Saturday in the Stacks

On or Off (Vol. 1 – 3) – Review

Saturday is the perfect time to wander through the stacks (that’s librarian-speak for “bookshelves”) and talk about books and the people who write them. Pull up a comfy chair and settle in, because today I want to chat about a manhwa that I’ve been devouring over the last few months, On or Off.

Manhwa, for those of you who may not know, is a close cousin of manga. The difference? Country of origin. Manhwa are Korean made comics, while manga comes from Japan. Here’s your fun fact of the day! 

On or Off follows college student Ahn Yiyoung as he navigates the intricacies of corporate life, adult life, and his love life – specifically his relationship with his boss/coworker Kang Daehyung, whom he falls head over heels for the instant he lays eyes on him. Kang proves a bit cagier, suspecting Ahn’s motives in pursuing him and, well, things get complicated (and deliciously spicy) very fast. 

There is so much to love about this manhwa, I don’t even know where to begin. First, I suppose I should say, the art is just to die for. Full color! A rarity! And I love how the expressions are drawn and everyone is embodied. They act like real people on the page and that is so refreshing. Second, the spice is top tier – if you’re looking for a book that’ll make you sweat, this is IT. Third, it doesn’t take long before you’re deeply invested in both Ahn and Kang’s personal journeys. Not only do you want to see these two crazy dudes get together, but you really root for their individual growth and learning moments. 

TL;DR: If you were looking for a great BL manhwa with a story (and smut) to die for, On or Off is something you have to check out! You won’t regret it! 

Thanks! Processing…
Success! You're now subscribed.

Werewolf Wednesday

Big Wolf on Campus

Happy Werewolf Wednesday, everyone! This week I’m going to talk about a show that I’m not sure anyone remembers but me – Big Wolf on Campus.

For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about (which I’m assuming is most of you), Big Wolf on Campus was a supernatural “monster of the week” style show that ran on Fox Family from 1999 to 2002. Presented in delightfully easy to digest thirty-minute chunks, the audience was invited to follow the quirky, often funny and always action-packed adventures of Thomas “Tommy” P. Dawkins, who was bitten by a werewolf during a camping trip in the woods a week before his senior year of high school. Thus transformed into a powerful Alpha lycanthrope, he fights against vampires, werecats, ghosts, zombies, and other supernatural entities to keep his hometown of Pleasantville safe with help from school goth Merton. All this he does while trying to avoid capture by the locals and thwarting the plans of the nefarious Werewolf Syndicate.

If that sounds like an absolute blast, let me tell you something: IT WAS. I watched the show religiously when I was a kid and there is little doubt that it sparked a love for the supernatural in general and werewolves in particular that has clearly never gone away.

I hadn’t thought about this show in years, though, until I was asked to consider where some of the inspiration for my own werewolf creation came from. Hungry is the Night (hitting shelves August 22 of this year) couldn’t be more different than this kid-friendly supernatural romp — and yet, I can’t deny that it’s fingerprints can be seen if you look closely. I love the idea of monsters as heroes, of protagonists shouldering the burden of being ‘othered’ by society, and I love a good quip! Thanks, Big Wolf on Campus for infecting me with a love for the quirky and offbeat early in life!

Is there a show or movie or even book from your past that you maybe haven’t thought about in a while that has made you who you are today? Is there a TV show from the nineties or early 2000s that you think slipped under most people’s radars? Let’s chat about it in the comments!

Thanks! Processing…
Success! You're now subscribed.

Countdown to Free Comic Book Day at Midgard Comics, Games & More!

1683392400

  days

  hours  minutes  seconds

until

FCBD at Midgard CGM!

This Saturday, May 6th, starting at 10am, I will be celebrating Free Comic Book Day with the wonderful folks at Midgard Comics, Games & More at their FCBD Event! I am really looking forward to seeing some new folks, selling some awesome scifi books, and sharing all the new things I’ve got coming this summer. Stop on by, won’t you?

Thanks! Processing…
Success! You're now subscribed.

Countdown to Pop-Up Submissions!

1682870400

  days

  hours  minutes  seconds

until

Litopia’s Pop-Up Submissions!

This Sunday, April 30th, starting at 9am PST, I will be joining literary agent Peter Cox on his fabulous program, Pop-Up Submissions! I am really looking forward to returning to the show and reading some more wonderful work from authors around the world and hope to see some of you on the stream. Stop on by, won’t you?

Thanks! Processing…
Success! You're now subscribed.

Countdown to B&N Alderwood!

1682798400

  days

  hours  minutes  seconds

until

Alderwood Barnes & Noble Signing!

This Saturday, April 29th, starting at 1pm I will be front and center at the Alderwood Barnes & Noble, signing and selling my wonderful Cadence Turing Mysteries series! I am really looking forward to getting back into the store that was my homebase growing up and meeting some new readers — hopefully reconnecting with some current ones as well! Stop on by, won’t you?

Thanks! Processing…
Success! You're now subscribed.
%d bloggers like this: