Fun

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Summer: So Fast & So slow

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Events Fun

Summer feels like it’s been both flying by and dragging its heels at every turn.

I’ve both been very busy and not at all, in almost unpredictable turns, since May. Some of that is thanks to the reality of living with a chronic illness, but also there’s just been this vibe out there, and that’s part of it. As Sousa would say, “I dunno, that’s above my pay grade.” [Every time it comes up I think me too, Souz, me too.]

I’ve had some pretty great events happen already this year:

Balticon and the WriteHive Annual Conference are two of my favorites.
I’ve been to some reading events with fantastic authors, and I had a visit to Walters Art Museum recently with my mom.
I had several lovely dates with my partner, and I managed to catch a couple of livestreamed BTS concerts from the comfort of my home.
I’ve also added new plants to my collection of small green friends and they’re doing really well.
All in all, a pretty modest but fulfilling couple of months, despite everything else happening in the world.

the banner for Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week 2026

Just this week, I had an interview with Jodie of Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub drop as part of Self-Published Authors Awareness Week. We talked about my writing methods, why I set all my stories in Baltimore, what books I’m currently recommending, and more. You can also click here and follow along with all this week’s #SPAAW posts, which is great news because there’s a wealth of talented authors to discover there!

Coming up in August, you can find me at the Book Fair at Bel Air, which is a local-to-me book event in its third year and growing rapidly into a literary event worth noticing. I’ve attended every year as a vendor and enjoyed it greatly, making new author friends and finding readers for my books. This year we’ve moved to a larger venue and it’s got dedicated parking and more room for everyone, super exciting! If you’re in the Baltimore area, I’d love to see you there on August 8th from 10a-2p! The event is free and suitable for all ages.

Right after that I’m off to catch BTS in concert here in Baltimore!

I was lucky enough to score tickets with my partner and my bestie, and we are going to have the BEST time. If you’ve been following along you’ll know that since I got really sick I became a fan and Bangtan helped me get through some of the worst times of my life with their beautiful, honest outlook on life and songs that tend to be insightful and emotionally resonant. Finally I’ll be able to do the thing I never thought I’d be able to do: be in the same room [well, stadium] with them. It’s pretty challenging to get tickets to their shows, especially this tour, so I feel extremely lucky. I’m also aware that this is going to require a lot from me: energy, spirit, endurance. I’m not used to going to big events like this anymore, especially ones that last for most of the day. [and in August, which is a rough month for me anyway; I don’t do well in heat/humidity] But I am PUMPED and ready, and I promise I’ll tell you all about it when it’s done and I’m suffering from post-concert depression!

The BTS concert will probably finish up my summer; I’m not quite sure what I’ll have on the docket for September and beyond but I know I have at least one possible [virtual] event, and maybe some more. Of course I’ll keep you updated! September holds the Baltimore Book Fair too, and if I’m going to be involved there, I’ll be sure to let you know.

How’s your summer been going? What good books have you been reading? Has it felt slow and fast to you too?

The cover to novel A Small Light in the Darkness overlaid on a photo of lightning. Next to it, text reads: Launch Party; chat and reading with Christiane Knight

Missed the Launch Party? I got you!

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A Small Light in the Darkness Fun

…and other news!

If you missed yesterday’s Launch Party for A Small Light in the Darkness, never fear! I have uploaded it to YouTube and will also embed it at the bottom of this blog post, for easy access. Expect a very animated me talking at length about research, process, and the personal connections that went into my story, as well as a reading from ASLID.

…I had so much fun! I think you can tell.

Also, in the portion of the book that I read, Fo shares a video with Tryst about murmurations that he found to help him understand what she was referring to. If you’ve been on ye olde Internets for a long time, you may have seen this previously, but it’s always a good day to share it, in my opinion.

It’s perfectly magical and captures exactly the kind of beauty that Tryst and Fo both talk about that people often overlook.

Ratings! Reviews! Help me get seen?

As a small indie/self published author, visibility is a real struggle. I don’t have the kind of money to drop into big ads, and honestly I have my doubts as to how effective they actually are. Not to mention, I really don’t want to go that route. It feels icky. I love the idea of word-of-mouth advertising and growth on merit, but I also know that I’m a starry-eyed mooncalf and it’s really difficult to get any traction in the fast-moving world of algorithms and social media darlings that flash and burn.

