Contemporary and epic fantasy with unforgettable characters, complicated families, and music in the sentences.

Bibliography

Books

The War of the Wheat Berry Year. Rockville, MD: Point Quay Press, 2022.

The Enemy in Snowmelt Season. Rockville, MD: Point Quay Press, 2021.

Flashlight, Knife, and Flowered Crown. Rockville, MD: Point Quay Press, 2021.

How the Grail Came to the Fisher King. Rockville, MD: Point Quay Press, 2021.

New Jersey’s Top Ghost Tours Reviewed and Rated. Rockville, MD: Point Quay Press, 2020.

The Ghost Puncher. Rockville, MD: Point Quay Press, 2020.

The Imlen Brat. Rockville, MD: Point Quay Press. October 2016.

Trafficking in Magic, Magicking in Traffic, (co-editor). Brooklyn, NY: Fantastic Books, 2014.

Tales from Rugosa Coven. Howell, NJ: Dark Quest Books, 2013.

Fiction

“And the Ones Who Walk In.” Beneath Ceaseless Skies, no. 319, December 17, 2020. Web. https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/and-the-ones-who-walk-in/

“Flashlight, Knife, and Flowered Crown, Part III.” Space and Time, no. 136, Spring 2020, 13-17.

“Flashlight, Knife, and Flowered Crown, Part II.” Space and Time, no. 135, Winter 2019, 12-16.

“Flashlight, Knife, and Flowered Crown, Part I.” Space and Time, no. 134, Fall 2019, 13-16.

“How the Grail Came to the Fisher King.” Fantasy Scroll. February 2015. Web.

“The War of the Wheat Berry Year.” Black Gate. Spring 2011, 3(3): 91-95.

Atlantis Cranks Need Not Apply. South Euclid, OH: Drollerie Press, 2009

Closing Arguments. South Euclid, OH: Drollerie Press, 2009

“New Jersey’s Top Ghost Tours Reviewed and Rated.” Jim Baen’s Universe. October 2009. Web.

Poetry

Persephone in Washington. Highland Park, NJ: Blast Press, 2003.

http://gregglory.com/books/Persephone%20in%20Washington_list.html?print

“Sweater, Daughter.” Feminist Studies. Spring 2003, 29(1): 1.

“Metamorphic.” The Beloit Poetry Journal. Spring 2003, 53(3): 11.

“A Clapping Song for Burning Times,” “Field Exercise,” “A Different Garden,” and “Two Droughts” Free Lunch. Summer 2002, 28: 16-18.

“For My Sister at 17.” Present Tense: Writing and Art by Young Women. Reaman, Agnello, et. al., eds. Corvallis, OR: Calyx Books, 1996. 64-5.

Online Columns and Blogs

Patreon Blog, 6/2022-present

A mix of public and patron-only posts on my work in progress, what I’m reading, weird relics from my files, and whatever else I feel a burning desire to tell you about. I’m so glad to return to long-form blogging.

https://www.patreon.com/SarahAvery

Ask Dr. Pretentious

My personal blog, from the year I wrote the rough draft of the first novel I ever finished (2004), until Livejournal declared it a violation of their terms of service to criticize Vladimir Putin (2016). Now hosted on Dreamwidth.

https://dr-pretentious.dreamwidth.org/

Confessions of a Left-Wing Prepper. Medium Partner Program. 6/2017-9/2017.

(A note: I began writing this column before the Charlottesville riot in 2017. I no longer believe emergency preparedness can be common ground for dialogue across political lines in the United States.)

“What to Pack for Running for Your Life”
https://medium.com/s/confessions-of-a-left-wing-prepper/confessions-of-a-left-wing-prepper-part-3-63ebe90a0b0

“The Lumberjacks’ Descendants and the Once and Future Forest”
https://medium.com/s/confessions-of-a-left-wing-prepper/confessions-of-a-left-wing-prepper-part-3-63ebe90a0b0

“Emergency Preparedness Manuals That Don’t Feel Crazy or Make You Feel Crazy”
https://medium.com/s/confessions-of-a-left-wing-prepper/confessions-of-a-left-wing-prepper-part-3-63ebe90a0b0

