Brandon Sanderson is arguably the most popular contemporary fantasy author, with a massive body of work. His books tend to feature a large cast of 3+ point of view characters, a hard magic system, culturally diverse and richly developed worlds, and deeply emotional characters. I have no doubt that his work will remain of mainstay of the fantasy genre for generations to come.
What is the Cosmere?
The Cosmere is a shared universe featuring multiple planets, realms of existence, and a common mythos and magic system. Sanderson has written 3 major series (The Stormlight Archives, Mistborn Era 1, Mistborn Era 2) and multiple standalones, short stories, and anthologies in this larger, interconnected universe. You can find more details about his massive universe on the fan wiki the Coppermind (ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK OF SPOILERS).
I’ve read a veritable heap of Sanderson’s books by now, and have had the privilege of meeting both him and his wife at DragonCon and JordanCon! So to get you addicted started, here are mini reviews of 5 major works set in Sanderson’s Cosmere:
This is one of my favorites, and I actually recommend that readers new to Sanderson’s work start here, as it’s a standalone (currently), that still gives readers a great sense of the width and breadth of Sanderson’s worldbuilding and magic systems.
Princess Siri of the kingdom of Idris is sent to marry the God King of Hallandren, a vibrant city full of color magic (inspired by Hawaii and South Asian cultures). Her sister Vivenna chases after her to save her and becomes entangled with a man of mysterious powers. This story has a little of everything – politics, mystery, cultural clashes, a love story against all odds, political and religious turmoil, and of course, a fascinating magic system.
I was disappointed by how abruptly the story ended after its epic conclusion. We didn’t really have any chance to sit with our characters and enjoy their transformations and newly strengthened bonds. A huge plot surprise isn’t enough to create a satisfying ending – there needs to be emotional closure too. This book is the reason I describe Sanderson’s style as a multi-course meal with the final dish exploding like fireworks in your mouth, but with only one bite of dessert – and you’re asked to leave the restaurant immediately afterwards. When you’re in a food coma from a mindblowing meal, you need some more time to sit and savor.
Perhaps Sanderson agrees that Warbreaker is a good place for new readers to start, because he offers it for free on his website.
I absolutely love Kaladin, a grieving slave dragged to the Shattered Plains, the location of a war of attrition, who is followed around by an ancient, mysterious spirit called a spren. His arc from despair to loyalty and self-sacrifice is incredibly moving – he’s my favorite character in all of fiction. We also follow a King trying to avenge his brother’s murder, a girl with seriously strange mental issues, and many other actors who all have their own conflicting opinions of how to save the world from impending Desolation.
However, I found it frustrating to get through this book because of how the many POV characters affected the pacing. That’s just a matter of preference – I usually don’t like reading books with more than 2 POV characters, especially when one of them is on the opposite side of the world the entire time (Shallan) – her story arc could have been an entirely separate book. I also found some of Dalinar and Adolin’s point of view to be unnecessary – sometimes less is more. But I am so glad I kept reading, because this world is stuffed full of incredible mysteries, such real people who are deeply broken and struggling to get back up again, and such dramatic magic and fight scenes!
The second book in this series, Words of Radiance, is my favorite (4.7/5 stars), and Sanderson’s writing style only improves from there. I think his handling of multiple POV’s became utterly masterful in books #3 and #4. I have yet to read #5 because I’m honestly afraid of how it’ll end. But that just goes to show how powerfully Sanderson has seized hold of my emotions and imaginations. A great book makes you cry, enrages you (F*** Moash!), blows your mind, and leaves you aching for more – this series definitely does all these things and more!
This story feels like one of Sanderson’s most daring – how many authors turn their traumatized revolutionary leader figure into a psychopathic, narcissistic cult leader? Unlocking magic by consuming metals – so unique! Through the Inquisitors, secret police with metal spikes through their body, Sanderson also expertly dances along the line between villainy and horror.
This story had a unique flavor that instantly caught me, but it took longer for me to buy in to Vin as a character. She’s a street rat with magic powers who joins a heist crew’s attempt to overthrow an eternal tyrant. In lots of ways she felt like a typical YA character, but Sanderson draws much more nuance from her over the course of the story, letting us enjoy a true found family dynamic on top of the satisfying political webs and mysteries surrounding the nature of their Ruler.
Be forewarned, the second book in this series is hard to get through, and is pretty universally considered Sanderson’s weakest book. But the third one, which ties everything together in a glorious conclusion, is absolutely worth it.
It definitely shows that this was Sanderson’s debut novel, as his style, particularly when it comes to how he switches POV characters, was not yet well-defined. Sometimes Sanderson goes over the same scenes again from each perspective, which would be interesting if done once or twice, but gets repetitive.
This story follows 3 POV characters in the city of Elantris – a prince who falls under a magical curse and is exiled to the old city with others who suffer the same fate, the princess betrothed to him who is at a loss when she shows up for her wedding to find him supposedly dead, and a magically twisted ambassador who actually came to start a religious war.
I loved that the story read like a mystery about the nature of the curse, magic, and their land. I found Prince Raoden to be a refreshingly straight-laced “good” prince, and I shipped him with Sarene – I liked their chemistry together. I think a lot more could have been done with Hrathen, whose ending was all “tell not show.” He had a lot more potential and could have had a much more compelling change. But otherwise, the ending had a satisfying reveal and resolution.
This started out as a rather sweet story, but I DNF’ed about a third of the way through, just because it’s not my personal cup of tea. This is definitely a young adult book about a young woman who sets out on a treacherous sea to rescue the nobleman she loves. The main character was cute, loyal, and brave, but there wasn’t much about her that compelled me to keep reading. As always, this piece was well written and featured fascinating worldbuilding, unique magic, and Hoid running around being ridiculous.
I’ll probably go back and finish it to find the Easter eggs dropped about what (not) on earth Hoid was doing. But for the time being, I’m fine knowing that I just wasn’t the target reader for this particular story. If you like feel-good, lower stakes fantasy with characters that are actually nice people, and still delightful worldbuilding, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this.
Non-Cosmere Works by Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson has written many books outside his fantasy universe as well, including some middle grade and YA urban fantasy and sci-fi books like Skyward and The Rithmatist. You can find his whole body of work on his website and follow him on social media, where he posts actively.
Cosplay!
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Book covers! We love ’em but we hate them too… once we see the price tag that comes with a professional artist. If you’ve decided to make your own book cover, it’s easier and more affordable than ever.
BUT, an unprofessional or lackluster cover will result in poor book sales, while a polished, eye-catching design will draw the right types of readers to your book. Your book cover is your best sales tool – you really need to nail it!
So, to help as you design your own cover or pursue working with an artist, we’ll examine the following marketing concepts and cover art guidelines:
NOTE: since I specialize in sci-fi and fantasy, all the cover examples will fall within these genres. However, my general advice about marketing angle, artistic direction, and design programs is applicable to all fiction authors.
Your Book Cover is Your #1 Marketing Tool
Your book cover is your most effective marketing tool. And that’s how you need to think of it. You probably have a ton of images in your head of favorite scenes, cool characters, and dramatic vistas.
But accurately conveying the beauty of your world or main character is NOT the most important element of your cover. A cover is only effective if it will make your target reader pick up your book (and ideally buy it).
To interest your ideal reader, a cover needs to convey:
Genre – a fantasy book looks a lot different than a contemporary romance. Make sure to use the general trends that are appropriate for your genre AND sub-genre. First impressions are lasting!
General tone and themes – use color scheme, lighting, and subject matter to narrow your audience – is there a male or female figure on the front? A close-up of a face, or a unique, sprawling vista? Cool or warm tones?
Accurate reader expectations – if your book doesn’t feature a lot of romance, you won’t want a steamy couple on the cover. If there’s a dragon on the cover, that dragon better show up! If your cover looks bright and cheerful, but has a tragic ending, readers might be miffed.
It is vitally important that you follow through on “the promise of the premise.” If your cover promises “high concept space opera” and you deliver “found family scrapping by in space,” you’ll irritate the readers who do pick up your story, and fail to find the ones who’d truly enjoy it.
Have you heard of “Chekhov’s gun?” It’s a phase that originated in the film industry – if you depict an element that has exciting connotations – like a gun, legendary sword, dragon, or battle – that element better show up in the story, or readers (viewers) will feel misled and let down.
Your cover makes a “promise” about the type of story and emotions readers can expect. Keep that promise.
How to Do Market Research
The best way to ensure that your book signals to the right type of reader is to complete market research. In other words, look at other covers within your genre and sub-genre to see what’s resonating with readers.
Look up your favorite authors. Skim through lists of Amazon new releases in your category. Save your favorite (genre-relevant) book covers to a Pinterest board.
What catches your eye? What do you skim past without really noticing?
Your own tastes are a good place to start, but it’s important to poll a wider field. There are some great communities online where you can post cover mockups, in-progress works, and alternate versions, and ask readers to vote on them!
Just make sure you’re polling people who actually read within your genre. Facebook, Reddit, and Discords have pretty active groups that tend to be pretty kind, in my experience.
Trends come and go, especially on social media – ask readers what designs they love, what turns them off in a cover, and which version of a cover looks best. These are effective ways to ensure that your cover not only looks professional, but also has the highest chance to sell your book.
Fit in But Stand Out
It’s important to find a balance between originality and familiarity. You want readers to look at your book and, within 0.01 seconds, understand what genre and sub-genre your story falls into – that’s all the time they’re going to give you.
However, you do still want to stand out. A book cover with a close up of a sword’s handle may convey “sword and sorcery” plenty effectively, but that’s all it does. Seriously, enough already – this tells me absolutely nothing about your story!
The same goes for the plethora of covers that feature a noblewoman in a puffy dress, a cloaked boy facing off against a dragon, or a random space ship hovering over a planet.
You need to imagine not just how your book will look on its own, but how it will compare when stacked up against the competition – literally stacked in a pile at a bookstore, or more commonly these days, on an Amazon new releases list, Instagram or TikTok feed, or any other online platform.
These covers all look sharp and effectively convey “dark romantasy,” but because of the vague titles and intense similarity in visual elements, I get overwhelmed when looking at them all. I don’t know how they stand out from each other. I’ve stood in bookstores reading the back covers of books like this, and then as soon as I set them down, I forget which description goes with which title.
That’s why when covers like this come along, in the same genre and sub-genre, they shoot to the top of #booktok lists – because they stand out, while still fitting in!
So scroll through those lists! And especially look at the books and authors you’re using as comparative titles. You may love covers that use graphic design, but if your comps use highly realistic oil paintings, you may want to consider using that style to flag the same readers.
The Visual Elements of a Strong Cover
Choosing Fonts
I’ve put this at the top of my list of visual elements because unprofessional fonts are the most common mistake I see on covers these days. With photo manipulation, pre-made covers, and accessible programs like Canva, it’s more affordable than ever to acquire an attractive image for the base of your cover.
But a generic, improperly formatted, or genre-inappropriate (e.x. corporate text on a fantasy book) font will scream “amateur” even if you use a great image.
The above covers make the following mistakes:
The font is simplistic, more fitting to a word document than a cover
The color of the text doesn’t stand out well against the background
The font is too small
The title and design compete, rather than working in concert – part of the design is obscured, and part of the text is less readable – neither win (more on this in the next section)
Here’s a simple rule of thumb for picking your actual font: if you’d use the font in an email, DON’T use it on your cover (except in your blurb, which should be highly readable).
If a font is available for free in a word processing program, it probably won’t look professional on a book cover. It’s absolutely worth it to pay $15 for a month of Canva premium to select a few unique fonts.
A book’s title, author, series name, and any taglines or testimonials are often written in different but complementary fonts. Keep that in mind as you look through examples.
Focal Point and Composition
Focal Point
A book cover needs a strong focal point – the place in the image that your eye is instantly drawn to.
Covers tend to use either the title or the image as a focal point. Note that in the first two covers below, the image and backgrounds are relatively simple, while the text is much larger. In the second two covers, the images are much more striking, causing the eye to fix on them immediately.
Both choices are valid – just make sure that your text and image don’t compete with each other, like on the Realm of Dragons cover above.
Ensure your image has enough negative space for your title, or an area that is simpler in texture and color, so the words don’t have difficulty showing up clearly against the design.
Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is a useful compositional strategy that divides an image into nine equal parts with two horizontal and two vertical lines. It’s recommended to place key elements along these the lines, at their intersections, or within the segments.
Our brains like segmenting things and following patterns. Harry Potter is placed squarely in the middle of his cover, and the title takes up the full top third. The pillars frame him pretty closely along the horizontal lines of the thirds.
On The Neverending Story‘s cover, each “third” in the bottom only contains one fanciful creature, giving us some mental space to process one and then another. The mandala motif on The City of Brass takes up exactly the top 2/3 of the image, with the pillar of fire and figure strikingly illuminating the center “column” of the book.
Guiding the eye
Using the rule of thirds is also helpful in designing a composition that draws your reader’s eye around the full frame – from image to title, to author’s name, and back again.
Amok‘s cover by @jiwosophy does a stunning job of this!
1. The title starts at the top left focal point, taking advantage of the reader’s instinct to read from top left to right.
2. The curve of the woman’s body along the top 1/3 of the image follows our reading path, ending in a second focal point – her face.
3. The linked arms and blades then cleverly lead us to the author’s name!
4. The dynamic curve of the young man’s body draws us to his head, which rests at another intersection of two lines.
Significantly, we don’t see his face. If we did, it would likely compete with the title for attention, as the human eye gravitates toward faces. The back of his head still serves as a focus, and his outstretched hand points us upward toward the woman’s feet, and back to #1 – the title.
Masterful! Not to mention, the motifs and style of this cover hint at the story’s unique worldbuilding – inspired by author Anna Tan’s Malaysian ancestry.
Artistic Style and Medium
Artistic style is one of the best ways to give readers a hint of your writing style and the “feel” of your story. As my lit professor loved to say, “form reflects meaning.”
Some top design styles include:
Traditional media – oil painting or watercolor
Digital painting
Real life images – models, landscapes
Cinematic cover
Culturally or historically inspired artwork – Chinese ink painting, Greek pottery motifs, and wood cut prints
Graphic design
Mixed elements
Medium hugely impacts the depiction of light and color – watercolor or acrylic will look much softer than richly saturated oils or bright digital paintings. So this choice will greatly affect your book’s perceived sub-genre.
What style makes you the most excited? More importantly, which one makes you want to pick up the book?
It’s SO hard, but the most beautiful cover, isn’t necessarily the best cover. It’ll save you a lot of pain down the road if you accept NOW that some images are best left as supplementary art or interior illustrations, rather than as your cover.
You want to pick the style that best sells both your book and your brand as an author.
Here are some various covers for The Fellowship of the Ring over the years, and they each convey something different about the story. The 1st image is the original cover design, the 2nd cover looks more like a children’s book, the 3rd reveals the beautiful scope and literary quality of the work, the 4th is more cinematic, the 5th is a graphic design call-back to the original cover, and the 6th looks like a modern dark fantasy.
All these covers say something true about the story, but appeal to different readers. What type of reader do you want your cover to speak to?
Depicting Your Character
Some readers hate seeing characters on book covers, while others love it, or don’t really care. The choice is yours.
Characters are usually depicted on covers in one of 5 ways: silhouettes, shots from behind, multiple characters interacting, half or full body front view, and close-ups of faces.
1. Character silhouettes
In this style, characters are often seen from a distance or depicted through a simplified art style – little can be made out about the character except for gender, and pose.
These covers work harder to indicate their genre and sub-genre than to communicate what is unique about the main characters. These are meant to be archetypal depictions that make a reader think, “I like stories about swordsmen, or ladies in Victorian times.”
What to avoid:
You’ll want to be careful not to overuse graphic design elements that look like clip art cutouts. I’ve seen the same silhouette of warrior girls and dragons on so many book covers that it has become distracting. All I have to do is open Canva and I know exactly which one they used, which makes a cover appear less professional.
2. A figure shown in profile or from behind
In these cases, we don’t see the character’s face clearly, but are given more intricacy in clothing and other features.
This is a great way of indicating more about the personality and profession of your main character – soldier, noble, spy, alien, and so on, without committing your readers to a certain version of their face.
What to avoid:
You don’t want to be too vague here. I’ve seen a ton of fantasy covers that feature a cloaked or armored figure from behind, or a young woman with her hair blowing, and these figures don’t really tell us anything about the story or character. The examples above give enough detail to let us know general ages, professions, culture, and potential goals.
3. Covers that depict multiple characters
If your story centers around dynamics between one or more characters, featuring multiple figures on the cover can be a great way to establish reader expectations. You’ll let them know that the heart of the story centers around love interests, buddies, rivals, found family, master-apprentice relationships, and so on. Readers will also often assume that such a story follows multiple point of views, which is useful information to convey.
What to avoid:
Including too many characters on one cover can become distracting. It also makes it a lot harder to maintain continuity in later covers or if you have to change artists. Note that Kings of the Wyld, which features the most characters of those examples, still uses one character as a focal point, while the others fade into the background a little.
You also want to avoid having characters just stand around. In the covers above, the characters clearly have a task before them, and are not just posed before “the camera.” They look ready to solve a problem or leap into action.
4. A front view of the character (half or full body)
If you don’t mind committing yourself to an artist’s rendition of your character’s face, then go all in with a front shot!
The most effective character shots are dynamic, emotional, and indicate another layer of the world (plot, magic). These characters feel like they’re in the middle of a scene, and we’re holding our breath, waiting to jump in and see what happens next.
What to avoid:
You’ve likely seen many covers that show a character just facing the reader (as though looking at a camera), with a rather neutral facial expression and body language.
These depictions, while potentially “accurate,” are rather boring to look at. You want to at least partially answer the question: what makes this ranger, orphan, or prince different from the others?
5. A close up of a character’s face
This can be a very effective way to communicate something unique about the main character, display intense emotions, hint at a major theme in the book, or just show off a hot character! 😉 A close up can also indicate that the story will follow a single character’s perspective quite closely – perhaps even in 1st person.
What to avoid:
If you’re going to depict a character’s face prominently on your cover, you MUST maintain consistency across the series. Here is an example of a series that failed to do this.
These book covers all feature a different model, and none of them actually look like the main character, who is a redhead, not a brunette. Her face tells me nothing about the story or who she is – her expressions are passionless. These are also all essentially the same cover – a woman over a planet – which tells me nothing about how the series might progress.
In contrast, the most recent cover in this series actually depicts the point of view character accurately, down to her determined stare and dress uniform. We receive more information, including a fighter jet, which indicates the military themes of the book. Plus an accurate portrayal of her husband, and the inclusion of a unique celestial body, rather than a generic planet.
In summary, the face of a character rarely in and of itself creates a complete cover. Other elements, including clothing, lighting, and emotion, are incredibly important to hooking a reader.
Also Avoid
the uncanny valley
When creating faces digitally or with the use of photo manipulation, it’s easy for a figure to fall into “the uncanny valley,” the name for the unsettling, even repulsive, feeling people experience when encountering humanoid figures or artificial entities that are almost, but not quite, human-like.
Think creepy doll effect, photoshop catfishing, or CGI animals whose mouths and eyes don’t quite match up with their words.
Here are some examples of covers that look “off” because of over-photo-manipulation and the blurred effect of digital brushstrokes.
In addition to looking amateur, they just feel a bit creepy, which is the last thing you want a prospective reader to take away from your book. Make sure to look at an artist’s portfolio before you hire them. If you’re not confident your artist can depict faces well at your budget, it’d be better to simplify the design or show your characters from behind than to end up with this kind of effect.
Bad Photoshop
Badly photoshopped covers are less common these days. The technology is more accessible even for amateurs, and it’s a lot easier to find freelance artists on platforms like Fiverr that are both affordable and have better skills than those displayed in the covers below.
Still, it’s good to keep in mind that just because you can cram a lot of fanciful elements or light filters into one image, doesn’t mean you should. Even if the image layers are merged and shaded properly, such covers can still look a bit… extra.
AI-Only
This is a whole can of worms. But as a business, Creative Cornerstones takes a very simple approach: don’t do it.
AI can be a fun tool to create mock-ups for your own enjoyment, to brainstorm ideas, or to provide references for your artist.
But DO NOT use a fully AI crafted image as your book cover.
In order to create these images, AI scrapes existing art and copies it, stealing the hard work of real artists. You open yourself up to a word of copyright issues. Most lawsuits about AI are still ongoing, and you really just don’t want to risk it.
There are many ways to create a book cover for next to nothing.
Besides, readers can tell when a book cover is AI-made and often they won’t pick it up as a result. I participate in many author groups online, and when authors posts covers asking for feedback, one of the top, most repeated comments I see on AI artwork is, “if I saw this on Amazon, I wouldn’t buy it because it looks AI.”
Often, readers might not care about the AI art itself, but what it indicates about the work as a whole. It shows that the author didn’t have the budget to hire a professional artist, which means other elements about the book might lack professional refinement as well – especially the writing quality. They might think, “was this book ‘written’ by AI too?”
There are SO many books on the market, that if a reader has even the slightest doubt about the quality or ethical construction of your book, they’ll simply move on to something else.
Affordable Cover Design Tools
Whether you’re looking to create your cover by yourself, or simply want to make a mock-up for your artist, there are some great programs that are affordable and user-friendly.
Book Brush: $149/yr (this one is designed specifically for creating book covers, ads, reels, etc. with tutorials and templates)
Canva and Adobe Express both have completely free versions too, but I highly recommend getting the upgraded version just for a month – there are way more templates and design elements available that will make your cover easier to create and more professional-looking. Since hiring an artist could cost $50-2000, $10 or $15 is nothing.
For more information about technical details such as image dimensions, trim size, and printing details, I suggest you directly consult your publication platform’s requirements.
I do recommend hiring a cover design artist, at least as a consultant. There are a lot of refinements you may not consider, such as genre-appropriate lighting filters and color tone, or how much you should brighten an image to make sure it looks good once printed.
“Fixes” like this could take an artist just half an hour to spot and correct, saving you a ton of trial and error and pain down the road.
These days, I hesitate to recommend freelance platforms like Fiverr, because it’s hard to tell whether an artist’s work is genuine, or if they use AI and still charge “full price.” I’ve seen a lot of posts lately by authors who were burned by artists (often from abroad) who lied about their work, charging $100s-1000s upfront and then delivering work that contained obvious AI mistakes (distortions, disproportionate figures, oddly repeated patterns, etc.).
I strongly encourage you to choose an artist based on word of mouth recommendations. Ask people in your writers group, at local conventions and book fairs, and in online groups specifically designed to help artists and writers connect.
If, while doing your market research, you find an artist whose work you really admire, why not reach out? Don’t assume their work is outside your budget! Artists who work with small and indie presses usually have much lower rates than those who’ve created covers for the Big 5.
Here are 3 cover artists I recommend, in order of cost ($, $$, $$$):
1. Galadriel Coffeen, our in-house artist creates sharp, digitally painted covers that feature high contrast, striking colors.
Her covers range in cost from $50-500, depending on design complexity.
She also paints dragons and dramatic character illustrations!
2. Kirk DouPonce of DogEared Designs creates luminous covers for sci-fi, fantasy, and thriller books. At the moment, he is not accepting new commissions, but if you like his work, you can check back in the future and reach out on his website for a quote.
3. Jeff Brown has created stunningly epic covers for indie authors and big names alike. He charges $4000, which includes typography, full usage, multiple print covers, multiple deliverables, etc. and is currently booked over a year out. Find more examples and information on his website.
Market Testing
One more hugely important reminder: once you have a couple versions of your cover, test their effectiveness! Ask your target readers (on social media, in your newsletter, in groups, at book events, etc.) which cover they’d be more likely to buy.
You can even ask what the cover says to them about:
Genre (and sub-genre)
General tone and themes
Reader expectations
Readers LOVE seeing covers and voting on which ones they like. Don’t assume that just because you and your artist love it, they will too.
You can’t just “change it later,” as it becomes extremely complicated to list various cover editions on Goodreads, which is one of the major platforms for gaining reviews.
Learn More
If you’d like to learn more about creating a competitive cover, I recommend Eschler Editing’s Pocket Editor course: Crushing Your Cover. They go into further detail about cover design strategies for various genres, including nonfiction. You can use the code Cornerstones10 to receive 10% off the course.
I work with Eschler Editing, an award-winning team with over 25 years of publishing experience. They’ve successfully launched work with bestselling authors, traditional publishers, and indie creators.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Kathy Tyers writes character-driven science fiction with a deep heart and an inquiring spirit. She is the author of the Firebird series – Firebird, Fusion Fire, Crown of Fire, Wind and Shadow, and Daystar – of the Star Wars universe novels Truce at Bakura and New Jedi Order: Balance Point, and of several stand-alones.
She returns to the Firebird universe with her upcoming release Firebreak, which takes place between Crown of Fire and Wind and Shadow. Releasing March 10, 2026 and now available for preorder, with 20% off on Enclave Publishing’s website!
Cover art by Kirk DouPonce at DogEared Designs
Lady Firebird Caldwell returns to the world of her birth, Netaia, intending to introduce her young sons to the noble Electors while her husband, Brennen, conducts a military inspection. When mysterious ships in distress suddenly approach the planet, the Electorate sends her to initiate first contact. Forced to work alongside a vengeful childhood enemy, Firebird uses everything within her power—even her passion for music—to negotiate, only to discover their alien technology threatens all the worlds she holds dear.
Facing ruthless betrayal, Firebird undertakes a deadly journey to salvage the mission. Brennen must make daring use of his telepathic powers to save human life in the galactic Whorl, including that of their young sons. But saving the worlds might force Brennen to give the order that would mean Firebird’s death. In a galaxy poised on the edge of ruin, survival may demand the ultimate sacrifice—from them both.
Caylah: I’m so excited to hear that you’re releasing a new book in the Firebird universe! The new cover looks stunning! Could you tell us more about Firebreak and how the story came to you?
One of the hardest choices an author can make is where to start and end their story – after all, the universe and characters never “end” in our own minds! It’s been quite a few years since your last book in the Firebird universe. How did you decide it was “right” to return?
Kathy: Caylah, thank you for the opportunity to talk about writing Firebird’s story again. If you don’t mind, I’d like to combine my answers to your first two questions.
In 2022, I thought I would never be able to write again. Long COVID had done bizarre things to my brain. Sometimes, I could barely wake up for two or three days, and then I’d have insomnia for most of a week. The worst of it was the sensation that something seemed to be creepy-crawling inside my skull. I barely had the energy to get through a day and cook dinner. Some people thought I was doing pretty well, but I had no energy left to write, which made me feel sad and old.
Still, every second Monday evening, I got together with some new writers from my church and helped them learn the craft. I tried to resurrect an old project of mine, Holy Ground, a rural fantasy novel. I’d written it in third person limited POV, and my writing friends encouraged me to try rewriting it in first person. Week after week, I simply had nothing to bring to the writers group. The passion just wasn’t there. I couldn’t persevere through the long, long process of writing a full first draft, even though the novel was substantially written already.
Finally, Broose–another founding member of that group, and a former Disney animator–challenged me to simply write something that brought me joy and fed my spirit. I had thoroughly enjoyed writing the Firebird series. They filled up something inside of me that had gone empty and dry during COVID. So, out of a sense of grateful nostalgia, I re-read all five of them. I found myself wondering what Firebird and Brennen were doing between Crown of Fire and Wind and Shadow. (Books 3 and 4) The next thing I knew, a new story was pouring out of me. The post-COVID lethargy was gone. Kathy Tyers was alive again.
Caylah: That is wonderful advice – returning to joy when our muse decides to hide under a rock. What did you enjoy most about this story and what are you excited for readers to experience (no spoilers of course!)? I’m personally excited to see more about Netaia’s culture and how it transforms over the years.
Kathy: The characters! I’ve known Lady Firebird for most of my life. Over the years, she has matured into someone who feels very real to me. So does Brennen. Letting them find each other and embark on their adventures together satisfied a hunger in my soul. In our fallen world, we long for a happy ending–but doesn’t a happy ending usually lead to the next challenge?
Caylah: Indeed! Firebird came so alive to me, so I’m excited to see more of her story.
How does your relationship with God influence your writing process and story planning? e.g. perhaps you have a prayer you like to pray as you sit down to write.
Kathy: I try to get to work immediately after my quiet time each morning. One of my favorite C.S. Lewis quotes says, in effect, that who/what you are will come out in your writing whether or not you try to put it there. So I work hard on telling a good story and, occasionally, on bringing forward the faith elements. Lightly but genuinely! The exception to “lightly” was Wind and Shadow, which was written as a Master’s degree project for Regent College, a wonderful theological school in Vancouver, BC. One of the main characters was a priest in training, you see….
Caylah: Amen! Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. I remember you published a different edition of Firebird before your deal with Enclave. How did you choose to release a version with enhanced religious themes (is that the biggest difference)? Have you received criticism from fans of your general market (Star Wars) work?
Kathy: My editor Steve Laube had been a fan of my writing before I moved over from Bantam Books to Bethany House publishing, where he worked at the time. During our first conversation, he told me he had suspected for some time that I was a Christian because he’d found hints here and there in my writing (see C.S. Lewis quote above!). Yes, people have left reviews online warning other readers that my books from a Christian publisher have Christian themes. Surprise!
Caylah: Personally, I found the themes of shame, faith, and new life incredibly challenging and encouraging – they make the story have eternal significance. Are there any readers who’ve approached you over the years to share how the Christian message impacted them? All authors want to think that their stories have the power to transform at least one life!
Kathy: One of the most moving experiences in my life was attending the baptism of a young woman who said she’d decided to become a Christian after reading the Firebird books.
Caylah: I love how much you weave music into the chapter titles and into Firebird’s thought processes! In my opinion, that’s one of the elements that takes a character from “good” to “great” – their hobbies and passions actually transform how they view and interact with the world. I actually use your trilogy as an example when I offer this advance to new writers! Are there any other tips for character development that you’d share with budding writers?
Kathy: My characters usually reveal themselves to me slowly. I need to spend time with them, thinking through what they find beautiful, meaningful,or challenging. Often, it’s through the process of writing a first draft that I learn what drives them. I enjoy involving some of my characters in music or other arts because that’s been a big part of my background since childhood. I grew up in a musical family. I might ask a hopeful writer, “What do you enjoy, what do you know something about, besides your fiction? Can you layer that into your story in some way that enriches the plot?”
Now and then, though, inspiration hits in an instant. For example, I first glimpsed one of my favorite characters, Tel Tellai, when he was standing at the foot of a breakaway strip while a space-and-atmosphere fighter took off. He was just standing there in shock and protest, holding both of his arms stiffly down at his sides. “Who in the world is that?” I wondered. Calmly, he told me his name (honestly, that’s how it felt) and that he loved Phoena Angelo. I was shocked. “You love HER?? What???? How could ANYONE….”
Caylah: Moments of “conception” like that make storytelling feel like such a superpower! Since we’re quoting C.S. Lewis, your description reminds me of how his main character in Till We Have Faces says, “I was with book, as a woman is with child.”
The interrogation scene between Brennen and Firebird is one of the most tensely compelling scenes I’ve ever read – the chemistry! I remember the first time I read it, how Brennen’s act of clicking his heels together and shifting forward to begin accessing Firebird’s mind was such a tangible moment that made me physically feel the tension in the room. Then I reread your annotated version and realized you did this deliberately (as good authors do, haha)! You articulated so clearly how physical actions can punctuate energy and emotion and create turning points within a scene without the characters using any words. Are you able to expand upon that idea, maybe going into when this tactic works and when it might not, for some writers?
Kathy: Thanks, Caylah. I love that scene too. I wrote at length about tagging dialogue with action beats in my book for the Christian Writers Institute, Writing Deep Viewpoint: Invite your Readers Into the Story.It isn’t always easy to find the right action beat. I hear my characters speak to each other long before I can see their body language or their surroundings. Every writer’s process is just a bit different.
Caylah: That sounds like a great resource – thank you! It’s encouraging to know that even elements which might not come as naturally or quickly to writers can still become a great strength.
There’s a lot of disagreement about what makes a “strong female character.” Some people have complained that Firebird too quickly gets “shunted into the role of wife and mother,” but I think you did a wonderful job of showing a variety of feminine strengths in Firebird. Being a lethal fighter pilot isn’t the only way to kick butt, which she still does throughout the rest of the trilogy! How would you describe your approach to writing female characters and do you think Christians “should” write women differently than we see in mainstream media?
Kathy: I’m especially glad you asked about this. “The role of wife and mother” is not the end of any story. In and of itself, it’s a high calling for many. For others, it’s a vital step into their unique future. When I brought Firebird and Brennen together, I knew that they both had strong reasons for wanting to create a family.
Still, they obviously weren’t the kind of people to live quietly-ever-after. How, then, would they balance parenting with the other calls on their lives? It’s been a challenge for me, just as it’s been a challenge for them. But they’re doing it! Just wait till you read how they get there in Firebreak.
Caylah: I can’t wait to see the kind of trouble Kiel and Kinnor got into as kids!
Ok, now for my “fan girl” moment. When Brennen first feels Firebird’s mental shout he expects to find brotherhood. Though it didn’t turn out that way, I’ve been fascinated by what that dynamic would look like in their culture. I would LOVE to see a short story about a Sentinel “blood brother” pair!!! Do they have any famous “Gilgamesh-Enkidu” pairs or stories about sisterhood (which is rarer to find in fiction, sadly)?
Can individuals have more than one pair bond? For instance, would a pair bonded husband also be able to pair bond with a brother in arms? Would his bonded wife feel his brother through their connection at all? I then had fun imagining what would have happened if one of the Shuhr assassins had discovered they were connatural with one of the men in the Caldwell bloodline. What do you think would have happened – would they have stayed their hand as Brennen did with Firebird?
Kathy: You may have given me a great subplot idea. Thank you.
Caylah: Ooh, yes! Is there anything else you’d like to share about your story, process, or world?
Kathy: Thank you again for the chance to share a bit about Firebreak, my favorite characters, and my writing process. It was a treat to meet you at Realm Makers, and I hope to see you there again in 2026, when Firebreak is finally available!
Caylah: Thanks! It was lovely meeting you too. And congrats on the birth of your grandson!
Kathy: Thank you!
