Hi friends!

Happy Monday! I hope you're doing as well as can be. Wanted to share some exciting updates with you...

My YA novel, Araña and Spider-Man 2099, just got a glowing write-up in Kirkus Review! As most book people know, Kirkus is the toughest of the "trade" publications that review books in advance - so this was extra-gratifying. If you want “an exciting entry into the Spider-verse for newcomers and old fans alike,” be sure to pre-order before the book hits shelves in May. It was also included in this great Book Riot listicle about excellent comic book prose novels.

Secret Identity is not only nominated for the LA Times Book Prize (I know, I still can’t believe it either), it’s also up for a Barry Award for Best Mystery/Crime Novel alongside some major heavy hitters! The response to the novel from readers, reviewers, and the community has exceeded my wildest dreams, and it's really heartening that people are connecting with this book so much. Excited to attend the Barry ceremony at Bouchercon! And, speaking of Bouchercon - Secret Identity is also eligible for an Anthony Award in the Best Hardcover Novel category, so please consider giving the book your vote if you got a ballot!

If you’ve been enjoying my Avengers Unlimited story over at Marvel Unlimited, be sure you don’t miss part four this week! Artist Jim Towe and I conclude our epic adventure in style, and it was a complete thrill to write an Avengers story featuring some of my favorite Marvel characters ever, like Moon Knight, Spider-Woman, and The Shroud! 

On top of book releases, I’m attending some amazing events this year, I’m so grateful to all of these incredible organizations for having me - and I'm excited to see readers and friends. If you want to talk about Secret Identity, Araña, or any of my upcoming work, come out and see me in a city near you!

Tomorrow/March 7, I’ll be taking part in the House of SpeakEasy’s literary cabaret, Seriously Entertaining in New York! I’ll be discussing a look into the future with the absolutely brilliant Marie Brenner, Jennifer Michael Hecht, and John McWhorter.

I’ll be participating in some panel discussions at Left Coast Crime in Tucson, March 16-19. Secret Identity will also be up for a Lefty Award for Best Novel at the event!

I should be at MoCCA at some point that first weekend in April, too.

April 13-16 I’ll be at the inaugural Hamptons Whodunit Festival! The guest list for this event is top notch, and I'm excited to spend some time with old friends and make some new ones. 

Then on April 22-23, I’ll be at the LA Festival of Books!  They're still finalizing their panel schedule, but I'll be around for the bulk of the festival. More details soon!

Over the summer, I’ll be at Terrificon in Connecticut July 28-30. I’ll be signing books and selling copies of my recent releases. This is a great convention and I'm excited to be there for the first time with some major talent!

Now, enough about me! I’d like to tell you about a few fantastic books I’ve read recently by some amazing creators. 

First off, Marie Rutkoski’s novel, Real Easy - a powerful, modern noir set in a small-town strip club and following multiple characters as a series of murders is being investigated. Rutkoski's prose is magnificent, and her characters feel lived-in and jump off the page. The novel's description doesn't do the book justice, so I'd suggest just diving in and immersing yourself in one of the best crime novels of the last year.

For comics fans, I recommend Chip Zdarsky’s Public Domain. Chip's a friend, but he can also be really talented, okay! PD shares some DNA with The Legendary Lynx—it’s also about a fictional comic series whose creator didn’t get the credit they deserved. It’s funny and heartbreaking with Chip’s trademark sense of humor, and it’s a must-read for anyone interested in creator rights, how comics are made, and how the industry doesn’t always love its creators back. Chip's strength as a writer is his heart, I think - he writes people that feel conflicted and torn, and it resonates.

I’ll be back soon! In the meantime, if you haven't upgraded to a paid subscription, no worries - the latest chapters of The Awakened and The Legendary Lynx are up for free! Hope that entices you.

Take care,

Alex