J. Kirsch

Biography

I'm an avid writer, traveler, and dog lover. I grew up in Chicago, IL raised by two librarians with a sincere love for storytelling, and the rest has been one long and mostly memorable adventure. I have published 3 novels, 7 novellas and more than 65 short stories. My stories have been featured on The Book Cave, received praise from award-winning authors, and become bestsellers on Amazon and Smashwords. I currently live in Spartanburg, SC, where I have the privilege of working with amazing people who love books and storytelling as much as I do.

Smashwords Interview

Who are some of your favorite authors or books?
The first science fiction or fantasy book that really captivated me was David Gemmel's The King Beyond the Gate. It was this epic adventure story told with grit, where ideals had to strive beside the ugly side of human nature. It had this ragtag group of people coming together around a common purpose not by some divine prophecy, but because of a combination of history, personal choices, and dumb luck. It was high fantasy, but without the vanilla themes or lazy storytelling you sometimes expect. That's the kind of richness which draws me to a lot of amazing authors and books.

This is a sampling of some of my favorite picks for anyone who wants to read great fantasy or science fiction:

C.J. Cherryh's Foreigner series
Guy Gavriel Kay's books
Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea trilogy
Impulse by Steven Gould
Neanderthal by John Darnton
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
Camouflage by Joe Haldeman
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
Not knowing what in the real world is going to inspire the next idea for a story so that I can get at some truth that, just maybe, people in the real world don't want to acknowledge. I think the best authors can be inspired by the smallest things. Maybe a simple idea snowballs into something incredible.

J.R.R. Tolkien began The Hobbit with a few scribbles at his teaching desk, never knowing what it would become. I guess that's what inspires me. Knowing that each day I write something new, there's no telling where it might end up or who's life might be touched by it.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find J. Kirsch online

Where to buy in print

Books

Unless You Were There
Price: $19.99 USD. Words: 3,220. Language: English. Published: May 28, 2020 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Family
(4.00 from 2 reviews)
When their flight goes horribly wrong, Ben and his sister must find a way to face the aftermath. Yet in the midst of tragedy and a phenomenon that defies understanding, the two make a startling discovery.
Rebel Girl of Mars
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 38,010. Language: English. Published: July 11, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Adventure
(5.00 from 1 review)
How do you save a doomed Martian colony when your father's been kidnapped and your supplies are cut off? Zayna has no idea and the clock is ticking. Can the help of a new boyfriend and a best friend still nursing a grudge make the difference? The answer might depend on beings not exactly human.
Crysalis: Vira's Tale
Price: $19.99 USD. Words: 43,380. Language: English. Published: August 22, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » General, Fiction » Fantasy » General
(5.00 from 1 review)
Vira is a young woman hunted in a post-apocalyptic underground society, and there's only one rule: people are expendable. Luckily Vira's not the fragile, glass slipper wearing type, and she's not entirely human either. What's in her brain might just get her killed, but not if she and a young bouncer named Damian have anything to say about it.
The Princess Who Defied Kings
Price: $19.99 USD. Words: 57,240. Language: English. Published: July 13, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General, Fiction » Adventure » General
(4.78 from 9 reviews)
Betrayed by justice, what would you do? Princess Najika of the White Kingdom is no pampered princess, but when her wedding night with the Red Knight leads to a terrible crime, it shatters her world, banishing her to a place ruled by a man known to be mad and cruel. With pluck and courage Naji is determined to survive, but with a queen wanting her dead, she'll need all the friends she can get.
Crysalis: Beginnings
Price: Free! Words: 18,110. Language: English. Published: May 17, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » General
(5.00 from 2 reviews)
In the distant future, the last remnants of humanity huddle in fragmented societies deep below ground, struggling to stay alive while threatened with inconceivable dangers. Three strong women from three different cultures are on intersecting paths, heading towards a fateful meeting which may well be mankind's only hope for survival…
Souls of Fate
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 15,460. Language: English. Published: February 21, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » General, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction
Kuan Shano thought he was just a cold, calculated killer, but the more he starts to think for himself, the more he considers the unthinkable. Will he be willing to risk everything to save a girl marked for death by the same government who created him?
The Human Insurgency
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 14,060. Language: English. Published: January 26, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » General, Fiction » Thriller & suspense » General
(5.00 from 2 reviews)
Skye is just an ordinary young woman, but after an alien invasion shocks the world she and a disillusioned Chinese politician may be humanity's best hopes.
Tales from Omega Station: Omnibus Edition
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 56,960. Language: English. Published: December 22, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Space opera, Fiction » Science fiction » Adventure
Omega Station, the Rock. A barren, airless asteroid on the outermost edge of the galaxy, home of the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor. The upper levels are safe, comfortable, secure or as secure as anyone can be on Omega Station. The lower levels, now; are home to the detritus of numerous alien species, all living in uneasy juxtaposition, fighting, loving, eating - and being eaten.
Tales from Omega Station: Betrayal
Price: Free! Words: 4,000. Language: English. Published: December 9, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Space opera, Fiction » Science fiction » Adventure
(5.00 from 1 review)
They're getting ready to blow him out the airlock, but Esric has other plans.
Tales from Omega Station: Abduction
Price: Free! Words: 8,010. Language: English. Published: November 28, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Adventure, Fiction » Science fiction » Space opera
(5.00 from 2 reviews)
What starts out as innocent adventure takes a brutal turn when corporate enemies of Kyrena's father decide to use her as collateral damage. Kyrena gets more than she bargained for, but she meets a guy who just might make the difference...and steal her heart.