“Progressive Prepping 101: Online Resources: The Guaranteed No-Confederate-Flag, Almost-Entirely-Bible-Free Guide to Online Emergency Preparedness Resources for Beginners”
https://medium.com/s/confessions-of-a-left-wing-prepper/progressive-prepping-101-online-resources-2a724e70f28e

“In Which Hurricane Sandy Changes Everything”
https://medium.com/s/confessions-of-a-left-wing-prepper/confessions-of-a-left-wing-prepper-a0cebbf789b2

Black Gate

I wrote two regular columns at the magazine, one on teaching and fantasy literature and another reviewing series fantasy, and some essays and reviews not part of either column.

If you read only one piece I wrote for Black Gate, make it this one. It’s long, but worth it.

“Why Do We Do This To Ourselves? I Can Explain!”
https://www.blackgate.com/2015/11/18/the-series-series-why-do-we-do-this-to-ourselves-i-can-explain/

Author Page at Black Gate:

https://www.blackgate.com/author/sarah-avery/

Freestanding Pieces:

“Meet Me through the Black Gate, Then Two Blocks down Great Jones Street”
https://www.blackgate.com/2016/11/17/meet-me-through-the-black-gate-then-two-blocks-down-great-jones-street/

“World Fantasy 2015: It’s the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead of Convention Reports”
https://www.blackgate.com/2015/11/19/world-fantasy-2015-its-the-rosencrantz-and-guildenstern-are-dead-of-convention-reports/

“Why Do We Do This To Ourselves? I Can Explain!”
https://www.blackgate.com/2015/11/18/the-series-series-why-do-we-do-this-to-ourselves-i-can-explain/

“Kickstarting a Belated Black Gate Story: The Imlen Bastard”
https://www.blackgate.com/2015/10/21/kickstarting-a-belated-black-gate-story-the-imlen-bastard/

“How One Award-Winning Author Thinks About Awards”
https://www.blackgate.com/2015/09/24/how-one-award-winning-author-thinks-about-awards/

“The Series Series: Tales from Rugosa Coven by, Um, Me”
https://www.blackgate.com/2013/11/14/the-series-series-tales-from-rugosa-coven-by-um-me/

Teaching and Fantasy Literature:

“All Hail the Library of Congress”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/06/13/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-all-hail-the-library-of-congress/

“Or Should That Be Teaching Versus Fantasy Literature?”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/05/29/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-or-should-that-be-teaching-versus-fantasy-literature/

“Or Maybe It Can’t Be Toned Down”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/05/23/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-or-maybe-it-cant-be-toned-down/

“Battles, Reluctance, and Service to the Sea of Stories”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/05/09/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-battles-reluctance-and-service-to-the-sea-of-stories/

“Revenge of Son of Writing Fantasy Heroes”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/05/02/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-revenge-of-son-of-writing-fantasy-heroes/

“More on Writing Fantasy Heroes”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/04/25/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-more-on-writing-fantasy-heroes/

“Writing Fantasy Heroes”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/04/19/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-2/

“Is This Big Fat Fantasy Epic a Tax-Deductible Business Expense?”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/04/11/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-is-this-big-fat-fantasy-epic-a-tax-deductible-business-expense/

“How to Rehabilitate a Readicidal Maniac”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/04/04/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-how-to-rehabilitate-a-readicidal-maniac/

“Heroic Struggle and the Taxonomy of Meanies”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/03/13/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-heroic-struggle-and-the-taxonomy-of-meanies/

“Taking the SAT? Montag to the Rescue!”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/03/07/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-taking-the-sat-montag-to-the-rescue/

“So I Guess It’s My Blind Spot, Too”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/02/28/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-so-i-guess-its-my-blind-spot-too/

“Babe the Barbarian (Ruth, That Is)”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/02/21/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-babe-the-barbarian-ruth-that-is/

“Weird Things My Students Have Been Told About Writers”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/02/14/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-weird-things-my-students-have-been-told-about-writers/

“The Strange and Mysterious Unit”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/02/07/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-the-strange-and-mysterious-unit/

“When All Stories Were Fantasy Stories”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/01/31/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-when-all-stories-were-fantasy-stories/

