H E X P U B L I S H ER S T A K E O V ER O F T A T T ER ED CO V ER Hex Publishers is Denver’s independent publishing house proudly specializing in genre fiction: horror, science fiction, crime, dark fantasy, comics and any other form that explores the imagination. Founded by writers, Hex values both the author and the reader, with an emphasis on quality, diversity and voices often overlooked by the mainstream. The multi-award winning publisher is taking over the longstanding indie bookstore Tattered Cover (Colfax) January 19th for an evening showcasing their newest books alongside the authors and artists behind them, several of which who have been featured and published in Birdy. Hosted by USA Today bestselling author Carter Wilson, the night will include giveaways, book signing opportunities and the chance to pick the creative minds of Mario Acevedo, Carina Bissett, Hillary Dodge, Sean Eads, Warren Hammond, Angie Hodapp, Nicholas Karpuk, Aaron Lovett, Jeanne C. Stein and Joshua Viola. Read on about the genre-spanning books that will be featured at the event: THE BANE OF YOTO BY JOSHUA VIOLA, MARIO ACEVEDO, AND NICHOLAS KARPUK Some say the Arbitrators existed long before the universe was born. Others believe their dark powers spun the fabric of time itself. They are mystery. But here is truth: After ages of formless existence, the Arbitrators craved physicality once more. Their hunger sparked a great fire — a blaze that found its shape in the form of a dagger capable of transmitting their essence into a living vessel. In their search for a worthy body to inhabit, they destroyed the world of the gentle numah and the combative olokun. But not all was lost. General Vega and his vile olokun warriors enslaved the remaining numah and relocated them to a thriving moon where they were forced to toil in endless strife. Cycles later, two numah brothers, Eon and Yoto, witnessed the slaughter of their parents at Vega’s whim. Eon vowed vengeance, while Yoto sought a timid life in hopes of drawing no attention from their cruel overlords. But when an alien witch dispatches a minion to bury a mystical dagger in Eon’s heart, thereby granting him the Arbitrators’ power and the ability to defeat Vega, it is Yoto who is stabbed. Now, Yoto’s days of cowardice are over. He is transformed into a monstrous creature of tremendous strength and intellect. But will Yoto become the heroic liberator of his people — or the cause of their total annihilation? BLOODMOON: BIRTH OF THE BEAST BY KEITH FERRELL A short story prequel to The Bane of Yoto. Pitiless, merciless and lacking all humility, General Vega has seen countless rivals fall beneath his ruthless claws. His very name sparks terror in the minds of numah and olokun alike. Every villain has an origin story, but few have a beginning as dark as General Vega. Anyone who claims to know the truth about his past are deluding themselves, and even the worst rumors are comfortable lies compared to the sinister reality of Vega’s life. The olokun believe their leader was born to rule worlds. But even they underestimated him. General Vega’s vile ambitions began in the womb. CATS IN QUARANTINE: A CARTOON MEMOIR OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BY MARIO ACEVEDO During the Covid-19 pandemic, award-winning author and artist Mario Acevedo chronicled life in lockdown with a daily cartoon. Cats in Quarantine, a single-panel comic, appeared every day on Acevedo’s social media, and every day, it drew more fans. As the days and weeks stretched to months and years, these sketches became more than a pastime for Acevedo, more than a touchstone for his friends. They became an incisive record of a historical turning point. From toilet paper and vaccines to political pique and social unrest, Cats in Quarantine captured the zeitgeist of the Covid era with Acevedo’s signature humor and keen, observant intelligence. This collection of 300 Cats in Quarantine favorites commemorates the tragic and the absurd, the frustrations, fear and loss that marked a time we might want to forget, but one humanity would do well to remember. CONFESSIONS BY SEAN EADS Nathan Ashcraft knew this morning wasn’t going to be easy. After all, he’s the town funeral director, and he’s coming to work early to meet 29
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