Authortalk with Karyne Norton

October 6, 2026October 5, 2026Leave a comment

Since it’s the beginning of the last quarter of 2026, we have a new episode of Authortalk. Allow me to introduce Karyne Norton!

Karyne Norton hasn’t found the key to time travel, immortality, or infinite lives, so she’s taking a break from nursing and photography to focus on raising four human beings while writing epic fantasy and science fiction. The third book in her epic fantasy series, The Half-Light Chronicles, is expected to release spring 2027 and her YA sci-fi debut is coming to Kickstarter fall 2026. Her standalone time travel thriller, The Things We Can Change, is currently being adapted to a vertical drama by Y+X Entertainment for their LumiView platform.

When she’s not writing, she’s reading, which is why she’s also the host of the Finding Fantasy Reads podcast, where she reads a new short story every week from a variety of fantasy authors.

Karyne, thanks for being here. I was on your podcast earlier this year, and it was so much fun hearing my short story, “The Greatest Adventure” brought to life by a narrator.

I’m interested in learning about your YA sci-fi debut currently on Kickstarter. Where did you get the idea for this Kickstarter?

A couple years ago, I started throwing around the idea of a subscription service and what that would look like. I think book boxes are fun, but they’re expensive and, being the practical person that I am, I don’t usually use fancy soaps, teas, stickers, etc. In my mind, I wanted a book a month, and I wanted the books to match up with seasons or holidays.

What a fun idea!

The logistics of that idea were a nightmare, so as I pitched the idea to a couple friends, it slowly evolved into a multi-author Kickstarter with 3 volumes of 9 books. And because fairy tale retellings felt overdone (although I still love them), we settled on classic retellings with sci-fi twists.

I immediately knew I wanted to “fix” Wuthering Heights, and any time something needs to be fixed, time travel is an excellent option, so my classic and twist were pretty easy picks. It was a relief to finally show a happily ever after for at least some of the characters in that story.

How did you get in touch with your “inner villain” to write the antagonist in this book?

I was super excited to highlight Heathcliff as a villain instead of a romantic hero (although Catherine could have easily been one as well). Wuthering Heights is a clear tragedy, but it’s brought on by the characters and the inner battles they face. As much as they’re victims of their upbringings and what’s likely undiagnosed mental illnesses, it’s never sat well with me when the romance of Heathcliff and Catherine is idolized. Their relationship was ridiculously unhealthy, and I wanted to show it.

You’re right—and there’s so many unhealthy relationships glamorized in fiction, especially in YA.

I will say that Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Heathcliff in the BBC TV mini-series (the edited version🫣) nailed the uncaring side of Heathcliff, and I often pictured him while writing my antagonist’s scenes. It was important to me that my version of Heath was equally able to manipulate and throw out hurtful words at any given moment.

Despite my dislike for all of Hollywood’s efforts to romanticize the story over the years, it’s still one of my favorite classics, flaws and all. Mostly because of the flaws. The people feel eerily real.

You’ve been writing for a while. What are your go-to writing resources that could help aspiring authors?

I’m a huge fan of the Novel Marketing podcast run by Thomas Umstattd on https://www.authormedia.com. The information he gives out for free on there is like gold, and the courses he provides are even better. The reason I’m able to do all the things I’m doing as a writer are because of the business practices I learned from him. And because I’ve so carefully put all his recommendations into practice, I’m now teaching at his conference next January on how to run Kickstarters. Even if you’re just thinking about writing, learning how to start your business out strong will save you so much heartache later.

Authormedia does have a wealth of information available for new (and old) writers. But information isn’t all that’s needed when you’re writing–you need creativity, perseverance, and inspiration. What keeps you writing when inspiration vanishes?

One of my favorite quotes is from Peter DeVries who said “I write when I’m inspired, and I see to it that I’m inspired at nine o’clock every morning.” I don’t have the luxury of only writing when I’m inspired. I have to work while my kids are at school, otherwise I’ll have to stay up late or get up early and the older I get, the worse both of those options sound. Getting sound sleep each night is pretty inspiring!

I feel that 100%!

I’ve honestly never experienced what people refer to as writer’s block. For me, if I get stuck, it’s because something’s wrong with my story, so I set it aside for a bit until I have a fresh perspective. But that doesn’t mean I stop working. I work on a different project or my podcast or the monotonous business tasks that require different parts of my brain and give my creative well time to refill. Because one of my other favorite quotes is from Marshall Vandruff, when he said, “One reason that people have artist’s block is that they do not respect the law of dormancy in nature. Trees don’t produce fruit all year long, constantly. They have a point where they go dormant. And when you are in a dormant period creatively, if you can arrange your life to do the technical tasks that don’t take creativity, you are essentially preparing for the spring when it will all blossom again.”

I’ve found time with family, being in nature, and just living life help “refill the well” so I can get back to writing. And for some reason, I get some of my best ideas in the shower–it’s like a short, creative reset. What’s your favorite part of writing?

Revision has always been my favorite part of writing. I’d much rather fix something that’s already finished than have an unfinished draft hanging over my head. But I will say that over the last two years I’ve really grown to love dictating. Staring at a blank page and rewriting the same sentence over and over can be paralyzing and SLOW. With dictation, I get the words out—even though they’re imperfect—and then I have that finished draft I like working with so much faster.

Plus it gets me away from my desk because I can dictate while walking around my house or outside. Depending on the scene sometimes I have it in my head well enough to dictate while driving or doing laundry. So it’s a time saver in more ways than one, and it’s probably saving my wrists from major issues down the road.

