Happy Tuesday, mis internet amigxs!

It's the last Latine book release newsletter of Latinx Heritage Month and I want to take a moment to thank you all for being part of the Bien Leidos community. You're an integral part of the work I do and inspire me to keep going on days when I feel disillusioned.

SUPPORT BIEN LEIDOS BEYOND THE 31 DAYS OF LHM

If you want to to support the work I do with Latinx books beyond the 31 days of Latinx Heritage Month, continuing to push more Latinx books into the zeitgeist, TODAY is a great day to sign up at the Libritos or Lectores level of support. News may be a bit slower as I adjust through this new period of my life, but there's going to be some exciting announcements coming soon and you can be the FIRST to know. Libritos and Lectores member levels are FOR THE CHISMOSAS!

We have a number of events coming up for the whole community. I hope you'll consider joining us--

BIEN CREATIVOS: REFLECTION ON LATINX HERITAGE MONTH

With Latinx Heritage Month in the rearview mirror, on Monday, October 19th on Discord, we’ll be gathering at 8:00PM EST on Discord to craft, snack and sip while discussing the highs and lows of Latinx Heritage Month 2026. This is a first-of-its-kind Bien Leidos Discord event. Join us in community and share your experiences, ask questions and get to know your fellow community members on Discord.

AUTHOR CHAT WITH CLEYVIS NATERA

I have confirmed an author chat with our September book club author, Cleyvis Natera!!! We’ll be chatting on Thursday, October 22nd at 8PM EST. I’ll be sending out a Zoom invite and Survey for author questions sometime this week.

OCTOBER BOOK CLUB

I just started reading our October book club selection, You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom by Vincent Tirado, so this is proof that it’s not too late to begin a book club book and chatting about it on Discord. We’ve recently begun created a spoilery discussion thread for those that finish the book and have some thoughts.

NOVEMBER BOOK CLUB

Thanks to everyone who voted, we’ll be reading Beginning Middle End by Valeria Luiselli in November! The book is now a FINALIST for the National Book Award for Fiction, so it will be even more exciting to read in November in anticipation of the awards ceremony.

DECEMBER BOOK CLUB

In December, we’re testing a new way of reading for book club to help everyone meet their year-end Latine reading goals: I’ll be running a poll soon to select either a genre OR a Bien Leidos Bingo Card space as a reading prompt for the month of December. I was thinking we could do little book reports in January to inspire each other with the books we read. This plan is still in development, so if you have any suggestions, let me know in the comments!

OCTOBER RELEASES--FINALLY!

And FINALLY! Onto October (so far) releases, including last week's releases that I missed. I’m attempting a new format today. You can see all the book covers by scrolling through the books at the bottom of this post or clicking the “shop full bookshelf” link.

OCTOBER 6th RELEASES

The Lost Guardian by Natalia Hernandez (Audiobook)

Bruja's Nest by Brenda LaTorre (Audiobook)

They Called Us Wicked by Gloria Munoz (Audiobook)

There's A Monster In The Lake: The World As a Fantastical Place by Laura Fernandez and translated by Alexic Almeida

How to Look Away: On America Cruelty and the Refusal to Look Away by Daniel Pena (Audiobook)

Twilight In Venezuela: Dispatches from My Once and Future Country by Rafael Osio Cabrices and translated by Jessie Mendez Sayer (Audiobook)

What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne (Audiobook)  

Hear The Dead by Ann Davila Cardinal (Audiobook)

Strange Lights by Mira Gonzalez (Audiobook)

The Creeps by Tehlor Mejia (Audiobook)

Mother Tongue: Immeresions and Other True Stories by Fabio Morábito and translated by Curtis Bauer

You Still Have Yourself by Fernando Samalot (Audiobook)

Tree Dog by Margarita Engle

The Speculative Detective Agency: Case Files of the Supernatural and Fantastic Edited by Richie Narvaez & Matthew David Goodwin

Nixta Taqueria Presents: From Tacos to Tahdig by Sara Mardanbigi and Edgar Rico with JJ Goode: Recipes and Stories from Mexico, Iran, and the In-Between

ADHD and Women: A Guide to Optimizing Your Hormones and Thriving with ADHD by Dr. Jolene Brighten (Audiobook)

The First Reader: On Writers and Editors by Luiz Schwarcz and Translated by Alison Entrekin

Cuban Soul by Mika Leon: Cuban cookbook featuring over 100 recipes

The Sea Witch Prophecy (Witchlings #5) by Claribel A. Ortega (Audiobook)

OCTOBER 13th

The End Of Us by Sandra Proudman (Audiobook)

Revenge of the Final Girl by Andrea Mosqueda Young Adult Fiction Horror (Audiobook)

Things We Lost In The Fire by Mariana Enriquez and illustrated by Lucas Mine

Essential: Being Latino and Indispensable in America by Enrique Acevedo (Audiobook):

You Are What You See: How My Favorite Shows Became My Worst Influences by Doménica Feraud (Audiobook)

The Havana Syndrome: Secret Weapons, a Government Cover-Up, and the Greatest Spy Mystery of Our Time by Michael Rey & Oriana Zill de Granados

xo,

Carmen

This next spooky recommendation comes from the creative mind of independent author David Washburn. DIY Exorcism had me imagining dark shapes in corners as sinister figures (it was just my laundry pile) and genuinely gave me goosebumps. When a small town pastor thinks his young son is possessed by a demon he does whatever he thinks necessary to rid the boy of evil.

