Vela Roth is not Own Voices, just someone with a deep love for diverse books. She’s committed to building a fantasy world and a real-life reader community that are inclusive from the ground up.

Actions speak louder than buzzwords. Her goal is to show not tell by crafting good books and working to make bookish spaces safe and welcoming for everyone.

The Blood Grace series features a diverse cast of BIPOC and LGBT+ characters, as well as people with disabilities and mental health challenges. Parts of the fantasy world are inspired by Africa, India, and Persia.

Vela bases her books on in-depth research and sensitivity reading by her diverse beta team. She consults closely with a bisexual author colleague on her LGBT+ characters and an African American fellow author on Black characters and African-inspired worldbuilding.