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From Queen of Swords Press comes the triumphant return of that infamous pirate, detective, and all around pain in the ass: Captain Ramos! The second anthology is now out! In Wireless and More Steam-Powered Adventures brings to you the further adventures of Captain Ramos and her crew.

Captain Marta Ramos, the most dangerous pirate in the Duchy of Denver, is back and she and Simms are up to their goggles in trouble. Has General del Toro found a way to use the Infected as an army and can Captain Ramos work with her arch enemy, Colonel Geoffrey Douglas, to stop him? Can Simms join forces with the devious Deliah Nimowitz on a jailbreak, some sewer misadventures AND a high society soiree involving tea, a heist and sausages? And what about the Rail King and his nefarious plans? Can Captain Ramos and her crew stop him before he completes his latest dastardly deed, one that may result in Deliah’s demise? Check out the next installment of the exciting adventures of Captain Ramos and her valiant crew to find out more!

“Mashing together the flavors of steampunk, Sherlock Holmes, Weird West and zombies is just too delicious to ignore.” — John DeNardo, Kirkus

Order the first book, Murder on the Titania and Other Steam-Powered Adventures too!

 

 

 

hunger makes the wolf cover

Hunger Makes the Wolf is available for order from AmazonBN, and Kobo! Space witches, motorcycle gangs, deep desert gunfights – are you ready? For more information and DRM-free ebooks, see the Angry Robot website.

The strange planet known as Tanegawa’s World is owned by TransRift Inc, the company with the absolute monopoly on interstellar travel. Hob landed there ten years ago, a penniless orphan left behind by a rift ship. She was taken in by Nick Ravani and quickly became a member of his mercenary biker troop, the Ghost Wolves.

Ten years later, she discovers that the body of Nick’s brother out in the dunes. Worse, his daughter is missing, taken by shady beings called the Weathermen. But there are greater mysteries to be discovered – both about Hob and the strange planet she calls home.

Ready for more motorcycles, bigger explosions, and more badassery? The sequel, Blood Binds the Pack, is available now! Order from AmazonBarnes and Noble, and Kobo.

 

 

 

 


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Hi, my name is Alex Acks (aka Alex Wells) and I’m a writer, geologist, and sharp-dressed sir. I’ve had short stories in Strange Horizons, Lightspeed, Daily Science Fiction, Shimmer, and more. I’m an active member of SFWA, the Northern Colorado Writer’s Workshop, and Codex.  I’m represented by DongWon Song at HMLA.

I love movies, nerdy things, cats, and writing, and I blog about all this and more depending on my mood. I’ve written film reviews for Mothership Zeta and Strange Horizons, and if you want to support my compulsive and sometimes ridiculous note-taking, I’ve got a Patreon for that. I’m also a host on the Skiffy and Fanty podcast, where I talk about movies and other nerdy scifi and fantasy things.

I live in Denver (where I bicycle, drink tea, and twirl my ever-so-dapper mustache) with my two furry little bastards cats.

Want quick writing news without having to wade through my blog? I’ve got a mailing list for that. Want access to the other half of my film reviews and some extra writing? There’s a Patreon for that. Want random pictures of pretty cycling scenery, baking stuff, and cats? Instagram here.

If you’re curious about the distinctive way I dress, some basic information for you here!

(Please use Mx/Mr/Sir; pronouns they or he)

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

31 thoughts on “Home

  1. Reply Bianca T. Sep 12,2013 17:31

    Firstly, HA! FIrst post! Secondly, I’ve been following the Acherontia series for YEARS. Since just after they were released. It’s the only fic title I remember from all the ones I’ve read, and I’ve come back and read the entirety of the series more times than I care to admit. You are an AMAZING writer, and now I find you’re a Geologist too!? Dude. Your coolness factor can’t go any higher. <3 Lots of love from a long time GW fan (and fellow envrionmental nerd).

    ~Bianca

    • Reply Rachael Sep 12,2013 17:43

      Glad you still like the fic! I’m still fond of it too. I hope you’ll like my original writing as much if you give it a try. ;) Welcome and hello!

      • Reply Bianca T. Sep 12,2013 19:50

        Oh I fully plan on reading your original works as well. If they’re written HALF as well as the GW series, they’ll be a JOY to read. :3 (She says as she just finished Anax for the upteenth time, lol)

  2. Reply Stuart Feb 5,2014 11:46

    Rachael,

    Just discovered Strange Horizons and read Significant Figures. It was BRILLIANT! I then found Samsara at Waylines. You are one hell of a writer!