Follow Kathy Tyers on Facebook for more news and discussions, and find the first book in her Firebird trilogy here. Firebreak, releasing March 10, 2026, is now available for preorder on Amazon or through Enclave Publishing’s website (20% off there).
Amazon links are affiliate links – I may earn from qualifying purchases.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Demigods vs. monsters, petty gods and kings, dramatic poetry, and way too many genealogies – these are just a few of the elements that have made epics stir the hearts of men for millennia.
But if you’re only familiar with Greco Roman and Nordic epics, you’re in for a treat – cultures around the world have told epic poems and oral legends since the beginning of time. I’ll highlight 16 major works from these regions:
Note that, of the works on this list, only 6 were actually recorded during antiquity – Gilgamesh, The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Aeneid, The Mahabharata, and The Ramayana. The rest were either written during the Middle Ages, or are more recent compilations of culturally significant oral epics that have been passed down for generations.
According to a scholar of medieval literature that I consulted online, most scholars categorize literature according to the age it was written in, rather than by the story’s time of origin, theme, or setting.
But I’ve designed this post to serve as a reading list for people who love legendary, heroic, and mythic tales, so I’ve included works that feature a culture’s oldest, definitive epic traditions, regardless of when they were put on paper.
Most of these are narrative poems, some feature a mix of prose and verse, and a few are written purely in prose. I chose translations that capture the original beauty and style of the verse/prose, while still maintaining accuracy.
This article contains affiliate links – I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
So let’s dive in!
Mediterranean and the Near East
Gilgamesh – Mesopotamia
Gilgamesh is the oldest known epic in the world, inscribed in cuneiform on clay tablets. It tells the story of King Gilgamesh and his dear friend Enkidu, their adventures together before Enkidu’s tragic death, and Gilgamesh’s following epistemological crisis about life and death.
“How can I keep silent? How can I stay quiet? My friend, whom I loved, has turned to clay, my friend Enkidu, whom I loved has turned to clay. Shall I not be like him, and also lie down, never to rise again, through all eternity?” ― Gilgamesh
Modern Version of Gilgamesh
Here’s a three part illustrated version suitable for kids (pictured above). I’ve heard great things about this novelization by Emily H. Wilson as well!
Homer – Greece
The Iliad
The Iliad tells 10 days of the Trojan War, including Achilles’ refusal to fight for the Greeks after his King takes one of his female prizes, Patroclus’ tragic death, and Achilles’ revenge upon Hector.
“Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus’ son Achilleus and its devastation, which put pains thousandfold upon the Achaians, hurled in their multitudes to the house of Hades strong souls of heroes, but gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting of dogs, of all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished since that time when first there stood in division of conflict Atreus’ son the lord of men and brilliant Achilleus.” ― The exordium of The Iliad, Richard Lattimore (translator)
Modern Version of The Iliad
Rosemary Sutcliff wrote a beautiful version of the Iliad called Black Ships Before Troy, accompanied by stunning illustrations by Alan Lee (Art Direction, The Lord of the Rings). And I will never not laugh at Overly Sarcastic Productions’ description of Achilles as a “sulky burrito.”
The Odyssey
The Odyssey tells of Odysseus’ decade-long attempt to get home after the war, impeded by angry gods, sea monsters, and idiot companions.
“Tell me, Muse, of the man of many ways, who was driven far journeys, after he had sacked Troy’s sacred citadel. Many were they whose cities he saw, whose minds he learned of, many the pains he suffered in his spirit on the wise sea, struggling for his own life and the homecoming of his companions. Even so he could not save his companions, hard though he strove to; they were destroyed by their own wild recklessness… here, goddess, daughter of Zeus, speak, and begin our story.” ― The exordium of The Odyssey, Richard Lattimore (translator)
Modern Version of The Odyssey
Gareth Hinds has created a lovely collection of graphic novel renditions of various classics, including The Iliad and The Odyssey. The Usborne Illustrated Odyssey is great for younger children.
The Aeneid – Rome
Roman fan fiction of Homer! The Romans thought it’d be super cool to have an origin story that connected them to the epic tales of Greek heroes, so Virgil got busy making a pretty propaganda piece about how the survivors of Troy, led by Aeneas, completed their own odyssey to find and establish a new land – Rome.
“I sing of arms and of a man: his fate had made him fugitive; he was the first to journey from the coasts of Troy as far as Italy and the Lavinian shores. Across the lands and waters he was battered beneath the violence of high ones, for the savage Juno’s unforgetting anger; and many sufferings were his in war- until he brought a city into being and carried in his gods to Latium; from this have come the Latin race, the lords of Alba and the ramparts of high Rome.” ― The exordium of The Aeneid, Allen Mandelbaum (translator)
Modern Version of The Aeneid
The Aeneid for Boys & Girls is a lovely modern telling, accessible for kids and adults alike. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find many illustrated versions of The Aeneid, unlike for Homer’s works, which have many! Though there is a recent graphic novel.
Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings – Iran
The Shahnameh is an epic poem of about 50,000 distichs or couplets, composed by the poet Abolqasem Ferdowsi between the years 980 and 1010. He referenced prior histories and verses to compile the story of pre-Islamic Iran, beginning with Creation myths and continuing until the Arab invasion in the seventh century.
“I turn to right and left, in all the earth I see no signs of justice, sense or worth: A man does evil deeds, and all his days Are filled with luck and universal praise; Another’s good in all he does – he dies A wretched, broken man whom all despise.” ― Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings, Abolghasem Ferdowsi
Modern Version of The Shahnameh
Unfortunately, the “definitive translation” by Dick Davis, linked above, is already told mostly in prose, with snippets of verse scattered throughout. There is an earlier translation in full verse available on The Internet Archive, but it uses older English (“thou”), which makes it harder to understand. Since the leading version is already more of a summary than a direct translation of the full poem, I’d probably choose to read this gorgeously illustrated edition instead, which is actually how I first discovered the Shahnameh (my library had a copy)!
Europe
Beowulf – Norse
Beowulf is an Old English poem, written between 975 and 1025 AD, but set in pagan Scandinavia in the 5th and 6th centuries. It tells of how the warrior Beowulf defeats the monster Grendel, and then his mother (in a famous underwater battle), before sacrificing himself to defeat a dragon.
“So. The Spear-Danes in days gone by and the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. We have heard of those princes’ heroic campaigns.
There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes, a wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes. This terror of the hall-troops had come far… That was one good king.”
This is a lovely illustrated version, great for kids. There’s also an edition of Seamus Heaney’s translation that includes photos of helmets, horns, and other materials from the time.
The Saga of the Volsungs – Norse
The Saga of the Volsungs is a late 13th century heroic saga, but in prose, rather than verse (excepting the prologue). It tells of the rise and fall of the Volsung clan, including the famous portion of Sigurd killing the serpent dragon Fáfnir.
“O hearken, ye who speak the English Tongue How in a waste land ages long ago The very heart of the North bloomed into song After long brooding o’er this tale of woe! Hearken, and marvel how it might be so, That such a sweetness so well crowned could be Betwixt the ice-hills and the cold grey sea.” ― The prologue of the Volsunga Saga, Eiríkr Magnússon, William Morris (translators)
Additional Nordic Epics
You may also have heard of the Poetic Edda, a collection of anonymous Icelandic narrative poems in alliterative verse, thought to have been composed sometime in the 9th-11th centuries. It’s more fragmented, and less of a cohesive epic, essentially like Ovid, but for Norse myths.
The Nibelungenlied is an epic chivalric tale (predates the romance) that recounts many of the stories present in the Edda and Volsunga Saga. However, it is much more Christian, containing less of the original pagan mythic content.
The Táin has its origin in Irish oral tradition, but wasn’t written down until the Middle Ages. Often referred to as “The Irish Iliad,” it is actually written in prosimetrum, alternating prose and verse.
Also known as The Cattle Raid of Cooley, it tells of a Queen who, to spite her husband’s wealth, raids a neighboring kingdom to steal a great bull. Only a young demigod steps up to defend his land in single combat, since his king’s entire army is burdened by a curse. Tragically, he must face his best friend in battle.
“I am alone against hordes I cannot stop nor let go I stand here in the long cold hours alone against every foe.” ― The Táin, Ciaran Carson (translator)
Modern Version of The Táin
I found a modern illustrated children’s version of this tale by Alan Titley, but also loved this beautiful animated short that summarized the story.
Kalevala – Finnish
The Kalevala is a 19th-century compilation of Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology, collected through the many trips of Elias Lönnrot. It tells the story of creation, voyages and wars, and of a legendary wealth-making machine. Kalevala poetry was also known as runic song, often in alliterative trochaic tetrameter, and incorporating call and response, choralists, and dancing hand in hand.
“I am wanting, I am thinking To arise and go forth singing. Sing my songs and say my sayings, Hymns ancestral harmonizing, Lore of kindred lyricking. In my mouth the words are melting; Utterances overflowing To my tongue are hurrying, Even against my teeth they burst.” ― Prelude from The Kalevala Runo 1 – Creation and the Birth of Väinämöinen
Modern Version of the Kalevala
Kirsti Mäkinen (Author) and Pirkko-Liisa Surojegin (Illustrator) created a beautifully illustrated prose version of the Kalevala which also includes snippets of verse on each page – accessible for children.
Asia
Ramayana – India
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic (smriti) that narrates the life of Prince Rama, the seventh avatar of the Hindu deity Vishnu, following his adventures during a long exile, and his eventual crowning. It is attributed to Valmiki, and was likely written between the 7th and 5th centuries BC.
“O Ayodhya! Architects designed you to be beautiful, gracious and strong. Untouched by enemies, invincible behind towering gates with a wide moat circling your waist, your brave and noble warriors could find their target through sound alone.” ― The Ramayana: A New Retelling of Valmiki’s Ancient Epic, by Linda Egenes
Modern Version of the Ramayana
I dislike a lot of modern renditions of epics because they not only lose the beauty of the original verse or language, but they often just feel like a summary. That gets boring in a hurry. But this lyrical modern prose rendition of the Ramayana reads more like a novel!
Mahabharata – India
The other major Hindu epic, the Mahabharata tells of the tragic war between two factions of princely cousins, the Kauravas and the 5 Pāṇḍavas brothers, and their famous wife Draupadi. Attributed to Vyāsa, and composed over many centuries, starting in the 3rd century BC, it is often known as “the longest written epic poem in the world.”
“…I bless the name of Sarasvati, goddess of deep learning and of art, she who can touch a poet’s tongue with silver. To her I dedicate my epic poem.
This is the tale of a tragic dynasty; a narrative of hatred, honor, courage, of virtue, love, ideals and wickedness, and of a war so terrible, it marked the threshold between one age and the next.”
I really enjoyed this podcast audio drama by Sudipta Bhawmik, though I certainly recommend keeping a cast list handy since it’s way too easy to lose track of all the characters and their names. This prose rendering by Ramesh Ramon reads like historical fiction!
The Epic of King Gesar – Tibet
The Epic of King Gesar is drawn from centuries of oral traditions, combining cultural, literary, musical, historical, and religious values of Tibet, focusing on the tales of a superhuman warrior king. It includes some 120 volumes, and it looks like, so far, only a small portion of it has been translated into English so far.
