Ladies Who Launch: Lenore & Jensen Release New Work!
Society members Kara Lenore and Britta Jensen celebrated the release of their books in a launch duet on April 26, 2025.
This marks Britta’s third novel release. For Kara Lenore, this was her long-awaited (and we think overdue!) debut. Both novels deal with themes of love and hope, of struggling against oppression, and finding your people.
Britta Jensen’s YA sci-fi novel Orphan Pods is a sweeping tale of hope and found family. In a desert city ravaged by a war between humans and gene-altered hybrids, homeless children are either enslaved by the underworld or housed in austere camps called Orphan Pods. Abandoned by his mother and trapped in the Pods, sixteen-year-old Toref yearns to free his sisters from slavery. Fifteen-year-old Idris nearly died escaping her own slavery. She dreams of finding a better life in the distant fringe territories and wants zero ties holding her back. Saving Toref's sisters, however, means stepping into the casino bosses' dangerous web. Can Idris and Toref defeat the bosses and reach the safe fringe territories, or will the attempt cost the freedom of all who joined them on their quest?Join Idris and Toref on their quest to find freedom!
Kara Lenore’s sci-fi novel Beneath a Sun-Deprived Sky is a tale of love and resistance. Phantom pain from the psychic gift her powerful family repressed drives Del Marks to pursue a calling as a charity doctor. Del brings crucial medical aid to a city warren, Balter's Den, but she learns that serving this community means sharing its very real dangers. Plagued by fears of failure in a system designed to produce just that, she finds comfort and reassurance with fellow outsider, Tam Lyn, an enigmatic stealth worker. Tam Lyn conceals his half-alien heritage to avoid brutal discrimination. Intrigued by Del's aura, Tam helps her, but finds himself dragged into her mission, imperiling his secret and challenging his self-imposed isolation. Will their alliance be enough to shield Del from the forces uniting against her and Balter's Den? As warring gangs thrust Tam and Del into their power struggles, can he allow himself to love Del in the way that he wants and that she needs? Snag this brand-new epic featuring unforgettable characters, a thrilling ride through an exciting new world, and a beautiful love story that will make this book hard to put down!
A packed house of family, friends, and literary supporters were on hand to celebrate the release of these two amazing books. The launch event was held at a local dance studio in south Austin and featured short readings by both authors, music, singing and capoeira performances, audience Q&A, and dancing. Musicians included Joaquin "Castorzinho" Jensen, Renata Vinhas, Alexis "Cachoeira" Goes, Fabian, and Dario Osorio. One of the songs performed was written by Britta Jensen for Orphan Pods.
What early reviews are saying…
"In Orphan Pods, Britta Jensen crafts a dystopian world so vivid and brutal, you can practically feel the desert heat and the weight of survival pressing down on its young heroes. Toref and Idris aren't just fighting for freedom—they're fighting to reclaim family, dignity, and a future beyond the cruel grasp of the city's underworld.” Shelley Weiner, award-winning author of Arnost and The Audacious Mendacity of Lily Green
"A gorgeous and electrifying salute to the power of empathy and friendship. The characters furiously bleed, love, and emerge on the page. Lenore is a rare talent." Carrie Jones, NYT best-selling and award-winning author of the NEED series
“At its heart, Beneath a Sun Deprived Sky is about doing what's right, even when the cost is high. Del and Tam's struggle to break free, to protect each other, and to stand against forces greater than themselves makes this a riveting, emotional read. Sci-fi fans craving deep world-building and conflicted heroes will be hooked." P. J. Hoover, award-winning author of The Hidden Code
The Armadillo Authors Society believes in supporting your local independent booksellers—we encourage you to order Orphan Pods and Beneath a Sun Deprived Sky from your favorite local bookstore or purchase them online at Bookshop.org. They are both also available on Amazon.
Follow Britta Jensen and Kara Lenore on Instagram for more moments from their launch event and to learn more about their books and writing. Britta also offers great classes! For more information on each individual author, visit their websites at brittajensen.com and karalenore.com.
