Pre-Order the THE GOD OF LOST WORDS
The final book of the Hell’s Library trilogy, THE GOD OF LOST WORDS, is revealed!
““The Library...” Something about her voice must have been odd, the way Brevity cut off mid-argument to turn to her. The quiet eddied around the table, but Claire didn’t care. The thought took shape, and then the thought grew teeth, and her voice was a frosted edge. “This was never a library. What do you think makes a library? A room full of books? A coincidental accumulation of shelves and paper? We were never a library...””
Today the cover of the final book in the Hell’s Library trilogy, THE GOD OF LOST WORDS, was revealed on The Nerd Daily. And y’all, I’m so excited to share it. Look and then go grab your pre-order!
Where were you, when the Library fell?
To save the Library of the Unwritten in Hell, former librarian Claire and her allies may have to destroy it first.
Claire, the rakish Hero, the angel Rami, and the muse turned librarian Brevity have accomplished the impossible by discovering the true nature of unwritten books. But now that the secret is out, Hell will be coming for every wing of the library in its quest for power.
To protect the Unwritten Wing and stave off the insidious reach of Malphas, one of Hell’s most bloodthirsty generals, Claire and her friends will have to decide how much they’re willing to sacrifice to keep their vulnerable corner of the afterlife. Succeeding would mean rewriting the nature of the library, but losing would mean obliteration. Their only chance at survival lies in outwitting Hell and writing a new chapter for the Library. Luckily, Claire and her friends know how the right story, told well, can become a revolution.
I wrote quite a bit of THE GOD OF LOST WORDS during the beginning of the pandemic, when it felt like the world was at some kind of end and I had to find my own fire and make my own hope. I think that translates into the story. This is the end of Claire and the gang’s story, but it’s not the end of our stories. Not if we don’t let it.
I can’t wait to share this final book of Hell’s Library with all of you. I hope the journey’s meant as much to you as it has to me.
THE GOD OF LOST WORDS is out November 2, 2021. A mere seven months away! Pre-order your copy at your favorite book seller! In the mean time, there’s simply a question:
““...A library is an integral part of the community it serves. A library is for the needs of people, not librarians. A library changes to meet the needs of those who depend on it. We were never a library! Where were our predecessors when Poppaea fought and lost? Where were you when the Unsaid Wing sought sanctuary? Where were any of you when the books of the Unwritten Wing burned?”
”
Content Notes and AO3 tags for THE ARCHIVE OF THE FORGOTTEN
Content Warnings and AO3 tags for THE ARCHIVE OF THE FORGOTTEN.
It’s a mere 16 hours until THE ARCHIVE OF THE FORGOTTEN is released upon the world! That means it’s past time for my content notes post. First, the serious bit:
Content Warnings for ARCHIVE
Trauma: characters deal with the aftermath of traumatic incidents in first book
Body horror: in the form of a character getting physically (temporarily) altered, some characters disappearing/changing
Haunting/Voices: a character deals with hearing/seeing things others do not
Minor physical injury : non-graphic, not due to violence
Bodily fluids: ink ‘drawn’ from book characters
Death: although temporary
Grief: characters grieving a loss
Violence: non-graphic fight scenes
Other Content Notes for ARCHIVE
Cross-talk : characters put at odds
Healthy discussion of poly and monogamous emotional relationships.
Kissing! Rated PG
Falling in love. Catching Feelings. The most dangerous sport.
And now for the fun ones we’re all here for:
AO3-ish Tags for ARCHIVE
Queer main characters
So many bisexual disasters
ONE TERRIBLE GOOSERAVEN
Ink nerds, this one is for you
Characters make Really Terrible Decisions
Well well well if it isn’t the consequences of my own actions
Claire you MONSTER
Brevity just wants Everyone To Get Along
Muse angst
Damsels, they get the job done
Humans are terrible, actually?
…But not.
History nerds unite!
Lost books of history
Dysfunctional Greek myths! Dysfunctional Greek family dynamics!
Worst. Mother. Ever.
Zoroastrianism!
Hurt/comfort
Someone save Hero from his own witticisms
Enemies to grumble grumble to lovers
Kissing in mortal peril!
Love triangle: why not both edition
The kids are not alright
GROUP HUG
One big pile of QUEER FOUND FAMILY FEELS
Sound like your jam? Why haven’t you pre-ordered yet! Get it in print, ebook, or audio!
Join me on Patreon!
Here’s the news: I’ve started a Patreon! And I’m running a special limited edition gift to celebrate (see below).
Here’s why: Writing is hard. Writing while trying to Do A Capitalism, in the year of our lord 2020, is incredibly hard. Maybe it’s been hard for you, too.
Here’s the news: I’ve started a Patreon! And I’m running a special limited edition gift to celebrate (see below).
Here’s why: Writing is hard. Writing while trying to Do A Capitalism, in the year of our lord 2020, is incredibly hard. Maybe it’s been hard for you, too.
