Mark Leslie Lefebvre: Does his one hand really scream?

By Angelique Fawns

Mark Leslie Lefebvre is only one of my most favorite people in the writing universe. A relentless champion of others, the creator of the Canadian Werewolf series, and the author of more than thirty titles, he is one of the most accomplished professionals I know. 

Mark’s short stories are gripping, and intriguing, with just the right dash of dark. When I found out he was publishing an illustrated anthology compiling 20 years of his work, I couldn’t sign up for his Kickstarter fast enough!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/markleslie/one-hand-screaming-20-haunting-years

One Hand Screaming is a collection of chilling stories and disturbing poetry for the reader who loves Twilight Zone and Black Mirror stories with a darker edge. 

Jonathan Maberry calls it, “A wonderfully weird gallop through nightmare country.”

I sat down with my fellow Canadian to learn more:

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Lesley Conner and Apex’s 2025 Kickstarter

By Angelique Fawns

Apex Magazine is where readers go to find stories that are strange, surreal, shocking, and beautiful. For almost 20 years, this publication has provided a home for some of the most thought-provoking – and sometimes uncomfortable – fiction I’ve personally read. The latest Kickstarter was awarded the coveted “Project We Love”, and has already passed its funding goal. However, the more money they can raise, the more stories Lesley Conner can buy. 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/apexpublications/apex-magazine-2025

Conner is the editor-in-chief of Apex Magazine and no stranger to dark fiction. She’s the author of The Weight of Chains –a magic-filled horror – and has co-edited five anthologies.  There are some very cool rewards available including a critiques from the Apex staff. The next open call for this magazine will be for unpublished authors only during August and September, 2024.

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Jonathan Maberry: Jonesing for more Joe Ledger

By Angelique Fawns

Jonathan Maberry has created a character so iconic, he may exist in an alternate universe. Joe Ledger is an asskicking phenom who has starred in 14 of his own novels: starting with Patient Zero in 2009. A character who never tires, Joe has also been the lead in three full short story collections, multiple comic books, and has guest starred  in The Rot & Ruin Series, and V-WARS. Maberry has just completed Joe Ledger’s next upcoming novel, “Burn to Shine” which will debut on March 4, 2025. I thought it might be fun to chat with Jonathan about his leading man. 

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“Each and Other” DreamForge Kickstarter

By Angelique Fawns

My favorite positive Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine is DreamForge. In 2024-2025 they are hoping to publish at least 20 exceptional stories and poems embracing the theme of “Each and Other: Invisible Ties and Unseen Reflections. Not only do I belong to their writing group the DreamCasters, but I am a member of their Patreon and love the rewards in their Kickstarters!

They offer copies of their fantastic magazine, webinars, a novel manuscript review among other fun things. 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scotnoel/each-and-other-a-dreamforge-press-project

Scot Noel, the editors shared his vision and writing hints. 

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Jermaine Martin & The Underdog Press 

By Angelique Fawns

Who doesn’t love and root for an underdog? This aptly named press says, “our goal is to take novels and stories that are a hard sale and don’t currently have a home and become that place where they can shine.

I recently sold them a story about a galactic gambler with a ship full of vices to The Underdogs Rise Vol. 2 and thought it might be nice to learn more about the folks championing  the underserviced. 

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Kerrie Flanagan and Crave Books 

By Angelique Fawns

Kerrie Flanagan is an author, instructor, and consultant with some very fun novels out in the world. I just finished reading Back to the 80s, was a romantic pop-culture romp, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

You can check it out yourself here: https://books2read.com/b/3k6OOn

She’s also part of a service called “CraveBooks” which provides a platform for readers to find the content they love, and writers a place to get their work out in the world. 

I meet Kerrie at Superstars this February and loved her energy and passion.

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Kevin J. Anderson & A Lifetime of Short Stories

Kickstarting Fifty Years of Fiction

By Angelique Fawns

Kevin J. Anderson is a juggernaut in our industry. He’s published almost 200 books, and has over 50 best sellers! He was recently a co-producer on the mind-blowing Dune: Part Two movie, and has written various novels in the Dune universe. You can also find his name on books in the Star Wars and X-Files worlds. 

I met Anderson when I attended his Superstars Writing Conference this February, and it was the one of the greatest experiences of my writing life. 

He’s just launched a Kickstarter featuring more than 130 of his short stories spanning his entire career. 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thekja/the-kevin-j-anderson-short-fiction-library

Though he may be one of the busiest humans I’ve ever met, he agreed to answer a few questions for us!   

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