Chelsea Mueller's Blog

There is a real joy in being surrounded by book people. Readers, authors, and librarians filled the room at the Buns and Roses Romance Tea for Literacy this weekend. From the VIP reception—complete with mic pass involving more than one singing author (not me!)—to the keynotes and the book signing, this annual event was packed with the energy that fills the creative well.

Authors Chelsea Mueller, Tracy Wolff, Jessie Mihalik, and Abigail Owen at Buns and Roses 2023 (Photo: Abigail Owen)

Even better, Buns and Roses benefits the Richardson Adult Literacy Center. I absolutely got competitive in their silent auction and won 3 nights at an Airbnb. Winning for charity feels pretty okay.

I pulled together some surprise goodies for readers at this one. If you missed the sneak peek on TikTok or Instagram, I paired Halloween-themed mugs with delicious, small-batch teas from Brutaliteas. Those teas, in addition to being so good, have horror and metal pun names. If there were ever a gift that said “This came from Chelsea Mueller” these little packages were it. My personal favorite was the Chaiday the 13th tea in the “Pick Your Poison” mug.

I continue to ask everyone at signings to let me know what their favorite murders are in the books, because now it’s become a science experiment. Particularly for Prom House. There’s definitely a front runner. 😂

Thank you to everyone who came out to Buns and Roses, and I’m so excited to say I have more book signings scheduled in 2024.

The post Buns and Roses 2023 Recap appeared first on Chelsea Mueller, Author.

While I’ve been plotting away at several new novels—YA horror, adult horror, and adult fantasy are all in the works!—I’ve also been writing more short fiction. I’m delighted to share my story “Hibernation Heirloom” published in The Sunday Morning Transport this weekend.

If you’ve ever been so exhausted you just wanted to walk off into the woods, this short story is for you. “Hibernation Heirloom” is a bearskin retelling that finds a postpartum mom transforming to find herself again. Basically, this one is for the mamas, the fabulists, and anyone who could seriously use a break. I got you.

Here’s the opening to get a feel of this free story:

The sun rioted outside the kitchen window, announcing a new day. Cady ignored its demand for attention. Baby Emily was on her hip, happily mouthing the edge of her shirt, cooing in delight. She didn’t need to do the sleep math. Cady did all that for everyone.

Baby had snoozed on Mama and in her crib fourteen hours that day. Cady’s husband, Jack, stumbled into the kitchen, lamenting his fatigue after a solid nine hours of rest in a cozy bed. His offers to help had gone from persistent to nonexistent in the last few weeks. Cady had a collective three hours and fifteen minutes of shut-eye, if she counted the times she nodded off while nursing the babe.

Had Cady’s mother ever fallen asleep like this? The dropped connection clawed at her chest. Her mother had passed years ago, but fresh grief found her in recent weeks. That afternoon, while Baby napped for nearly an hour, Cady sought the scrap of bearskin her mother had left her. The cancer hadn’t been quick. So the placement in the hope chest—the one she insisted Cady take when hospice was imminent—was purposeful. Tucked behind photo albums and under the blanket Great-Aunt Gladys had crocheted was a hide no wider than her forearm. The fur was clean and soft. A small note in her mother’s looping handwriting was taped to the back: When your burden becomes too much, place this on your shoulders and let it bear the weight.

“Hibernation Heirloom” by Chelsea Mueller. Published by The Sunday Morning Transport on June 4, 2023.

READ THE FULL STORY

“Hibernation Heirloom” is The Sunday Morning Transport’s free story for June. So you do not need to be a subscriber to read the whole thing. Better yet, because y’all know me, I have a special link that will give you a 60-day free subscription. In the event you want to dig into some of the other great stories there. A few of my recent favorites are Kat Howard’s “Unreal City,” Sarah Gailey’s “Such an Honor,” and Laura Anne Gilman’s “Answering the Call.”

The post New Story! Read “Hibernation Heirloom” for free appeared first on Chelsea Mueller, Author.

I’ve been sharing so much fiction content lately (👀 Cloud Nine), but I miss gushing about all things pop culture. I was absolutely delighted to be asked to contribute to the Andor issue of Journey Planet.

That’s right, an entire issue dedicated to talking about the Disney+ streaming show Andor. It expanded the Star Wars universe, gave us new viewpoints, and inspired quite a bit of fan fiction. Issue No. 69 of Journey Planet covers so much of that continued conversation with great content from: James Mason, Tony Peak, Alissa Wales, Richard B. Wood, Brenda Noiseux, John Foster, Carrie Vaughn, Hannah Strom-Martin, Alexis Taylor-Butler, Kenneth Taylor-Butler, Michael Carroll, Iain Clark, Rich Horton, James Bacon, Ed Laz, John Coxon, Mary McGrath, Dan Hartland, Joelle Renstrom, Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, and Erin Underwood.

