The Functional Nerds Podcast

This week, Patrick and Tracy welcome Nicky Drayden, author of ESCAPING EXODUS! About ESCAPING EXODUS: Earth is a distant memory. Habitable extrasolar planets are still out of reach. For generations, humanity has been clinging to survival by establishing colonies within enormous vacuum-breathing space beasts and mining their resources to the point of depletion. Rash, dreamy, and unconventional, Seske Kaleigh should be preparing for her future role as clan leader, but her people have just culled their latest beast, and she’s eager to find the cause of the violent tremors plaguing their new home. Defying social barriers, Seske teams up with her best friend, a beast worker, and ventures into restricted areas for answers to end the mounting fear and rumors. Instead, they discover grim truths about the price of life in the void. Then, Seske is unexpectedly thrust into the role of clan matriarch, responsible for thousands of lives in a harsh universe where a single mistake can be fatal. Her claim to the throne is challenged by a rival determined to overthrow her and take control—her intelligent, cunning, and confident sister. Seske may not be a born leader like her sister, yet her unorthodox outlook and incorruptible idealism may be what the clan needs to save themselves and their world. About Nicky Drayden: Nicky Drayden is a Systems Analyst who dabbles in prose when she’s not buried in code. She resides in Austin, Texas where being weird is highly encouraged, if not required. Her award-winning novel THE PREY OF GODS is set in a futuristic South Africa brimming with demigods, robots, and hallucinogenic hijinks, and with her new novel ESCAPING EXODUS, she’ll be taking her weirdness off-world to a civilization living inside the gut of moon-sized space beast. See more of her work at http://www.nickydrayden.com or catch her on twitter @nickydrayden. This week’s picks: * Nicky: Hand Writing Letters to Friends + Journaling / Passion Planners * Tracy: Knox (Serial Box) Links: * Nicky Drayden on Twitter * Tracy Townsend on Twitter * Patrick Hester on Twitter * The Functional Nerds Patreon Page © 2021 Patrick Hester

This week, Patrick and Tracy welcome Travis Heermann, whose novel Tokyo Blood Magic is out now! About Tokyo Blood Magic: When Django Wong, a modern-day ninja turned sorcerer, takes a job to track down a newly Awakened witch, he discovers that his target is not only his lost love, but now she’s an enforcer for the Black Lotus Clan, a ruthless yakuza syndicate. But time can change a person. Is she the girl who used to love him, a yakuza slave, or a deadly black witch? With a smart-mouthed magical house cat as his ally, Django must protect her from other Hunter-Seekers sent to kill her until he can learn the truth of her allegiance. And not only that, if he can’t stop her from stealing a powerful magical relic, the Black Lotus Clan will launch a bloodbath in Shinjuku’s streets. About Travis Heermann: Freelance writer, novelist, award-winning screenwriter, editor, poker player, poet, biker, roustabout, Travis Heermann is a graduate of the Odyssey Writing Workshop and the author of Tokyo Blood Magic, The Hammer Falls, The Ronin Trilogy, and co-author of Death Wind, plus short fiction pieces in anthologies and magazines such as Straight Outta Deadwood, Apex Magazine, Alembical, the Fiction River anthology series, Historical Lovecraft, and Cemetery Dance’s Shivers VII. As a freelance writer, he has produced a metric ton of role-playing game work both in print and online, including the Firefly Roleplaying Game, Battletech, Legend of Five Rings, d20 System, and the MMORPG, EVE Online. He has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, a Master of Arts in English, and teaches science fiction literature at the University of Nebraska Omaha. He has presented workshops on writing and publishing at the Odyssey Writing Workshop, Lighthouse Writers Workshop, Pike’s Peak Writers Conference, and Colorado Gold Writers Conference, and regularly appears at conventions across the U.S. He enjoys cycling, martial arts, torturing young minds with otherworldly ideas, and monsters of every flavor, especially those with a soft, creamy center. He has three long-cherished dreams: a produced screenplay, a NYT best-seller, and a seat in the World Series of Poker. This week’s picks: * Travis: What The Hell Did I Just Read by David Wong * Tracy: Batman: Hush (Graphic Novel) Links: * Travis Heermann on Twitter * Tracy Townsend on Twitter * Patrick Hester on Twitter * The Functional Nerds Patreon Page © 2021 Patrick Hester

