May thoughts...

Q-Con is May 3rd at Plummer Park in West Hollywood. I’ve never tried selling my stuff at a book festival, so it will be a new experience! Not quite sure what to expect, so I’m keeping my expectations low.

I’ve had fun creating displays to hold my books. Arguably they aren’t terribly practical, but they are a bit of visual fun. I have to confess that I just like creating stuff like this. It gives a tease as to the sensibility of the book and they aren’t so tall that I can’t sit behind them. Will see how that works in practice though. LOL

I’ll also have on display a couple books written by friends, and I think I’ll choose a few favorite books that I recommend on The Purple Fantastic and display them as well. There are so many wonderful books that deserve more notice.

I may bring a puppet or two… just for fun. Will see how much I can fit on a four foot stretch of table and still be able to use it for business needs.

Otherwise… I’ve finished the chessboards finally. 

I’ll do a post with some images of the assorted pieces and the variations possible with the board.

I’ve also been recreating vintage dust jackets for old books. That has been a rather fun project as well. Lots of creative endeavors ahead for the month of May…

May Reading

The Purple Fantastic Book of the Month

Nepo

Nepo was a great read. I was fully engaged and towards the end I could not put the book down. I appreciated how the book explored our society’s obsession with celebrity and our disregard for those without. I cared about the characters and the plot was not formulaic and was not predictable. Although it does wrap up the primary mystery, it does leave a bit hanging for the sequel… which I will impatiently await.

You can read my interview with the author, Essy Knopf, here.

* * * * *

In the rain-drenched Los Angeles of 2233, Shayan “Shy” Soraya lives under the shadow of a legend—because he’s a clone of one. Although the world envies his status as a “nepo baby,” Shy feels suffocated by the life that’s been scripted for him. Yet the spotlight only grows harsher when a viral video captures him fending off armed kidnappers.

Hailed as a hero by the city’s elite, Shy breaks his talent agency’s strict rules and befriends Agustín—a teen from the slums, home to the city’s oppressed and largely neurodivergent working class. Their shared determination to uncover who orchestrated the attack pulls them into a conspiracy more dangerous than either could have imagined.

As Shy’s bond with Agustín deepens, unsettling parallels between their lives begin to emerge. Could Shy also be neurodivergent—something Hollywood would never allow? Wrestling with his identity, he realizes the secret he has buried may have already put him in far greater peril than he ever knew.

With time running out, Shy and Agustín must expose the truth before the system swallows them both.

A neuropunk thriller about stardom, identity, and the cost of becoming who you truly are.

The Purple Fantastic Steam Rating gives this a 1 out of 5. This book is not steamy. There is reference to same gender attraction, and that’s about it.  You can read more about the Steam Ratings on the About Page.

Description

In the rain-drenched Los Angeles of 2233, Shayan “Shy” Soraya lives under the shadow of a legend—because he’s a clone of one. Although the world envies his status as a “nepo baby,” Shy feels suffocated by the life that’s been scripted for him. Yet the spotlight only grows harsher when a viral video captures him fending off armed kidnappers.

Hailed as a hero by the city’s elite, Shy breaks his talent agency’s strict rules and befriends Agustín—a teen from the slums, home to the city’s oppressed and largely neurodivergent working class. Their shared determination to uncover who orchestrated the attack pulls them into a conspiracy more dangerous than either could have imagined.

As Shy’s bond with Agustín deepens, unsettling parallels between their lives begin to emerge. Could Shy also be neurodivergent—something Hollywood would never allow? Wrestling with his identity, he realizes the secret he has buried may have already put him in far greater peril than he ever knew.

With time running out, Shy and Agustín must expose the truth before the system swallows them both.

A neuropunk thriller about stardom, identity, and the cost of becoming who you truly are.

Additional information

book-author

Essy Knopf

Format

Hardcover, Kindle Books, Paperback

Language

English

Publisher

Independently Published

Pages

296

Year Published

2025

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