“Stephen King’s On Writing

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/01/24/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-stephen-kings-on-writing/

“Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads in Them”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/01/17/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-imaginary-gardens-with-real-toads-in-them/

“Assignments and Other Artificial Emergencies”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/01/10/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-assignments-and-other-artificial-emergencies/

“Beren and Luthien Raided the Fortress of Angband, and No One Will Get This Lousy T-Shirt”

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/01/03/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-beren-and-luthien-raided-the-fortress-of-angband-and-no-one-will-get-this-lousy-t-shirt/

“Beginner’s Mind in Hobbiton”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/12/27/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-beginners-mind-in-hobbiton/

“Do as I Say, Not as I Do (Until I Do because of You)”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/12/20/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-do-as-i-say-not-as-i-do-until-i-do-because-of-you/

“More on Writing, and Teaching, on Your Feet”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/12/13/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-more-on-writing-and-teaching-on-your-feet/

“Some Dubious Ideas and Some Good That Came of Them”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/12/06/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-some-dubious-ideas-and-some-good-that-came-of-them/

“Whatever Became of That Kid?”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/11/28/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-whatever-became-of-that-kid/

“Hefting the Dramatist’s Toolkit”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/11/22/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-hefting-the-dramatists-toolkit/

“Sometimes the Magic Works”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/11/15/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-sometimes-the-magic-works/

“Breaking and Entering in the House of John Gardner”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/11/08/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-breaking-and-entering-in-the-house-of-john-gardner/

“Escape as Homecoming”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/10/31/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-escape-as-homecoming/

“Before They Even Get to the Invented Languages”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/10/24/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-before-they-even-get-to-the-invented-languages/

“Murphy’s Law (Pedagogical Corollaries)”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/10/17/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-murphys-law-pedagogical-corollaries/

“Hazards of Teaching Cool Stuff You Love in a Classroom”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/10/11/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-hazards-of-teaching-cool-stuff-you-love-in-a-classroom/

“The Once and Probably Not Future Mythology Class”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/09/26/teaching-and-fantasy-literature/

“Meeting Them Halfway”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/09/19/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-meeting-them-halfway/

“The Hunger Games and the SAT”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/09/13/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-the-hunger-games-and-the-sat/

“How to Use Your Proud Geek Heritage to Survive The Scarlet Letter”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/09/06/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-how-to-use-your-proud-geek-heritage-to-survive-the-scarlet-letter/

“The Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Teens (Part II)”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/08/29/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-the-years-best-science-fiction-and-fantasy-for-teens-part-ii/

“The Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Teens (Part I)”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/08/22/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-the-years-best-science-fiction-and-fantasy-for-teens-part-i/

“Uses of Terrible Comic Adaptations”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/08/15/teaching-and-fantasy-literature-uses-of-terrible-comic-adaptations/

“For the Resolute at New Year’s: Promises, Process, and Progress”

https://www.blackgate.com/2012/01/11/for-the-resolute-at-new-years-promises-process-and-progress/

“In Which I Knowingly Assign the Worst Short Story in the History of Sword and Sorcery”

https://www.blackgate.com/2011/08/03/teaching-fantasy-ii-in-which-i-knowingly-assign-the-worst-short-story-in-the-history-of-sword-and-sorcery/

“Rewards, Backfires, Escapes”

https://www.blackgate.com/2011/05/02/teaching-fantasy-part-1-rewards-backfires-escapes/

Book Reviews:

Teenage Space Mercenary by M. Harold Page
https://www.blackgate.com/2022/06/24/exploring-complex-human-themes-by-blowing-up-in-space-teenage-space-mercenary-by-m-harold-page/

The Ever-Expanding Universe by Martin Leicht and Isla Neal
https://www.blackgate.com/2016/06/28/the-series-series-the-ever-expanding-universe-by-martin-leicht-and-isla-neal-2/

Guile by Constance Cooper
https://www.blackgate.com/2016/05/05/the-series-series-guile-by-constance-cooper/

The Pagan Night by Tim Akers
https://www.blackgate.com/2016/03/02/the-series-series-the-pagan-night-by-tim-akers/

