Meet Valari Westeren

(Yes, Valari is pronounced like Valerie. And it's WES-ter-en, not Western!)

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When Valari was a kid, she read every book she could get her hands on. But she knew what her favourite genre WASN’T: science fiction. Just a bunch of military guys, ray guns, and giant bugs? No, thank you. She much preferred reading about girls she found more relatable, who all lived out different expressions of what it means to be a woman--from the fearless adventurer to the introspective lover. 

 

As she got older, though, Valari gave science fiction another try, specifically sci-fi thrillers. Once those mind-blowing plot twists and thought-provoking themes took hold of her imagination, they wouldn't let go! She wanted to read more, watch more, even write more of this ... but she ran into a dilemma. She still loved stories about women and girls, but almost none of the sci-fi thrillers she enjoyed had female protagonists. Let alone large, diverse, deeply human casts of female characters. Stories about women or stories about sci-fi thrills--why did she always have to choose?

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Well, Valari got tired of choosing. So now she blends them together!

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That's what "science fiction thrillers about women and for women" means. If you're looking for stories that celebrate all women--from the action hero to the scientist to the artist to the sister--in exciting sci-fi settings that tackle real-world issues, you're not alone. Valari would love to connect with you!

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If you'd like to follow Valari's personal author journey, you can sign up to read the first scene of her short story "Symbiosis," a heart-pounding apocalyptic thriller pitting a teenage girl against dangerous mutant trees, for free!

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You'll then be the first to know about exciting updates and sneak previews into Valari's journey toward publishing her first full-length novel.