“The white smoke of the juniper rises Fragrant and dense from the burning coals, Billowing into an empty shining sky, A vast mirror-like expanse Unclouded by the shadow of birth or fear of death. There, descending on this perfumed bridge of smoke and longing, Swirling and whirling in the smoke clouds, as in a gathering storm, Surrounded by a host of mounted Drala and Werma warriors, Whose golden armor and steel sword blades glitter like lightning, Rides the ever great and youthful conqueror, Gesar, King of Ling, Lord of the four kinds of warrior.” ― The Warrior Song of King Gesar, Douglas Penick
Modern Version of The Epic of King Gesar
The Warrior Song of King Gesar (excerpt above) seems like a captivating compilation of multiple parts of the tale. Shambhala Publication’s has translated the first 4 volumes of the epic more literally from the beginning, and they’ve published numerous other books about him, but I found the Warrior Song version more compelling. There seem to be a number of beautifully illustrated versions, but most are only available in expensive hardcover or sadly out of print.
Darangen – Philippines
The Darangen is a collection of pre-Islamic Philippine tales, passed down orally for generations. It has 72,000 lines divided into 17 cycles in iambic tetrameter or catalectic trochaic tetrameter. To perform the full cycle through song and dance takes a week! It tells of the grand city of Bembaran ruled by the main hero, Prince Bantugan.
“And now I shall commence my tale Beginning with the time of the Enthronement of the first ruler Called Diwata Ndaw Gibon. His kingdom was one vacant space Because he had as yet no wife, No fair partner to grace his throne And help him organize the place, Nor were there any settlements No subjects to people a town For this lord was indeed alone.” ― Darangen, recorded by The Folklore Division University Research Center Mindanao State University
Modern Version of the Darangen
Unfortunately, the translation I linked above is a bit awkward and not very engaging to read. It’s also only an excerpt from a book which seems out of print, though it is available at multiple libraries around the U.S. I was not able to find any modern or illustrated versions. But there are some great recordings of live performances by the efforts of UNESCO. I hope we’ll start seeing some lovely renditions and retellings in the future!
China?
China has a massive body of literature, including histories, poetry, religious works, and more. They did not seem to favor long-form narrative poems, though the Epic of Darkness, dated back to the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD), was recently discovered. It features the creation myths and flood narratives of the Han people, including the tale of Pangu. No English translation exists yet, as far as I could find.
More people recommend the Four Great Classic Novels, particularly The Journey to the West, as an example of China’s cultural and mythic epics. I love this animated series about the Monkey King!
Africa
The Mwindo – Congo
The Mwindo epic is an oral tale from the Congo told by the Nyanga people, traditionally performed by a bard through dance and noisemakers like bells and a calabash rattle. The audience would participate, singing along, and young men would accompany the bard on percussion. It tells the tale of a boy with magical powers whose father tries to kill him, spurring him on a series of quests.
This is a fun retelling that includes a mix of prose and verse. It reads like a novel for kids, but I enjoyed it as an adult too! You can find a more official translation here.
More Oral Epics From Africa
Africa is rich with oral traditions, poems, and songs. This is a lovely site that includes many excerpts. The Epic of Sundiata is also well known, but chronicles the creation of the Empire of Mali, a Medieval, not ancient, kingdom of West Africa. The Liyongo Epic is another that tells of a Medieval Swahili warrior chieftain.
Americas
The Popol Vuh – Mesoamerica
The Popol Vuh began as Mayan oral tradition millennia ago, telling of the world’s creation, the acts of the gods, and the founding of the K’iche’ kingdom. In the mid-sixteenth century, during the European conquest, members of the nobility wrote it down in an attempt to preserve their culture, and it was later translated into Spanish, and the original document lost.
“This is the account of when all is still silent and placid. All is silent and calm. Hushed and empty is the womb of the sky. These, then, are the first words, the first speech. There is not yet one person, one animal, bird, fish, crab, tree, rock, hollow, canyon, meadow, or forest. All alone the sky exists. The face of the earth has not yet appeared.” ― Allen J. Christenson (translator), Popol Vuh: The Sacred Book of the Maya
Modern Version of the Popol Vuh
Ilan Stevans has written a modern retelling of the Popol Vuh, complete with illustrations by Salvadoran folk artist Gabriela Larios. One reviewer said, “the art is so beautiful I wish it was available as prints.”
More mythic narratives from the Americas
While there is a difference between myths and epics, it’s quite sad that there aren’t more remaining works from Pre-Colombian Americas. So I thought I’d also include this great online database of Native American myths and legends. They focus more on tales from North American tribes, but include some from Central and South America as well.
Epics about Medieval Times
Many of the epics above were written during the Middle Ages, but about ancient legends or events that occurred through late antiquity (Beowulf, Volsunga). A number of other epics recount historical events that happened during the height of the Middle Ages, with far less mythic content.
The Epic of Sundiata – West Africa The Sundiata is an epic poem of the Malinke people that tells of the hero Sundiata Keita (died 1255), founder of the Mali Empire. It was passed down orally for generations.
The Song of Roland – France The Song of Roland is an 11th-century medieval poem (chanson de geste) about the feats of Frankish military leader Roland at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in AD 778, during the reign of Charlemagne. It is the oldest surviving major work of French literature.
Cantar de mio Cid – Spain The Song of My Cid is an anonymous Castilian epic poem based on the true story of hero and Medieval knight Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar—known as El Cid—who fought for the unification of Spain during the eleventh century.
The Tale of the Heike – Japan An epic prose account (compiled prior to 1330) of the struggle between two clans to control Japan in the Genpei War (1180–1185). This was a major influence on other feudal samurai content.
The Secret History of the Mongols and The Epic of Jangar – Mongolia The Mongolian Tuuli is an oral tradition comprising heroic epics that run from hundreds to thousands of lines and combine spells, fairy tales, myths and folk songs. The most famous ones tell the tale of Genghis Khan and his children.
Dates of Ancient Epics
What do you love most about ancient, mythic epics?
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Some of the most compelling dynamics in fiction are the ones that aren’t so clear cut, or that mix many different emotions together. When two characters – strong, intelligent, and full of conviction – face off through combat, a clash of ideals, or political and strategic maneuvering, they bring out the best and worst in each other.
Famous pairs include Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty, Charles Xavier and Magneto, Yagami Light and L, and Anakin and Obi Wan. Many more fantasy books feature thrilling dynamics between commanders, mages, nobility, warriors, assassins, and more.
I’ve included books that feature:
Individuals who respect each others’ skills – perhaps grudgingly, or perhaps they’re the other’s biggest fan boy
“Met my match,” “fated showdown,” and “I’m most alive when facing you” vibes
Mutual obsession and delight in the contest
Honoring or grieving the other if they defeat them
A mixture of brotherhood and enmity (often these dynamics start as one and end as the other)
What this list does NOT include:
Pure enmity – characters who only hate each others’ guts and just want to destroy the other and move on with life
Antagonists the reader is meant to loathe and we’re nothing but happy when they’re gone (even if the protagonist doesn’t loathe them – see F*** Moash for details)
Rivals that don’t appear until later in the series
I’ve organized these books by the 4 major ways they tend to play out:
These are the raw physical conflicts, the characters who live for the thrill of the fight, who demand “he’s mine, no one else touch him,” and then hold the other in their arms as they lay dying (though not all these examples end in death).
Ammar Ibn Khairan and Captain Rodrigo Belmonte are famous warriors on opposite sides of a brewing war. But when each of them stumbles into a political mess, they find themselves exiled to the same city where they are hired as mercenaries.
An unlikely friendship develops in a single summer, but when Belmonte’s King marches south to retake the land conquered by Ammar’s people, they must decide what’s truly worth fighting for.
2. Rhythm of War (The Stormlight Archives #4) by Brandon Sanderson
The Stormlight Archive is an incredible series and I highly recommend reading the whole thing. There are excellent duels (Szeth) in previous books, but several astonishingly excellent ones in the 4th.
Spearman, Windrunner, and idealist Kaladin faces off against 2 enemies – one who shares his sense of honor and enjoys their duels, and another cruelly neurotic enemy who is obsessively determined to end him.
This book also features the only compelling intellectual rivalry I’ve ever seen between two women. When the immortal Raboniel takes Queen Navani captive, they develop mutual respect for one another as they investigate properties of magic that could destroy them all.
Kuni Garu and Mata Zyndu fight together to overthrow the emperor in a world inspired by China’s warring states period.
At first, they respect each other deeply—Kuni is the cunning, street-smart bandit who wins people over with charisma and adaptability, while Mata is the towering, idealistic warrior-noble obsessed with restoring honor and the old aristocratic order.
But their visions for the postwar world diverge completely, and they end up opposing one another ideologically and across the battlefield.
4. Heroes Die (The Acts of Caine #1) by Matthew Woodring Stover
Caine (real name Hari Michaelson), is an Actor and warrior who travels to a brutal alternate reality called Overworld, livestreaming his adventures back to Earth. He’s skilled, vicious, and extremely pragmatic, but completely under the control of a dystopian caste-system only too happy to send him to die.
When his wife and fellow Actress goes missing in Overworld, his masters give him the chance to rescue her, but only if he’ll agree to assassin Ma’elKoth, a charismatic and terrifying mage Emperor. But Ma’elKolth gets to Caine first, and they have a history…
Strategic Maneuvering and Intellectual Sparring
Politics, mind games, secretive plots, genius war tactics, cat and mouse games, you name it! The characters in these stories may not face off in a grand duel, but all their focus still lies in maneuvering and outmaneuvering the other through cleverness, subterfuge, manipulation, or more.
A group of ancient, magically powerful siblings vie for the throne at the heart of all universes after their father vanishes mysteriously. The siblings are all fixated on each other, sparring verbally, fuming about centuries old slights, setting traps, and chasing each other through universes of their own constructing.
Corwin is clever, funny, and out for revenge against his brother Eric, who has nearly killed him on several occasions. There are sword duels and strategic battles, but above all else, it is a mind game between these two brothers who are the only real 2 choices for the throne.
Honestly, despite this series being recommended by most hardcore fantasy readers, I have no idea what it’s about. The blurb mentions so many players and conflicts that the “main” plot always escapes me. It seems the driving force is Empress Laseen’s ruthless expansion, particularly her latest campaign against the free city of Darujhistan.
But the cast is massive, including imperial commanders, mages on various sides, assassins and thieves from feuding guilds, warriors, and gods. I’ve heard readers mention various characters that could be called rivals or nemeses. Since this series is known primarily for its sprawling, interconnected plot, I thought I’d stick it in the mind games category!
Anasûrimbor Kellhus, a monk-warrior-philosopher from a secretive, almost superhuman order, is intelligent, manipulative, and charismatic. Drusas Achamian is a weary, cynical sorcerer and spy for the Mandate School, burdened with prophetic dreams of an ancient apocalypse, guilt, and doubt.
Kellhus is playing chess on ten boards at once and Achamian knows it but can’t break free. This is more of a mind duel—one man is essentially conquering the other’s will while appearing to be his friend. It’s all the more tense because both are on the same side (for now), fighting in a massive holy war.
Field Marshal Tamas begins the book by orchestrating a coup, executing his king, and dismantling the monarchy’s ruling structures. This puts him in direct conflict with the Privileged, the elite sorcerers who were loyal to the king, who he continues to hunt down.
One of the surviving loyalist mages, Borbador, commands devastating sorcery, able to level battalions with a gesture. Tamas dominates military logistics, espionage, and large-scale troop movement. Their rivalry is played out mostly through military campaigns, political maneuvering, and indirect confrontations, which become more personal in later books.
Temrai, a cunning and ruthless Chief from the Plains, infiltrates Perimadeia, the Triple City, to learn how to conquer it through siege. Opposite him stands Bardas Loredan, a skilled fencer, and the surviving member of a legendary band of soldiers who killed Temrai’s family.
