What Is It?
This is a free, live author reading event where authors read extracts of their work for you.
When Is It?
Friday 02 Oct, 5pm UK Time (British Summer Time/BST, GMT+1). If you’re not in the UK, convert to your time zone.
Where Is It?
Online – tickets available from Eventbrite.
Meet The Authors
I’ll be reading from Thirteenth for you, but I’ll be joined by a few other authors! Here they are!
Anne Karpinnen
I’m a university teacher, writer and musician based in Finland. I hold a PhD in Contemporary Culture, and have been teaching writing (both academic and creative) for over ten years.
I write speculative and historical fiction; my short stories have been published in various publications around the English-speaking world. My first novel, The First Harvest, came out in February 2026, and I’m currently working on the sequel.
Website: www.annekarppinen.com
Instagram: @karppis_anne
Facebook: @anne.karppinen
Book: I’ll be reading from The First Harvest, an adult fantasy novel.
Quote: “It is, for a woman of my position, second nature to think ahead, to prepare for all eventualities if you like.”
What do you love most about your protagonist?
The First Harvest has three protagonists, all of them very different from each other. Rondei, who’s the main character in the first chapter, is a fiercely independent survivor who isn’t willing to compromise on her freedom of thought or action any more.
T. C. Duck
T. C. Duck is the author of The Atrix Files, including Spider Island and Arbor Giants. She received her BFA in creative writing from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and participated as a mentee in #PitchWars, 2018. She works as a flight attendant for Skywest Airlines. Her books are inspired by places she’s traveled.
Website: www.theresaduckauthor.com
Instagram: @T.C._Duck
Facebook: @tessa.duck.58
Book: I’ll be reading from Spider Island, a dark speculative fiction novel.
Quote: “Enrick, this is the Venomglades. There are going to be spiders.”
What do you love most about your protagonist?
My book has 3 main POV characters, so:
Enrick: his competence
Blaithe: her compassion
Jaz: how he’s able to see the best in people.
Melinda Mitchell
Melinda Mitchell grew up in Alaska and has lived all over the United States, currently
residing in Wisconsin with her husband and son. Raised by parents who were fans of
science fiction and fantasy, the STARDUST AND ASHES series was born out of a late
night/early morning D&D session during her time in seminary. Melinda has co-authored two academic papers on the intersections of science fiction and theology and has also written numerous articles on theological themes found in popular science fiction and fantasy. She likes to think the greatest truths are in the stories we tell, whether or not the stories are true themselves.
Website: www.melindamitchell.com
Socials: Facebook / Instagram / BlueSky
Book: I’ll be reading from Fortunate Son, my scifi retelling of the King David story.
Quote: Ah, there it is. Your ego. Your fear. The two swords that will cut you down.
What do you love most about your protagonist?
-The main protagonist is Armas, a wannabe pop star who is stuck working the family farm as the youngest son. He’s idealistic and naive, but never meant to hurt anyone.
-Kyla is sort of the third wheel who makes her own story, and in the end, surprises everyone, including herself, by recognizing she does have the power to choose a different path then all the men in her life.
M.N. Arzu
M.N. Arzu (1982) was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and fell in love with books at age 9, when her oldest sister translated The Chronicles of Narnia for her. Those books would set her on a journey of literature and other languages that continues till this day.
She graduated as a Graphic Designer, and she now feeds her creative world with equal measures of fantasy and science fiction, always seeking adventures in other realms.
Website: www.mnarzuauthor.com
Instagram: @mn.arzu.author
Book: I’ll be reading from The Librarian: A First Contact Story, a Sci-fi / Romance.
Quote: “We found that ‘man’ for lack of a better word. He looks like your husband, he asked for you, and in every single monitor, camera, or recording device, what shows up is this being of light. We don’t know what we have on our hands, but we know we need some answers.”
What do you love most about your protagonist?
Nick knows what he wants from life. He’s an eternal optimist, sure, but he keeps an eye on reality and how things are. He truly, deeply loves his wife, and by the time the story begins, his biggest worry isn’t himself, it’s how Jane will take the news.
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