J. Kirsch's tag cloud

abducted    abductees    abduction    adventure    alien invasion    alien species    alien understanding    alien war    aliens    androids    anthology    apocalyptic dystopia    artifacts    artificial intelligence    assassin    black dragon    black knight    black ops    blue knight    bounty hunter    brainery    brother    chinese military    dark fantasy    dystopian societies    dystopian society    epilepsy    epileptic hero    escape    exile    extraterrestrials    fantasy    fighters    friendship    future technology    future wars    galaxys edge    generation ship    genetic design    genetic engineering    green knight    heroine    human alien friendship    human resistance    insurgents    insurrection    interspecies friendship    interspecies war    invasion    kings    knights    light romance    lost contact    love relationships    magic    martian colony    medieval battle    medieval fantasy    military    military sci fi    military science fiction    mother ship    mutants    new adult    new worlds    ogres    omega    omega station    outer space    planetary exploration    post apocalypse    postapocalyptic    princess    princess warrior    prisoners    psychological thriller    queens    rebel    rebellion    red knight    rescue    rogue agent    romance    san francisco    sci fi    science fiction    scientists    scifi    scifi action    short story    sibling relationship    sister    sorcery    space action adventure    space adventure    space captain    space opera    space station    space war    special mission    starship    survival    tales from omega    tales from omega station    time travel    tokyo    trolls    underground civilizations    underground world    white knight    xenomorph    young love   

Smashwords book reviews by J. Kirsch

  • Optical Orifice of the Beholder on Feb. 13, 2014

    This story shows an interesting alien perspective. The contrast between how the humans view the aliens and vice versa is outright hilarious at times.
  • Lord Ghul and the Rat Princes on April 09, 2014

    A gripping story which channels the best aspects of Conan the Barbarian, with a finesse that will pique your curiosity and make you want to follow Barin's adventure to the end. Things in Koresh L'dar are definitely not what they seem...
  • Shadows of the Ancients on Aug. 12, 2014

    One sexy, witty, enticingly snarky wolf girl? Check. A unique take on werewolf power and relationship dynamics? Check. This is an overall fun read with dialogue that will have you laughing out loud at times and raising your eyebrows at others. In one evening I ran across this deliciously wolfy paranormal book, and a few hours later I had to buy book #2 and #3 in the series. Yes, it's THAT good. If you like Patricia Briggs or Jeaniene Frost, you will enjoy Ms. Butler's writing.