Connor Reads Books

I’m joined by debut author Magnus Attfield to talk about his psychological fantasy novel 'Bonekeeper' explores coercion, dominance, abusive relationships, and the brutal idea that you can become “evil” without ever being taught what evil means.  We also get personal about the writing journey behind the book: the early moment Magnus realized he could move a room with a story, the years wh...

I’m joined by author, publisher, and narrator Mike Jack Stoumbos, the force behind Wonderbird Press and the Unhelpful Encyclopedia series, to talk through the real decisions that shape an indie release: editing timelines, illustration workload, reward planning, and what happens when you try to ship two books at once. We dive into Mike's recent Unhelpful Encyclopedia anthologies: Sinister Scal...

AI voices are getting cheaper, distribution is getting messier, and indie creators are the ones feeling the squeeze. So I brought on Jess Herring, founder and CEO of Audiobook Empire, to talk straight about what it actually takes to produce a great audiobook and why the small decisions authors make early on can make or break sales later. We get into the practical stuff authors ask about constantly...

 This week we’re reading a powerful excerpt from Jan Alexander’s novel 'Vacancy'. We follow the tale of Mick and Jillie, half-siblings trying to cope with an abusive, alcoholic, father while navigating the isolated lifestyle of the Texas panhandle. This excerpt starts in a hard place, and we share a content warning for depictions of domestic violence, but it transforms into a story of fo...

Author Jann Alexander joins us to talk about her Dust series, including Unspoken and her newer release, Vacancy, and how she builds stories that feel true without getting buried under facts. We explore why the Texas Panhandle is more than a backdrop. Jann explains what draws her to its flat horizons, drought history, and Dust Bowl legacy, and why it’s such a powerful setting for characters wrestli...

 We’re reading Chapter 1 of Matt Sean Bell’s sci-fi/fantasy epic The Aidaean Saga , Book 1 Triumph of Destiny. We jump right into the action as the town Dailen has known all his life is decimated. If you love epic fantasy with twists of gothic sci-fi; you’re in the right place. If you want to support indie fantasy, check the episode notes for Matt Sean Bell’s Etsy link. Please subscribe, share the...

A lot of writers say they want “creative control.” Matt Sean Bell actually lived it. He wrote The Adean Saga, edited it through multiple rereads, built the cover art himself, printed physical copies in batches, and sells direct to readers through Etsy; handling the logistics most authors never see. If you’ve ever wondered what independent publishing looks like when you remove the safety rails, we...

 We’re closing out our three-part, full-cast chapter read of 'The Songs of Ash and Dawn', Book 2; Chapter 1 "Of Masks and Monsters" by Gabrielle Wanek.  After dismissing Nic from the temple, Elizabeth cleans up the remains of her spoiled ceremony.  Her loyal servant, Elias, asks what the next steps are for the plan. Elizabeth has a simple answer... Watch the Episode Here:  Yout...

We pick up Part 2 of our Chapter 1 read from The Songs of Ash and Dawn Book 2 by Gabrielle Wanek.. Nick staggers in with news he can barely say out loud: a god, a young witch, and what might be a demigod bested him and ruined his plans. How will his benefactor Elizabeth handle such news? Listen to find out! Subscribe for the final part of the chapter, share this with a friend who loves fantasy aud...

A gold mask glints in candlelight as a ruined temple fills with chanting and the promise of “purity.” A bound mythos prisoner kneels in the firelit center, chained to stone, and muzzled. We’re back with a dramatic, voice-acted chapter read from Gabrielle Wanek’s Songs of Ash and Dawn Book 2, and we’re not easing in. This is Chapter 1, and it carries a clear spoiler warning for anyone who hasn’t fi...

They wanted one clean rush of freedom, one daring swim toward the deep, one moment where the rules couldn’t touch them. Instead, Calistya and Khrystal run straight into Border Patrol, and Chapter 6 of The Solarian Deep turns a teenage act of courage into a system-level warning: you will be watched, labeled, and marched back into place. We’re Connor Reed’s Books, and we perform “Fault Lines” by aut...

A dead shoreline. A rusted power station. An underwater civilization that has every reason to fear the past; and one stubborn student who can’t stop reaching for it. We’re back with a solo story read from 'The Solarian Deep' by David Deane Haskell. Chapter 5 “Legacies Unearthed” is the kind of post-apocalyptic cyberpunk sci-fi that makes you feel the salt in the air and the risk in every...