On page 13, you’ll find my essay “Andor: Real People and the Rebellion” exploring how Andor exposes the real people behind the rebellion and the value in enhancing Star Wars by showing us the real impact on those who can’t wield the Force.

Journey Planet Issue No. 69. Cover art by Iain J. Clarke

You can download the full issue of Journey Planet for free now!

The post Read “Andor: Real People and the Rebellion” in the latest issue of Journey Planet! appeared first on Chelsea Mueller, Author.

We’ve made it to 2023, and that means first looks, new books, and chances to hang out. I’m all about that new year goodness.

Cloud Nine Giveaway

Cloud Nine comes out on March 7. It’s packed with snark and chemistry and a breakneck pace. While it’d make me very happy if you preordered a copy from your local indie—Murder by the Book, Patchouli Joe’s, and Third Place Books are a few of my favorites—there is a giveaway running right now! There’s a chance to win one of five print copies over at Goodreads. I’ll drop the widget below. Make sure to enter by January 10!

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Giveaway ends January 10, 2023.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter GiveawayWhat I’m Working On

If you follow me on TikTok or Instagram, you’ll have seen both a) I’m doing more video content (so I hope you like seeing my face!) and b) I recently read the first paragraph of my fantasy novel Wild Shepherds aloud. Eep. I spent so much time with this book in 2022, and I’m excited for it to find a home in 2023. I’ll share more news there when I can.

I’ve turned my attention to writing another fantasy—this one packed with alchemy, portal magic, and a whole lot of grey choices—and will be jamming on it through January before shifting gears to work on the second Cloud Nine book. I will likely serialize it before publishing it. So it’s a great time to follow me on Patreon. 😉

We Should Hang Out

If you have ApollyCon on your agenda, I will be there in April. (Here’s the ApollyCon preorder form if you want to make sure you get the titles you most want.) If there’s a convention you’d love to see me at, please drop a link in the comments or contact me.

The post 2023 Update: Giveaway and What’s Next appeared first on Chelsea Mueller, Author.

If you’ve found your way to this blog you probably already know I love scenes that pack an emotional punch. You’ve probably also picked up on that I like a good fight scene and am delighted to point you to the best steamy reads.

So, naturally, I’m over at the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association* (SFWA) blog talking about both.

SFWA has a new writing craft series focused on the intersection of SFF and romance, and my post 5 Ways Fighting and Kissing Scenes are the Same is part of it.

ROMANCING SFF: 5 Ways Fighting and Kissing Scenes Are the Same

By Chelsea Mueller

There’s significant power in fighting and kissing scenes. When done well, they’re often reader favorites. Look at how readers talk about stories with excellent fights or swoonworthy sex, and you’ll see them call out these scenes specifically. In books that bring violence and romance to the page well, readers may even praise them with the same words, using descriptors such as “powerful” and “heart-pounding” for both. 

KEEP READING AT SFWA.ORG

* If you’re like “I didn’t think that’s what SFWA stood for, you’re probably not wrong! The organization changed its name this month from Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America to the more globally inclusive Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association.

The post Let’s Talk About Fighting and Kissing Scenes appeared first on Chelsea Mueller, Author.

Delighted to see Publisher’s Weekly chose to review Casual Conversations About Love and Murder…and LIKED IT.

In part they said:

“Emma’s righteous anger, frustration, and determination are palpable, making for a take-charge heroine. Mueller’s winding thriller will enthrall.“

You can read the full review online or in the print edition of Publisher’s Weekly.

…and if you haven’t yet snagged your copy of Casual Conversations, please give a try. Your local indie can order it and it’s available at the usual suspects like Amazon and B&N.

The post Publisher’s Weekly says Casual Conversations “will enthrall.” Woohoo! appeared first on Chelsea Mueller, Author.

Casual Conversations About Love and Murder is officially out today. You can get print or ebooks at your favorite bookseller (I’ve linked to a few below to make everyone’s lives easier). I love this book and am so excited to hear what y’all think.

If you like:

Small-town mysteryFriendship breakupsBut also! Friendship feels Hot, loner guysMurderKissingTwists

Then Casual Conversations About Love and Murder is likely your jam.

It’s a YA thriller that pulls heavily adopts both romance and horror elements. So—twists, kissing, murder—all the good, soapy stuff. Several early readers have said it’s a great book for those who love Veronica Mars, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, and Heathers.