This week, Patrick and Tracy welcome Greta Kelly, whose debut novel THE FROZEN CROWN is out now! About THE FROZEN CROWN: Askia became heir to the Frozen Crown of Seravesh because of her devotion to her people. But her realm is facing a threat she cannot defeat by sheer will alone. The mad emperor of the Roven Empire has unleashed a horde of invading soldiers to enslave her lands. For months, her warriors have waged a valiant, stealth battle, yet they cannot stop the enemy’s advancement. Running out of time, she sets sail for sun-drenched Vishir, the neighboring land to the south, to seek help from its ruler, Emperor Armaan. A young woman raised in army camps, Askia is ill-equipped to navigate Vishir’s labyrinthine political games. Her every move sinks her deeper into court intrigues which bewilder and repel her, leaving her vulnerable not only to enemies gathering at Vishir’s gates, but to those behind the palace walls. And in this glittering court, where secrets are worth more than gold, Askia fears that one false step will expose her true nature. For Askia is a witch gifted with magical abilities—knowledge that could destroy not only her life but her people. As her adversaries draw closer, Askia is forced to make an impossible choice—and no matter what she decides, it may not be enough to prevent Seravesh’s fall. About Greta Kelly: Greta K. Kelly is (probably) not a witch, death or otherwise, but she can still be summoned with offerings of too-beautiful-to-use journals and Butterfingers candy. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her husband EJ, daughter Lorelei and a cat who may, or may not, control the weather. This week’s picks: * Greta 1: Momofuku Milk Bar: A Cookbook by Christina Tosi * Greta 2: Time to Eat: Delicious Meals for Busy Lives: A Cookbook by Nadiya Hussain * Tracy 1: Space Sweepers (Netflix) * Tracy 2: The Good Place Links: * Greta Kelly on Twitter * Tracy Townsend on Twitter * Patrick Hester on Twitter * The Functional Nerds Patreon Page © 2021 Patrick Hester

In a very special Just Us episode, Patrick and Tracy are talking about The Mandalorian! Tracy’s family, having just finished a binge-watch of both seasons, had thoughts to share. We may also talk about The Clone Wars, the novel Star Wars: Ahoska, and about the strangest recipe for baked spaghetti ever… This episode originally appeared in the patrons-only feed for our backers over at a href=”https://www.patreon.com/functionalnerds?ty=h” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>the Functional Nerds Patreon page. If you like this episode, consider becoming a backer of the show! The $10 tier (and higher tiers) includes these monthly Just Us episodes where Patrick and Tracy let their hair down and nerd-out about stuff. Links: * Tracy Townsend on Twitter * Patrick Hester on Twitter * The Functional Nerds Patreon Page © 2021 Patrick Hester

This week, Patrick and Tracy are LIVE from Capricon, and taking questions from the audience! About Capricon: Capricon is a four-day science fiction convention held annually in the Chicagoland area since 1981. We celebrate the best of science fiction and fantasy, with a focus on literature. We are part of the world-wide fannish community, where diversity is encouraged and all are welcome. During the day, members attend programming on a variety of topics: books, movies, television, anime, space exploration, and science. There’s something for everyone including a special children’s track for our young fans and a teen lounge. Visit the dealer’s room, see the art show and attend the auction, get into gaming, filk, or party all night long! Above all, Capricon is about friends, fandom, and fun. The convention committee is made up entirely of volunteers. We encourage all our members to volunteer some of their time at the convention to make it all happen. Your membership provides you the opportunity to make this the convention you want it to be. Links: * Capricon on Twitter * Tracy Townsend on Twitter * Patrick Hester on Twitter * The Functional Nerds Patreon Page © 2021 Patrick Hester