So here’s my ask: if you’ve read my novel, will you leave a rating or review somewhere? On Goodreads or LibraryThing or TheStorygraph or IndieStoryGeek or on your blog or social media? Every time you tell a friend or stranger about an indie author, we loosen the grip of big publishing on storytelling! And you’ll help me get this story into more hands too. 💜

If you haven’t read it yet and need a copy, it’s slowly making its way everywhere! In the US, you can buy a signed paperback directly from me, or an ebook if you’re anywhere in the world. If you’re outside the US and buy it elsewhere, I’m happy to send you a signed bookplate. The ebook is available everywhere, DRM free because I love you.

I already have two amazing reviews up on Goodreads, both from folks in the field who have very kind things to say about ASLID. I feel very fortunate.

While you’re here, a question:

Doing the launch party reminded me how much I enjoy putting out visual content, and it made me want to do more videos, like I used to do. Question is: would you enjoy that? I can bring back Office Hours and maybe even restart doing my serial readings from In Sleep You Know… or something else that maybe you really want to see. Leave a comment with your vote!

And as always, my deepest gratitude for your ongoing support, dear friends.

Proofs for A Small Light in the Darkness are here!

A Small Light in the Darkness Events Fun

One of the most nerve-wracking parts of being an author is waiting to see the fruits of your hard labor and trying not to be nervous about whether it looks like you envisioned. In my case, this time is the hardest it’s ever been to wait, because I did almost every part of this book on my own! From writing to cover design to formatting to sourcing interior illustrations–it’s 100% my baby. My team this time was editor Fiona and my trusty alpha readers Christopher and Stacie. [I couldn’t do this without them!]

I did it DIY.

In the past, I have hired a very capable, lovely agency [3 Ferns] to handle hiring an editor, doing formatting, and cover creation, and they also talked me through all the small details that one needs to know in order to have a successful book launch. And there are so many small details! You need ISBNs. You need an illustrator or someone who can design from the appropriate assets. You need to arrange paperback and ebook distribution across platforms and countries. I could go on and on, but the gist of it is that I carefully absorbed the process while I published my first three books, so that I could eventually do everything myself, or at least as much of it as I could.

If you are a writer and are considering self-publication, these are skills that are worth acquiring. In my case, I was happy to pay someone else to do it and chose to be involved so that I could educate myself, but I’m not in a position these days to hire out that work. Thankfully most of these tasks weren’t far removed from my current skillset. There’s nothing wrong with paying someone else to do these things, though! These are things that a traditionally published author’s publisher would do for them, but there’s often less control involved for the author. [see my various discussions about traditional vs. self-publishing]

What’s next?

Now that I’ve seen the proof and know that it lives up to my expectations, my next step is to approve the book to go to print. There’s a pre-order option available on Amazon for the ebook but paperbacks can only have a scheduled release date. However! You can preorder the paperback directly from me, and if you do that you’ll get a signed paperback and a cute package of carefully chosen extra goodies too. I’ve already set up ebook distribution across multiple platforms, but it always takes a bit longer for paperbacks. Eventually you’ll be able to find ASLID on all of them.

After I approve the proof, I’ll also order my own copies for sales via my website and in person. If you’re in the Baltimore area, you’ll have several opportunities to purchase them from me and chat with me in person!

The proof of A Small Light in the Darkness along with the original proof copy of A Third Kind of Madness, the Indie Ink Award Finalist in four categories [yes I’m bragging a little]

What happens to your proof copies?

That’s a very good question! Some authors will give them away to readers or friends. Me, I use them as “book bible” additions–I’ll highlight, tab, and bookmark quotes and excerpts for future readings, discussion, and promos. I treat them as precious, because they are! I don’t feel bad marking them up; that’s part of their purpose for me. I have proof copies for all four of my novels now, and I refer to them often.

I also keep author copies, by the way. I love the way they look on my shelf! I do readings with them sometimes though I prefer to print out the reading selection because it’s easier to read from and avoid stumbling or mistakes when reading. But there’s nothing cooler looking than reading from your own book, right?

Don’t forget the Launch Party is coming!

Speaking of readings, I’d love if you joined my Launch Party! It’s happening on April 4th at 2pm EDT, and it’s free on Zoom. I will read from A Small Light in the Darkness, as well as hold an author chat where who knows what I’ll discuss? There will definitely be some talk about the soundtrack, connecting with total strangers in probably ill-advised ways, real life locations highlighted in the story, and what parts of the plot were based on actual scientific research. You can register for the Launch Party right here: https://christianeknight.myflodesk.com/qav0bga5rp

How long until A Small Light in the Darkness is available?