For the past 12 years Loredan has worked as a “lawyer,” representing clients in duels to the death. But his past comes back to haunt him as a curse tightens around him and Temrai sets his scheme into action.
In the Calderon Valley of Alera, young Tavi is the only boy without a fury—no elemental power to command wind, flame, or stone. When a surprise Marat invasion shatters the peace, Tavi must rely only on his resourcefulness to turn the tides of war.
In later books, Tavi encounters Varg, a towering Marat war leader—brutal, cunning, and sworn to the destruction of Alera. In Varg, he finds something unexpected: a gadara—an adversary whose skill, honor, and unflinching candor make him, in some ways, more reliable than Tavi’s supposed allies.
11. The Red Knight (The Traitor Son Cycle #1) by Miles Cameron
The Red Knight, Gabriel Muriens, the cocky captain of a mercenary company is hired to defend a nunnery against the Wild, a host of inhuman creatures. The Wild’s leader, the sorcerer Thorn, quickly becomes aware of the Red Knight’s presence and takes a personal interest in breaking him. The two face off in battles and political maneuvering, but do not come face-to-face until later books.
Enemies to Allies or Friends
The characters start out simply as enemies (though perhaps already have respect for the other), but their dynamic shifts throughout the story. Sometimes, a conflict like a civil war has ended, and former opponents realize they need not hold onto old grudges not of their making. Often, such characters must work together to defend against or defeat a greater evil.
The opposite dynamic – friends to enemies – exists as well, of course. But I often find those dynamics feature more bitterness (betrayed war buddy out for revenge) than satisfaction in the clash – though this list does feature a few friends to opponents.
Ryo inGara’s clan, hunted and outnumbered by the invading Warlord Aras, leaves him behind as a “tuyo” – a scapegoat prize upon which their enemies can take revenge, in exchange for the clan’s safety. But Aras spares Ryo’s life and asks for his fealty, eager to understand the mentality of the Northern winter clans who have been raiding his southern villages. Beginning to suspect the influence of a dark sorcerer, Aras and Ryo must work together to prevent war between their peoples.
13. Honored Enemy (Legends of the Riftwar #1) by Raymond E. Feist
Mercenary commander Dennis Hartraft and Captain Asayaga, leader of an invading Tsurani force, have circled one another for years. But when a group of dark elves threatens to annihilate both war bands at the start of a brutal winter, they join together in an unlikely alliance. Filled with mistrust and plagued by cultural misunderstandings, the two groups are barely held together by the leaders’ grudging respect for one another.
Damien Vryce, a human priest from a technologically advanced but faith-driven society, and Gerald Tarrant, the infamous Hunter, an immortal being who is both monster and man, form an uneasy alliance of necessity, filled with ideological clashes and mutual manipulation.
Damien sees Tarrant as an abomination, while Tarrant sees Damien as naïve. Neither trusts the other’s motives, and each believes the other will betray him if given the chance, but they need the other’s skills as they and a small team set out to defeat a greater supernatural threat.
The demon Aziraphale and the angel Crowley spend thousands of years upon the earth, doing the work of Hell and Heaven respectively. But sometimes they bend the rules a little, giving each other a helping hand, and subtly subverting the agendas of each party. Over time, they form their own side, facing heaven and hell together to save the planet they both love. Each is the other’s only true friend. Not that they’d ever admit it!
Clash of Ideology
These stories often feature rivals on the same side of a conflict who disagree about how a country should be run, a war should be waged, or what ends justify the means. These conflicts are often slow-burn, with philosophical discussions and disagreements, and fallout from consequences that escalate to more open fights.
Shadow mage and pirate prince, Arithon, would much rather ditch the politics to live as an itinerant bard. Proud and charismatic, Prince Lysaer longs to fulfill his duty to his people, but is devastated by his inability to develop his light magic. Half-brothers, Arithon and Lysaer are mortal enemies – until their father’s quest for vengeance casts them through a portal and into a world from which they cannot return.
Alone in a land where they are hunted for their bloodline, an immortal wizard takes them under his wing as the subjects of an ancient prophecy – only if they pair their shadow and light magic together can they overcome the mistwraith’s curse upon the land. But their ideological differences are far from over.
17. Malice (The Faithful and the Fallen #1) by John Gwynne
Corban and Nathair, crown prince of Tenebral, are being shaped by opposite sides of a much larger prophecy about the coming God-War — one foretold to pit the Bright Star (savior) against the Black Sun (destroyer).
The rivalry grows in the background through political moves, battlefield encounters, and each one’s conviction that they’re in the right. This one is a slow build, with the final showdown not happening till later books.
Mr. Gilbert Norrell is a reclusive, book-hoarding scholar who believes magic should be controlled, respectable, and kept in the hands of a few (preferably just himself).
Jonathan Strange is young, impulsive, and brilliant—more interested in exploring the wild, dangerous side of magic and bringing back the legendary “old ways” tied to the mysterious Raven King.
They start with mutual respect, but their differences in temperament and philosophy quickly lead to friction, and a dueling of egos and ideas.
Who are your favorite rivals, nemeses, and frenemies in fantasy books?
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
There are many benefits to selling books at in-person, local events, including finding repeat customers, gaining reviews, and selling more books in one day than you can sell in a whole month online! I’ve outlined some more benefits in a previous article: 8 Reasons Authors Should Sell Books at In-Person Events.
But here, I’ll share what I’ve learned from years of successfully selling books at markets, library fairs, and more. Knowing what to do, and just as importantly, what not to do, will ensure you actually make a profit. I’ll explain some vital tips like:
Ask other vendors or the even organizer what you can expect at their event. They won’t be offended and can give you an idea of the type of crowd to expect, and whether the event is worth your time.
High Traffic Events
The most important element to look for is high shopping traffic. If 10 people come to your event and you historically sell to 10% of the people you speak with, you might sell only 1 book at this event. If 500 people come to your event and you manage to speak to 100 of them, you might sell 10 books.
It’s most likely that the traffic will be high if you:
Table up on a Saturday. Saturdays are the very best day for sales events, hands down. Friday evenings are the next best. Sundays are a gamble. Sometimes a Sunday can give you decent traffic and other times the event is a complete ghost town.
Pick an event in a big/medium size city that is close to major highways and civilization. If you table up on a farm in the middle of nowhere in a town having a name you’ve never heard of and has a population of < 5,000, you probably shouldn’t expect much traffic, and you probably shouldn’t table up there, unless you know from experience that this event really does draw crowds. And don’t assume that just because a podunk venue draws a moderate crowd on a Saturday, you can expect a decent crowd on Sunday. Sometimes the switch to Sunday kills shopping traffic.
Sell at established markets with known traffic instead of inviting friends to your own private book signing event. If you invite 20 people to a signing and only 5% actually show up (which is about the average), you might get 1 person to show up! Many authors end up with NO attendees and get discouraged. Unless you’re a big name author, or you invited over a hundred people, don’t do this! Sell at markets that you know get at least 500 shoppers.
Choose a market that happens every week. These are the safest events, because the event organizers typically do much more advertising of the event and the crowds are usually bigger. I make one local farmers market the backbone of my in-person sales—I go every Saturday from 9a to 2p. I do other events on Friday nights/Saturday nights/Sunday afternoons when I find them in addition to my regular Saturday morning market.
Low or no vendor fee
Let’s assume each book you sell nets you $5 of profit and your table fee was $100 for your event. If you sold only 10 books, that nets you $50. After you pay your fee, you just lost $50 to be at that event. On the other hand, if your fee was only $20, you earned $30. If you did a free public library event, you earned all $50.
Organizer doesn’t require vendor insurance
I’ve heard of events that require this, and in many cases that insurance can cost thousands of dollars each year! Avoid those events. Pick ones that only ask you to sign a form saying you accept risk for your own wares.
Close to home
If you have to drive a few hours to the event and a few hours home, you will burn away all your profits in gas expenses. And if you travel far enough, you’ll want to stay at a motel if it’s a multi-day event. If you pay $50 in gas and $100 in hotel fees, plus a $50 table fee for 2 days, that’s a total expense of $200.
How many books would you have to sell just to break even? Assuming from before that you net $5 profit on each book sale, that means you have to sell 40 books that weekend. If you think you can sell at least 20 books each day, you might cover your table fee. If you can’t, then you will lose money.
Simple tactics to sell books – inoffensively
Call out to passersby
If you only smile and wave, the vast majority of people will breeze right past your table. You’d think these people would proactively approach your table because they came to the event to shop, but they have to be drawn over to you.
Often they have dozens of tables to choose from. Even people who love the genre you sell will fail to recognize your books with their very obvious genre-hinted cover art and your large-lettered signage.
What should you call out? I use a variety of lines:
“Free chocolate! Calorie-free books!” while pointing to my candy dish and books
“Science fiction and fantasy!”
“Buy a book and get a free spouse! Erm… I mean a free bookmark!”
Be funny and relaxed. Many will stop and chat because you got their attention. If you keep it silly and lighthearted, people are less likely to be annoyed that you’re hawking them.
Put your book in their hands
If someone stops and asks what your book is about, don’t answer verbally. Instead, put your paperback in their hands with the back cover facing up and say that the book description says it best. This does several important things:
The book has now become real to them. They can feel the texture and weight of it.
By reading your back blurb, they’re getting a sampling of your writing style. If you’ve written it well, you can impress them with your writing skill and intrigue them about the book.
If the blurb gets their attention, they will often start flipping through the book. And if your formatting is top-notch, they will see how professional the product is and their confidence in you goes way up. If you have interesting chapter titles, they may notice those and be drawn in further. They might even start reading the first page!
Every second they spend examining your book invests them further in it. Now they’re spending time. Once they’ve done that, they are more likely to spend money on it. This has now become an event.
While people are reading your blurb, you get to watch their face and see their visceral reaction to it. If their brows rise and their faces glow, your blurb is doing its job. If you never get such a response from dozens of visitors to your table, you know it’s time to rework your blurb.
While people are reading your blurb, you’re also freed up to call out to other people.
If you explain your book’s plot to each person who asks, your voice will get tired quickly. Especially if you have to shout over loud street musicians.
How to Set Up Your Table for Maximum Engagement
Location is Paramount
It doesn’t take much at all to discourage shoppers from approaching your table. They will never tell you the reason. It’s up to us as vendors to figure out what that obstacle is, and remove it.
If removal is possible. You might have to ask the event organizer if you can shift your table over a few feet to avoid something like a tree stump or a narrow part of a hallway, or to move you to a completely different spot along a street.
If you get to choose your table location, think carefully about possible traffic flow. For example, if your vendor area is divided into 3 columns of tables with 2 aisles, pick a spot on the right-hand column. Especially if that aisle is wider than the other! I learned this lesson the hard way at one of my library events:
Remove psychological barriers
Here’s a list of some I’ve discovered:
Distance
Move your table as close to the flow of foot traffic as you can. If visitors are walking in the middle of a street and your popup canopy is 7 feet away, most people will let their momentum drag them right past. And if your table is near the back of your canopy, such that visitors have to enter the canopy and walk a few feet inside to see your book covers, that’s too far.
It presents a subtle psych barrier that discourages all but the most determined visitors. And if you only talk to the most determined visitors, you will not sell many books at your event. I promise you.
Objects
At one event, I moved my table to the front of my canopy, but due to space constraints, one corner of my table butted up against a canopy pole. And my books were sitting on that end of the table. Could visitors easily avoid the pole? Sure. Did visitors let that pole deter them from approaching? Absolutely. Once I moved my books to the other end of the table, more visitors stopped to check them out.