This week, Patrick and Tracy welcome Ehsan & Shakil Ahmad, co-authors of Unbound: The Wild Sun Book 2. About Unbound: The Wild Sun Book 2: Once kindled, the flames of hope are not easily extinguished. No longer bound to a life of forced labor in the enemy’s mines, Cerrin leads a small band of escaped slaves in search of a new home in the ancient forest where she was born. But freedom is not the same as victory. And death is never far behind. Soldiers of an advanced and ruthless empire are forever at their heels. Leading the pursuit is Count Talazeer, a vicious nobleman driven by a personal vendetta against Cerrin… and a desperate need for redemption in the eyes of his family and his people. Each day of survival is a victory. Turning to fight their enemy remains an impossible dream. And yet, even as death claims them one by one, the former slaves hold fast to faith in their gods and, above all, in Cerrin. And now, Cerrin will discover strange new allies–and enemies–are waiting for her people amidst the forest and beyond the stars. allies–and enemies–are waiting for her people amid the trees and beyond the stars. About Ehsan & Shakil Ahmad: Ehsan and Shakil Ahmad simply love the art of storytelling—as audience or creators. It’s a passion they’ve shared since their childhood, growing up in New York City as the first-generation American children of immigrants from Pakistan. At first, this passion drove the brothers in different directions in life. For Ehsan, it meant traveling across four continents to meet the people of countless cultures and hear their stories firsthand. For Shakil, it meant seeking a deeper understanding of human nature through degrees in psychology and social research. In January 2019, Ehsan and Shakil signed with Uproar Books—the first authors to be offered a contract by the new publisher. Their debut novel Wild Sun launched in May 2019 and will be followed by two more books in the Wild Sun series. Ehsan and his wife welcomed their first child into the world in 2018. Links: * Ehsan & Shakil Ahmad on Twitter * Tracy Townsend on Twitter * Patrick Hester on Twitter * The Functional Nerds Patreon Page © 2021 Patrick Hester

This week, Patrick and Tracy welcome Laurell K. Hamilton, author of Rafael. About Rafael: Rafael, king of the wererats, must fight to the death to defend his crown. He wants Anita Blake, one of his closest allies, with him as he faces an opponent unlike any he’s faced before. He will ask Anita to risk everything to be at his side.… But some of the wererats fear that Rafael depends too much on Anita and her ties to the vampires. They believe that there is only room in America for one supernatural king, and Rafael will turn them into nothing more than food for the bloodsuckers. Among his enemies, a new challenger has arisen who is younger, hungrier, and has dark secrets that could destroy both the wererats and the vampires. Rafael will go into the magical heart of his people to find the power and violence that he needs to save them all, or die trying. About Laurell K. Hamilton: Laurell Kaye Hamilton (born February 19, 1963) is an American multi-genre writer. She is best known as the author of two series of stories, Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter and Merry Gentry. Her New York Times-bestselling Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series centers on Anita Blake, a professional zombie raiser, vampire executioner and supernatural consultant for the police, which includes novels, short story collections, and comic books. Six million copies of Anita Blake novels are in print. Her New York Times-bestselling Merry Gentry series centers on Meredith Gentry, Princess of the Unseelie court of Faerie, a private detective facing repeated assassination attempts. Both fantasy series follow their protagonists as they gain in power and deal with the dangerous “realities” of worlds in which creatures of legend live. Laurell was born in rural Arkansas but grew up in northern Indiana with her grandmother. Her education includes degrees in English and biology from Marion College (now called Indiana Wesleyan University). This week’s picks: * Laurell 1: The Great British Baking Show * Laurell 2: Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series Links: * Laurell K. Hamilton on Twitter * Tracy Townsend on Twitter * Patrick Hester on Twitter * The Functional Nerds Patreon Page © 2021 Patrick Hester

This week, Patrick and Tracy welcome Robert J. Sawyer, author of The Oppenheimer Alternative. About The Oppenheimer Alternative: While J. Robert Oppenheimer and his Manhattan Project team struggle to develop the A-bomb, Edward Teller wants something even more devastating: a bomb based on nuclear fusion?the mechanism that powers the sun. Teller’s research leads to a terrifying discovery: by the year 2030, the sun will eject its outermost layer, destroying the entire inner solar system?including Earth. As the war ends with the use of fission bombs against Japan, Oppenheimer’s team, plus Albert Einstein and Wernher von Braun, stay together?the greatest scientific geniuses from the last century racing against time to save our future. Meticulously researched and replete with real-life characters and events, The Oppenheimer Alternative is a breathtaking adventure through both real and alternate history. About Robert J. Sawyer: Robert J. Sawyer is one of only eight writers ever to win all three of the world’s top awards for best science-fiction novel of the year: the Hugo, the Nebula, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award. He has also won the Robert A. Heinlein Award, the Edward E. Smith Memorial Award, and the Hal Clement Memorial Award; the top SF awards in China, Japan, France, and Spain; and a record-setting sixteen Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Awards (“Auroras”). Rob’s novel FlashForward was the basis for the ABC TV series of the same name, and he was a scriptwriter for that program. He also scripted the two-part finale for the popular web series Star Trek Continues. He is a Member of the Order of Canada, the highest honor bestowed by the Canadian government, as well as the Order of Ontario, the highest honor given by his home province; he was also one of the initial inductees into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. Rob lives just outside Toronto.His website and blog are at sfwriter.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, and Patreon he’s RobertJSawyer. This week’s picks: * Robert: Star Trek Discovery: S3 Finale (CBS All Access) * Tracy: The Beverly Crushers * Patrick: Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band (Hulu) Links: * Robert J. Sawyer on Twitter * Tracy Townsend on Twitter * Patrick Hester on Twitter * The Functional Nerds Patreon Page © 2020 Patrick Hester

