Leigh Harlen | LGBTQ Reads

Today on the site, we’re revealing the cover for A Feast for Flies by Leigh Harlen, a sci-fi space noir releasing from Dancing Star Press on November 14, 2023! Here’s the story:

Zira once had a life. A girlfriend. A favorite bar. A hairstyle. And a secret. But when her father sells her out as a Reader, she has to leave every part of that old life behind. Now she’s forced to work for law enforcement, reading and erasing memories of those who violate the Golden Nova’s few and corruptly enforced laws. She’s hated and feared by everyone who would prefer to keep their memories private and intact. The only thing making her new life bearable is her working partner, Bea, her service dog who has the ability to shut out all the thoughts of the people around her.

When Zira makes the decision to omit a memory from a report to protect a stranger, it arouses suspicion. Suddenly she’s in trouble at work, and a vindictive casino boss and the queen of a massive drug empire are vying to get her under their control. Caught between three corrupt factions and the vacuum of space, can Zira keep her loved ones safe, and be able to live with herself in the end?

And here’s the badass cover, illustrated by Vitalii Ostaschenko!

Buy it: Dancing Star Press

Leigh Harlen is a queer, trans non-binary writer of horror and other dark speculative fiction who lives and works in Seattle. Their debut novella, Queens of Noise (Neon Hemlock Press), and their short fiction collection, Blood Like Garnets (TKO Studios), are available everywhere books are sold.

You can find links to their work at leighharlen.com and follow them on Twitter @LeighHarlen for updates on future publications.

Today on the site I’m pleased to present the cover for Queens of Noise, the newest in Neon Hemlock‘s 2020 novella series, releasing on March 25th. It’s got a nonbinary protag, tons of queer rep, and a battle of the bands, so by law, it absolutely has to rock. Here’s the gist:

In Queens of Noise, Mixi fronts the Mangy Rats, a motley found family of queers, crust punks and werecoyotes. Mixi and their band know they’re gonna win the Battle of the Bands final showdown, no matter what it takes. But to make that happen, they’ll also have to contend with poser goths, murderous chickens, and a bullshit corporate takeover ruining the best bar in town.

And here’s the eye-popping cover by Crystal Araiza!

Order via Kickstarter

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Leigh Harlen is a queer, non-binary writer who lives and works in Seattle with their partner, a very goofy dog named Anya, and a mischief of rats. Their short fiction has appeared in several magazines and anthologies including Pseudopod, Lost Films, and Shoreline of Infinity. Their non-writing hobbies include petting strangers’ dogs and enthusing about bats. Find them online at www.leighharlen.com or follow them on Twitter @LeighHarlen.

Their novella Queens of Noise is part of Neon Hemlock’s 2020 Novella Series.