — and taking the eldest one away, never to be seen again. Today is no different. The boat arrives, taking away Jinny’s best friend, replacing him with a new little girl named Ess, and leaving Jinny as the new Elder. Jinny knows her responsibility is to teach Ess everything she needs to know. But will she be ready for the inevitable day when the boat will take her away forever from the only home she’s known?

 

Amazing narrators to celebrate audiobook appreciation month

Posted on | by Ellen Zielinski Whitfield

As queen Emily Henry says in her latest banger, Funny Story, audiobooks are reading.

“What about audiobooks?” I say. 

“Does that count?” he asks.

“Of course it counts,” I say.

His eyes narrow. “Are you sure?”

“I’m a librarian,” I say. ‘If anyone gets to decide whether it counts or not, it’s me.”

End of argument. We asked some of our bookstagram friends who their favorite audiobook narrators are, and a book they recommend listening to in celebration of audiobook appreciation month this June!

The narrator: Caroline Lee

The book recommendation: Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

The narrator: Bahni Turpin

The book recommendation: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The narrator: Julia Whelan

The book recommendation: Evie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

The narrator: Robin Miles

The book recommendation: Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

The narrator: Marin Ireland

The book recommendation: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

The narrator: Savannah Peachwood

The book recommendation: Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto

The narrator: Moira Quirk

The book recommendation: The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir

The narrator: Jim Dale 

The book recommendation: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The narrator: Tim Curry 

The book recommendation: A Series of Unfortunate Events series by Lemony Snicket

The narrator: Katherine Kellgen

The book recommendation: The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler

The narrator: Trini Alvarado

The book recommendation: The Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce

The narrator: Adam Lazzare White

The book recommendation: Razor Blade Tears by S.A. Cosby

The narrator: Natalie Naudus

The book recommendation: She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

The narrator: Kevin R. Free 

The book recommendation: The Murderbot series by Martha Wells

The narrator: January LaVoy

The book recommendation: The Diviners series by Libba Bray

The narrator: Edoardo Ballerini

The book recommendation: The Patient by Jasper Dewitt

Bonus recommendation:

The narrator: Leslie Jones

The book: Leslie F*cking Jones, obviously

And as always, we recommend that you pick up an audiobook from Libro.fm to support your local indie bookstore!

Thanks to @thebooksinmylapp, @readmollyread, @gidgetreads, @allisonreadsdc, @thepaperbackplanner, @whatsjennareading, @jlm.bookstagram, @lozziereads, @bookpals, @runoutofpages, @brigid_emily, @_lia_reads_, @ohtheplacesyouread, @angiesreading, and @bookdigits for their recommendations!

Explore a new dystopian world after seeing Furiosa

Posted on | by Ellen Zielinski Whitfield

No movie has gotten my blood pumping quite like Mad Max, so I’m really excited to see Furiosa! I always come out of good movies wanting more of what I just saw, and if you’re the same way, you can jump into one of these gritty dystopian universes!

A Big Ship At the Edge of the Universe by Alex White

A washed-up treasure hunter, a hotshot racer, and a deadly secret society. They’re all on a race against time to hunt down the greatest warship ever built. Some think the ship is lost forever, some think it’s been destroyed, and some think it’s only a legend, but one thing’s for certain: whoever finds it will hold the fate of the universe in their hands.

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

It starts with the great red rift across the heart of the world’s sole continent, spewing ash that blots out the sun. It starts with death, with a murdered son and a missing daughter. It starts with betrayal, and long dormant wounds rising up to fester. This is the Stillness, a land long familiar with catastrophe, where the power of the earth is wielded as a weapon. And where there is no mercy.

The Last Refuge by Christina Bacilieri

Kiera Vandyer, driven by desperation, reluctantly joins a dangerous scheme for money. Despite hiding her fascination with magic for years, she inadvertently crosses into Etabon, Atterah’s last magic sanctuary. Hunted by the warden and facing certain death if caught by the Ruling Board, Kiera must harness her newfound powers to survive.

God’s War by Kameron Hurley

On a ravaged, contaminated world, a centuries-old holy war rages. Though the origins of the war are shady and complex, there’s one thing everybody agrees on: There’s not a chance in hell of ending it. When a dubious deal between the government and an alien gene pirate goes bad, Nyx’s ugly past as a former government assassin makes her the top pick for a covert recovery. The head they want her to bring home could end the war — but at what price?

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

When a small town needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie, a Dinétah monster hunter, is their last best hope. She reluctantly enlists the aid of an unconventional medicine man, and together they unravel clues from ancient legends, trading favors with tricksters, and battling dark witchcraft in a patchwork world of deteriorating technology. As Maggie discovers the truth behind the killings, she will have to confront her past if she wants to survive.

Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson

As a skilled mechanic and an even more skilled fighter, Scales is a respected member of the Emperor’s crew. But the fragile peace she helps to maintain is fractured when a woman is mangled and killed. When more bodies start to turn up, both in the desert community of Ashtown and in the wealthier, walled-off Wiley City, Scales is tasked with finding the cause and putting an end to it. To protect the people she loves, she teams up with a frustratingly by-the-books partner from Ashtown and a brusque-but-brilliant scientist from the City, delving into both worlds to track down an invisible killer.

Artificial Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver

In 2050, journalist Marcus Tully, haunted by his wife’s death in a devastating heatwave, investigates whether the catastrophe was natural or a sinister act of genocide. Pulled into a murder inquiry amid a global election, where a dictator aims to avert a climate apocalypse, Tully faces political intrigue and manipulation. With a former U.S. president opposing an AI candidate, Tully races to uncover the truth, facing obstacles that threaten to derail his quest. As he navigates a world teetering on the brink, Tully grapples with humanity’s choice between salvation and freedom, at any cost.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

When global climate change and economic crises lead to social chaos, California becomes full of dangers, from pervasive water shortage to masses of vagabonds. Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina lives inside a gated community, sheltered from the surrounding anarchy. She suffers from hyperempathy, a debilitating sensitivity to others’ emotions. Lauren must make her voice heard in order to protect her loved ones from the imminent disasters her small community stubbornly ignores. But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of a new faith, and a startling vision of human destiny.

Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve

London is hunting again. Emerging from its hiding place in the hills, the great Traction City is chasing a terrified little town across the wastelands. Soon London will feed. In the attack, Tom Natsworthy is flung from the speeding city with a murderous scar-faced girl. They must run for their lives through the wreckage — and face a terrifying new weapon that threatens the future of the world.

Moral Code by Lois and Ross Melbourne

Dr. Keira Stetson, passionate about ethical AI and improving children’s lives, finds herself trapped with panicked children after an earthquake. Billionaire Roy Brandt rescues them using his nanite technology, sparking Keira’s interest. She merges her company with Brandt’s, embedding her Moral Operating System into his nanites to prevent misuse. But as they face threats from corporate raiders and the military intent on weaponizing the technology, Keira and her AI assistant, Elly, must fight to ensure it’s used for good, not destruction.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

After a flu pandemic destroys civilization, Kirsten Raymonde travels with The Traveling Symphony, a group of artists preserving humanity’s remnants. In St. Deborah by the Water, they face a violent prophet endangering their survival. The narrative shifts between pre- and post-pandemic life, unveiling the twist of fate connecting them all.