Sapha Burnell

Hei Hei!

I am Sapha Burnell, author of Usurper Kings, the cyberpunk novel NEON Lieben and the mythpunk Judge of Mystics Saga. As a member of the WriteTeam, I do writing & live critique streams twice a week on Twitch.

A true -punk, I challenge norms and intertwine queerness and faith to envision a world on the brink of dystopia we can heal. An outcast who writes strange emotive fiction, cerebral poetry and articles on the ethics of futurist tech, I make it my mission to subvert expectations, by weaving heavy metal and healing into everything I do. 

NEON Lieben was dubbed ‘an insane diabolical rollercoaster’, and had one reviewer say they never thought a work of science fiction could be so beautiful. Kevin Hogan, contributor to the Huffington Post, called my poetry collection Usurper Kings ‘a work of breathtakingly beautiful discovery’. 

I'm also one third of the We Aren't Dead Yet podcast trio, featuring long-time TTRPG Dungeon Master KS Biscoff, and award winning worldbuilder of CulinaryPunk & Becketville, Emily Armstrong. We talk world building, developing creativity & writing novels every Thursday morning live on Twitch.

Oh, and my We Aren't Dead Yet podcast partners are teaching me how to play TTRPG’s. I'm considering a barbarian to tie into my pugilistic roots as both a martial artist (TKD, Krav, BJJ & Daoist Kung Fu) and former self-defense instructor.

As a WSET Level 3, I love educating people about wine. From how to find the best bottle for your taste buds & budget, to tasting the freshest and best of BC and the wine making world. I can break wine down into digestible sips for the newbie through the vinophile. Give me a bold red, a dry and floral white and a bubble with the effervescence of my smile, and I'll wax poetic on the joys of Amontillado Sherry, BC bruts & South America's Carmenere.

I adore banter. Nothing is more enjoyable than diving into a topic and sharing some knowledge, discussing some plot & coming away from the convo with a demure smile.

I hope to see you soon, and remember.

There's always something we can do, 'cause we aren't dead yet.

Sapha Burnell