Flooring
At an outdoor event, the ground was muddy from recent rain and I didn’t want someone dropping my books in the mud. So I laid down puzzle piece rubber waffle boards in a 9ft square and set my table on that. It jutted out a good 4 feet from the front of my table and I remembered thinking people might hesitate to approach for fear of tracking their muddy shoes on my clean waffle boards.
Guess what? The very first couple stood a few feet back from those boards and squinted. I immediately removed that layer of flooring and people started coming up to the table.
Turnaround Point
This is the worst obstacle of all. At one event, my table was near the end of a long street. There was nothing exciting at the very end of the street to draw people to walk the whole length. And so, for the first hour, most shoppers would walk to what I called “the turnaround point”.
About 2 tables away from mine, there was this spot on the road where I saw hundreds of people stop, squint down the road, decide they were at the end, turned around, and walked back the way they came. This was the most discouraging experience I’d ever had as a vendor.
At least until the shaved ice truck came and parked at the very end of the road! And then a street musician started strumming a guitar across from that. Then I had shoppers lining up in front of my table for shaved ice on a very cold day. And only then did I sell books.
Smart event organizers are aware of the turnaround effect and will place attractions at the end of hallways and streets to mitigate it.
Wide lanes
Similar to the point about distance, you want to try to avoid placing your table in a section of a path or street that is wider than the other sections. Shoppers will naturally tend to walk at the farthest point in the path from vendor tables, so if you pick a very wide section, shoppers may be too far away to see or hear you, and may feel the distance to be socially acceptable to ignore you from.
If you are able to relocate your table or move other structures (such as a friend’s tent or table) into the path across from you to narrow it down, you may turn a zero sale night into a big night.
What to Bring
Interactive Materials to Make Your Table Memorable
I bring the video game version of my debut novel for visitors to play:
This big monitor and the gaggle of kids and their laughter draw lots of people over (not to mention the parents). But you might not be able to create your own video game.
There are other gimmicks you can try: set up a gumball machine that dispenses slips of paper containing neat one-liners from your books, and make one of them a coupon for a free book. Or dress up in a costume related to your protag or villain. Just make it visually obvious that something about your table is different.
People should be able to say, “his table is the one with the [blank]!”
Ample Lighting
For outdoor, evening events during fall and winter, bring plenty of lighting, including hand lamps that visitors can hold up to your book. Don’t count on general area lighting and lights you string along the top of your canopy to provide enough light for reading your book’s back cover. At some events, they’ll ask you not to bring a popup canopy because it would block the lighting they provide and take up too much floor/ground space.
two tables
Always bring a small table along with your normal, big one. Sometimes events will let you in without prior notice or give you really juicy spots if you let them know you can fit your stuff on a 4ft by 2ft table and don’t need to use your 10ft by 10ft canopy. Some events promise to provide a table and chair for you. I always bring my own just in case they run out or there’s something about their table and chair I really don’t like.
a card reader
I recommend Square. The small reader is free with your account and the thing is durable—it can survive a trip through the washing machine! And don’t sign up for your account right away. Instead, ask another author who already has Square (like me!) to send you a referral email.
Only sign up with that referral and both you and the referring person enjoys a free $1000 of processing fees waived for 6 months, starting from your first card swipe. Just find a dedicated place to keep your square reader (not your pocket) so you don’t lose it and you don’t send it through the wash. Also, you must keep your smartphone charged in order to use the swiper (if you get the free swiper model, that is).
Make sure to ask about WiFi availability ahead of time!
Insider Tips
Chat with other author vendors
Ask them what other events they’re going to next. Be friendly to them—they just might end up inviting you to awesome events you didn’t know anything about. And they might offer to split their table with you. That lets you pay half the fee and gets you into events for which the submission deadline is long past.
I’ve gone to events that I heard about the day before! In order to capitalize on these last-minute event invites, try to keep your weekends open (if you don’t already have events scheduled, that is).
Sell at the last minute
When breaking down your setup, put your books away last. I can’t remember how many times I’ve sold books to passersby while I was packing away other things. One time I sold books after I’d broken down my entire setup because my backpack has a full sales kit in it, and I pulled books and a card swiper out from that.
At my farmer’s market on 10/12/2024, I sold 10 books after I started breaking down my table! All I did was look up for passersby, point to my books, and say, “I still have books out, if you’d like a look.”
Here’s what I’ve noticed: Many shoppers walking around after the official end of an event are happy when a vendor notices them and gives them something to shop for after all other vendors are closed. The last-minute nature can help nudge them to buy something. This is why I pack away my books last. I even bring down my tent and pack that away before I box up the books. I recommend you do the same.
The First Day of Events is the Most Important
If you sell at an event that lasts 2 or more days (of equal duration), and you can only show up on one of those days, pick day one.
Push for early sales on day one of multi-day events. Many shoppers may not feel any urgency to shop until later in that weekend. Always try to encourage them to buy sooner, because they may not return to you later like they promised!
As the event wears on, you’ll start hearing shoppers say things like, “I’ve already spent all my money.” And what they really mean is, “I’ve already spent all my money on other vendors’ goods. You’re too late.” The younger the shopper, the truer this is.
My sales and marketing guide has WAY more content like this. Just email me at dylan.west@dylanwestauthor.com if you want me to share that google document with you for free!
Dylan West writes faith-based, young adult science fiction and fantasy novels. He is a Jesus lover, web and video game developer, former Navy nuclear operator, foreign language nut, and a nut in general.
While other people are busy thinking normal thoughts, he’s crafting corny jokes. Dylan lives in Chesapeake, VA, with his wife and daughter.
For authors struggling to sell a single book on Amazon in a whole month: how would you like to sell 10 to 20 of them in a single day? When you table up at a local sales event, that’s not hard to do. That’s just one reason to vend at regular, local events. Here are some more:
1. Brand awareness
if you hang a big, clear, beautifully designed banner at your table, you let passersby know that your business exists. Because I table up at a decent-sized event each Saturday, over 50,000 people see my books and banner every year.
2. Fan building
When shoppers walk by or visit my table, people take actions like:
Check out my books and ask me questions
Buy my books or sign up for my newsletter (often both)
Buy the related merchandise. If they buy my t-shirt, they may wear it, providing free advertising
Give me donations (sometimes large ones)
In-person events are the best way to increase word of mouth and gain further opportunities. Some people will:
Tell other passersby to check out my books and rave about how good they are – this happens to me quite a bit, and it’s driven lots of sales 🙂
Tell friends about my books. Some may even buy my book as a gift or haul their friend over to my table
Invite me to some other sales event or speaking engagement. One person invited me to speak at a local college, which paid me a $100 speaking fee and bought 3 of my books to display at the front of their campus library!
Seeing you in person will make people remember:
To finish the book they bought from me last year
To buy more books because they loved the first one
To sign up for my newsletter or read the newsletter articles I’ve been sending them
That my books exist – that’s a huge thing. If someone buys a book from you a few years ago, it’s easy for them to forget about you if they didn’t sub to your newsletter
3. Sales Practice
Nothing makes you better at sales than getting hundreds of sales opportunities each month. Each shopper that stops is a live-fire practice session.
4. Steady cash flow
The money I make at my sales events funds my next book. I don’t have to pay anything out of pocket after my initial investment. I use sales earnings to pay for book cover art, ISBNs, formatting, software, copyright filings, business licenses, author copies, web hosting, domain names, paid ads, and a lot more I’m forgetting.
5. Newsletter building
The best way to gain new newsletter subscribers is to collect emails from people who just bought your book(s). They are more likely to open and read your emails than people who signed up for a free novella and then unsubbed right after.
6. Fun
I could go on for hours about all the wacky and funny things I’ve experienced at farmers markets and comic cons while vending. I get to meet neat people, pet cute doggies, crack lots of corny jokes, hear corny jokes in return, see really interesting performers, hear live music, and have the thrill of making big sales.
And I have fans hunting me down at events when they learn that my newest book just came out!
7. Identity
Nothing reminds you that you are, in fact, a published author like going to regular sales events. Many indies who published a book long ago have almost forgotten that they are a published author and that they should be selling their books.
Going to in-person events makes your authorship more real than if you lob an e-book onto Amazon and do nothing more.
8. Reviews
You will get more reviews for your books if you table up at sales events. Especially if you remember to ask shoppers to leave a review!
Now that I’ve persuaded you to table up at local events, let me share some tips for how to run them so you actually sell books – based on my years of experience!
Dylan West writes faith-based, young adult science fiction and fantasy novels. He is a Jesus lover, web and video game developer, former Navy nuclear operator, foreign language nut, and a nut in general.
While other people are busy thinking normal thoughts, he’s crafting corny jokes. Dylan lives in Chesapeake, VA, with his wife and daughter.
Please sign up for his newsletter to get the geekiest science research tidbits that go into the making of his books: https://dylanwestauthor.com/.
These days, authors are forced to do more and more of their own marketing – an incredibly daunting prospect. Marketing is an entirely different industry, and most authors are going in completely blind!
Before you get into trial and error, testing different social platforms, ads, or other strategies, it’s vitally important to start with the right perspective, which will act as a cornerstone to solidify the foundation of your author business, if you will.
So I’ll help you get started by sharing the top 3 things you need to keep in mind at all times when marketing your book:
Our books are our babies. When sharing about them, authors often strive above all else to accurately convey the world and characters that they so dearly love.
But you can’t think of your book from your own perspective – you must view it from the eyes of a buyer.
Who, when showing off their first baby, describes their child to suit what the other person is likely thinking and feeling? No one.
It’s hard, but you need to think of your book as a product that can solve a want or need.
Imagine what a reader feels when they’re deciding whether or not to pick up a book. What goes through your own mind?
For example, “I’m feeling down and lonely, I want a pick me up. Maybe I’ll read a feel-good romance.” Or, “I’m bored and wish I could travel. I miss the beach.” Your job is to make their next thought be: “A pirate fantasy is just the excitement I need!”
When you create your book blurb, or marketing copy, or Instagram reel, it doesn’t matter as much that you convey how amazing your worldbuilding is, how unique your writing style is, or how cool your character will be.
Will your story make readers feel what they want to feel?
What’s most important is to ensure that readers understand what they will get out of reading your story – specifically what your book will make them feel and think.
If your book is a cerebral sci-fi think-piece, but the cover makes it look like a thrilling space opera, you’ll have disgruntled readers dropping it after a few chapters, and your ideal readers will skip past it without realizing that it’s just what they want.
The best marketing is VERY simple. What does your reader want? How does your book meet that want?
EVERY piece of marketing material should answer that unconscious question.
If a reader scrolls through your Instagram and Amazon listing and doesn’t remember your main character’s name, or the plot, but takes away an accurate impression like, “this book will be a dark, emotion wrecker,” then you have succeeded!
Because even if they don’t buy your book immediately, they’ll remember their impression the next time they want a killer, gritty story.
It’s not about you and your book – it’s about your reader
Approach all your marketing efforts from a would-be buyer’s perspective, and you’ll see a transformation in how readers interact with your book. Put yourself in their shoes.
Everything about marketing might sound overwhelming, but THIS one element is where you are at an advantage. You’re a storyteller – imagining the feelings and internal journey of other people is one of your greatest strengths! Leverage it!
Just remember, that when pitching your book, it’s NOT actually about you or your book. It’s about your reader.
You are the wise old mentor stepping alongside a lost young hero who needs a word of wisdom, an eye-opening experience, or a comforting touch. Your book is the tool you use to help a reader reach THEIR goal.