Shards of Heaven by Michael Livingston
https://www.blackgate.com/2016/01/28/the-series-series-shards-of-heaven-by-michael-livingston/

The Girl with Ghost Eyes by M.H. Boroson
https://www.blackgate.com/2016/01/05/the-series-series-the-girl-with-ghost-eyes-by-m-h-boroson/

Knight’s Shadow by Sebastien de Castell
https://www.blackgate.com/2015/07/04/the-series-series-knights-shadow-by-sebastien-de-castell/

Shieldwall: Barbarians! by M. Harold Page
https://www.blackgate.com/2015/06/06/the-series-series-shieldwall-barbarians-by-m-harold-page/

Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst
https://www.blackgate.com/2015/02/13/the-series-series-what-you-mean-sarah-beth-dursts-conjured-is-a-stand-alone/

The Wide World’s End by James Enge
https://www.blackgate.com/2015/01/25/the-series-series-the-wide-worlds-end-by-james-enge/

American Craftsmen by Tom Doyle
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/12/30/the-series-series-american-craftsmen-by-tom-doyle/

Clariel by Garth Nix
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/12/11/the-series-series-clariel-by-garth-nix/

The Godless by Ben Peek
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/11/07/the-series-series-the-godless-by-ben-peek/

Diviners by Libba Bray
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/09/26/the-series-series-diviners-by-libba-bray/

Quintessence by David Walton
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/08/22/the-series-series-quintessence-by-david-walton/

Sword of the Bright Lady by M.C. Planck
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/08/05/the-series-series-sword-of-the-bright-lady-by-m-c-planck/

The Night of the Swarm by Robert V.S. Redick
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/07/18/the-series-series-the-night-of-the-swarm-by-robert-v-s-redick/

Traitor’s Blade by Sebastien de Castell
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/06/21/the-series-series-traitors-blade-by-sebastien-de-castell/

Dreamweaver Road by Kelly Ann Jacobson
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/06/01/the-series-series-dreamweaver-road-by-kelly-ann-jacobson/

Cursed by S.J. Harper
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/05/19/the-series-series-cursed-by-s-j-harper/

Irenicon by Aidan Harte
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/05/02/the-series-series-irenicon-by-aidan-harte/

The Barrow by Mark Smylie
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/04/18/the-series-series-the-barrow-by-mark-smylie-2/

Forever in the Memory of God and Other Stories by Peadar O Guilin
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/04/03/the-series-series-forever-in-the-memory-of-god-and-other-stories-by-peadar-o-guilin/

Blood and Iron by Jon Sprunk
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/03/22/the-series-series-blood-and-iron-by-jon-sprunk/

The End Is Nigh: The Apocalypse Triptych, edited by John Joseph Adams and Hugh Howey
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/02/20/the-series-series-the-end-is-nigh-the-apocalypse-triptych-edited-by-john-joseph-adams-and-hugh-howey/

Marshal Versus the Assassins by M. Harold Page
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/02/06/the-series-series-marshal-versus-the-assassins-by-m-harold-page/

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/01/24/the-series-series-the-bone-season-by-samantha-shannon/

Heart of Briar by Laura Anne Gilman
https://www.blackgate.com/2014/01/09/the-series-series-heart-of-briar-by-laura-anne-gilman/

The Shadow’s Heir by K.J. Taylor
https://www.blackgate.com/2013/12/27/the-series-series-the-shadows-heir-by-k-j-taylor/

Seven Forges by James A. Moore
https://www.blackgate.com/2013/12/12/the-series-series-seven-forges-by-james-a-moore/

Mage’s Blood by David Hair
https://www.blackgate.com/2013/10/17/the-series-series-mages-blood-by-david-hair/

Blood of Tyrants by Naomi Novik
https://www.blackgate.com/2013/10/03/the-series-series-naomi-noviks-latest-novel-of-temeraire/

The Unexpected Enlightenment of Rachel Griffin by L. Jagi Lamplighter

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/10/01/the-series-series-the-unexpected-enlightenment-of-rachel-griffin-by-l-jagi-lamplighter/

Wrath-Bearing Tree by James Enge

https://www.blackgate.com/2013/09/19/57426/