Find all your ordering options here: https://www.christianeknight.com/a-small-light-in-the-darkness/

2026: Off to a BIG Start

A Small Light in the Darkness A Third Kind of Madness Fun SW-SW

Dearest Friends and Faebies, 2026 already feels like it’s been a year long.

Which I guess it has been, in one way of looking at it. A year can be 365 days or the length of what we’ve lived so far in that time period, right? Things have been bad scary a shitshow here in the US and other places. Y’know, I want to focus on some positive things happening in my life, because art is important and success by queer disabled weirdos is an affront to fascism. But first I need to say a few things upfront, so we all know we’re on the same page.

…I mean, if we’re not, have you even read my books?

We in the US are living on stolen land, in a country built on stolen labor.

NO ONE can be illegal on stolen land. The systems the people who stole that land–white people–set up to control those enslaved for the labor that built this country have never been dismantled. They were only adapted. We’re seeing that now, in every aspect of what’s happened previously and is happening currently in the US. Black and brown people have always been marginalized here, always exploited, and we are once again seeing those who fear that reality flipping and putting THEM in that place flexing the power they’ve amassed to try and ensure that never happens.

They want to eliminate anyone who doesn’t fit into their small-minded idea of who counts as a person, those who just by existing demonstrate how weak and pathetic and useless these people actually are. They would kill off queer people, trans folk, the BIPOC folk who don’t bend their knee to them, the disabled, the ones who don’t subscribe to their twisted version of religion or “values.”

Fuck them, and their fascist government and their genocides. Fuck their hatred of community and culture and love and neighborliness. Everything they stand for is the opposite of what makes us good and kind and powerful. Fuck that. I will always be in opposition to what they stand for.

Oh, and fuck ICE.

That’s the bare minimum of words I have on this and related subjects, but I didn’t want to leave the first month of 2026, where as it stands currently [as far as we know] at least nine people have been killed by ICE, without making completely sure that my readers are on the same page of me. If not, here’s your door to leave –> 🚪

Now for some good things in 2026.

You might have noticed that there’s a store on the website now! If you are in the US you can now purchase my physical books and other related things directly from me without having to go to Ko-fi to check out. Unfortunately because of the current situation in the US right now I can’t ship outside of the US, but there’s a variety of retailers that carry them in your area. And of course DRM-free e-books are always available from me directly.

I also moved the “Membership/Support” option away from Ko-fi, which is a big deal! Now you can either do a one-time support or subscribe to a membership via Square checkout. That simplifies things for me in a big way. Members will get special emails directly in their inbox that will have behind the scenes info, scene shares, advance opportunities, and more. It’s basically what I was offering on Ko-fi but without a middleman.

In somewhat related news, you might have seen me talk about my Three Ravens Press mugs that I designed through Bonfire and how I am giving all proceeds to Leftover Love, Inc. LLI is a Baltimore-based 501c3 nonprofit that rescues fresh leftover food from local businesses for those in need. Through sales of the Three Ravens Press mugs I’ve already been able to raise almost $100 for their cause, and I’d like to do more!

I’ll be moving all my Bonfire-produced merch to a charity model this month! I’m looking for at least one more Baltimore-based charity to support, preferably one that aligns with the values that are touted by Vali and the crew at The Maithe. Mugs will support feeding people through Leftover Love, and t-shirts will go to the yet-to-be-chosen second charity. If you have ideas, please do leave them in the comments!

Look for an updated page where all the charity merch will be collated sometime before the end of January, hopefully!

ICYMI, A Third Kind of Madness is officially a FINALIST in the Indie Ink Awards!

ATKOM is a finalist in FOUR categories:

  • This Book Made Me Hungry/Thirsty
  • Writing the Future We Need: Bisexual or Biromantic Representation
  • Writing the Future We Need: LGBTQ+ Representation
  • Writing the Future We Need: Trans or Nonbinary Representation

I am extremely proud and also humbled by the thought that readers voted to put my exploration of magic-triggered obsession with a nervous and quirky enby protagonist into these categories. Y’all, only 10 books from a WIDE selection make it to this stage. That’s HUGE.

Now it’s up to the judges to read all of their assigned books and decide what they think. I thank all of you who supported ATKOM in the contest and otherwise, and I’ll keep you updated as I learn more! It will be a while before we know for sure, but even making it to this round is such an honor.

A Small Light in the Darkness is open for paperback preorders and ARC requests!

You heard it here first! After the successful cover reveal of ASLID went so well, I busted tail and got the preorder page up for paperbacks. I should have e-book preorders up by the end of this week as well. If you’ve been with me for a while, you know that my paperback preorders always come with an assortment of cool goodies, making it a whole vibe that goes along with the story. [Famously the packages for In Sleep You Know came with representatives of some of the gifts that Merrick was given. And tea, there’s always tea!]

