Debut author Grace Viall joins UpperPen to discuss her novel (Mostly) Human Resources, a fantasy adventure that blends cryptids, Appalachian folklore, slow-burn romance, and plenty of workplace humor.I loved this book so much! It has horror vibes, a cocky MMC, jackalopes, and an over responsible FMC that hasn't slept in however long because of her hellish nightmares. The book is fast paced and so fun!You can find Grace Viall on Instagram @GraceViallWrites and through her website GraceViall.com.Preorder a copy of (Mostly) Human Resources at Park Books to get a signed copy and some goodies.

Author David Wellington returns to UpperPen to discuss Erebus 13, the thrilling conclusion to his Red Space trilogy. We explore the challenges of finishing a science fiction horror series, writing deeply flawed characters, and the collaborative process between authors and editors.If you want to see what David is up to, you can find him on Instagram @DavidWellingtonAuthor and on his website, DavidWellington.net.

Bestselling author Sarah Beth Durst joins UpperPen to discuss Sea of Charms, a cozy fantasy novel filled with memorable characters, imaginative magic, and immersive worldbuilding.I have loved all three of her books in this world and am so excited to pick up The Magical Cheese Emporium in January! You can preorder a signed copy of the book at Books of Wonder.Follow you can find out more about what she has coming up (including tour dates and locations) by going to SarahBethDurst.com or by following her on social media (pretty much all of them) @SarahBethDurst.

Author Chiara Bullen joins UpperPen to discuss her debut novel, The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance, a cozy fantasy filled with scholars, found family, subtle romance, and comforting food. You can find her on Instagram and TikTok @ChiaraBullenAuthor.Show her some love by picking up The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance July 7th (in the US)!The image of the Lagangarbh Hut Buachaille Etive Mòr is from Sarah Howard Photography. She has some wonderful photos and you can find the original that I "borrowed" from her website here:

Author Rebecca Thorne joins UpperPen to discuss her newest novel, Moss'd in Space, the first book in a new cozy science fiction trilogy that combines found family, slow-burn romance, and the comforts of cozy storytelling with the wonder of space exploration.We also spent a goodly amount of time chatting about Travis Baldree, Matt Dinniman, and Becky Chambers. I have interviews with all of them here on UpperPen! Although, Becky Chambers' interview doesn't come out until October 3rd, 2026.You can find Rebecca on her website: https://rebeccathorne.net/on Instagram: @rebeccathornewritesand on Tumbler: @rebeccathornewrites

Author Amy Archer joins UpperPen to discuss her debut fantasy novel, Nemesis Mine, a charming story about a villain who isn't particularly villainous and a hero who desperately needs a comeback. We talk about how Cyrus has plant magic and his relationship with Max, a hero who needs a comeback to stay relevant in this fantasy world. The book is out in the US on June 23rd, in the UK it is out on June 18...also I kind of enjoy the UK cover a little more than the US one. Both are good, but the UK one is "striking"... it doesn't capture the comedy of the book as well though. You can follow Amy on Instagram @AmyElizaArcher #romantasy #books #debutnovel #pridemonth

Author Frances White joins UpperPen to discuss her latest novel, The Bone Door. We explore writing dark fantasy through the eyes of a hopeful child, building a story within a labyrinth of interconnected worlds, and balancing horror with hope. You can find Frances White atfrances-writes.com/Instagram @franceswhiteauthorBluesky @franceswrites

Author Molly Tanzer joins UpperPen to discuss her science fiction novella And Side By Side They Wander, exploring AI, selfishness, art, and what humanity means in speculative fiction.I found many parallels with Tanzer's novella and older science fiction literature. She seems to be asking similar questions about the mean of humanity. The novella does this through the lens of art, love, android romances, and an art heist in space!Whether you’re a fan of classic science fiction, philosophical AI stories, or character-driven speculative fiction, this conversation explores what machines reveal about people.You can find Molly Tanzer on: Instagram @molly_tanzer Bluesky @mollytanzer.bsky.socialmollytanzer.com/

Shannon Chakaraborty joined me for the second time to talk about The Tapestry of Fate, book two in The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. She is such a wonderfully talented writer. Shannon easily places me in time and gives enough (but not too many) details to fill out Amina's world. Her work is very research driven, but not to the detriment of the story. I loved The Tapestry of Fate and I really hope you will too.You can find Shannon Chakaraborty at sachakraborty.com where you can follow her newsletter, or @sachakrabooks on Instagram. I would normally leave somewhere to buy a signed copy, but I think everywhere is out, so, good luck!

Martha Wells is one of the best science fiction writers of the 21st century! I pick up every Murderbot book she writes, even the short stories you can find on Tor.com. She is such a wonderful writer. I was lucky enough to get to talk with her about the 8th Murderbot Diaries book, Platform Decay. During this interview we steered away from Platform Decay spoilers, and instead focused on themes throughout the series, such as corporate control, AI, and how she got started writing these amazing stories. You can find her at MarthaWells.com, on Instagram @marthawellswriter, BlueSky @marthawells, and marthawells.dreamwidth.org.If you would like a signed copy, go to HyperboleBookstore.com and request a signed copy. If you are ever in the Upper Peninsula, make sure to stop in at Snowbound Books and pick up a free UpperPen bookmark!