I’ve been looking into dictating—it definitely seems like a timesaver! So let’s pivot to a couple silly questions: shoes or barefoot?

Are socks an option? Or slippers? In my mind, I’m picturing this question as indoors because in Arizona going out barefoot gets you burned. So socks or slippers!

Mountains or ocean?

Mountains any day. I like looking at the ocean, but sand drives me crazy. Sand and glitter.

Well, that’s it—we can’t be friends. I love glitter! (Just kidding.) Thanks, Karyne, for sharing about your writing and your new release on Kickstarter!

If you want to follow Karyne or support the Kickstarter, check out these links!

Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/leafandlanternbooks/classics-rebooted

Website: https://www.karynenorton.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/karynenorton

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/karynenortonauthor

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@findingfantasyreads

Instagram: http://instagram.com/karynenorton

Authortalk: The Seller of Secrets

April 8, 2026April 8, 2026

Welcome to the first edition of Authortalk! I’ll be posting quarterly on small press and indie authors to showcase some of these fantastic lesser known writers.

Today, we’re focusing on author Sheri Yutzy! Her fascinating debut novel, The Seller of Secrets, releases on April 26. Here’s a little about the book.

Inspired by historical Florence, Italy, and based on legends of the Renaissance-era Medici family, The Seller of Secrets is a YA romantasy novel with a sensory and elemental–based magic system.

On the mystical island of Bardia, Bell Asbury’s sister is dying. A girl with an extraordinary but volatile gift for fusing magical elixirs, Bell was eleven when she accidentally struck her sister, Roza, with a magic that left her with an incurable illness. Six years later, she overhears her sister’s fiancé buying illicit ingredients for a brainwashing elixir. Alarmed and infuriated, Bell tries to end the engagement, but Roza’s fiancé is from a noble house, the sisters’ father is in debt, and their mother is eager to have a connection to a powerful family.

Desperate to find a cure for Roza’s disease and an antidote to the brainwashing elixir, Bell uncovers a tangled web of secrets that leads to a man called the Seller of Secrets and his plot to use the brainwashing elixir to force the entire island to obey him. Bell alone can create an antidote, but her experiments risk the sanity of those she loves.

Rian, an infuriatingly handsome spy, offers to help her defeat the Seller of Secrets. Although she knows Rian is a master of deception, Bell can’t stop herself from falling for him. But with so many things changing in her life, Bell doesn’t know who she can trust and who is working to control her gift.

Does that sound amazing? Sheri recently sat down with me to share more about the book, her writing, and what she loved best about the fascinating characters.

Hi Sheri! Thanks for spending some time with me. The Seller of Secrets was such a good book! I loved that it wasn’t a typical medieval setting and instead relied on a lush, coastal location/setting. So I have to ask, where did you get the idea for this book?

The setting of The Seller of Secrets was sparked by a trip I took to Florence, Italy, with my sister and now sister-in-law. The city was so magical and warm, I knew I had to write a story set there. It’s a YA Romantasy, and it’s woven with themes of power and responsibility, trust, and the nature of art, and Renaissance, Italy was the perfect backdrop for those elements. All the themes are things I’ve worked through in my own life. Exploring them through story helps me to process my own growth.

I’ve found that to be true as well. Was there anything you edited out of this book?

In early drafts, Rian was much more sinister and Bell less confident. Mary Weber did a developmental edit for me prior to finding my agent, and she showed me how strong Bell really was. My agent, Rebecca Lawrence, then helped me revise Rian until he was a better match for Bell!

Thank you so much for revising Rian—lol. (I’m not a fan of the dark “bad boy.”) Even though he was less sinister, he and the other characters kept me guessing whether or not they were good guys! You mentioned how Mary Weber helped you find Bell’s strength. Can you give us more insight into her?

Bell is fiercely honest, which may be my favorite thing about her. She’s one of the more innocent characters in the story, which was hard to write well and not overdo it, but I think her innocence works with her honesty. She’s not jaded. She’s hopeful. She believes the best about people. She’s one of my favorite characters but was actually hard to write.

Interesting. I usually find villains hard to write. How did you get in touch with your “inner villain” to write the antagonist in this book?

This antagonist deceived himself to justify controlling everyone around him. I can find that same temptation in myself when things don’t go my way and I think, It would be so much simpler if everyone did it the way I want. My MC also faces this, so in a way, she shows a positive version of the antagonist.

I’m still laughing over your “inside thought.” Did you ever consider any other titles for this manuscript?

It was originally The Secret Seller, but we switched it to The Seller of Secrets for clarity.

I can see why that might be confusing. This book is your debut novel. How long did you write before you became published?

I started writing my first novel when I was fourteen, so eighteen years ago! I’ve had short stories published over the last ten years, but this is my very first novel.

We’re glad you kept at it—writing can be a long but fun ride. Do you have a playlist/composer or use any visual aids while you’re writing (i.e., maps, Pinterest, magazine pictures, etc.)?

I listen to certain artists for a long time, different ones for each book. I’m working on a woodsy YA fantasy right now, and my soundtrack is Gregory Alan Isakov. I use Pinterest boards when working out the plot, and then later when fine tuning descriptions.

Pinterest is such a time-suck for me, but it really helps with visualization. As I mentioned, writing is a fun but hard profession. Aside from “keep writing,” what’s your best advice for aspiring writers?

Remember why you love doing this! The joy of creating a story you love truly is the best part.

I totally agree! What are your go-to writing resources that could help aspiring authors?