This week, I sit down with David Deane Haskell to talk about the long arc of becoming an author, from finding his voice through music to discovering that fiction and nonfiction can both be a way to be seen, understood, and connected. We explore David's experience in the indie publishing grind, and what the Kindle era taught a lot of writers the hard way: overnight success is rare, and craft t...

One moment Edgar is walking beside the sea, hand in hand with his wife, cherry blossoms drifting like soft pink snow. The next, the music cuts out, the city is silent, and the face beside him is no longer hers. “The Vanishing Lightning” is our full audio drama performance of Qualia Reed’s haunting science fiction short story, where love, memory, and survival collide in a world that has already end...

A fantasy saga that was supposed to be three books somehow grows into ten, and it’s not because the author can’t let go, it’s because the world keeps demanding the parts that make it feel true. We’re joined by returning guest Gabrielle Wanick to celebrate the upcoming release of The Songs of Ash and Dawn Book 2 (July 14), and to get very honest about what it takes to plan long-form epic fantasy wi...

I’m joined by Drew Harrison, author of Men Of The Mountain, to talk about how his background in journalism shaped his fiction, why he researches details most readers will never double-check, and how sci fi can act like a warning system when technology moves faster than our culture can adapt.  We get into craft and influence in a practical way: how reading Stephen King, Brandon Sanderson, and Joe A...

Today we share a full chapter from the 'Warforged' Audio book, written by R.C. Hannah, and performed by me! We follow the story of a plucky human fighter pilot named Crash, as he and the Black Geese Squadron are dropped from Faster Than Light travel into the frying pan.  Thanks for checking out the episode! If you liked it, please consider purchasing the full audiobook on audible; it hel...

A goat-eyed spacefaring civilization, an unexpectedly lovable AI orb, and a romance that never asks you to wade through spice just to get to the heart of the story. That’s the energy we bring to this chat with Canada-based sci-fi and fantasy author R.C. Hannah as we celebrate the Warforged audiobook release and dig into what makes plot-first LGBTQ romance so satisfying when it’s done with care.  W...

Today's episode is a chapter read from Drew Harrison's The Men of the Mountain , a sci-fi/fantasy novel released March 2026, and will be released as an audiobook in the next month or so. Please enjoy this chapter, and please consider signing up below to be an early reviewer for The Men of the Mountain Audiobook.  Content Warnings:  No Content Warnings for this Episode Early Review Signup...

I’ve been away from the feed for a few months, but it’s not because the work stopped it’s because the audiobook work ramped up. This update is my “here’s what I’ve been making” guide for anyone who loves audio fiction, audiobook narration, and big genre swings from space opera to romance to dystopian mystery. First, I talk through three completed audiobooks you can grab on Audible. Then I lay out...

What if happiness could be guaranteed with a single bite? We read Evan Boffman’s Life and Limb, a desert horror tale where a determined runner named Rafe—rebuilding his life with a carbon fiber blade—meets a towering, talkative saguaro that offers permanent euphoria and relief from thirst. The Sonoran heat blurs into myth as rattlesnakes block the trail, cholla cling with wicked barbs, and coyotes...

We dive into the feral heart of his new collection, Mauls of the Wild, where animal-attack horror meets precise craft and real-world texture from deserts, mountains, and the open ocean. Evan unpacks how influences like Goosebumps, Michael Crichton, Peter Benchley, and The Twilight Zone shaped his eye for tension, morality, and twist endings, and why he believes horror offers a safe way to confront...

Ever wonder what a snow day on a space station might look like?  For Angie Tzakis, it’s the first time she’s ever seen a snowflake. Living on New Detroit Station has always been complex, but the first snow is about to change everything. Pairing snowflurries with the recent shattering of childhood illusions reveals that life isn’t always clear cut, and secrets have a nature of their own.  It’s Time...

Today we talk to Gabrielle Wanek, the Author of Songs of Ash and Dawn ; a new urban fantasy that has been topping charts in the 2 weeks since its release. We talk about Gabrielle’s writing journey, how she came to write the Songs of Ash and Dawn , and what makes a compelling villain. Join us as we explore Gabrielle’s detailed world building, and talk about what’s next for her on her writer’s quest...

Racing through his local dark forest, Detective Ethan is being hunted by dark and malevolent creatures. While magic is not new, Ethan handles all sorts of magical disputes in his community, what is transpiring now is nothing he’s seen before. A shadowy creature, and inhuman roar, a skull with piercing red eyes. Can Ethan make it out of the forest before dawn? Or did the shadows bring him his final...