Why am I passionate about this?

I am a hybrid author (both traditionally and independently published), mother of one kid and three cats, and an avid gamer. I’ve been doing the publishing thing since 2012 though I’ve been writing for much longer than that. I have an advanced degree in Medieval Literature and still read things in Middle English for fun.


I wrote

An Unkindness of Ravens

By Jeanette Battista,

Book cover of An Unkindness of Ravens

What is my book about?

I have not (yet!) had Death as a character, though I suspect that I will one day. My…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Reaper Man

Jeanette Battista Why did I love this book?

I got this book in the airport on my way back from a summer spent in England studying King Arthur (both the legend and the historical figure). Reaper Man was my introduction to Pratchett and I am grateful every day that I chose this and not the book on the fall of Rome that was also in the running for my attention. Pratchett’s Death is a delight, especially in this outing where he has lost his job and takes up work on a farm to help bring in the harvest. Unfortunately, his absence causes all kinds of problems (at least until a new Death is created to take his position) and ends up involving an undead wizard, a support group for various monsters, and a sentient compost heap. Also Death rides a horse named Binky! Equal turns hilarious and biting, Reaper Man is still one of my comfort reads.

By Terry Pratchett,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Reaper Man as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

One of the "Discworld" humorous fantasy series. Death is missing. Dead Rights activist Reg Shoe suddenly has more work than he'd ever dreamed of, and newly-deceased wizard Windle Poons wakes up in his coffin to find that he has come back as a corpse.


Book cover of Season of Mists

Jeanette Battista Why did I love this book?

Season of Mists is my favorite of Gaiman’s graphic novels from his stellar Sandman run. Death, Dream’s older sister, appears at the end of the first arc and proved to be a fan favorite from that first on-page appearance. She’s a lovely, sweet, and utterly kind incarnation of the boundary that severs this life from whatever comes after. Gaiman creating a comforting presence out of an idea that terrifies most people. She’s charming in this installment, forcing her brother to face his misdeeds with compassion and honesty. It’s no wonder she is one of the only people in his family that Dream listens to!

By Neil Gaiman, Kelley Jones (illustrator), Malcolm Jones, III (illustrator) , Mike Dringenberg (illustrator) , Dick Giordano (illustrator) , George Pratt (illustrator) , Matt Wagner (illustrator) , P. Craig Russell (illustrator)

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Season of Mists as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Ten thousand years ago, Morpheus condemned a woman who loved him to Hell. Now the other members of his immortal family, The Endless, have convinced the Dream King that this was an injustice. To make it right, Morpheus must return to Hell to rescue his banished love and Hell s ruler, the fallen angel Lucifer, has already sworn to destroy him. Collects THE SANDMAN #21-28.


Book cover of The Book Thief

Jeanette Battista Why did I love this book?

Do you want to be destroyed by a book? This one’s for you! I bought this novel the day it came out after hearing one line read in a television interview. I knew I had to read the rest of it. Death narrates the events of The Book Thief and his perspective is by turns haunting and humbling. The story focuses on a girl growing up in World War II (she is the book thief of the title) and the times Death checks in on her after their first “meeting.” The last line of the book still gives me chills to this day.

By Markus Zusak,

Why should I read it?

32 authors picked The Book Thief as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

'Life affirming, triumphant and tragic . . . masterfully told. . . but also a wonderful page-turner' Guardian
'Brilliant and hugely ambitious' New York Times
'Extraordinary' Telegraph
___

HERE IS A SMALL FACT - YOU ARE GOING TO DIE

1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier.
Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall.

SOME IMPORTANT…


Book cover of The Shrike

Jeanette Battista Why did I love this book?

Full disclosure—I spent a huge chunk of my growing up watching Westerns. From Wild Wild West, the television show my mother loved to watch on Saturday nights when I was really little, to my foray into every Spaghetti Western Clint Eastwood ever made, to Firefly, I love Westerns. This graphic novel combines that genre with a smidge of horror to craft a beautiful story about love, Death, and the bad choices that are made because of both. It introduces Deathface Ginny, the daughter of Death himself. Pretty Deadly melds mythology and folklore, the story bolstered by arresting visuals and epic fight sequences. Absolutely gorgeous!

