Vera Nazarian is an Armenian-Russian American writer of fantasy, science fiction and other "wonder fiction" including Mythpunk, an artist, and the publisher of Norilana Books. She is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and the author of ten novels, including Dreams of the Compass Rose, a "collage" novel structured as a series of related and interlinked stories similar in arabesque flavor to The One Thousand and One Nights, Lords of Rainbow, a standalone epic fantasy about a world without color, the Cobweb Bride trilogy, and the Atlantis Grail books.
Crowdfunding controversy
In 2014 controversy erupted when she started an Indiegogo campaign to try to raise money for her authors; although the campaign was canceled after three days. As a result of "personal misfortunes", she had stopped paying royalties to the authors publishing books with Norilana Books, and hoped to raise enough money to pay what she owed them through the crowdfunding campaign. This generated discussion and criticism questioning to which extent small businesses should use Indiegogo or other similar crowdfunding sites to pay off business debt, and also resulted in criticism against her handling of the matter. A similar fundraiser was carried out successfully in 2008 for the same reasons, which resulted in donations of $19,000 to cover the debt she owed her authors, as well as to support herself.
Lords of Rainbow, or, The Book of Fulfillment, Betancourt & Company, an imprint of Wildside Press, March 2003.
Mansfield Park and Mummies: Monster Mayhem, Matrimony, Ancient Curses, True Love, and Other Dire Delights , "Curiosities", an imprint of Norilana Books, November 2009.
Northanger Abbey and Angels and Dragons , "Curiosities", an imprint of Norilana Books, December 2010.
Pride and Platypus: Mr. Darcy's Dreadful Secret , "Curiosities", an imprint of Norilana Books, June 2012.
Cobweb Bride , "Leda", an imprint of Norilana Books, July 15, 2013.
Cobweb Empire , "Leda", an imprint of Norilana Books, September 25, 2013.
Cobweb Forest , "Leda", an imprint of Norilana Books, December 31, 2013.
The Duke in His Castle, Norilana Books, June 2008. Nebula Award 2008 Finalist.
Collections
Salt of the Air, Prime Books, September 2006, with an introduction by Gene Wolfe. Debut collection of author's fantasy short fiction, spanning 20 years of her career, including works from 1985 to 2005. Expanded and reissued definitive edition, Norilana Books, April 2009.
Hell Week at Grant-Williams High, "YA Angst" an imprint of Norilana Books, January 19, 2011.
The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration , "Spirit", an imprint of Norilana Books, October 2010.
Vampires are from Venus, Werewolves are from Mars: A Comprehensive Guide to Attracting Supernatural Love, "Curiosities", an imprint of Norilana Books, December 2012.
Short stories
"Streets Running Like a River," Night's Nieces: The Legacy of Tanith Lee, edited by Storm Constantine, December 11, 2015.
"Zandru's Gift," Stars of Darkover, edited by Deborah J. Ross and Elisabeth Waters, June 3, 2014.
"Danila's Song," Music of Darkover, edited by Elisabeth Waters, June 3, 2013.
"Publicity and Self-Promotion Nouveau: Doing It With Class," article on publicity and self-promotion for writers, appearing in Speculations Issue Forty-Six, edited by Susan Fry, April 2002.
