Sizzle & SparksSizzle & Sparks

Stories that haven't been told.
For readers who can't wait to find them.

Bold, original fiction across romance, suspense, and beyond — crafted with care, and made for readers, not gatekeepers.

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Books to fall into

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What makes us different

Sizzle & Sparks makes original fiction for people who love to read — developed with care, published properly, and answerable to one audience only: you.

  • Stories found nowhere else

    Original worlds and fresh voices — not the same formula the big houses keep reprinting.

  • Crafted to be devoured

    Characters, conflict, pace, payoff. Books you tear through in a weekend and miss when they are done.

  • Made for readers, not gatekeepers

    No literary gate to pass, no permission to seek. If a story is worth your time, that is the only test that matters.

Meet the worlds

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Each pen name is its own world — its own tone, genre, and promise.

Our Imprints

  • Sizzle & Sparks logo

    Sizzle & Sparks

    Stories that warm the heart and celebrate hope.

    Sizzle & Sparks publishes uplifting contemporary fiction. Stories that warm the heart and celebrate hope.

  • Sierra Bermeja Fiction logo

    Sierra Bermeja Fiction

    Thrillers, historical fiction, and other intense commercial fiction that keeps readers turning pages.

    Sierra Bermeja Fiction publishes commercial thrillers and historical fiction with a literary edge.

What readers are saying

  • A must-read for fans of techno-thrillers

    This is one of those rare stories that manages to be both entertaining and thought-provoking. Set in a near-future America, it follows Gloria, an Air Force drone pilot who becomes embroiled in government conspiracies. The author creates a wolrd that's just different enough from our own to be intriguing, but familiar enough to be unsettling. The book tackles complex issues without being preachy, raising questions about patriotism, the ethics of remote warfare, and the balance between security and freedom. All this while still being a page-turning thriller. The main character is well-developed. Her internal struggle feels authentic, and I found myself fully invested in her story. The action scenes are tense and well-written, particularly the drone operations. A must-read for fans of techno-thrillers or anyone interested in the ethical implications of modern warfare. I'd like to see it explaned to be a full novel.

    ARC reader

    on Packages

  • Rollicking good fun with surprising depth.

    Six Hard Days in Andalusia surprised me immensely. It’s incredibly well plotted and quite extraordinary for a 1st book. Fans of Carl Hiaasen will find a lot to love here. Yes there’s a couple of well known character tropes, but overall the characterisation seemed authentic and interesting, as did descriptions of life on the Costas. Violent yet amusing, exciting with a warm heart. Thought provoking too, and as close to unputdownable as real life allows. Perfect holiday reading that goes down just as well at home in the cold and wet UK! Enjoyed this more than I thought I would! I shall keep an eye out for future offerings from an interesting new author with obvious talent.

    Amazon customer

    on Six Hard Days in Andalusia

  • Action storytelling at its best

    Having read Damian’s earlier work a few years ago I was eager to see if he could follow it up with something as equally gripping and enjoyable. I shouldn’t have doubted him. Den of Snakes has more twists and turns in it than the Monaco Grand Prix and at times it reaches speeds only an F1 driver could relate to. The characters here leap off the pages at you and the action is relentless at times, culminating in a tumultuous climax. Although the setting is Marbella in the mid 80s, as I only live down the road and read the local newspapers, I don’t think it’s probably changed much since then and could easily have been written as a current storyline, more’s the pity - thankfully there’s a mountain range separating me from that part of the Costa and I am happy to give it a wide berth at times. Fellow residents will no doubt nod knowingly! Can’t wait to read Damian’s next thriller…

    Drew Johnson

    on Den Of Snakes

  • Android Self-Realization

    An absolutely fantastic tale of android resolve, revolt, and evolution. The story is an interplay between humans and several generations of Bots. It builds to an exciting though unexpected conclusion in a conflict of expectations. Extremely well developed and written piece of futuristic fiction.

    ARbee

    on The Liberty Gene

  • Outstanding

    This is the third book I’ve read from this author, and this one takes us back further into a very dark period in Europe’s history. The plot lines are expertly constructed and intertwined and it keeps the reader engaged throughout. There is an instant empathy for Inspector Garcia and the impossible choices he has had to make in life in Franco era Spain, and being a resident of the same local area the book covers just added to the intrigue for me. The Spanish don’t like to talk about the civil war as it divided not just the country but families, and there are lots of local rumours about this part of Spain around which Damian Vargas has constructed his tightly woven plot, bringing those rumours to life for me in a magical way. I feel both thrilled to have read the book and enlightened by what it has revealed to me about this enchanting corner of Andalucía I now have the privilege to call home.

    Drew Johnson

    on The Dark Place

  • Made me laugh from start to finish

    This is the funniest book I've read in ages! I guess it's probably targeted more towards "the lads", but can easily be enjoyed by us girls too - as long as you're open minded and don't mind strong language, and sex/drink/drugs references! The writing style reminds me of Rob Radcliffe's lad lit books, so if you are a fan of those you'll definitely love this book. Well done Damian Vargas, you had me literally in tears of laughter!

    Amazon customer

    on Over The Hill Backwards

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