I highly recommend The Writer’s Sanctuary, run by Mary Weber and CJ Redwine. Also, any writing courses by Maggie Stiefvater–I’ve learned so much from her, and her courses are affordable and you can rewatch them.

Writing courses are an excellent way to learn more, especially if you can’t afford a writing conference. How do you begin your stories? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A recovering Pantser. In early years, I pantsed because it was easy, not because the plotting stifled my creativity. Now that I’m writing under deadline, I have no time to mess around. 🙂

Speaking of time, how long does it take you to write a book—from preliminary plotting to final proofread?

Tough question, it changes with every book! I would estimate a year if I worked on the same book the whole time. I usually brainstorm and plot while working on a previous book, then focus on drafting the new one, then take a break and edit another story while the first one sits.

Wow, you’re a multitasker! I can’t divide my attention like that, so kudos to you! Do you do any other creative activities other than writing?

I love to knit, bake, and garden.

You’ll be able to get into your garden soon, now that the weather is warming up. Before we go, one silly question: shoes or barefoot?

Barefoot!

Thanks so much, Sheri, for giving us more insight into your writing and your novel The Seller of Secrets. And congratulations on its release–it’s a great story!

Check out The Seller of Secrets here: https://www.amazon.com/Seller-Secrets-Sheri-Yutzy/dp/B0F8GK5392/

Pre-order The Seller of Secrets from Sheri’s favorite indie bookstore, The Bibliophile, and get a Mira Byler art print of Bell’s garden for free! https://shop.ohbibliophile.com/products/author/Sheri%20Yutzy

Sheri Yutzy is the author of atmospheric Young Adult fantasy books. She was born and raised as a Mennonite in Ohio, surrounded by beautiful Amish country. She read and wrote voraciously throughout her childhood and never doubted for a moment she would be an author. Sheri lives in a small Ohio city in an old Italianate home with her musician husband and four beautiful children. When she’s not writing, she’s tending her garden, baking something, or pulling her youngest children in their wagon.

Find Sheri online at Instagram @sheriyutzyauthor.

Website: https://sheriyutzy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheriyutzyauthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/233894456-the-seller-of-secret

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sherilynyutzy

Substack https://substack.com/@sheriyutzyauthor?utm_source=menu

Happy Launch Day: The Firebrand Chronicles Returns!

November 4, 20252 Comments

After five years (more or less since the first book Spark was published in 2017 and the last book Burn in 2020), The Firebrand Chronicles re-releases today! *(cue the confetti!)

I spent the summer and fall revising, editing, rewriting passages, adding extra content, and finding new covers. The result is fantastic. Would you like to see the pretty covers?

five…

f our…

three…

two…

one!

If you’re not familiar with the series, here’s a little more information.

One girl. Two worlds. A thousand ways to fail.

When Brenna James steps through a portal to find her mother, she lands in Linneah—a kingdom where unusual gifts awaken in teens and griffins can bond with humans.

But with her ADHD brain in overdrive and a new fire power ability, focus is a struggle, impulse is her middle name, and staying out of trouble? Yeah, that idea went up in smoke.

As Brenna struggles to control her fire power ability, Baldwin, an attractive local swordsman, and Arvandus the griffin keep her alive by refusing to leave her side. When darkness rises and worlds hang in the balance, Brenna battles distractions, self-doubt, and her own impulsive choices. Are her unique strengths and weaknesses the key to saving both worlds?

The Firebrand Chronicles is a YA portal fantasy packed with danger, prophecies, and a heroine who refuses to play by the rules.

The complete trilogy is in paperback, ebook, and can be found on KU: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FY5Y17QG

Another neat thing about releasing the books today is the way it coincides with the Finding Fantasy Reads podcast. They picked my short story, “The Greatest Adventure” for a read-through! The story is set in the Firebrand Chronicles world and takes place several hundred years before our heroine Brenna James comes on the scene. I listened to it during my lunch hour and thoroughly enjoyed it.

To listen to it, go to https://www.findingfantasyreads.com/the-greatest-adventure-by-jm-hackman

Swag Ideas That Are Fun, Flat, & Frugal

October 7, 2025October 3, 2025

There’s nothing like bookish swag. When an author sends a printed Advance Reader Copy (ARC) or a book that I’ve won, sometimes they tuck little extras in with it. It’s often swag, like a bookmark or some other item. And sometimes, the author or sender gets creative with the package by giving it a pretty wrapper, bow, or even an attractive mailer. But coming up with new swag ideas that are fun, flat, and frugal isn’t easy.

Fun and frugal make sense for obvious reasons. But flat? Why? I remember writing to pen pals back when I was much (much!) younger. Getting a letter always made my day. We would write letters using fun stationery, and include pictures or cards, and we’d add doodles or use elaborate handwriting. What was the one thing we never sent? Items. Why? Because it was too expensive. Things haven’t become any cheaper since those days of pen pal writing (which I know dates me, but there was something special about getting real mail that someone wrote by hand. I text and DM, but it’s not as special. Anyway…)

So what are the rules and regulations concerning postage? Currently, a first-class stamp costs $0.73. For each additional ounce, it costs an extra $0.28. There are quite a few guidelines for parcels. An envelope is considered a parcel if it’s thicker than ¼” and weighs more than 3.5 ounces. If the contents are too inflexible to go through the machine, the package is considered a parcel. And last, if it’s non-rectangular, rigid, or lumpy, it’s considered a parcel.

Shipping parcels internationally is prohibitively expensive. A simple, under-one-ounce letter going to New Zealand costs $1.25—not terrible, but the heavier it gets, the more costly it becomes. And a letter will cost more or less depending on the country it’s heading to.

So now that USPS requirements are out of the way, it’s easy to see why flat swag is the easiest route to take to reward readers. It ships internationally without too much cost, it works for giveaways, preorder gifts, newsletter thank-yous, and Patreon perks, and readers appreciate it.

What flat swag ideas could you come up with to put in those envelopes to say thanks or delight readers? Once you’ve tucked in a bookmark or two, it’s difficult to create unique ideas that are under ¼” thick.

Here are 20 ideas that are flat, lightweight, easily mailable (fits in a standard envelope) *, and inexpensive.

*It’s possible to purchase big 5”x7” envelopes. I used them for my last launch team and since they’re bigger, everything fit inside neatly.

Bookishly Themed: Stickers/Bookmarks/Cards

Stickers: art, quotes, or genre-themed designs (vinyl or paper); series-themed packs
Bookmarks: printed with book covers, links, quotes, or series art (i.e., “collect all 5 bookmarks!”)
Temporary tattoos: runes, symbols, logos, or insignias from your fictional world
Mini Button Pins (w/ cardboard backing): still fits in padded envelope if thin
Custom Stationery/Notepaper: themed around a faction, planet, or society
Author Signature Plates: printed stickers readers can use to “autograph” their copy
Quote Cards: high-impact quotes from the book with stylized backgrounds

World Building: Maps/Character Cards/Lore

Character cards: like trading cards with stats, art and bios
Exclusive Short Story Cards: QR code or URL linked to a digital-only bonus scene
World Map Prints: folded or postcard-sized fantasy/sci-fi maps
Die-cut Shapes: flat cutouts of spaceships, family pets, magical objects
Foil Seals or Stamps: “official” guild seals, royal emblems, or rebel insignias

Interactive Elements: Quests/Recipes/Coloring pages

Recipe Cards: “in-world” recipes (e.g., Elven Tea Bread, Space Pirate Ration Bars, etc.)
Printable Coloring Pages: best when digitally delivered but can be printed and mailed
Puzzle Clues/Secret Messages: interactive swag tied to promo game or campaign
TBR Cards: cards with genre-themed reading prompts or challenges

Collectibles/Keepsakes: Mini Art Prints/Postcards/ID Badges

Mini Calendars: small themed calendars with release dates and character art
Mini Art Prints (4×6 or smaller): postcard-size character or world illustrations
Postcards: with in-world messages, book quotes, or location artwork
Access Passes/Badges: “Official” ID for readers—Space Cadet, Magic Initiate, etc
BONUS IDEA—Coupons/Gift cards: if you sell merch or books on your website or have an Etsy shop

This isn’t an exhaustive list of flat swag ideas, but you don’t have to attempt the complete list. With my last release, I had an ARC review team I wanted to thank. I created a recipe card, added some wolf stickers and temporary tattoos from Amazon, and added a bookmark with an in-world tagline. To finish, I included a small card that said “thanks!” with a pretty seal on it. (Lesson I learned: The thickness of the wax seal matters. If it’s too thick, it exceeds the ¼” thickness limit. It also adds weight. It’s good to know for next time…)

envelopes ready to be mailed Here are some bonus tips when creating your flat swag for readers:

Bundle sparingly: include 2-3 items per envelope max to stay under weight limits (yes, I exceeded that—oops!—but stayed under the limit for most of the envelopes)
Work with small printers: try Sticker Mule, Vistaprint, Moo, or local printers
Use reusable designs: generic maps or lore pieces can work across multiple books
Weigh your envelope: do a trial run with a digital postal scale or take a filled sample envelope to the post office and have them weigh it for you
Add a personal touch: handwritten notes, wax seals, or themed stamps
Go digital too: offer digital swag for international readers (PDF, printable art, or exclusive stories)

Have fun with the possibilities and consider unconventional ideas. One sticker or card or even a handwritten “thanks!” could create a special connection between the reader, the story, and you.

Are there any swag ideas I missed? What are your favorites? Share them in the comments or tag me; I’d love to add your flat swag ideas to my list!

Tropes I Love (and Tropes That Turn Me Off)

September 9, 2025September 8, 2025

The Evil Overlord, The Reluctant Hero, Enemies to Lovers—tropes (common themes or devices) have become big in fiction. While we don’t see tropes much in literary fiction, genre fiction is proud of its tropes and advertises them, hoping to grab new readers. Like many readers, there are several tropes I love to read. Finding a book that contains one of my favorites is a guarantee I’ll be picking it up. But there are definitely tropes that turn me off. More on that later… woman looking over glasses

Romantic tropes like Forbidden Lovers or Second Chance Romance can cross over to other genres pretty easily, especially since popular genres like fantasy or action/adventure may include a romance subplot.

BookTok (a subcommunity of Tik-Tok), which often focuses on romances and the bestseller lists, Amazon, Instagram’s sub community Bookstagram, and other social media platforms are full of text and video posts sharing their favorite popular tropes in their newest read. (Great places to look for book recommendations!)

Mentioning the tropes in a story is a good marketing strategy. Readers look for them and often buy them. Listed below are three tropes I love (and will read any time).