This week, Patrick and Tracy welcome Ryan Van Loan, author of The Sin in the Steel. About The Sin in the Steel: Buc and Eld are the first private detectives in a world where pirates roam the seas, mages speak to each other across oceans, mechanical devices change the tide of battle, and earthly wealth is concentrated in the hands of a powerful few. It’s been weeks since ships last returned to the magnificent city of Servenza with bounty from the Shattered Coast. Disaster threatens not just the city’s trading companies but the empire itself. When Buc and Eld are hired to investigate, Buc swiftly discovers that the trade routes have become the domain of a sharp-eyed pirate queen who sinks all who defy her. Now all Buc and Eld have to do is sink the Widowmaker’s ship…. Unfortunately for Buc, the gods have other plans. Unfortunately for the gods, so does Buc. About Ryan Van Loan: Ryan Van Loan is an up and coming Science Fiction and Fantasy author. He started reading his Grandfather’s Reader’s Digest when he was four years old. Soon after, he read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer before eventually discovering science fiction and fantasy through the works of Robin McKinley, Robert Jordan, Stephen King and many more. He moved around a lot in his childhood from Montana to Georgia to Puerto Rico before finally ending up in Pennsylvania. Ryan served six years as a Sergeant in the United States Army Infantry (PA National Guard) where he served on the front lines of Afghanistan. All of that travel got into his blood and Ryan has traveled around the world with his wife, wandering Caribbean island haunts, exploring the palaces and cathedrals of Europe, and hiking with elephants in the rain forests of Southeast Asia. When he’s not traveling Ryan enjoys hiking, soccer (football), tabletop gaming, weightlifting (with his personal best coming from deadlifting three times his body weight), and all things culinary. Ryan’s debut novel, The Sin in the Steel (Tor Books), Book One in the Fall of the Gods series came out on July 21, 2020. Today, Ryan lives in northeastern Pennsylvania with his wife and two dogs where he’s hard at work on his next novel. This week’s picks: * Ryan: The Helm of Midnight by Marina Lostetter * Tracy: Here to Slay: A Strategic Card Game * Patrick: Warrior (HBO Max) Links: * Ryan Van Loan on Twitter * Tracy Townsend on Twitter * Patrick Hester on Twitter * The Functional Nerds Patreon Page © 2020 Patrick Hester

This week, Patrick and Tracy welcome Adam Ward, professional Lego builder and author of Brick x Brick. About Brick x Brick: Join the “Bob Ross of LEGO” in constructing cool creations with this how-to guide that brings legendary builds to life! Looking for something a little more exciting than your average LEGO® guide? You’re in luck! Not only does this spectacular book offer step-by-step instructions for fun builds and crafts, it also includes intriguing trivia, micro challenges, and advice to boost your creative confidence. You’ll also learn all about the author, Adam Ward, a professional artist who hosts the popular YouTube series Brick x Brick–and who wants you to become the best builder you can be. With a difficulty rating provided for each build, this is the perfect pick for LEGO® lovers of every skill-level. Get ready to make a masterpiece! About Adam Ward: Adam is a multi-hyphenate artist who resides in Los Angeles. As a visual artist, he works primarily in LEGO. He has loved playing with LEGO since he was a little afro-having, only child growing up in the tundras of Minnesota. Now he’s taller, his fro is shorter, and he still plays with the same bricks. His talents as an artist have lead him to a natural partnership with the ever-so-popular-and-lovely YouTube channel, SoulPancake, where he has become the “Bob Ross of LEGO”. He has created major installations for Zappos, The Oscars, Tumblr, Warner Bros., Genentech, and more. His work has been featured in several magazines, such as Dwell and the LEGO centric, BLOCKS; as well as Oprah.com and Martha Stewart Weddings.com. He’s currently working on large scale collaborations with Nestlé, Microsoft, and as the resident artist at “Bricksburg” where the next several LEGO movies are being made. (Everything is Awesome!) He believes that play and creativity are two of the most important things in life, and strives to play and create everyday. He invites you to as well. This week’s picks: * Adam: Aesop Rock: Spirit World Field Guide * Tracy: Alien Worlds (Netflix) * Corwin: Lego Gunpla * Patrick: Egg Nog (Southern Comfort) Links: * Adam Ward on Instagram * Tracy Townsend on Twitter * Patrick Hester on Twitter * The Functional Nerds Patreon Page © 2020 Patrick Hester