  3. Reply Dr. Scott Jul 14,2014 14:31

    I’d just like to sincerely thank you for your brave review of the latest Tranformers piece of eye poo. Your selfless sacrifice of 47 hours of your life has now made it possible for me to further abuse my young transfiend-friend endlessly.
    As you travel forward please know your sacrifice has not been in vain.
    Hail Hydra.

  4. Reply tiedyeguy Jan 8,2015 14:38

    Just wanted to say thanks for They Tell Me There Will Be No Pain on Lightspeed, I enjoyed it thoroughly! Thanks!

  5. Reply tiedyeguy Jan 8,2015 14:39

    Just wanted to say thanks for They Tell Me There Will Be No Pain on Lightspeed. I enjoyed it thoroughly! Thanks!

  6. Reply Gaelan M May 17,2015 17:25

    Male here quite surprised at your picture its always different how u imagine someone and how they truly look. A beautiful lady indeed.
    I read your gw aa fanfic back when i was ten years old. Needless to say it blew my mind and even after 15 years i tried to remember the name to reread it. Its not that mindblowing now as ive been desensitized by the many horrors of the internet.
    But i do say that someone summed it up best when they said only fanfic that i ever remembered the name.
    I will attempt to read your original stuff but im broke so if i do read it, i will have to download it illegally lol.
    Best of luck with your career you are obviously a talented writer.

    • Reply Rachael May 20,2015 10:19

      Gosh, I’m glad that you enjoyed the fic! If you go to the “writing” tab, pretty much every short story there is online for free from the fine magazines that bought them. My novellas are not currently available due to my former publisher imploding, though they were not free.

      I understand the being broke thing. (I’m in a much better position than most writers because I’m not yet trying to support myself with writing income and have a good job.) All I’d ask is that if you do have to download books illegally because you can’t afford them, please buy books when you can afford to do so and help the writers you like out by finding them other readers who like them. Sometimes getting the word out is the most valuable thing of all. :)

  7. Reply ginnyswart Aug 4,2015 01:22

    Loved your amygdala story on Daily Sci Fi this morning. Great piece!

  8. Reply Jonathan Aug 23,2015 23:48

    It was great to meet you in Spokane, and thanks for the warm, warm welcome. :)

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  10. Reply Carol Prior Dec 13,2016 04:49

    Hi Alex! My name’s Carol and I just stumbled across your Spirit Tasting List for Ridley House in Shimmer. I loved it! I’m just now getting back into writing (night shifts at as an operator at a water plant has afforded me the time) and would like to thank you for inspiring me with your originality. I majored in geology as well :-)

    • Reply Alex Dec 13,2016 16:05

      Oh my gosh, I’m glad you liked the story. And I’m really glad you’re getting back into writing. Be brave and keep going. Geologists unite. :)

  11. Reply Andrew Cosma Aug 6,2017 00:25

    Hi Alex, I’m Andrew and I’m from Romania. I wanna give you some info for your article regarding the mountains and geology of the Middle Earth. You never saw almost perfect angles in mountains on our planet? Then you have not heard from The Subcarpații de Curbură Mountains. The geology of the area is awesome. If you want more info, just let me know. Andrew C.

  12. Reply Helen Bosco Oct 16,2017 14:08

    I was just randomly remembering your gw fic trilogy and had to reread them. I always get a little scared I’m going to look for them one day and they’ll be gone ( I definitely need to download them just in case). But I had no idea you had your own published stories and I’m absolutely thrilled. I’m a sucker for sci-fi and I’m so happy that one of my long time favorite authors is still around and active ( seriously, I can’t believe there’s stuff from ’99 floating around, it feels so long ago) especially since a lot of others have disappeared without a word. But anyway, I can’t wait to read your book, it looks awesome!

    • Reply Alex Oct 16,2017 23:10

      I promise that as long as this site is around, the fics will remain safely in their original directory. :) I hope you enjoy the other stuff I’ve written–and thanks for giving my book a shot!

  13. Reply Laureline Apr 26,2018 04:21

    Hi! It’s been a long time since i came around here but i’m glad to see you’re still kicking! We met once in London during the Coriolanus intermission, I don’t know if you remember me. I basically recognized/greeted you and went back into hiding immediately.
    little warning tho: the link to your patreon page at the end of your presentation is 404, you might want to update it :)
    keep up the good work!

    • Reply Alex Apr 26,2018 09:24

      I do remember you! It’s a moment I treasure. You totally made my night. :) And thank you for letting me know about the dead link. Got it fixed.

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  18. Reply Nicky May 20,2022 21:04

    I read the blurb before your reading recs on book riot today and thought – damn, this dude must live in Denver. And you do! My garden feels your garden’s pain too! Hang in there! haha

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