I’ve been struggling lately with the signal-to-noise balance; engaging with people and readers as I love to do, getting the word out so you can get your hands on more stories, while actually carving out the time to create those stories. And maintaining the physical and mental health to do so. I need to take a step back, but I also need to create more and share more.
That trick ain’t easy, friends. So. I think its the right time, and the right reason, to start a Patreon. I want support to create more stories, but I also want a place to get to hear from you, the readers, more.
If you like my stories and want to support seeing more of them, more frequently, released into the world. Here’s how you can help! (Also, I love you.)
Early Patron bonus: Get personalized fic and meet your book!
To get this party off on the right foot, I’m doing a special offer on Patreon. Anyone who goes in at the $10 or higher tier before March 1st will get a personalized flash fic piece from me, describing an unwritten book that is waiting, just for you (whether a writer or a reader), in the Unwritten wing. Sound cool? See examples of what I mean in this Twitter thread I did last year.
I’ll compile all these together in a patron only post, tagging each patron, but you are welcome to share your flash fic with friends or on social media. It’s a words! It’s a gift! It’s a word gift! And I figured it would be the least I could do to reward friends who have supported me from the very start.
Are you in?
On the Patreon page, I try to spell out what to expect, but this is my first rodeo. I’m going to be looking for feedback from patrons to see what you want (or what you don’t want). You’ll get to help me shape what’s next, with the Hell’s Library crew, and the many worlds beyond. Are you in?
Let’s raise some hell.
The Archive of the Forgotten : Coming October 2020
In the second installment of this richly imagined fantasy adventure series, a new threat from within the Library could destroy those who depend upon it the most.
I’m so thrilled to get to share with you the cover and release date for THE ARCHIVE OF THE FORGOTTEN, the second book in the Hell’s Library series and sequel to THE LIBRARY OF THE UNWRITTEN. Behold the cover!
As you may have guessed from the delightfully creepy cover, things continue to go About As Well As Ever for Claire and the Library crew. Here’s the back cover summary:
“In the second installment of this richly imagined fantasy adventure series, a new threat from within the Library could destroy those who depend upon it the most.
The Library of the Unwritten in Hell was saved from total devastation, but hundreds of potential books were destroyed. Former librarian Claire and Brevity the muse feel the loss of those stories, and are trying to adjust to their new roles within the Arcane Wing and Library, respectively. But when the remains of those books begin to leak a strange ink, Claire realizes that the Library has kept secrets from Hell–and from its own librarians.
Claire and Brevity are immediately at odds in their approach to the ink, and the potential power that it represents has not gone unnoticed. When a representative from the Muses Corps arrives at the Library to advise Brevity, the angel Rami and the erstwhile Hero hunt for answers in other realms. The true nature of the ink could fundamentally alter the afterlife for good or ill, but it entirely depends on who is left to hold the pen.”
You didn’t think I’d forget the AO3 tags did you
A few exciting AO3ish teaser tags waiting for you in THE ARCHIVE OF THE FORGOTTEN:
INK MAGIC
Former family vs found family
Rivals resentfully forced to work together
oh no feelings
Hauntings and possession
Claire Calls Bullshit on this Entire Genre(tm)
One Muse, many strong opinions
pastel goth revolutionaries
Greek demigods and one murdercat
One terrible raven (that intends to create trouble on purpose)
Queer multi dimensional families negotiating that messy stuff
Rather important secrets my mentor Failed To Mention
KISSES. YAAAAS KISSES.
Why is the library in Hell anyways
THE ARCHIVE OF THE FORGOTTEN is out October 6, 2020! That gives you plenty of time to read (or re-read) THE LIBRARY OF THE UNWRITTEN if you haven’t yet. More importantly, you can pre-order it right the heck now. Pre-orders are both a way to show support for us authors, and a way to give a gift to your future self. Pre-order links to all the usual sources are up on the Penguin Random House site.
Content warnings and AO3 tags for THE LIBRARY OF THE UNWRITTEN
Since I’m a big advocate for content warnings fo all sorts, I wanted to practice what I preach and give content tags for readers. Content tags will, by necessity, include some mild spoilers so please read at your own discretion.
It is now mere DAYS until THE LIBRARY OF THE UNWRITTEN sneaks out of the Unwritten Wing and into the world on October 1st! You’ve got your copy set, right? Right. If not, go grab it here or order it from your favorite indie bookshop.
I’ll wait.
Since I’m a big advocate for content warnings fo all sorts, I wanted to practice what I preach and give content tags for readers. Content tags will, by necessity, include some mild spoilers so please read at your own discretion.
Content tags for THE LIBRARY OF THE UNWRITTEN
grief and loss
non-graphic violence
on-page discussion of death
character background: suicide
on-page character contemplation/discussion of suicide
character lies/lying
character background: betrayal
character background: abandonment
destructive fire (destroyed books)
mild eye trauma
One more reader note: sexual assault and beloved animal/pet death will NEVER be a main plot point in any of my books.