Happy Indigenous People's Day, friends!

I've got multiple posts coming today, so many things to talk about, so many secrets to ....

Today we recognize the history and contribution of Indigenous people (starting by recognizing, we are still here!)

To Do List:

1. Buy Indigenous books (and from Indigenous creators! I get a small commission every time you shop using my bookshop link and it really helps at the end of the month!) I've added a few books to this post and I've also created a Bookshop shopping list, https://bookshop.org/lists/indigenous-book-releases-2026

Buy using my bookshop link and buying an Indigenous book, you support: Indigenous authors, an Indigenous creator (me!) and an Indigenous bookstore (Black Walnut Books!)

1. Shop Indigenous! Some of my fave Indigenous bookshops: Black Walnut Books, Quiet Quail Books and Eureka Bookstore!

2. Consider upgrading your membership today. Your monthly subscriptions are what keep this imprint going and provide a place for these authors to have a great publishing experience getting their stories into the world. More subscribers= more books!

3. Order books from Boozhoo Books. YOU HAVEN'T PURCHASED WHAT FEEDS BELOW YET? How can we become a bestseller without you?

   Have you preordered Cracks? It's time to start building momentum so that Cracks can debut with over 1,000 preorders in April. Can that be our imprint's "THING" - 1,000 preorders for authors every time. (This doesn't happen in trad pub, because the publishers just don't put in the effort and leave it all to the authors.) Proud to have community support and community funded publishing!

While I was in NYC, someone asked me if I was still interested in publishing Indigenous books- the answer has always been yes, but I know I don't talk about the behind the scenes as much as I should:

1. To date, we have made offers on 3 books by Indigenous authors. (a couple you know!) Unfortunately, we lost to other presses.

2. I am not an editor in the traditional sense, and Bindery's editing turnaround is tight, so I'm looking for manuscripts that are nearly there where I want them to be.

3. I have to be passionate about the story and believe I can sell it. I've read some good stories, that just are not for me.

I'm not sure if I mentioned it publicly, but I am always open to submissions for Indigenous authors. If you're agented, send directly to Bindery. If you're not agented, you can email me directly. My current bandwidth does not allow me to respond to all submissions, but I am always reading.

Someone left me a comment on Instagram (that I deleted, because I have that capability) and asked if I could still be an Indigenous led imprint, if I don't have any Indigenous books. Did I stop being Indigenous? (I could make an entire post about the stupid comments I get on social media, should I?)

Did you notice the new(ish) byline for my imprint: Publishing stories that haunt and heal.

I've read so many great stories recently and want this imprint to grow and expand, encompassing all that haunts and heals.

Did I mention earlier that I had publishing secrets? A total of three. And they keep coming!

One is going public SOON. One might get announced this week to paid subscribers. Maybe two. If you haven't upgraded yet- it's definitely time. Things are about to get spicy.

Okay, more coming soon! (Including a new Indigenous book bingo card! I know you've been waiting!)

XoXo (should I rewatch Gossip Girl? One like on this post and I will take that as a yes)

There have been lots of new friends joining recently, both here and on Instagram! If you're new, welcome! I'm so glad you're here!

You Can Sit with Us Book Club is an asynchronous, virtual book club exclusively for followers of Rachael's Reads! We chat on Discord and, as of this month, have added the ability to discuss on Fable as well. For now, we alternate between contemporary romance and fantasy/fantasy romance. Inner Circle and Producer level subscribers have the option to suggest titles for future months.

October's book is The Song of Sunrise by Monica J. DeLoy. Monica is an indie author from the Midwest and will be featured on my podcast, Endpapers, next week! The Song of Sunrise is a magical war academy fantasy romance and, as of earlier this month, is available as a full-cast audiobook! It's also on KU.

Book 2 of the Prentice Teller series releases TOMORROW, so when you left wondering what happens after The Song of Sunrise ends, you won't have long to wait!

Join on Discord!

Join on Fable!

Ready to read? Let's go!

Ready to dive into the world of selkies, fae, witches, werewolves, political intrigue, dangerous enemies, complicated loyalties, and one seriously complicated love story? 📚👀

The full Book Club Kit, Individual Book Club Member Guide, Buddy Reader Kit, AND Solo Reader Kit for Between Sky and Sea: Book 1 of the Black Heart Tribunal Series by Katy Tearle are officially available for The First Editions!

Whether you’re reading with your book club, buddy-reading with your favorite person, or going full solo deep-dive mode, we’ve got a kit for you. 🌊📖✨

📚 TAP THE LINK TO DOWNLOAD YOUR KITS!

Book Club Kit 

Individual Book Club Member Reader Guide 

Buddy Reader Kit 

Solo Reader Kit 

And once you’ve got your reading materials ready, don’t stop there!

🔥 CHECK OUT OUR BOOK CLUB DEEP-DIVE REVIEW OF BETWEEN SKY AND SEA for our full thoughts on Mira, Lukas, the Black Heart Tribunal, the supernatural world, the high-stakes political conflict, and ALL the things we’re still thinking about.

💬 AND IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY, CHECK OUT OUR BOOK CLUB CONVERSATION WITH KATY TEARLE! We went behind the pages to talk about the story, characters, world-building, and so much more.

Basically…if Between Sky and Sea is on your TBR, we came prepared. 😂🌊

Now grab your kit, grab your book, and come dive into Alistile with us! 📚✨

#BetweenSkyAndSea #KatyTearle #BlackHeartTribunal #BookClubKit #ThePageLadiesBookClub