The Secret Heir/Hidden Royalty: I love this one. Either the main character knows he/she is royal, or everyone is unaware of it and a plot twist reveals it. By the end, it’s common knowledge and everyone gets a happily ever-after (except the villain, of course.) Either setup can be written well, especially with a loved main character who had a rough beginning or tragic backstory (Kiss of Deception by Mary Pearson is one of my favorites with this trope.)
Soulmates/Fated Lovers: If soulmates or fated lovers were a sure thing, matchmaking services would suffer a bit. There’s something so simple about meeting someone who’s meant “just for you.” With this trope, there’s usually someone or something attempting to tear the couple apart and the angst is thick. (Sun and Moon by Desiree Williams is a fantastic standalone clean fantasy with this trope.)
Chosen One: Some readers feel this trope has been overdone, thanks to the Harry Potter series. Even so, I love it. I love reading about the difficulties the character faces in this new position of power and the magic or weapons training that occurs. In a world where many are searching for meaning, knowing your purpose means you skip all the soul-searching. (My trilogy the Firebrand Chronicles, which starts with Spark, uses this trope. Many other series do too—Percy Jackson, The Hunger Games, and Divergent. I enjoyed them all. 😊 )

While I enjoy the above tropes, there are three tropes that turn me off. In fact, if I see these mentioned in blurbs or reviews, I move on to the next book.

Love Triangle: I really don’t understand the draw of this trope. Maybe it’s because I can’t relate. I’ve NEVER had two equally desirable men interested in me at the same time. And if by some weird quirk that occurred, I’d never have trouble deciding who I liked the most. Often, the female main character is a Mary Sue, totally perfect and unrelatable or so bland she doesn’t remind me of anyone. Maybe super popular girls who have to fight guys off with a stick get this trope. *Shrugs.* Any super popular girls out there who can comment on this? There are always exceptions to every rule. One well done love triangle is All That We See or Seem by Kristian Mahr.
The Playboy/Alphahole/Bully Romance: Playboys are portrayed as promiscuous men who become reformed by putting away their wandering ways when they meet The One. An Aphahole is usually a super controlling, possessive jerk who, again, just needs to meet The One to change his behavior. I hate to be a realist, but a man won’t change for a woman. He has to WANT to change. Would you even want a man who had either of these issues, regardless of what he looked like? And Bully romances are an oxymoron, like jumbo shrimp or safe nuclear war. Why, why, why would you be attracted to someone who treats or treated you like dirt? Aside from the sheer toxicity of the situation, it’s not even a little realistic. Have these authors ever been bullied? Because as someone who has gone through it, there is no world where I would have warm fuzzy feelings or attraction for someone who put me through a nightmare. Give me a main male character who, while far from perfect, has some redeeming qualities so I can see why the female character is falling for him. While I love to give book recs, I can’t think of any for this trope.
Reverse Harem/Why Choose?: Sit down and buckle up, buttercup, because I have a serious problem with this this one. For the grand finale, this trope is my most hated (and ironically the one that pops up most in my Facebook feed. Why?!?). I will ignore a fantastic plot if this trope is mentioned in a blurb. Reverse Harem/Why Choose? often shows up in urban fantasy, shifter, or supernatural romances, as well as romantasy. In general, fantasy features unbelievable elements, requiring readers to suspend their disbelief. When the author includes a reverse harem trope, my brain immediately goes “what?” It becomes overloaded with too many speculative elements to overcome.

Men and women in everyday relationships like to know their significant other is exclusive. They don’t share well, which is as it should be. This is why the reverse harem trope doesn’t work. It takes the Love Triangle Trope and dials it up to eleven. All the men are gorgeous, all of them don’t mind sharing (which makes me laugh. Every. Time.), and the woman has no problem with the setup. She never says, “no thanks” or “I just want one boyfriend/husband/partner” and walks away. She just accepts it, and the story continues. Like I said, in order for a speculative story to work, there must be moments that are totally real. Those moments make the fantastical easier to believe. Another fact to consider: if multiple men (or women) are okay with sharing, that means the other person is only an object to satisfy their own needs, not a person to be loved, cherished, and respected.

Finally, while trying to wrap my head around the idea, I asked an author friend, and she clued me in to why the reverse harem/why choose trope is so popular. She said, “The main female character is in charge. She gets to call the shots and be in control of all of it.” It made sense. The female main character is the queen of her domain with multiple adoring love interests. I’m not anti-sex. While God made everything and called it all very good, He was also a big proponent of the one man/one woman relationship, too. (Mark 10:7-8) I think deep down that’s why I can’t reconcile the trope whenever I come across it.

If any of these tropes I mentioned are your favorites, please share in the comments and tell me why. And if you have other favorites, please share those as well! I’d love to hear your opinion!

**Tropes reveal desires and insecurities within each person. So, if you’re curious to find out what kind of book trope you’d be (if tropes were personalities!), click on the link or the pop-up to take the fun quiz, “What Book Trope Are You?”

A New Series, a New Book, & a New Opportunity (to read and review)!

March 10, 20254 Comments

It’s been too long since I wrote on this blog. Let me give you a short summary of what’s been happening in my little corner of the world since last year.

I’ve been learning how to be an indie author!

A lot goes into being an indie author. You don’t just write the story and then upload it to Amazon (although some do with disastrous results). You write the story, revise it ad nauseum, hire a cover designer, hire a professional editor, make the edits, hire a formatter, and then learn — about marketing, about Amazon and Kindle Direct Publishing, about advertising, as well as numerous other facets of publishing.

In the last year, I’ve received an education (even on things I didn’t know I needed to know–lol!). On April 29th, I’ll be releasing the beginning of a new series called the Stardust Hearts series. The stories are futuristic fantasy fairytale retellings (reminiscent of the Lunar Chronicles). Book one, a novella, is titled All the Wild Hearts: A Red Riding Hood Retelling.