And now that’s out of the way, the more fun shitpost of:
AO3-style tags for THE LIBRARY OF THE UNWRITTEN
queer main characters
found family and found books
its not trauma if we don’t talk about it!
soft smol demon bois in bad suits
angry academics
little shits with pretty, punchable faces
non-euclidean gargoyles who are the GOODEST BOYS
angels who just pretend they know what they’re doing
genderqueer damsels not in distress
stabby raven ladies
vikings! my people
survivor guilt and regret
so many bad decisions
sunshine characters with anxiety
mental health, my dude
GRUMPY is not a coping mechanism, CLAIRE
TEA
gender is a construct and so is hell
no gods coming to save us
what is a soul even anyway
friends to frenemies to you DICK
enemies to even BETTER enemies to whoops I’d-die-for-you
WORD FIGHT WORD FIGHT WORD FIGHT (courtesy of @magali )
cannibal crocodile gods
books are magic
cinnamon rolls and sinnamon rolls
v sad monsters
exactly one (1) tumblr meme
BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS
And probably more! Grab your copy and tell me what I missed. I hope y’all love reading THE LIBRARY OF THE UNWRITTEN as much as I loved writing it.
Join the Library. Raise Hell.
Where is Amanda? : Worldcon edition
I’ll be in Dublin next week for my first Worldcon! Here’s a peek at where you’ll find me on the programming.
I will be hopping on a plane to Dublin in a few days for Worldcon! It’s my first Worldcon, even! I’ll be at the con and conducting a pilgrimage to the many famous Dublin libraries. (DEFINITELY including the Book of the Kells and the Long Room at Trinity College, pictured above.) If you’re also going to be in attendance, here’s where I’m at on programming:
Thursday, August 15th
2:00pm — A portable kind of magic: why we love books-about-books
Whether it’s a library of every book ever written, a compendium of magical creatures, or a hitchhiker’s guide to the universe, we’ve always loved a good story-about-a-story. What is behind our fascination with books and libraries, and why does it translate so well to SFF? How does the history of book-making connect to our myths and legends, and what shape will our meta-stories take in the future?
Genevieve Cogman (M), A.J. Hackwith, Tasha Suri, Miriam Weinberg
I have wanted to do/see a books-about-books panel for ages and I am so delighted to be on this one. Look at that line up! I can’t wait to enthuse about the history of book-making and libraries and book magic.
3:00pm — Kaffeeklatsch: A.J. Hackwith
Listen, I have a kaffeeklatsch and if no one comes I’m gonna be reduced to shouting the opening chapters of THE LIBRARY OF THE UNWRITTEN at passers-by like some kind of deranged busker so…please come! I will have book swag to give away!
Friday, August 16th
11:00am — ‘Where words fail, music speaks’: literary soundtracks
With the advent of digital music it is easier now than ever for authors to create soundtracks for their writing. Sometimes this is music that inspires the writing process, and sometimes soundtracks are published to enhance the reading experience. Our panel of authors will discuss the ways in which music affects their writing.
Tom Toner (M), A.J. Hackwith, R.F. Kuang, Ian McDonald, Kieron Gillen
I am gonna try to publish a spotify playlist of any specific songs/albums recommended in this panel, so stay tuned!
1:00pm — The power of representing ourselves in fanfiction
When they don’t see themselves on the page or on the screen, fans often reimagine characters, or find space in the canon for representation that wasn’t originally there, by creating their own head-canons of gender, sexuality, race and (dis)ability. Our panel talks about the power of representing ourselves by rewriting beloved characters, and discusses some of their favourite head-canons.
Ciaran Roberts (M), A.J. Hackwith, Kat Kourbeti, Juliet Kemp
FANFIC panel. Aww, yeah.
4:00pm : Autographs
Alex Acks, Regina Kanyu Wang, A.J. Hackwith, Jo Zebedee, A. T. Greenblatt
Listen, if that line up of brilliant authors I snuck in with doesn’t convince you, I will be giving out yet more swag. I am a wee new author and not above bribery, friends.
Saturday, August 17th
I am an unscheduled wild card! Will I be attending panels, lurking in the bar, wallowing over the plot for book three, in introvert coma on a couch? Who knows! How fun.
Sunday, August 18th
11:00am — Human reproduction and childbirth in SFF
Authors of SFF have often explored the political, social, biological, and technological consequences of pregnancy and reproduction. In the last century, developments in assisted reproduction and childbirth have changed the boundaries of the possible. The panel will consider the ways in which SFF depicts human reproduction and childbirth, from high tech futures to medieval fantasies.
D Franklin (M), Anne Charnock, Beth Meacham, A.J. Hackwith, Jeannette Ng
I’ll be putting on my Ada Harper hat for this one. Come for my delicate dancing around fanfic preg tropes! Stay for my secret thesis how childbirth is blood magic.
If you see me, please feel free to say hi! As I said its my first Worldcon experience, and on programming no less, so I’m hoping to pace myself, have great conversations, give away some swag, and meet a lot of lovely people. Especially if you speak the introvert love language of having conversations in quiet non-crowded corners and forgiving me if I forget your name without a name badge.