New Book Spotlight

Andrei and the Hellcats

A mini-interview with Marie Vibbert

Tell us about your new book?

Andrei and the Hellcats is about a sex robot who loves his job. One day he helps a space biker gang escape from an evil queen, who punishes his good deed by kidnapping his sister. Now he’s setting off on his own, armed only with keen fashion sense, to enlist that gang to save her.

In 2022, Vernacular Books, the original publishers of Galactic Hellcats asked me if I would write a sequel. They sadly went out of business after buying the thing, and so I rewrote it to stand on its own, thinking no publisher would buy a sequel. Then Lethe press came along and snatched both books up! I’m so happy people finally get to meet my sassy robot friends.

What aspect of the book was the most fun to write?

Definitely Andrei’s voice. I cackled to myself every time I found a way to wedge in a reference to fashion or cocktails. I worried I was being over-the-top, but my editor actually added in MORE “Darlings” to his dialog. So there!

If there is one emotion or theme that you would hope that the reader connects with, what would that be?

There’s a central theme of choosing to protect and care for other people, over wealth, objects, or even one’s self. It grew out of wanting to write about love, specifically what it means to love your chosen family. I also want people to feel the joy Andrei brings to everything. Joy is so important in dark times.