I’m so excited to get this story out into the world, but first, I’m looking for eARC readers (eARC: ebook Advance Reader Copy). If you’re not familiar with what this is, an eARC reader reads an early copy of the ebook and agrees to review it on Amazon, Goodreads, or B&N on release day. They can also talk about it on any social media channel they like, share about it on their blog, or share it in the newsletter.

The market is saturated with books; in the United States last year, there were 500,00 self-published books released. This doesn’t even take into account the books released by the bigger publishing houses or books released in other countries. It’s hard to get noticed with that many books available. Reviews on Amazon are one of the small ways a book can get noticed, so eARC readers/reviewers are a big help.

Anyway, I digress. If being an eARC reader/reviewer sounds like something you’d like to be involved in, here’s a beautiful view of the cover, a little bit about the book, and a link you can click on to sign up.

Who’s afraid of the big bad businessman? Everyone.

On the snowy planet of Amaris, Avarill Engle makes deliveries for her grandmother and the residents of Skift, while avoiding unwanted advances from the gray tycoon Wolfgang Vujic. When the crooked CEO buys the mortgage to her grandmother’s neo-res, the only way to keep their home is to go to work—for him.

With every passing day, Avarill feels more desperate and afraid. Blaiz Weylin, her new friend and expert codestitcher, creates a plan to destroy Vujic, and Avarill eagerly joins the sting operation. But Blaiz’s past entwines with Vujic in ways he can’t confess, even as his feelings for Avarill deepen. When his secret comes to light, Avarill must make a choice: trust in the man who could break her heart or fight to free herself from Vujic’s iron grasp. With one wrong move, her freedom will become a distant memory. Time is running out, and the wolf is closing in.

For fans of The Lunar Chronicles, this futuristic retelling of Little Red Riding Hood blends swoony romance, creative technology, and high stakes adventure into an engaging tale of hope and redemption.

I’m only leaving this link available for five more days–on March 15th, it’s coming down. But if you sign up, you’ll get bookish swag/goodies below and my eternal gratitude for your help!

I hope we can celebrate this release together!

Drop a comment to let me know what you think about this new series!

Are You A Rebel Reader?

October 10, 2023October 10, 20234 Comments

Banned book week was October 1-7. Although I’m a bit late, here are some of the top banned/challenged books of the last decade.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
1984 by George Orwell
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Animal Farm by George Orwell
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Beloved by Toni Morrison
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Looking for Alaska by John Green
George by Alex Gino
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James

How many of these have you read? I’ve only read 6. I’m obviously under-read in most of the classics. Some of them I don’t enjoy them because, well, I’m shallow like that. Lol! Also, with all the new books available, I usually forget to go back and read the classics, and I won’t read books with unhappy endings. (I’m talking to you, Looking for Alaska!)

Although I’m conservative, and I don’t like smut, I don’t approve of book banning for two reasons.

1. Books provide a marketplace of ideas. You don’t have to approve of every book’s message or worldview, but you can’t dialogue intelligently about a book you’ve never read. In the past, I’ve had conversations go like this.

Them: “Book X is terrible, just terrible. Why, it should be banned!”

Me: “Have you read it?”

Them: “Well, no! Of course not. It’s trash.”

Me: “Then how do you know?”

Them: “Well, I heard from my sister’s husband’s cousin three times removed that it’s just full of garbage.”

Me: Blinks. Waits. Moves on.

Some of the “questionable” books I read were trash, but I could talk intelligently about WHY I wouldn’t recommend the book to others. There were others I loved, and I couldn’t understand why someone would prevent another from enjoying the story (the Harry Potter series is a case in point).

2. Who decides what gets to be banned/removed? Who’s the gatekeeper? What if they don’t hold the same views you do? I have a book in my possession that I read as often as possible. It’s also one of the most banned books of all time—the Bible. The thought of someone taking away my right to read it (or any book) upsets me because it’s an infringement on freedom.

I remember an interesting conversation when I worked as a librarian. I was talking to an acquaintance whose son I went to school with. She was part of a group that wanted to put brown wrappers on all the Cosmo covers and/or put the magazines behind the counter so children wouldn’t see them. They weren’t asking for banning per se, but a “limiting” of material. When I said I didn’t agree with her, she lost it and began yelling at me in the children’s reading area of the library. I’ve never forgotten how ugly she became when I voiced a view different from hers.

Of the banned books I’ve read, I thoroughly enjoyed the Harry Potter series, The Great Gatsby, and To Kill A Mockingbird. Earlier this year, I picked up 1984 at a used book sale, and I plan to read it soon (even though I know the ending. It helps if I can prepare myself. : -) ) What banned books were your favorite? Which titles do you plan to read or have already read this year?

Let me know in the comments!

Waiting…in the Wilderness

July 11, 2023July 7, 20232 Comments

The wilderness can be unpleasant (no water, no GPS, no path, no toilet paper. I like my creature comforts. Just sayin.’). A Biblical wilderness is similar. Jesus was tested in the wilderness, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness (for 40 freaking years!), and Elijah escaped into the wilderness to die. For the last year, instead of wandering, I’ve been waiting in a landscape of rejection as I try to understand in what direction God wants me to go. Self publishing? Small press? Agents to pitch my work to the “Big Four” (which includes Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette)?

