On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks to author Dahlia Adler all about her latest book, Going Bicoastal! They talk about the perils of AI in the publishing industry, a slew of other hot topics, the Dahlia-verse, Going Bicoastal of course, and much, much more.

To buy a copy of Going Bicoastal, click HERE!

Cover art by Petra Braun.

Be sure to check out LGBTQReads.com!

About the Author

Dahlia Adler (she/her) is an editor by day, a freelance writer by night, and an author and anthologist at every spare moment in between. She’s the founder of LGBTQReads.com; her novels include the Kids’ Indie Next picks Cool for the Summer, Home Field Advantage, and Going Bicoastal; and she is the editor of the anthologies His Hideous Heart, That Way Madness Lies, At Midnight, and, with Jennifer Iacopelli, Out of Our League (forthcoming from Feiwel & Friends). Dahlia lives in New York with her family and an obscene number of books.

On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks to bestselling, award-winning author Adiba Jaigirdar all about her brand new novel, The Do’s and Donuts of Love! They talk about some of the current issues plaguing the publishing industry, her last book A Million to One (spoiler warning), writing difficult scenes, and much, much more.

To buy a copy of The Do’s and Donuts of Love, click HERE!

Cover art by Nabigal-Nayagam Haider Ali.

About the Author

Adiba Jaigirdar is the award-winning, critically-acclaimed and bestselling author of The Henna Wars, Hani & Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating, A Million to One, and The Dos and Donuts of Love. A Bangladeshi/Irish writer and former teacher, she has an MA in Postcolonial Studies from the University of Kent, England and a BA in English and History from UCD, Ireland. She is the winner of the YA book prize 2022, the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards 2021, and was a finalist for the 2022 Lambda Literary awards. All of her writing is aided by tea, and a healthy dose of Janelle Monáe and Hayley Kiyoko. When not writing, she is probably ranting about the ills of colonialism, playing video games, or expanding her overflowing lipstick collection

On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks to Malia Maunakea all about her debut fiction middle grade novel, Lei and the Fire Goddess! They talk about how much of Lei’s story mirrors Malia’s, her own personal adventures, Hawaiian culture, whether there’s more story to tell, and much, much more.

To purchase a copy of Lei and the Fire Goddess, click HERE!

About the Author

Malia Maunakea is a Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) writer who grew up on Hawaiʻi Island and Oʻahu before relocating to the continent for college. She writes both middle-grade fiction and nonfiction and is the author of Lei and the Fire Goddess (Penguin Workshop, summer 2023) and Lightweight Backpacking for Families (CMC Press, spring 2023). When not at her computer, she can often be found roaming the Rocky Mountains with her husband, their two children, and a rescue mutt named Peggy.

On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks to bestselling author J. Elle all about her latest book, a tie-in to the huge Disney film, The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide. They talk about her recent trip to New York, the journey to The Little Mermaid, what’s next, and much, much more.

The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide is out now, click HERE to order a copy!

Cover art by Raymond Sebastien.

About the Author 

J. Elle is a New York Times bestselling author of young adult and middle-grade fantasy fiction and NAACP Image Award nominee. She is best known for her debut novel, Wings of Ebony. Her work has been translated into languages across three continents. The former educator and first-generation college student credits her nomadic lifestyle and humble inner-city beginnings as inspiration for her novels. When she’s not writing, Elle can be found mentoring aspiring authors, binging reality TV, loving on her three littles, or cooking up something true to her Southern roots.

On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks to author Claire Winn all about her latest book, City of Vicious Night, the second book in the Requiem Dark duology. They talk about the state of the publishing industry, wrapping up the duology, what’s next for her, and much, much more.

To purchase a copy of both City of Shattered Light and City of Vicious Night, click HERE!

About the Author

Claire Winn is a science fiction and fantasy author. Her debut YA sci-fi novel, City of Shattered Light, released October 2021 from Flux Books, and the sequel is forthcoming in 2023. She is represented by Cortney Radocaj at the Belcastro Literary Agency. A gamer at heart, she writes books that are fast-paced, snarky, and driven by fierce, flawed characters. Since graduating from Northwestern University, Claire has worked as a legal writer, freelance editor, and an editorial intern. On the creative side, she builds props and armor for cosplay and writes storylines for LARP games—in addition to battling with boffer swords.

