New Authors!
We hope you’ve had a great start to the year! Today, we have some exciting announcements for you, so without further ado, we’d like to introduce you to two of our newest authors:
Etgoma
Etgoma is a warrior writer, creator, and illustrator from Ukraine. A psychologist by education, they dedicate their life to writing and illustrating stories that make a difference, raising fundamental questions without answers.
Their first novel, Until Death Taps You on the Shoulder, crafted during the full-scale war in their country during air raids and city shelling, came as their own battle cry. When they’re not writing or drawing, they are either fighting inner demons or having tea with Baba Yaga in the hut with chicken legs on the other side of any logic.
Until Death Taps You on the Shoulder is a partially epistolary fantasy, based on Slavic folklore and featuring illustrations by Etgoma. It will be released later this year, so stay tuned for more details and the cover reveal!
Curtis A. Deeter
Curtis is an author of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. When he is not writing, he enjoys spending time with his family, discovering new music, and taste-testing craft beer at local breweries.
You may recognize his name from our horror anthology, Error Code, published under the Rabid Otter imprint. Curtis wrote the chilling and fantastic Nhesi, Unlock the Door, and we’re so excited for you to read his latest young adult novel, Ronald, the Ronin.
If you’re a fan of secret societies, Samurai culture and emotional character journeys set against a contemporary backdrop, you’re going to love Ronald, the Ronin.
And finally, we’d like to reaffirm our stance on AI. We’re aware that the use of AI is becoming more prevalent in the publishing industry, but at Riverfolk Books, we stand by our decision not to publish any books created using Generative AI, nor will we commission any artwork that utilizes AI-generated images for our covers.
We understand that there are programs that assist both authors and artists in their process, such as editing applications that have an AI-assisted element, and we do not wish to discourage this use. However, we wish to retain the human element of our creative endeavors above all else rather than promoting AI-generated work.
If you’re interested in learning more about the incredible artists we’ve worked with and how they create such beautiful covers, stay tuned for our upcoming newsletter series!
Happy New Year!
Hello, and happy New Year!
We hope you’ve had a great start to the year and that your 2025 is phenomenal!
This year is going to be an exciting one for Riverfolk Books. We have a new series coming from our very own J P Weaver. Caravan of Blades is a LitRPG deckbuilder, with heroes, zombies, elves (may or may not be an elf), and goats.
Intrigued? Take a look at the special edition hardback and physical goodies (such as cards, artwork, bookmarks, stickers and more) offered exclusively through the Kickstarter campaign.
Follow the campaign now to be notified when it goes live! Otherwise, you can get a copy when it’s published on Amazon later in the year.
On top of that, we have sequels on the way!
Readers of the Reborn as a Dragon, Quill & Still, and Inescapable Escapism series will be thrilled to know that the next books will be released this year!
Our authors and editors have been busy perfecting each sequel, and we can’t wait for you to read them!
The excitement doesn’t stop there! This year, we also have three entirely new series on the way!
When the President said to immerse ourselves in the project, this was NOT what I had in mind!
I really should’ve taken the publisher’s employment contract more seriously…
A Hero Returned by Eura Abrams will be released on 30th April (pre-order now!), and stay tuned for the next newsletter, where we’ll be introducing our two newest authors, Etgoma and Curtis Deeter.
We’re so excited for you to read their books. We know you’ll love them just as much as we do!
The Passing of a Legend
Art by Tsuu
It is with a heavy heart that we announce Avitue’s passing. Avitue was a pillar in this community and a dear friend. We hate to be the ones to share such devastating news with you–his fans, friends and colleagues.
As some of you may have noticed, Avitue has been absent for a few months. This caused alarm because Avi was one of the most reliable and consistent authors in our community. Over the last few months, we exhausted every option at our disposal to find him, and unfortunately, we have now discovered that Avitue has passed.
We’ve been searching for his next of kin to no avail. Avi was unmarried and had no children, but we’ve yet to find any other family members.
If anyone has any information (or media inquiries) that they would like to share, please reach out to weaver@riverfolkbooks.com
We’d like to see the closing of one chapter as an opportunity to start a new one in Avitue’s memory:
Based on Avitue’s love of art, a friend of Avitue’s has already reached out to some of his frequently commissioned artists to create an Art Memorial in his honor. With support, Riverfolk is in the process of organizing something special for the community to get involved with, should they want to.