By Kelly Sue DeConnick, Emma Rios (artist),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Shrike as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

Kelly Sue DeConnick (Avengers Assemble, Captain Marvel) and Emma Rios (Dr. Strange, Osborn) present the collected opening arc of their surprise-hit series that marries the magical realism of Sandman with the western brutality of Preacher. Death's daughter rides the wind on a horse made of smoke and her face bears the skull marks of her father. Her origin story is a tale of retribution as beautifully lush as it is unflinchingly savage.

"It's a perfect match for the gorgeous, dizzying artwork in a sumptuous palette-overlaid panels add intricate choreography to fight scenes, and detailed, whirling splash pages beg for long-lingering…


Book cover of On a Pale Horse

Jeanette Battista Why did I love this book?

This is the first in his Incarnations of Immortality and I read this book when I was likely in middle school. While I was disappointed in later books in the series, On a Pale Horse still holds up pretty well. An ordinary guy shoots Death and then must take up his mantle. He has no idea how to do the job. While not laugh out loud funny, like Pratchett, Pale Horse has its moments of humor—the scene where Death collects the soul of an atheist comes to mind. It asks the questions about what life means, examines what might happen in the afterlife, and wonders if death/Death is really something to fear.

By Piers Anthony,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked On a Pale Horse as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In this first novel of the Incarnations of Immortality, Piers Anthony combines a gripping story of romance and conflicting loyalties with a deeply moving examination of the meaning of life and death. This is a novel that will long linger in the reader's mind. 

Shooting Death was a mistake, as Zane soon discovered. For the man who killed the Incarnation of Death was immediately forced to assume the vacant position! Thereafter, he must speed over the world, riding his pale horse, and ending the lives of others. 

Zane was forced to accept his unwelcome task, despite the rules that seemed…


Explore my book 😀

An Unkindness of Ravens

By Jeanette Battista,

Book cover of An Unkindness of Ravens

What is my book about?

I have not (yet!) had Death as a character, though I suspect that I will one day. My books range from YA to adult fantasy novels, usually with something supernatural in them. I’ve written werecreatures of all types, ghosts, demons, with a dragon or two sprinkled in here and there.

This book may not have Death in it, but it has plenty of the lowercase kind. An Unkindness of Ravens centers on Denevah, a poisonous girl whose very touch can kill. She’s been created for one thing—vengeance—and she’s about to be unleashed on a city that doesn’t even know she exists.

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Twelve Palominos

By Joe Kilgore,

Book cover of Twelve Palominos

Joe Kilgore Author Of Misfortune’s Wake

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

In a previous career, I traveled extensively to many parts of the world. I always found new cultures, old traditions, strange languages, and exotic environments fascinating. Perhaps even more fascinating, were the expats I found who had traded in their home country for an existence far from where they were born and different from how they were reared. In many instances, I’ve attempted to incorporate—in Heinlein’s words—this stranger in a strange land motif in my work. It always seems to heighten my interest. I hope the reader’s as well. 

Joe's book list on expat adventures

What is my book about?

San Diego Private Investigator, Brig Ellis, is hired by a wealthy industrialist to help him acquire the final horse in a set of twelve palomino miniatures that once belonged to the last Emperor of China. What begins as a seemingly reasonable assignment quickly morphs into something much more malevolent.

The gumshoe has to deal not only with brigands, kidnappers, and commies, but also with the beautiful, enigmatic daughter of the industrialist whose involvement raises the danger level exponentially. As complications and the body count rise, Ellis tries to make sure this ill-fated job won’t be his last.

Twelve Palominos

By Joe Kilgore,

What is this book about?

San Diego Private Investigator, Brig Ellis, is hired by a wealthy industrialist to help him acquire the final horse in a set of twelve palomino miniatures that once belonged to the last Emperor of China. What begins as a seemingly reasonable assignment quickly morphs into something much more sinister. The intrepid gumshoe finds himself having to bargain with brigands, kibitz with kidnappers, clash with commies, and duel with a stone cold assassin incapable of feeling pain. All while navigating potentially deadly pitfalls instigated by his employer's beautiful but enigmatic daughter. Conflict and danger increase at warp speed as Ellis tries…


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