A Little FAQ
As there will undoubtedly be a few questions and changes with me starting game design school, I created a FAQ about who I am and what I write, and what to expect going forward.
Who am I?
Writing fantasy novels has long been a passion of mine. I love storytelling and world-building and when the opportunity arose to apply these skills to game design, I jumped at the chance! So for now my schedule is a little busy with dedicated writing time in the early morning and school during the day.
I moved from the west coast of the USA to northern Sweden in 2020.
I love mountains and forests and the inspiration I feel from nature is often present in my work.
I love fantasy & murder mystery novels, RPGs, cozy games, stickers & journals (don’t ask me how many I have).
What do I write?
My primary genre falls between epic & adventure fantasy, though I dabble in sci-fi with magical elements when the mood strikes me.
Elements you’ll find in my stories:
The thrill of adventure. I’m drawn to fantasy because of the wonder of discovering new worlds, so I love quests and exploration. If you love descriptions of places, cultures, and the environment, you’ll enjoy my books.
A second-world with a high fantasy feel. I very rarely write modern fantasy though my upcoming solarpunk series (under my pen name June Grey) has similarities to Earth.
Strong friendships, often with a sunshine/grumpy dynamic (I love it!).
Hints of romance but it’s not typically the focus of the story. I do love banter though (who here loves Cas??), and my June Grey series will have stronger romantic storylines.
Diverse worlds & queer-normative worldbuilding.
Character driven stories.
Intriguing magic.
Sex-positive worlds. When romance is present, it will be low spice, fade-to-black.
Magical creatures and animals.
Stories with a hopeful, uplifting feel. My characters experience challenges and difficulties, but real life can be so heavy, so I enjoy writing worlds that are comforting and hopeful.
Who is June Grey?
June Grey is my pen name for stories with a stronger romantic storyline. They will have a more modern feel and be written in a first-person POV. They will still have lots of magic and adventure, so if you enjoy my other work (and don’t mind more romance!), you’ll likely enjoy this upcoming series.
If you’re not interested in more romance or prefer high fantasy worlds, I will continue publishing stories as Holly Karlsson, including the final book in my Daughters of Fire & Sea series and an eventual sequel to Kingdom of Essence.
Published Stories
A list of what I’ve published and what’s to come.
Forthcoming in 2024-2025
As I will be attending game design school through 2025, my release schedule will be very tentative, but this is what I hope to publish by 2025.
DAUGHTERS OF FIRE & SEA
Book 3 will hopefully publish in 2024.
SOLTARIA (a new series)
Book 1 (of a series of connected standalones) will publish this fall or early 2024. This will be under my pen name June Grey. It includes cozy seaside vibes, a futuristic/solarpunk world with a second, hidden realm, the feel of a small town romance, & bird people!
Depending on my schedule, I may also begin the sequel to Kingdom of Essence. Keep an eye on my socials for updates.
Where to Buy Books
My ebooks and paperbacks are available from a variety of retailers, including some libraries. You can find links on my book pages here on my website where you can also purchase ebooks.
My main series are available on Amazon but not Kindle Unlimited, as I wanted them to be more widely available. I may release my June Grey series on Kindle Unlimited.
Thank You
Thank you for being here. I am so grateful to everyone who reads my stories and I hope you continue with me on my new adventure as a game designer. I love telling stories and I’m looking forward to collaborating with other creatives to bring you new experiences and worlds to enjoy. I can’t wait to see what the future brings.