This time I’m going to put together something cool for folks who preorder the e-book, as well! It’s another “stay tuned” announcement, because I want to make sure I have everything together to make a Very Cool and Enticing Announcement about it.

Also, if you are a booktok person, a blogger, or book reviewer and would like an ARC copy, I have the form for you! If you’d like to be on my street team and help with honest reviews on sites like Goodreads, The Storygraph, and the like, as well as getting the word out, that’s the form for you to fill out too. I don’t have the release date set in stone yet – I was going for the end of January but as you can see we’re AT the end of January and I am not ready… so Spring 2026 it is.

Before I go, I wanted to remind y’all that in this time of strife and uncertainty, soft and welcoming places to spend some time and share community are extremely valuable. And as I’m on the committee of Strong Women–Strange Worlds, I’d be remiss if I didn’t spend a moment talking about how their twice-monthly, free virtual QuickReads event offers that. SW-SW features six women and nonbinary authors of science fiction, fantasy, and horror in 8 minute segments in their QuickReads, and you can often find well-known authors alongside new authors who are ready to be added to your list of favorites. I never fail to come away with additions to my TBR list!

QuickReads happen every First Friday and Third Thursday and are always free to attend on Zoom. We’re also expanding our offerings via YouTube to include a podcast and QuickReads remixes. You can also find past QuickReads there as well!

Our next QuickRead is happening on February 6th, 2026 at 12 noon Eastern, and features authors Gita Ralleigh, Lisa Morton, Minerva Cerridwen, Melissa Widmaier, Rachel Handley, and Victoria Goddard. You can register for this QuickRead and other upcoming ones at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/strong-women-strange-worlds-33460611105

Are there other good things happening in 2026? There ARE But my blog post is getting long and I think I’d like to save some things for later, so I can keep spreading some joy when we need it most. Thank you as always for taking this journey with me, friends, faebies, and friends-to-be.

Cover Reveal: A Small Light in the Darkness

A Small Light in the Darkness Fun

It’s here, it’s here! I’m pleased to finally reveal the cover for A Small Light in the Darkness, a wistfully hopeful near-future speculative fiction novel about relationships, and what we look for in them, and how we can be manipulated by them too.

It’s also about what happens when we tamper with our brains, and who can be trusted to do so. It looks at what makes us who we are, and who we might be if circumstances are slightly changed.

A Small Light in the Darkness will be available in Spring 2026. Look for a release date announcement SOON!

A Small Light in the Darkness:

Tryst is driven to make connections, even taking risks in order to find meaningful interactions, but they never last. Her search includes leaving a poetic post on an online bulletin board, hoping that someone’s reply will match her vibe and maybe turn into something deeper.

She gets the response she hoped for; enigmatic, fascinating, engaging—and anonymous. Tryst gives them the name Fo, based on a reference that they made about Fomalhaut, the Loneliest Star. The pair slowly build a rapport through emails, then text messages, and finally connection via a private app. 

One night during a dangerous storm, Fo abruptly disappears from their chat and does not return. The events that lead from that night introduce Tryst to a world she’d never imagined: a rich, lawless family, unethical experiments, and a terrible betrayal. Worst of all, she learns that Fo isn’t who she thought. Or is he?

Stay tuned for pre-orders, opening soon! And if you are a reviewer, podcaster, or other person to whom an ARC would be helpful, please do fill out the ARC Reader form here.

Of course as always there is a soundtrack, because at heart I’ll always be a DJ. I’ll talk more about that later, as well as do some introductions and talk about the story a bit more. If you subscribe to these posts you won’t miss any of the details!

Where to Find Xiane This Summer [2025]

Events Fun

Dear Friends and Faebies, the summer event season has begun!

That means that your intrepid author and general goofball-around-town Xiane [that’s-a me!] will be appearing in many places, sometimes with a hopefully bon mot–or at least a passably mediocre one–and at other times with an armful of books that I’ll be shamelessly shilling. Summer is always the busiest season for me when it comes to this, and this year is no exception.

I have a packed calendar from now until the end of August, but of course there’s always room for a few more events… so if you’ve got something you’d like me to join or contribute to, please do shoot me a line or comment below! In the meantime, here’s where you can find me, at least so far.

JUNE

The Nebula Conference, June 5 – 6th 2025 – I’ll be attending virtually and participating in one panel, on June 6th at 5pm EDT.