On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks to E.K. Johnston and Jaleigh Johnson all about their lead-in novels to the upcoming film, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves!

The two authors join Steve and discuss their personal history with D&D, the difference between writing original work and IP, and their favorite characters to write! Not to worry, no spoilers to be had here.

Check it out!

For as long as she can remember, Doric has felt alone. Abandoned by her human parents, she wandered for years before being taken in by a community of Neverwinter Woods elves. But her horns and tail proclaim a tiefling heritage, and even among the kindest of elves, her fledgling druidic abilities mark her as different from the rangers around her. And as humans begin to encroach farther and farther into the once pristine woods, Doric knows she needs to master her druidic capabilities if she is to be any help to her adopted family. With no means of helping Doric themselves, her guardians see no choice but to send her somewhere she can come into her own.

Tucked among the ancient pines of the Ardeep Forest hides the Emerald Enclave, an order of warriors tasked with preserving the natural world. They fight to maintain balance between the forces of the wild and civilization, and in doing so, protect the sanctity of each.

Among their order, Doric begins to find power in her differences. But not all her fellow initiates are so capable of new growth, and as her training continues, Doric is forced to confront the very beliefs that brought her into the Enclave’s fold. If she’s going to protect her home, she’ll have to reckon with her people, her power, and the walls she’s built to keep herself safe from both.

To order Druid’s Call, click HERE!

Edgin Darvis’ life is a mess. All that he has left are his lute, his dashing good looks, and…not much else. After a chance encounter with badass bruiser Holga, Edgin is forced to take a hard look at his bad choices. But the road to redemption is long and paved with unforeseen expenses. Fortunately, the world is full of rich fools begging to be parted from their money.

And so Edgin and Holga do what any sensible entrepreneurs would do—they form a crew.

Joined by a charming rogue, Forge Fitzwilliam, and Simon, a sorcerer with an intense inferiority complex, the team sets out to line their pockets with

On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks with author Deborah Falaye all about her incredible debut book Blood Scion, which is described as, “Following one girl’s journey of magic, injustice, power, and revenge, Deborah Falaye’s debut novel, inspired by Yoruba-Nigerian mythology, is a magnetic combination of Children of Blood and Bone and An Ember in the Ashes.” 

Here’s the summary…

This is what they deserve.

They wanted me to be a monster.

I will be the worst monster they ever created.

Fifteen-year-old Sloane can incinerate an enemy at will—she is a Scion, a descendant of the ancient Orisha gods.

Under the Lucis’ brutal rule, her identity means her death if her powers are discovered. But when she is forcibly conscripted into the Lucis army on her fifteenth birthday, Sloane sees a new opportunity: to overcome the bloody challenges of Lucis training, and destroy them from within.

Blood Scion is out now, click HERE to order a copy today!

Cover art by Taj Francais.

About the Author:

Deborah Falaye is a Nigerian Canadian young adult author. She grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, where she spent her time devouring African Literature, pestering her grandma for folktales, and tricking her grandfather into watching Passions every night. When she’s not writing about fierce Black girls with bad-ass magic, she can be found obsessing over all things reality TV. Deborah currently lives in Toronto with her husband and their partner-in-crime yorkie, Major. Blood Scion is her first novel.

On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks to acclaimed author Anna-Marie McLemore all about their latest book Lakelore, which is described as, “In this young adult novel by award-winning author Anna-Marie McLemore, two non-binary teens are pulled into a magical world under a lake – but can they keep their worlds above water intact?”

Here’s the summary…

Lakelore is out now, click HERE to order a copy!

Cover illustrated by Carolina Rodriguez Fuenmayor and designed by Liz Dresner.

About the Author:

Anna-Marie McLemore (they/them) writes magical realism and fairy tales that are as queer, Latine, and nonbinary as they are. Their books include THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS, a 2016 William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist; 2017 Stonewall Honor Book WHEN THE MOON WAS OURS, which was longlisted for the National Book Award in Young People’s Literature and was the winner of the James Tiptree Jr. Award; WILD BEAUTY, a Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Booklist best book of 2017; BLANCA & ROJA, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice; MISS METEOR (co-authored with Tehlor Kay Mejia); DARK AND DEEPEST RED, a Winter 2020 Indie Next List selection; and THE MIRROR SEASON, which has recently received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Booklist and Sc