Black Author Spotlight: Chase Bolling

Welcome to the Black Author Spotlight!

The goal of this segment is to highlight black authors who are often marginalized and ignored in the publishing industry. Black writers usually turn to self-publishing--an already densely populated industry--to have their stories seen, and it is said that we have to work twice as hard to get half of what our white counterparts have. Hopefully, shining a little light on these authors will help to signal boost the work they are putting out there.

Today, I'm highlighting Chase Bolling!

Chase is speculative fiction/urban fiction author and the Managing Editor of SF/For the Culture, creator of the steamy Ballad of Eli and the thrilling epic fantasy series The Vanguard, joining the ranks of African American science fiction authors. Growing up in Bridgeport, Connecticut, with a proud Afro-Indigenous family, Chase marched in protests and canvassed for political campaigns while dealing with the challenges of gang culture and the criminal justice system, channeling a penchant for "being about that life" into his family lineage of activism. A total Blerd, Chase is a fan of anime, like Naruto and Bleach, sci-fi/fantasy books, and geeks out on The Witcher, and The Mandalorian. An avid swordsman, you might find Chase practicing historical martial arts, wearing armor, and choreographing fight scenes for his current work in progress!

Chase's Vanguard Series is a dystopian novel set in present day. A tech wizard has created a device that wipes out all modern weaponry and weapons technology, opening the door to revolutions across the globe. In The Road of Resistance, we zoom in on one such revolution in Connecticut and how Chessed Ilias Freeman, who has prepared for such a time as this, creates a new government with swords, shields, and other medieval weaponry. Chase is currently working on editing the series, but it is available on Amazon now.

My favorite line from RoR: "Let the revolution begin! I don't wanna work today, anyway."

That's a mood. haha

You can visit Chase on Instagram and Twitter!

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If you are a Black author who would like to be in the spotlight, email me the following information at debreneebyrd@gmail.com 

Name or Pen Name

Genre

Website/Blog

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Book (if any) and where to buy

Permission to use photos

February Writing Update & Wednesday Words

 

Happy Wednesday!

We're halfway through the month, so I thought I would pop in on the 3rd Wednesday like I was supposed to last month and say hi.

Last month, I did a preliminary edit of the first half of Fractured Princess. I know when it's my time in the edit queue I might not have the time I need to sit down and get all my edits done, so hopefully what I did will help when I send the original to the editor. The day I had at work yesterday, though, I might just take days off when it is my time. Why not?!

I came across a tweet a week back that really hit hard. It said: "'My child is neurotypical,'" and the line under it said, "Your child used to read all the time but can't focus long enough to do it anymore." Good God, I'm the child. But I'm trying! So, this week I started Chase Bolling's The Road Of Resistance, First Book of The Vanguard Series.

After weapons technology is mysteriously knocked back to the dark ages, America is plunged into chaos! Shades of the Black Wall Street Massacre, and the Trump Riots ensue when the president consigns everyone but the elite to mass incarceration, and forced labor! As martial law strikes a night of protests leads to riots, looting and revolution!

Chessed, an S.C.A loving ex-gang member, dons his armor, hefts his weapons, and declares war on corrupt cops, hate groups, and the nefarious powers of a hostile government! He and his allies must fight to survive if they are going to carve a post-apocalyptic Camelot from their embattled inner-city community!

Chase is the flagship author and Managing Editor of SF/F For the Culture and was the one who pulled me into the mix for Wahida Clark Publishing's Sci-Fi Fantasy imprint. I'm a few pages in, and when I realized what was happening, I thought, "Oh. Oh, wait. Oh, no!" I'm excited to see what happens next. It's swords and shields in modern-day America, and I'm here for it.

In January, it reached #15 in Black & African American Sci-Fi, #84 in Black & African American Fantasy, and #89 in Arthurian Fantasy in the Kindle Store, and that's huge! So, if you're looking for something new to read, I strongly suggest checking out this book.

Have a great rest of your month!