This week, Patrick and Tracy welcome Zig Zag Claybourne, author of Afro Puffs Are the Antennae of the Universe. About Afro Puffs Are the Antennae of the Universe: No one has time for your BS…but Captain Desiree Quicho and her crew of utter badasses surely don’t. Got a universe to save. Again. Commandeer one piece of out-of-this-world tech and suddenly you have an evil billionaire and a corporate queenpin on your ass, factions scrabbling at the power grab to end all power grabs, and an ultimate AI bent on a rampage of healing. All a captain wanted was a little chill time, a few tunes, and quality barbecue. Woe to those blocking her groove. Four women; One machine goddess; a Hellbilly, Saharan elves, the baddest Pacific Octopus this side of Atlantis… and Humanity’s balance tilting toward its biggest unknown future. About Zig Zag Claybourne (also known as Clarence Young): Zig wishes he’d grown up with the powers of either Gary Mitchell or Charlie X but without the Kirk confrontations. (And anybody not getting that Star Trek reference gets their sci fi cred docked 3 points.) The author of The Brothers Jetstream: Leviathan, Neon Lights, Historical Inaccuracies, By All Our Violent Guides, and In the Quiet Spaces (the last two under C.E. Young), he believes a writer can be like an actor, inhabiting a delightful variety of roles and genres, but his heart belongs to science fiction. His fiction and essays have appeared in Vex Mosaic, Alt History 101, The Wayne Review, Flashshot, Reverie Journal, Stupefying Stories, The City (a cyberfunk anthology), UnCommon Origins, Extraordinary Rendition: American Writers on Palestine, Rococoa (sword & soul/steamfunk anthology) anthology. When not writing (or fiddling on Facebook) he loves promoting great art and posing the Great Questions, such as whether or not anybody will ever be funkier than Prince. This week’s picks: * Zig: Klaus (Netflix)) * Tracy: Claim from White Goblin Games * Patrick: The Morning Show – AppleTV+ Links: * Zig Zag Claybourne on Twitter * Tracy Townsend on Twitter * Patrick Hester on Twitter * The Functional Nerds Patreon Page © 2020 Patrick Hester

This week, Patrick and Tracy welcome back long-time friend of the podcast, Gail Carriger, author of the new non-fiction book The Heroine’s Journey: For Writers, Readers, and Fans of Pop Culture. About The Heroine’s Journey: For Writers, Readers, and Fans of Pop Culture: Tired of the hero’s journey? Frustrated that funny, romantic, and comforting stories aren’t taken seriously? Sad that the books and movies you love never seem to be critically acclaimed, even when they sell like crazy? The heroine’s journey is here to help. Multiple New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger presents a clear concise analysis of the heroine’s journey, how it differs from the hero’s journey, and how you can use it to improve your writing and your life. About Gail Carriger: Gail Carriger writes comedies of manners mixed with steampunk and urban fantasy (plus sexy queer joy as G. L. Carriger). Her books include the Parasol Protectorate, Custard Protocol, Tinkered Stars, and San Andreas Shifter series for adults, and the Finishing School series for young adults. Also nonfiction: The Heroine’s Journey: For Writers, Readers, and Fans of Pop Culture. She is published in many languages, has over a million books in print, over a dozen New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, and starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus, and Romantic Times. Her debut made Audible’s Best list, was a Publishers Weekly Best Book, an IndieBound Notable, and a Locus Recommended Read. She has received the ALA’s Alex Award, the Prix Julia Verlanger, the Elbakin Award, the Steampunk Chronicle’s Reader’s Choice Award, and a Starburner Award. She was once an archaeologist and is fond of shoes, cephalopods, and tea. This week’s picks: * Gail: The Gifted (Thai Drama) * Tracy: How to Suppress Women’s Writing by Joanna Russ * Patrick: Dean Winchester singing Dukes of Hazzard with his buddy Lee Links: * Gail Carriger on Twitter * Tracy Townsend on Twitter * Patrick Hester on Twitter * The Functional Nerds Patreon Page © 2020 Patrick Hester