We’re also currently looking into the logistics of funding an artist fellowship in Avitue’s name in his home country of Indonesia.
We will update with more information as it becomes more concrete, and we thank you for your patience in this difficult time.
We encourage you to share any positive interactions you’ve had with Avitue or any of his jokes that stand out in your memory. Please send them to queries@riverfolkbooks.com, and we’ll compile them to share in a future post. If you’d prefer not to have your message shared, please let us know in your message.
Some messages from the Riverfolk team:
Avitue was a building block of Riverfolk Books. He was a man who wrote for thousands of his fans. More importantly, he wrote the stories he wanted to, caring more about telling the stories that spoke to him rather than trying to make money, something we as a company align with.
Avitue took a strong stance on showing asexual characters in his work. He never shied away from controversial topics, fighting for representation.
He lived life on his own terms, writing books that might have landed him in jail in his home country. He wrote bravely, with no regrets, and with passion for each of his tales.
Avitue wrote for the joy of it and to share—to bring life to—a massive, sprawling fantasy setting over many centuries of history. As a fellow writer, I don’t know how he managed the pace and output that he did, or how he juggled all the stories, characters and histories. And when he hit his stride—the climaxes of story arcs, the tender moments, and choice snippets of the past—he proved just how incredibly talented of a writer he was.
From an editing perspective, he was a joy to work with. Self-assured, decisive, but more than willing to listen to feedback and criticism. Beyond all that, before I’d joined up with Riverfolk as an editor, he was someone who helped me to promote my own work through word of mouth and shout trades.
He was a friend. He was someone who gave voice and presence to queer characters in his works, as living, breathing parts of the world, as normalcy.
Avitue was a founding force behind Riverfolk; the first author to take a chance on a new, unproven indie publisher. I’ll miss him, I’ll never forget him, and the writing communities of which he was a part lost a legend with his passing.
Avitue and I had playful debates occasionally when we first met. He had an opinion on everything and was unafraid to share it. Together, we could go back and forth forever. Yet, he was still supportive, and I to him. All Avitue wanted was to live comfortably and have his books in print. It's why he was willing to give Riverfolk a shot.
It's not an exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for Avitue, there wouldn't be Riverfolk as it is now.
A hell of a man and a hell of a writer.
Istirahatlah dengan baik, temanku
Thank you for supporting Avitue. We know it meant the world to him.
Art by Fuyu Dust
New release: Error Code!
We are ecstatic to celebrate Rabid Otter’s debut publication! Error Code, an anthology edited by Zaq Cass, is now available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited!
In its debut publication, Rabid Otter Horror brings together ten talented authors to form Error Code, an anthology examining humanity’s dependence on technology. Within these pages, explore why the terms and conditions should be carefully read, what happens when your home assistant refuses to be shut off, and discover the result of a virus taking over the next step in human evolutions, culminating with the question: has reliance on technology made us stronger? Or is humanity opening itself to its own destruction?
This anthology includes work from the following brilliant authors:
Alexa Lee
Asa Callan
Bernard McGhee
Curtis A. Deeter
Elizabeth Devecchi
Jude DeLuca
Jyl Glenn
Lindsey Goddard
Phrique
Tamika Thompson
If you find that you love a specific author, please support them by following their socials or seeking out more of their books!
What our ARCs are saying about Error Code!
"A great anthology of short stories centered around technology. Well worth reading, got through fast and look forward to more from the publisher."
"A solid collection of some very horror-filled horror stories. While any anthology has strengths and weaknesses, this volume's weaknesses are not very weak. Each story is unique, different from the others, and the strong stories are - great! Admittedly, I am a horror story fanatic and so perhaps a bit prejudiced, but I would not recommend this book unless I felt it was a seriously good addition to the genre."
"Wow! This was a great collection of stories. I absolutely love Black Mirror and these stories would make for a great season of episodes.
Some stories were scary, some gruesome and some hit a bit too close to the potential real world. Honestly one of the best collections I have read for a while!!"
"I really enjoyed this book. The stories were unique and interesting with something for everyone. Unnerving at times and fun to read."
Thank you for your support! If you enjoy Error Code, please be sure to leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads or anywhere else you can leave reviews. They really help the us and they mean the world!
Lastly, if you want to learn more about Rabid Otter, please visit their site or subscribe to our newsletter for the most up to date information!