I’d submitted several stories and my most current manuscript with no takers. When I received anything at all, it was a rejection. Very nice rejections, but it was still a no, thank you. (I still appreciate a response of any kind since some agents are now responding to queries by ghosting.) I began wondering–maybe this was it for me. A three-book series and several short stories were more than I’d expected when I started out. Don’t be greedy, I told myself.

This waiting isn’t writer’s block. The stories keep coming. I’ve plotted three retellings, as well as three books for an urban fantasy series. Despite the recent rejections, or maybe because of them, I struggled with self-doubt and the pressure to “write more fast.” The message to every writer out there is to produce more books as quickly as possible so your readers don’t forget about you. Just a bit hard when we’ve been dealing with events like graduation, a family member’s death, and an upcoming surgery–all within the same month.

I hadn’t taken into consideration the time or energy needed for my child’s major surgery. We’d reserved the hotel room, attended all the pre-op appointments, and completed the necessary tests. We were ready. I took my laptop with me (I thought I’d be able to write in the waiting room. *cue hysterical laughter*) On a Friday, my husband and I camped out in the hospital waiting room, sat on uncomfortable chairs, drank subpar tea, and ate too-salty pretzels. For six hours. She came through surgery fine, and we drove home four days later. At home, we rounded up comfortable pillows and blankets, and charted medication to help her with pain management. (One of the most stressful/painful things is watching your child struggle with pain despite your best efforts.) She’ll be fully “recovered” in 12 weeks. In hindsight, I see how God didn’t want me to focus on querying and writing when my daughter needed my focus. After all, my kids are growing up and plan to move out (despite the promise I extracted from them both when they were six years old to never leave. Lol!)

Things are slowly returning to a new “normal” as I set up a routine that doesn’t coincide with a school district schedule. I’ve found a peace with where I am. The wilderness doesn’t always have to be horrible. I’m discovering it can be a place of renewal.

Have you ever had a season in your life that was difficult, isolating, or that failed to make sense to you? How did you handle it? I’d love to hear about it.

Integrating a New Language and Culture into Traitor: Guest post by Laurie Lucking

April 22, 2021April 20, 20216 Comments

Today we have author Laurie Lucking sharing a little more about building language and culture into our stories. Her new book Traitor, book 2 of Tales of the Mystics, is available for pre-order! (and I’ve read it–sooo good! 🙂 ) Thanks, Laurie!

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I know I’m probably (okay, definitely!) a bit biased, but I adored the setting I created for the first book in my series, Common. Castles, gowns, carriages…wandering manicured gardens, reading by candlelight, taking a gentleman’s arm to be escorted to dinner. Enough chivalry and manners and banquets to make my fairy tale and Jane Austen-loving heart brim with joy. 🙂

But while the technology constraints of my fantasy world, along with the formality associated with royalty in general, caused many of these elements to carry over into Traitor, I wanted to fashion a distinctive new culture for Princess Penelope to immerse herself in when she travels overseas to fulfill a new betrothal. After all, Penelope’s natural beauty and elegance cause her to fit perfectly into her own society (at least until her involvement in a traitorous plot made her the subject of gossip and contempt). In order for her to grow and truly step outside her comfort zone in Traitor, I needed to expose her to something new and foreign.

Much of my inspiration for Delunia came from Greece, Italy, and other Mediterranean countries. The weather is sunny and hot, the people are affectionate and boisterous, and everything from the colors to the flavors is a bit more vibrant. Prim Penelope is initially overwhelmed by the clamoring sounds and vivid hues of her new home. But over time, she comes to see the beauty in the art she’d passed off as garish and the gardens she’d dismissed as wild and unkempt. She loosens up enough to learn the lively dances and visit the bustling marketplace, and she can’t deny the practicality and elegance of a more streamlined style of dress. But she doesn’t think she’ll ever adjust to the Delunians’ insistence that soon-to-be-married couples should show affection, especially since Penelope has no intention of falling in love with her new fiancé! She struggles to find a balance between the desire to embrace her new home and the fear of losing her former identity and connections to her family.

I also took on the challenge of introducing a new language in Traitor. Though I’ll be the first to admit I’m no J.R.R. Tolkien—I only came up with translations of words I actually needed for my story. 🙂 I took the Delunian language as another opportunity to give the country a unique feel, both in the sounds of the words and in their meanings. For example, poloi ipa asteria is a traditional Delunian phrase for bidding someone goodnight and translates to “sleep under a blanket of stars.” Let’s just say, when spoken by her new fiancé, it has more of a romantic impact on Penelope than she’d care to admit!

Teaching Penelope the new language and having her gradually incorporate it into her own speech patterns offered another way to show her slow acceptance of and acclimation to Delunia as her home. Plus, it offered some additional opportunities for character development along the way as she deals with the frustration and awkwardness of not being able to communicate with the people around her!

Thank you so much for inviting me to share about my series today! I hope you have as much fun exploring Delunia as I did creating it! I’d love to hear about some of your favorite fantasy worlds and languages!

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Thanks again for stopping by, Laurie! Want to learn more about Traitor? Here’s the blurb!

Princess Penelope has finally found a way to redeem her past mistakes-if only it didn’t require betraying her new fiancé.

Princess Penelope has been the object of gossip and ridicule ever since she returned home in disgrace following her failed engagement to the Crown Prince of Imperia. When her father offers a new start in a country far across the sea, she has no choice but to accept.

Even if it means another betrothal, this time to a total stranger.

Penelope arrives in Delunia determined to avoid bringing further shame upon her family. But her devoted, caring fiancé makes it harder to guard her heart than she anticipated, and rumors of dark magic haunt her with memories she’d rather keep buried far beneath her pristine exterior.

