Kelsey Clifton

Book dragon, coffee mug hoarder, and writer of quirky speculative fiction.

Books

Science Fiction

A Day Out of Time

Cat Fiyero is no stranger to chaos.

Once a year the world fractures into rifts, allowing modern New Yorkers to walk side-by-side with dinosaurs, killer mermaids, and beings from distant stars. The cleanup falls to people like Cat and the brilliant but damaged members of Gamma team, who all know from personal experience that their job has a way of haunting anyone who gets close.

Nothing about a Day is ever simple, and if this band of misfits wants to make it through the next twenty-four hours unscathed, their only choice is to stick together. The rules are simple: Identify and relocate subjects. Clear and close rifts. Don’t cause trouble.

Too bad Cat and her team aren’t much for rules.

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Science Fiction

After/Effects

You’ve defended Manhattan with Gamma – now get ready for the other side of life as a CIRIUS agent.

When Mia Islington joined Charlie Team, she expected danger. Even in the volatile world of the Dogs, rift-hopping isn’t for the faint of heart; there’s always the risk that when you cross over, you might not cross back.

She also expected to find herself in some undignified situations. Trussed up like a spider’s dinner, covered in Horlanan slime, being chased by a beaver the size of a bear – nothing is too extreme for a Watchdog.

But what Mia didn’t expect was that knowledge – of the future, of her impact, of her own limitations – would end up being the heaviest burden of all. When every decision might mean the unraveling of Time itself, how do you make the right one?

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Science Fiction

None But Us

Cat Fiyero has officially seen it all.

Radioactive crystal lizards. A possessed pavilion. Her willful younger brother actually learning from his choices. And now, a trio of superpowered clones are wandering around in her territory, leaving terror and confusion in their wake. With frightening abilities and murky motives, the clones represent the greatest threat the New York City Doghouse has ever seen.

This Day Out of Time holds one deadly surprise after another – including the appearance of a few faces she would give anything to avoid. But if Cat wants to keep disaster at bay, she’ll need help.

A lot of help.

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High Fantasy

Fire and Lightning,
Ash and Stone

This isn’t the way the stories are supposed to go.

Jaelin and Aldwin have heard legends of the Grey Princess their entire lives. When it comes time for his first heroic quest, Jaelin naturally chooses her rescue – but the princess from Aldwin’s stories is a pale imitation of the sorceress that they find at the top of a lonely mountain tower.

Known across the realms as the Grey Princess, Liana has been the subject of stories and songs for over two centuries. Every bard and historian thinks they know the truth, but the reality of Liana’s power – and the secrets she has hidden under layers of stone – is something that no one is prepared for. And Liana herself is hardly prepared for two adventurers to show up on her doorstep with a doozy of a quest…and the key to undoing a choice she made many years ago.

Can a bratty lordling, a witty librarian, and an irritable sorceress bumble their way through an enchanted forest, survive the ruins of a haunted city, and defeat a centuries-old dragon with only a few hours of planning?

The better question is, can anyone stop them?

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Cozy Fantasy

Something Fine
and Distant
and Comforting

The entire span of human existence is a long time to do the same job, but Botis has never minded. The Punisher demon’s days are simple: He collects the souls of the damned, he balances their scales, and he moves along. All in all, a peaceful un-life.

Well, except for all the tortured screaming.

But when an exorcism gone wrong lands him square in the path of a lonely six-year-old girl, he learns that sometimes even a demon can get a little lost – and it might just take a tea party to get him back on track.

An offbeat look at life, guardianship, and the fragile beauty of finding your way.

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Reviews

You know when you decide to watch a few episodes of a show just to check it out, and then before you know it it’s 4 am and you’ve binged the entire thing? That was my experience with this book. I read the entire thing in one sitting, and boy was it a wild ride!

Goodreads/StoryGraph reviewA Day Out of Time

Clifton seamlessly joins ridiculous comedy with tender emotional moments for a highly enjoyable debut tale of time gone awry…This fun romp makes great use of its unusual concept.

Publishers Weekly ReviewA Day Out of Time

The story is unbelievably thrilling, the characters well rounded and [incredibly] diverse: the author manages has worked hard to create an elaborate worldbuilding, which it’ll leave you wanting to know more and more.
This book is rated 5 stars only because I can’t give it more.

Francesca S., Amazon reviewAfter/Effects

I was happy to dive in and ended up reading the whole book in one sitting…I was along for the ride wherever it took me! The story was beautifully told, I loved the chronic illness rep, and I adored the characters, all of them!

Joey, Amazon reviewFire and Lightning, Ash and Stone

This story is funny and sweet and tragic and heartbreaking. It has joy and laughter and pain and tears, vengeance and retribution. Above all it is so very human.

Casey, Amazon reviewSomething Fine and Distant and Comforting

If I could give it more than 5 stars I would…the [character] development had me absolutely bawling at the end. It expressed so many different types of love and forgiveness and relationship dynamics.

Jennifer, Amazon reviewSomething Fine and Distant and Comforting

Where to Start?

A Day Out of Time

…if you love chaotic sci-fi with time travel, found family (misfit edition), heist vibes, and just a hint of romance.

Fire and Lightning, Ash and Stone

…if you love classic fantasy/fairytale tropes and want to see them lovingly turned on their head.

Something Fine and Distant and Comforting

…if you’re just a weird little guy and want a weird little story about a girl and her bestie (who happens to be a demon).

So Who’s this Weirdo?

As far as anyone can prove, Kelsey Clifton was born in Houston, Texas in the late 80s. She survived the humidity and proximity to the Ship Channel (possibly due to her growing eldritch powers) and moved to North Texas, where she bargained her way into the Creative Writing program like an old-school fae. After defeating all the final bosses in the area, she went on an extended quest to the land of Vespas, caffeine, and questionable hand gestures (Italy). She’s currently haunting the southeast side of Houston like a salmon returning home (except without the spawning or dying). Reports that she is actually seven raccoons and two rattlesnakes in a trench coat have been exaggerated (we promise). One thing is for certain: She is definitely human, and not an ancient being of inestimable power.

Feel free to follow her (because she’s a millennial and she needs the attention):
Instagram: @kelsey_writes
TikTok: @kelsey_writes
Facebook.com/kelseycliftonauthor/