Amazon B&N Bookshop Kobo Murder by the Book Books-A-Million

The post Casual Conversations About Love and Murder is out today! appeared first on Chelsea Mueller, Author.

Every time I talk about Casual Conversations About Love and Murder, I describe it as a friendship breakup book…but one of the friends is dead. And it’s that, but it’s also a murder mystery, a kissing book, and an ode to friendship. How very Heathers meets Veronica Mars, right?

So, yeah, I love it.

If you’ve missed the news, this latest YA thriller will hit bookshops and reading devices on Feb. 1, 2022. Full details at the end of this post or you’re welcome to add it to your Goodreads TBR right now.

Can’t wait for February to read my next YA murder book? You’re in luck. I’ve got a virtual stack of advanced reading copies for those who are interested in reading early and sharing an honest review online.

Fill out the form below to be put on the review list for Casual Conversations.

Loading…ABOUT CASUAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LOVE AND MURDER

Here’s more on Casual Conversations About Love and Murder and the killer cover art by Murphy Rae:

What would you do if your best friend died? What if she’d betrayed you hours earlier?

Emma’s nights are haunted by the twisted sight of her friend’s body in Stone Lake. Others in the sleepy town of Camber slap an accident label on the death and call it a day. Emma can’t. It hurts too much to leave it alone.

Proving the drowning was murder isn’t easy. The sheriff stonewalls her, her friends want her to leave it alone, and her parents are too busy bickering to worry over much else.

Cole’s mistrust for corporations and government hasn’t made him many friends in town, but his willingness to believe Emma makes him her strongest ally. Together they’ll dig into the town’s past—and their own—to get to the truth.

Even if it brings more danger to their doorsteps.

GoodreadsAmazonBarnes & NobleKobo

The post Reviewer Call! Who wants an advanced copy of Casual Conversations About Love and Murder? appeared first on Chelsea Mueller, Author.

I’ve received emails and DMs for years asking when you’d be able to listen to the Soul Charmer books on audio, and I finally have a good answer! All three Soul Charmer novels will be available as audiobooks exclusively on Scribd, and the first one releases today.

Soul Charmer Audiobook Release DatesBorrowed Souls – Oct. 12 (today!)Rogue Souls – Oct. 26Lost Souls – Nov. 9

Scribd is a subscription platform for unlimited books, audiobooks, and more. Don’t have a subscription yet? You can get a two-month free trial here…and, yes, that is long enough to listen to all three Soul Charmer books if you hustle. 😉

Start Listening to Borrowed Souls Now

And if audio is your jam, you can also listen to Prom House on all other standard audiobook vendors including Libro.fm and Audible.

ABOUT BORROWED SOULS

A young woman with a brother who can’t stay out of trouble dives head first into the grimy world of soul renting in this action-packed and sexy urban fantasy debut.

Callie Delgado always puts family first, and unfortunately her brother knows it. She’s emptied her savings, lost work, and spilled countless tears trying to keep him out of trouble, but now he’s in deeper than ever, and his debt is on Callie’s head. She’s given a choice: do some dirty work for the mob, or have her brother returned to her in tiny pieces.

Renting souls is big business for the religious population of Gem City. Those looking to take part in immoral—or even illegal—activity can borrow someone else’s soul, for a price, and sin without consequence.

To save her brother, Callie needs a borrowed soul, but she doesn’t have anywhere near the money to pay for it. The slimy Soul Charmer is willing to barter, but accepting his offer will force Callie into a dangerous world of magic she isn’t ready for.

With the help of the guarded but undeniably attractive Derek—whose allegiance to the Charmer wavers as his connection to Callie grows—she’ll have to walk a tight line, avoid pissing off the bad guys, all while struggling to determine what her loyalty to her family’s really worth.

Losing her brother isn’t an option. Losing her soul? Maybe.

The post Borrowed Souls is now out in audiobook! appeared first on Chelsea Mueller, Author.

I love getting reader mail, and Prom House has brought out some seriously fun notes from y’all. Seeing people who adored Fear Street novels in their teen years finding comfort in returning to new slasher thriller fun is great. Those teen readers getting their first taste of fast-paced, stabby fun? Even better.

This week I was tagged on Instagram in a fan-made trailer from The Reader and The Chef, and it’s so perfect I had to share with everyone. They also reviewed the book and are participating in an international giveaway of the book, which you can check out here.

https://thereaderandthechef.tumblr.com/post/662247142925156352/fanmade-prom-house-book-trailer

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