Excerpt of Nicole Givens Kurtz’s Kill Three Birds

Nicole Givens Kurtz, writer, publisher and educator, works to amplify marginalized voices in speculative fiction and writes stories that explore race, sexism, and the weird. This month, she’s generously giving Midwest BSFA readers a sneak peek at the first chapter of her novel, Kill Three Birds, which is currently available for pre-order.

Kurtz’s work has appeared in Stoker Finalist Sycorax’s Daughters, Baen’s Straight Outta Tombstone, and her Cybil Lewis SF Mystery Series. You can support diverse voices in speculative fiction by joining her Patreon.

Read an Excerpt from The Brothers Jetstream: Afro Puffs Are the Antennae of the Universe

In honor of Black Speculative Fiction Month, the homie Zig Zag Claybourne of Obsidian Sky Books and the website Write On, Right On, is giving us a sneak peek at some of his next book, The Brothers Jetstream: Afro Puffs Are the Antennae of the Universe, the follow up to his 2015 novel The Brothers Jetstream: Leviathan.

Excerpt of Alan Jones’ Sacrifices

Here’s an excerpt of indie writer Alan Jones’ epic fantasy novel Sacrifices, the second in his trilogy, To Wrestle With Darkness. In it, Cil, Deborah, Ruth and Sarah are four sisters descended from angels (and humans) who must contest the forces of darkness that are intent on ending all of creation. 

Jasmine Keitt’s The Preternaturals

Bronx-based blogger/artist/vlogger Jasmine Keitt’s forthcoming webcomic The Preternaturals blends occult and horror with fantasy/sci-fi elements. In this world, werewolves and vampires are real and some humans have super powers. Check out an excerpt of “Nae Nae & the Wolf Cub,” the first of three stories to be released before the comic’s October debut. 

Miri Castor’s Opal Charm: The Path to Dawn

Author Miri Castor gives Midwest BFSA readers an excerpt of her new YA urban fantasy novel Opal Charm: The Path to Dawn! A New York native, she spent many a middle school recess writing fantasy stories, with Opal Charm being one of them. She has written for Black Girl Magic literary magazine and was recently featured as a Spotlight New Author. Castor is currently working on her second novel while finishing her final year of undergrad.  

Diverse Book Tours: Sins of the Father Excerpt

As part of the latest Diverse Book Tours event, the Midwest BSFA blog is excerpting Thelonius Legend‘s middle grade tale Sins of the Father, in which three sisters discover that they have extraordinary powers that could kill them if they don’t find a cure for the side effects. Keeping their powers under wraps all while trying to survive middle school? Good luck, girls! Check it out!