Lily Luchesi

I was excited to be invited to join this set because it celebrates one thing: DIVERSITY. I grew up in a diverse household, run by women during a time when female empowerment wasn’t nearly what it is today. My mother’s family hails from Sicily and Italy, and my father’s side is Irish and Native American (from the Seminole tribe). I identify as bisexual. Growing up in Chicago, I knew everyone, of every race and religion you can imagine. The real world is a brilliant place filled with billions of unique individuals, yet there are times when they seem to be seldom represented in urban fantasy fiction.

This was an opportunity for me, personally, to show the diversity of Chicago, and how people of many different races, religions, and backgrounds can defy the odds and band together not despite their differences, but because of them.

Growing up, being Sicilian and Native American, my eyes looked almost Japanese, and people used to whisper to my mother, “Is she Asian?” like it was some sort of scandal. My grandmother was extremely dark-skinned, so much that she looked biracial with her big dark eyes and gorgeous ink-colored afro (she didn’t dye or process it, it just looked that way). The treatment she received when shopping in Marshall Field’s (that’s Macy’s now) was disgusting. The treatment my family still receives is awful. We’ve literally been followed by skinheads, especially living in Los Angeles as we do now.

As a child, I never knew what skin color really was to some people. I knew people came from different countries and therefore looked different. They had different holidays, different traditions, all of which my public school taught us about openly. It wasn’t until I was in second grade, where my Muslim friend’s older sister was sent home from school because she wore her hijab in class. That was my first taste of racism in any form, and it stayed with me till this day.

I was chased around my mall by three huge guys for wearing a LGBT+ t-shirt. I’ve been called every name you can call a Latinx person (because I live in LA with dark hair and eyes, so I must be from Mexico, right? Ugh.)

Rereading this, it seems almost disjointed, and for that I apologize, but I am not rewriting it. I don’t live in a monochrome world. My world has color and vibrancy and is bursting with so much life. I go outside and I will literally see these races within ten minutes: Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Mexican, Guatemalan, El Salvadorian, African-American, European, Greek, Filipino, Thai…and you know what? I love it. That’s my world. That’s OUR world.

And if our world can have that kind of diversity, why can’t our books? Our films? Our everything? When I plotted Soul Syndicate (two years before Faith and I would start to work on it) the plot was meant to have people of all races and backgrounds, to showcase diversity. This boxed set wasn’t even being plotted at that time, but I knew this was a story I needed to write. I am so happy that it has a home here, with other like-minded tales and authors.

Please help support us in our effort to diversify urban fantasy!

ABOUT LILY

Lily Luchesi is the award-winning author of the bestselling Paranormal Detectives Series, published by Vamptasy Publishing. She also has short stories included in multiple bestselling anthologies, and a successful dark erotica retelling of Dracula.

She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and now resides in Los Angeles, California. Ever since she was a toddler her mother noticed her tendency for being interested in all things “dark”. At two she became infatuated with vampires and ghosts, and that infatuation turned into a lifestyle. She is also an out member of the LGBT+ community. When she’s not writing, she’s going to rock concerts, getting tattooed, watching the CW, or reading manga. And drinking copious amounts of coffee.

A dangerously beautiful vision of unique worlds that’s sure to leave its mark.

Cross through the looking glass into Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Dystopian realms where you’ll meet valiant heroes, kick-ass heroines, and dangerous creatures waiting to unveil the hidden corners of the universe.

SIGILS & SPELLS includes more than twenty exclusive novels that roam the sands of Egypt, slip into the shadows of 1940s Los Angeles, voyage to the mystical land of Mabi, and dare to traverse the stars.

From the deserts of Africa to the streets of San Antonio, mythological adventurers strike out to discover brand new worlds and unravel the mysteries of Earth in a limited edition boxed set offering the diversity and originality you haven’t been able to find before now.

Including stories from…
Lori Titus
Kris Austen Radcliffe
USA Today bestselling authors Heather Marie Adkins and Alex Owens
Paul C Middleton and Lee Hayton
Rita Stradling
Eva Pohler
Lily Luchesi & Faith Marlow
M.R. Graham
Award-Winning author Carmen Fox
Tina Glasneck
Sedona Venez
J.N. Colon
Cheri Winters
USA Today bestselling author Katalina Leon
RJ Blain
USA Today bestselling author Cate Farren
Amy Evans
Catherine Banks
Award-Winning author V.A. Dold
Dylan Keefer
Award-Winning author Ali Cross
Michel Prince
Danny Bell
Tiana Laveen