This week, Patrick and Tracy welcome freelance author and literary mercenary Neal F. Litherland. About Neal F. Litherland Neal Litherland is a Northwest Indiana author who works primarily in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. He started his career as a freelancer and ghostwriter in 2008, and it took until 2012 for his fiction to see the light of day under his own name. This week’s picks: * Neal: Online Gaming – RPGs * Tracy: Above and Below – Red Raven Games * Patrick: The Mandalorian Chapter 13 Links: * Neal F. Litherland on Twitter * Tracy Townsend on Twitter * Patrick Hester on Twitter * The Functional Nerds Patreon Page © 2020 Patrick Hester

This week, Patrick and Tracy welcome Kevin Hearne, author of INK & SIGIL: FROM THE WORLD OF THE IRON DRUID CHRONICLES. About INK & SIGIL Al MacBharrais is both blessed and cursed. He is blessed with an extraordinary white moustache, an appreciation for craft cocktails—and a most unique magical talent. He can cast spells with magically enchanted ink and he uses his gifts to protect our world from rogue minions of various pantheons, especially the Fae. But he is also cursed. Anyone who hears his voice will begin to feel an inexplicable hatred for Al, so he can only communicate through the written word or speech apps. And his apprentices keep dying in peculiar freak accidents. As his personal life crumbles around him, he devotes his life to his work, all the while trying to crack the secret of his curse. But when his latest apprentice, Gordie, turns up dead in his Glasgow flat, Al discovers evidence that Gordie was living a secret life of crime. Now Al is forced to play detective—while avoiding actual detectives who are wondering why death seems to always follow Al. Investigating his apprentice’s death will take him through Scotland’s magical underworld, and he’ll need the help of a mischievous hobgoblin if he’s to survive. About XXX Kevin Hearne is an American novelist born and raised in Arizona. Hearne is the author of nine novels published by Del Rey in the fantasy book series The Iron Druid Chronicles, the Seven Kennings trilogy, and co?author of the Tales of Pell with Delilah S. Dawson, plus author of the 2015 Star Wars novel Heir to the Jedi. His latest novel, INK & SIGIL is available now. This week’s picks: * Kevin: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow * Tracy: PS4 MediEvil Remastered * Patrick: NocoNosh Links: * Kevin Hearne on Twitter * Tracy Townsend on Twitter * Patrick Hester on Twitter * The Functional Nerds Patreon Page © 2020 Patrick Hester

This week, Patrick and Tracy welcome writer and managing editor for FIYAH Literary Magazine, Eboni Dunbar, author of STONE AND STEEL. About Stone and Steel: In Stone and Steel, when General Aaliyah returns triumphant to the city of Titus, she expects to find the people prospering under the rule of her Queen, the stone mage Odessa. Instead, she finds a troubling imbalance in both the citizens’ wellbeing and Odessa’s rule. Aaliyah must rely on all of her allies, old and new, to do right by the city that made her. About Eboni Dunbar: Eboni J Dunbar (She/her) is a queer, black woman who writes queer and black speculative fiction. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her partner. She received her BA from Macalester College in English and her MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. She is a VONA Alum, a former associate editor for PodCastle, a managing editor for FIYAH Literary Magazine, and a freelance reviewer. Her work can be found in FIYAH Literary Magazine, Drabblecast, Anathema: Spec from the margins and Nightlight Podcast. She also has a novella out now from Neon Hemlock called Stone and Steel. This week’s picks: * Eboni: The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City * Tracy #1: Stacy Abrams * Tracy #2: Patrick Hester * Patrick: NaNoWriMo Links: * Eboni Dunbar on Twitter * Tracy Townsend on Twitter * Patrick Hester on Twitter * The Functional Nerds Patreon Page © 2020 Patrick Hester