My Goal as An Author

With a new year upon us, I usually sit down and loosely plan my writing goals for the next 12 months. I look at my projects and estimate how much time I need for each stage (drafting, beta readers, book covers & art, editing, final polish etc). Sometimes I hit my goals, and sometimes something takes longer than expected (definitely the case for 2020-2021).

In 2021 I published two books — Kingdom of Essence and Unusual Diction Volume Three (which, granted, is a collection of short flash fiction stories) — and a short story, ‘Beloved,’ in Wyrd & Wyse Issue the Fifth.

This year I’m aiming to write and release the final book in my epic Daughters of Fire & Sea fantasy series, The Demon Queen, work on The Way of Thorn & Key with Allison Carr Waechter (we’re collaborating on a witchy serial), and write a secret fantasy/mystery adventure summer novel.

I also have a prequel story in the works about Elitsa, from Kingdom of Essence, that I hope to be able to share very soon.

Those are my project goals, but what are my author goals, and why do I write?

I’ve always loved telling stories and creating worlds that feel epic and fascinating, places you want to visit and stay forever. I love coming up with magic systems and creatures and then getting to experience all of it with characters I’d want to hang out with. I adore the sprawling feel of a good epic story and descriptions of faraway landscapes and bustling, vivid towns, but I find these new worlds stay with me longest when paired with the intimacy of a character we can really get to know. Someone we can care about, root for, and sometimes yell at (why are you doing that???). I value good friendships and relationships (sometimes complicated), people who help each other survive and thrive and explore. People who are flawed and human, but who keep going.

That’s what I’m looking for in the stories I read and the stories I create myself. I want to be delighted and inspired, and I hope that’s what my stories do for you too.

My plan is to write forever, as long as I can (white-haired lady in the woods goals! oooo or in a CASTLE!), and to one day be able to support my family with my writing. I’m here for the magic, and I hope you are too. :)

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New art of Elitsa & Cas!