When a poverty-stricken village outside the palace gates looks to her as their hope for a brighter future, Penelope embraces the opportunity to make amends for her transgressions. But in order to help, she must manipulate her new fiancé, putting her reputation on the line once more. And her heart.

Can Penelope rise above the failures of her past, or will she forever be branded a traitor?

Don’t forget to stop by the other sites on the blog tour!

Monday, 19th, “Redeeming a ‘Villain’ in Traitor” Laura A. Grace, www.lauraagrace.com
Tuesday, 20th, “Connecting Companion Novels in the Tales of the Mystics” Pam Halter, www.pamhalter.com/fairiesfantasyfaith
Wednesday, 21st, “Visual Post: Characters of Traitor” Anne Wheeler, www.anne-wheeler.com/blog
Thursday, 22nd, “Integrating a New Language and Culture into Traitor” J.M. Hackamn, www.jmhackman.com
Friday, 23rd, “Author Interview with Laurie Lucking: Traitor Blog Tour” Riella Cristobal, www.booksandeverydaylife.home.blog
Saturday, 24th, “Interview with Traitor Author Laurie Lucking” Amelia Nichole, www.amelianichole.com
Sunday, 25th, “Review of Traitor” Breny Maurtua, www.brenyandbooks.home.blog
Monday, 26th, “Dive-in Review: Traitor” Cathrine Bonham, www.cobonham.com
Monday, 26th, “Review of Traitor” Laurin Boyle, www.laurinboyle.wordpress.com
Tuesday, 27th, “Welcoming My Second Book into the World” Laurie Lucking, www.laurielucking.com
Wednesday, 28th, “Visual Post: Traitor Storyworld” Jenelle Schmidt, www.jenelleschmidt.com
Thursday, 29th, “Celebrate Laurie Lucking’s New Release Traitor Tonight” Michele Israel Harper, www.MicheleIsraelHarper.com
Friday, 30th, “What’s Coming Next in the Tales of the Mystics” Peter Adler, www.arsilverberry.com/blog

Spark: Firestarting & Neurodiversity

March 10, 2021March 8, 20215 Comments

Today as part of the StoryQuest Academy Clean Fiction Blog Tour, I wanted to share some of the inspiration behind The Firebrand Chronicles (includes Spark, Flare, & Burn).

And don’t forget to comment on the posts for a chance to win some bookish prizes!

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I’m a firm believer God gives each of us a special gift that makes us unique and distinctive. This fact and the question “What if…?” inspired the beginning of my YA portal fantasy trilogy the Firebrand Chronicles.

What if God’s gifts were more dramatic than being a good teacher or a great speaker? Don’t get me wrong—those are valuable gifts (especially the speaking gift—I’m often unclear or awkward!) But what if God gave each person a highly visible gift, like firestarting or control of the weather? Could being able to control time be used for good or evil? How would individuals use these talents?

These questions were the basis for Spark, book one of the Firebrand Chronicles. I added another component to the main character due to my youngest daughter. Around the time I was writing Spark, she was diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive). This means rather than being hyperactive and loud, she was more often distracted and unfocused. I learned how ADHD affects children—lack of focus, impulsivity, and low self-esteem are often present. I couldn’t even imagine how an impulsive, distracted teen would handle firestarting, but I was interested in exploring it.

The YA fantasy landscape lacks characters with ADHD, especially girls. Percy Jackson’s ADHD and dyslexia are mentioned briefly in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief then explained away. In fact, few literary characters at all, male or female, are neurodiverse (this term covers ADHD, autism, Tourette’s, dyslexia, as well as a host of other disorders). Adhdaware.org.uk says 30%-40% of the population is neurodiverse, and the CDC says 11% of American children have ADHD. The YA fantasy genre doesn’t reflect this.

In response, I created Brenna James who struggles with ADHD while also being the Chosen One. I wanted my daughter and other neurodiverse kids to know they weren’t broken or damaged; they are creative, out-of-the-box thinkers who process the world differently. They can ride a griffin, battle the evil villain, and use their gift to save the world.

Because some YA reads more adult than young, my series is clean yet with lots of nail-biting action, some snark (because snark is a teen’s second language), and a touch of romance.

Here’s a little more about Spark:

Brenna James wants three things for her sixteenth birthday: to find her history notes before the test, to have her mother return from her business trip, and to stop creating fire with her bare hands.

Yeah, that’s so not happening. Unfortunately.

When Brenna learns her mother is missing in an alternate reality called Linneah, she travels through a portal to find her. Who knew portals even existed? But Brenna’s arrival in Linneah begins the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy, including a royal murder and the theft of Linneah’s most powerful relic: the Sacred Veil.

Hold up. Can everything just slow down for a sec?

Unwilling yet left with no other choice, Brenna and her new friend Baldwin pursue the thief into the dangerous woods of Silvastamen and beyond. Exactly what Brenna wanted to do for her sixteenth birthday. Exactly. When they spy an army marching toward Linneah, Brenna is horrified. Can she find the veil, save her mother, and warn Linneah in time?

And more importantly, why on earth doesn’t this alternity have Belgian waffles?

Spark (and the entire Firebrand Chronicles boxed set!) is available at Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Spark-Firebrand-Chronicles-Book-One-ebook/dp/B06Y1DSKRB) and anywhere else books are sold.

Check out the rest of the blog tour participants below!

JM Hackman

True North Fiction

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