New release: Our Comeback Tour is Slaying Monsters!
We are absolutely thrilled to introduce Kim Smuga-Otto’s debut series, Boy Bands and Dragons! The first of the five books, Our Comeback Tour is Slaying Monsters is available now on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
“We're getting the band back together, you want in?”
Against his better judgment, Kyle Moretti — the least notable member of the once-world famous boy band, Never Boy Land — says yes.
He’s prepared for the drama and clashing egos that drove the band apart four years ago. What he isn’t expecting is for a VR publicity stunt to teleport the band to the magical land of Mythreal.
The good news? They're greeted by Souffy, an attractive young mage, a true fangirl in the making. The bad? She's in trouble with the law, and Kyle's bandmates have no clue how to cope with a real magical world — they don't play "nerd games"...
Can this team of has-been teen idols save the world?
“This was a comfort read… it is fun, sweet (but not too much), it has action, it has some drama, it has everything it should have.”
"A fresh and fun addition to the genre. I look forward to reading the next book!"
“I read this book hoping for a fun read, snappy dialog with a bit of snark, a magical world, and interesting characters. That’s exactly what I got.”
About the author
Life takes strange turns. Trained as a scientist and journalist, Kim Smuga-Otto somehow ended up writing a story about a boy band who saves fantasyland. In addition to being the author of the Boy Bands & Dragons series, she writes short science fiction and fantasy and co-hosts a writing advice podcast, Words to Write by. She lives with her husband and two children in Santa Cruz, California.
If you want to support Kim, consider following her on Instagram or Patreon!
If you enjoy Our Comeback Tour is Slaying Monsters, make sure to leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or anywhere else you can review books! They really help and mean the world to us!
New Authors!
We are so excited to announce that Kim Smuga-Otto and Eura Abrams have joined the Riverfolk team!
Kim Smuga-Otto
Life takes strange turns. Trained as a scientist and journalist, Kim Smuga-Otto somehow ended up writing a story about a boy band who saves fantasyland. In addition to being the author of the Boy Bands & Dragons series, she writes short science fiction and fantasy and co-hosts a writing advice podcast, Words to Write by. She lives with her husband and two children in Santa Cruz, California.
Our Comeback Tour is Slaying Monsters will be released on the 25th of October, and it is the first book in the Boy Bands and Dragons series!
Eura “Euphridia” Abrams
A self-proclaimed adult who loves delving into fantasy worlds and writing about the characters she meets along the way. Her books, like The Last Rae of Hope: A Reluctant Return, blend fantasy, comedy, and satire, often turning familiar tropes upside down. Eura enjoys crafting stories where fate and free will collide, leaving readers questioning everything. When she’s not writing, she’s either daydreaming or pretending to be responsible—sometimes both.
Eura is currently in the early stages of publishing the first book in the series, The Last Rae of Hope. More updates will be coming soon, so if you don’t want to miss out, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Our first imprint!
Well, it’s been a while since our last update, but boy, do we have some news for you…
We are delighted to announce our first imprint! Rabid Otter - a horror-centered imprint!
Along with welcoming them to the team, we’re excited to announce Rabid Otter’s first project! Error Code: An anthology of ten technology-based shorts.
The tentative release date is December 13th, but we’ll share more news as it comes!
If you’ve got a horror project in the works or perhaps want to give the genre a go, keep an eye on this page or subscribe to our newsletter because Rabid Otter will be opening their submissions for long-form works and other anthologies in the near future!
We hope you enjoy this project as much as we have!
More news will be coming soon, including newly signed authors and upcoming releases, but for now, welcome to the team, Rabid Otter!
The Blood Demon is still retired!
Following the launch of The Blood Demons Retirement, Riverfolk books is pleased to announce the second book in the series, Family Lost and Found.
Cals adventures continue as she meets old and new friends.
Family. That was something Cal, the Blood Demon of Al-Shan, had mostly forgotten about since she was orphaned after her parents passed away. Meeting with a half-brother she had not known she had during her travels was a pleasant occasion, to be sure.
What she had not expected was to find even more family, other siblings her late father had left behind. Nieces and Nephews, even someone she could consider a stepmother. Others that she never even imagined were still around. Slowly, she started to recall the feeling of warmth and belonging that a family gave out. A feeling she had thought was lost with her parents.
A feeling that had been rekindled by her newly found family.