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William Brinkman
ALLi Author Member
Location: United States of America (the)
Genres: Fantasy/SciFi/Speculative, New Adult, Humour
Skills: Performance/Spoken Word, Press/Media Interview, Reading/Literary Event, Self-publishing Workshop/Training, Speaking Engagement/Lecture
I am a Sci-Fi/Urban Fantasy author and my current book series is called the Bolingbrook Babbler Stories.
I've lived in the Chicagoland area for several years, include some time in Bolingbrook, IL. My time there inspired me to start the Bolingbrook Babbler fiction blog. It's a cross between the Onion and the Weekly World News, with articles revealing the unbelievable truth about the village.
The Bolingbrook Babbler Stories books are a dramatic version of the blog setting, with some humor thrown in. Three published book with the next one expected in 2024 or 2025.
I also contributed short stories to White Wolf's Demon: The Fallen RPG line. They called their genre "Goth-punk," which was a precursor to Urban Fantasy. While there are WoD influences, I prefer to think of my settings as the "World of Insufficient Light." It's a world of monsters, but a better future is possible.
I started my self-publishing journey in 2021, and it's been amazing. I have learned so much, and achieved more than I ever dreamed of doing.
I'm happy to talk about my adventures in self-publishing. I can also be interviewed regarding skepticism and secularism.
William Brinkman's books
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Pathways to Bolingbrook: A Bolingbrook Babbler Story
(Short Story Collection) Miriam and Sara are two women on the brink of change.
Miriam, desperate to escape her lonely existence in Iowa City, is wary when a stranger offers her a way out. But as she contemplates the risks, she realizes that the price of staying may be even higher than the unknown.
Sara, a reporter for a struggling newspaper, uncovers a mysterious recording that she can't remember making. As she digs deeper into the truth, she faces obstacles from all sides, including her own employers. But the truth may be too dangerous to ignore.
The path before each leads to Bolingbrook, Illinois, a town shrouded in darkness and secrets. The local paper, the Babbler, publishes unbelievable stories of vampires and conspiracies that may not be as far-fetched as they seem.
Does Sara risk everything to discover the truth? Can Miriam find the strength to escape? Will either of them choose their current lives and walk away?
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The Rift: A Bolingbrook Babbler Story
(Novel) Tom Larsen grew up believing in stories from the Bolingbrook Babbler newspaper: of UFOs, half-human weredeer, and of vampire gangs that roamed the streets at night. Then one day his parents told him the truth—the stories were all a lie.
Fresh out of college, Tom built a reputation as a blogger of the scientific skepticism movement, debunking the reports of paranormal events in his hometown. However, after famous podcast host, Jamie Kyle, posted a video about how Tom's attempts to "hook up" with her at a skeptic's conference made her feel uncomfortable, the blogger was furious.
Now, in his mid-twenties and still angry about his humiliation, Tom has made a career from defending the skeptical movement against "modern feminists", including Humanist Heart, a group of social justice skeptics. And, when he hears that his hometown of Bolingbrook will host Humanist Heart's congress, and Jamie will be their guest, Tom hatches a plan to confront the podcaster.
The only problem is that he must work for the Bolingbrook Babbler to gain access to the congress, and risk ruining his skeptic reputation. But an attack by a weredeer while working on his first assignment for the Babbler leaves Tom's beliefs in pieces. The monsters, the UFOs, everything he tried to debunk—are all real!
Now, there are angry Men's Rights Activists trying to disrupt the congress, weredeer have surrounded the area, and mysterious time rifts appearing throughout the village. Only Jamie and the Babbler can help Tom fix this, but will he be able to get past his anger and distrust before reaching the point of no return?
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A Fire in the Shadows: A Bolingbrook Babbler Story
(Novella/Novelette)
Vampire, intelligence scout, paranormal protector, and emotional liability…
Bolingbrook has long been rumored to be a hub of paranormal and alien activity and Lydia should know—she’s a vampire. But that doesn’t mean she fits in. Not when she’s a target for other vampires and reliant on her blood family’s protection because of her inconvenient inclination to experience feelings.
Except right now, Lydia has bigger things to worry about than her recent rejection by a human or her blood sister Aurora’s relentless teasing. An army of weredeer are gathering near town and they need to gather intelligence fast.
When enforcers from one of Chicago’s vampire kingdoms threaten the Bolingbrook Babbler’s stunning chief editor, Aurora accuses Lydia of having feelings again. But even if Lydia does have a crush on the unsuspecting Sara, she deserves their protection.
Only Lydia hadn’t counted on how powerful their enemies are. Or the sort of unexpected revelations that will come to light if Lydia dares to risk rejection again…