Collaboration and Building a Publishing Community with C.J. Lavigne (moderator), Kate Heartfield, Kristin Osani, and Wen Wen Yang.
So often, we can feel alone on our publishing journeys. How do we make friends? Where do we find help and support? Let’s talk about beginnings: How and where do we find our people, especially when we may be battling distances, introversion, and/or imposter syndrome? What are the best ways to reach out to and work with each other?

JULY

The 2025 WriteHive Annual Conference, July 11 – 13 2025 – I’ll be attending virtually and participating in one panel, date/time TBA. Free!

Self-Publishing on a Budget [I’ll list more details when I have them!]

Greater Goods Night Market, July 18 from 6 – 10pm – this is held in the garage at R.House in Remington, 301 W 29th St, Baltimore, MD 21211. Free!

Locally made, high quality handmade goods in a laid-back party atmosphere? Delicious food and drinks right there too? Sign me UP. I’ll be there with all my books as well as some hand-made jewelry and other goods and my goofy face. Please come by and say hello, even if you have my books already?

AUGUST

Book Fair at Bel Air, August 23, 2025 from 10am – 2pm – held at the Bel Air Armory, 37 N Main St, Bel Air, MD 21014. Free!

40+ authors in all genres plus bookish merch, sweet treats, and games and crafts for kids – this is the Book Fair’s second year and I can’t wait to be back. Last year was a blast, with lots of attendees and fantastic reads to stock your TBR shelf. Did I mention that it’s free?
I’ll be there will books, some merch, and lots of free stickers. I strongly recommend this festival!

Keep checking back for more additions to my schedule, including some things I’ll be putting together. I hope to see you at one – or many – of these events!

It’s Voting for the Indie Ink Awards Time!

Events Fun

Voting is OPEN at the Indie Ink Awards, and all three of the Eleriannan books have been nominated! [THANK YOU]

It’s an honor to even be considered, because nominations come from readers. I’d really love to get into the finals, but I know that’s a difficult task at best, because there are so many other fantastic books in the running. So I’m asking that if you choose to vote for my books, would you concentrate on A Third Kind of Madness? I consider it the best thing I’ve written so far, and I’d really love this sapphic-love-filled fantasy with characters that need a hug and elementals that show up randomly to either admonish or assist them to get some attention. Denny is close to my heart and is the character that the most people have told me makes them feel seen, and that’s a feeling I’d love to give to more readers.

Without your help, it’s hard to get seen by the reading public.

If you could take some time to go to https://indiestorygeek.com/a/indie-ink-awards-2024 and vote for ATKOM, I will be VERY grateful. And if–somehow–A Third Kind of Madness makes it as a finalist in any category, I could be motivated to write a special behind the scenes short story for y’all…
[It’s already in the works, so be assured that you’ll see it either way. I wouldn’t leave you hanging like that!]

Seriously though, these competitions do motivate indie writers like me to keep going. It’s tough out here, especially these days when everything feels like a struggle, but especially creative output that one has to fight to get seen. So every time y’all nominate my books, it feels like a warm hug and a vote of confidence to keep going. I appreciate you more than you’ll ever know.

Let’s get some votes for biromantic and nonbinary rep, from a queer author, and make Denny blush from all the attention! [and me, let’s be honest]

Category for In Sleep You Know and Cast a Shadow of Doubt

Best setting

Categories for A Third Kind of Madness

Writing the Future We Need: Bisexual or Biromantic Representation 

Writing the Future We Need: LGBTQ+ Representation 

Writing the Future We Need: Mental Health Representation 

Writing the Future We Need: Trans or Nonbinary Representation 

Reminder: you need to be signed into your Indie Story Geek account to vote! If you don’t have one, you should; it’s a great tool for readers like us!

A Map of the Eleriannan

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A Third Kind of Madness Cast A Shadow Of Doubt Fun In Sleep You Know

Have you wondered where in Baltimore that one scene took place? You know, the fight scene at ArtPark or where Denny met Dorcha or that club where The Drawback played their first show?

Wonder no more! Here is a map that will show you all those locations and more! Please keep in mind that because the Baltimore where the Eleriannan and Gwyliannan live is laid over the one most of us live in, you may see something very different on this map than what is actually there for Merrick. Luccee, Denny and friends.

If you click through to the page where the map is hosted you’ll see a clickable navigation list. You can also access it here through the icon at the top left. If there’s a location I haven’t added yet that you want to see, just let me know.

I hope you enjoy this exploration of both mundane and magical Baltimore!