If you can make a would-be reader feel seen and heard, whether you’re chatting with them at a book fair, or sharing a meme on your socials, they will start to trust that your book will also be able to impact them in the way that they want and need.
When selling your book, tell the reader’s story, and how your book will make it better.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve learned how to effectively market books by working for Monster Ivy Publishing, Eschler Editing, and two marketing agencies – Perk Brands and Aloha Life Digital. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Books with a massive set of multiple POVs drive me crazy. I prefer stories with a tighter focus that invite readers to enjoy (and work to unravel) some mysteries about the larger world. Sometimes less is more.
But these days, multi-POV fantasy books seem to be the norm, especially in adult fantasy. It’s so hard to find books that feature only one point-of-view character, but I’ve done some legwork for you!
Note: this list focuses on male protagonists and dark, mythic, political, and military fantasy, rather than romance, satire, or coming-of-age.
I’ve read about half of these so far, and all others have at least a thousand 4+ star reviews. Most of these authors have a larger body of work which also feature a similar style.
Ok, technically this is science fantasy, but it FEELS so epic, and most of the story takes place in a medieval setting. The main character is a centuries-old mage poet and swordsmaster who stepped out of literal golden age Avalon! One of my absolute favorites!
Corwin is a prince of Amber, the “immortal city from which every other city has taken its shape.” All other worlds, including Earth, are shadows of that reality. Corwin has spent centuries on Earth with no memory of his birth.
But when someone in the family tries to kill him, Corwin begins a search for his past, discovering the universe itself will bend to his shaping. He is one of nine men who might rule Amber, if he can fight past the armies of his brother and nemesis Eric.
Young Fitz is the bastard son of Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father’s gruff stableman. He is treated as an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz’s blood runs the magic Skill.
As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz grows to manhood and soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom.
Elric is the brooding, albino emperor of the dying Kingdom of Melnibone. With Melnibone’s years of grandeur and decadence long since passed, Elric’s amoral cousin Yrkoon sets his eyes on the throne. Elric, realizing he is his country’s best hope, must face his nefarious cousin in an epic battle for the right to rule.
A man broken in body and spirit, Cazaril returns to the noble household he once served and is named secretary-tutor to the strong-willed princess. It is an assignment Cazaril dreads, for in the royal court of Cardegoss, the powerful enemies who once placed him in chains now occupy lofty positions.
Worse yet, a sinister curse hangs like a sword over the blighted House of Chalion. And only by employing the darkest, most forbidden of magics can Cazaril hope to protect his royal charge.
The writing style in this one is quite dense, and absolutely packed with complex vocabulary. The language is masterful, but it’s no light read. Keep a dictionary tab open!
Severian is a torturer, born to the guild and with an exceptionally promising career ahead of him… until he falls in love with one of his victims, a beautiful young noblewoman. Severian helps her commit suicide and escape her fate. For a torturer, there is no more unforgivable act.
He is exiled from the guild with little more than Terminus Est, a fabled sword, to his name. Along the way, a strange gem falls into his possession, which only makes his enemies pursue him with ever-more determination…
This was published back in 1993, but the link will take you to an updated Kindle version that the publisher released in 2019, which is why it has apparently few reviews.
He has been known by countless names and deeds – thief, swordsman, assassin, adventurer. But chief among those personae is that of Nightfall, gifted with unique powers which any sorcerer would kill to possess.
Yet even the cleverest of beings must occasionally slip. When Nightfall falls prey to a royal trap, he is bound by sorcery and oath to guard a young prince on his quest. He will need every trick and talent to keep both himself and his idealistic charge from death at the hands of unknown betrayers.
Cliopher Mdang is the personal secretary of the Last god Emperor of Astandalas, the Lord Magus of Zunidh, the Sun-on-Earth.
He has spent more time with the Emperor of Astandalas than any other person. But he has never once touched his lord, nor called him by name. He has never initiated a conversation.
One day, Cliopher invites the Sun-on-Earth home to the Wide Seas for a holiday. The mere invitation could have seen Cliopher executed for blasphemy. The acceptance upends the world.
I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.
The Greatcoats are travelling magistrates bringing justice to all… or at least they were, before they watched the Dukes impale their King’s head on a spike. Now the land’s heroes are reviled as traitors, their Greatcoats in tatters.
Facio, Kest and Brasti have been reduced to working as mercenaries, but when they find their employer dead – and are forced to watch as the killer plants evidence framing them for the murder – they realize the royal conspiracy is spreading.
A siege is approaching, and the city has little time to prepare. The people have no food and no weapons, and the enemy has sworn to slaughter them all.
To save the city will take a miracle, but what it has is Orhan. A colonel of engineers, Orhan has far more experience with bridge-building than battles, is a cheat and a liar, and has a serious problem with authority. He is, in other words, perfect for the job.
Seyonne is a man waiting to die. He has been a slave for sixteen years, almost half his life, and has lost everything of meaning to him: his dignity, the people and homeland he loves, and the Warden’s power he used to defend an unsuspecting world from the ravages of demons.
But from the moment he is sold to the arrogant, careless Prince Aleksander, the heir to the Derzhi Empire, Seyonne’s desperately crafted apathy crumbles. When he discovers a demon lurking in the Derzhi court, he must find hope and strength in a most unlikely place…
Prince Jalan Kendeth—drinker, gambler, seducer of women—has a secret. He can see the Red Queen’s, his grandmother’s, greatest weapon: The Silent Sister. But content with his role as a minor royal, Jal pretends that the hideous crone is not there.
After escaping a death trap set by the Silent Sister, Jal finds his fate magically intertwined with a fierce Norse warrior. But war with the undead is coming, and as the two undertake a journey to undo the spell, they realize they are but pieces in a game—and the Red Queen controls the board.
Kinch Na Shannack owes the Takers Guild a small fortune for his education as a thief, which includes wall-scaling, lie-weaving, trap-making, plus a few small magics.
But today, Kinch has picked the wrong mark. Galva is a knight, a survivor of the brutal goblin wars, and handmaiden of the goddess of death.
Unsuccessful in his robbery and lucky to escape with his life, Kinch now finds himself braving krakens and giants with Galva in an epic journey to find her missing queen.
Drothe is a Nose, an informant who finds and takes care of trouble inside his criminal organization. On his latest assignment, Drothe unearths that someone is trying to stir up trouble between lower-level criminal organizations, including Drothe’s.
Rumors stir of a book containing imperial glimmer (or magic), and two crime bosses known as the Gray Princes are on the hunt. Drothe discovers the book, gaining the power to bring down emperors, shatter the criminal underworld, and unlock forbidden magic – if he can survive long enough to use it.
Fantasy Books with Predominantly 1 POV – but with brief cutaways
These books are told almost entirely (95%) from 1 point of view, with only brief cutaways to secondary characters. Note that some of these, like The Night Angel Trilogy and the Codex Alera, start incorporating more perspectives later in the series.
For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art – and he is the city’s most accomplished artist.
For Azoth, survival is precarious. As a guild rat, he’s grown up in the slums, and learned to judge people quickly – and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint.
But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassins’ world of dangerous politics and strange magics – and cultivate a flair for death.
Vaelin Al Sorna was only a child of ten when his father left him at the iron gate of the Sixth Order to be trained and hardened to the austere, celibate, and dangerous life of a warrior of the Faith.
Vaelin’s father was Battle Lord to King Janus, ruler of the Unified Realm—and Vaelin’s rage at being deprived of his birthright knows no bounds. Even his cherished memories of his mother are soon challenged by what he learns within the Order.
But Vaelin cannot escape a future that will alter not only the Realm but the world.
Some feel the Lady, newly risen from centuries in thrall, stands between humankind and evil. Some feel she is evil itself. The hard-bitten men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must, burying their doubts with their dead.
Until the prophesy: The White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more. There must be a way for the Black Company to find her…
Clay Cooper and his band were once the best of the best, the most feared and renowned crew of mercenaries this side of the Heartwyld.
Their glory days long past, the mercs have grown apart and grown old, fat, drunk, or a combination of the three. Then an ex-bandmate turns up at Clay’s door with a plea for help – the kind of mission that only the very brave or the very stupid would sign up for.
Among the Omehi, one in every two thousand women has the power to call down dragons. One in every hundred men is able to magically transform himself into a bigger, stronger, faster killing machine.
Everyone else is fodder, destined to fight and die in the 200 year war. Young, gift-less Tau plans to get himself injured, get out early, and settle down to marriage, children, and land.
But when those closest to him are murdered, his grief turns to vengeance. He’ll become the greatest swordsman to ever live for the chance to kill the three who betrayed him.
For a thousand years, the people of Alera have united against the aggressive and threatening races that inhabit the world, using their unique bond with the furies—elementals of earth, air, fire, water, wood, and metal. But in the remote Calderon Valley, the boy Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting.
At fifteen, he has no wind fury to help him fly, no fire fury to light his lamps. Yet as the Alerans’ most savage enemy—the Marat horde—return to the Valley, Tavi’s courage and resourcefulness will be a power greater than any fury, one that could turn the tides of war…
Girton Club-foot has no family, a crippled leg, and is apprenticed to the best assassin in the land. He’s learning the art of taking lives, but his latest mission tasks him with a far more difficult challenge: to save a life.
Someone is trying to kill the heir to the throne, and it is up to Girton to uncover the traitor and prevent the prince’s murder.
In a castle thick with lies, Girton finds friends he never expected, and a conspiracy that could destroy an entire kingdom.
Lukan Gardova is a cardsharp, academy dropout, and—thanks to a duel that ended badly—the disgraced heir to an ancient noble house.
When Lukan discovers that his estranged father has been murdered, he finds fresh purpose. Deprived of his chance to make amends for his mistakes, he vows to unravel the mystery behind his father’s death.
His search for answers leads him to Saphrona, fabled city of merchant princes, where anything can be bought if one has the coin. But the price of truth is the deadliest of all.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Fantasy as a genre has long captured the imaginations of readers with its thrilling adventures and heroic narratives. But if you’ve spent any time in the trenches of Reddit, BookTok, or even Threads, you’ve likely come across a question echoing throughout the zeitgeist:
Does fantasy suffer from a lack of diversity?
That, however, is the wrong question.
At the heart of this conversation lies a more critical distinction. The real question we should be asking is:
What do we even mean by “diversity”?
Is it simply about including characters of various races and socioeconomic backgrounds?
Or does true diversity dig deeper?
This article explores that very question while offering insights into how diversity can (and should) transform the realm of fantasy. Along the way, you might come to love me, or you might come to hate me. But one thing you won’t accuse me of is being a vapid wanderer with nothing but clouds for thoughts.
What Does Diversity Mean in Fantasy?
When we think about diversity in fantasy, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For many, in a culture increasingly unmoored from classical philosophical foundations, “diversity” is often reduced to outward traits: ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status.
And yes, those factors matter.
But they shouldn’t overshadow what truly makes stories vibrant and enduring: diversity of thought. Because a book, at its core, is a well assembled stream of consciousness. A meditation and confrontation with ideas.
Diversity in My Own Career
This subject is actually quite dear in my own author journey and not for the reasons you might suspect. Whenever diversity comes up, it’s often along the lines of: “Hey, Izaic, why don’t you mention you’re Black? That could really help spotlight you or bring money in the door.” Every time I hear that, it feels like an arrow to the heart.
Why?
Because it screams the bigotry of low expectations. Ideas that stand the test of time are based on merit. To have mine judged by skin tone or assumed hardships might grant me a short‑term dopamine hit but, in the end, would leave me wondering: did I earn X or Y, or was that just the result of someone’s assumption about me?
So, over and over again, I have declined grants or invitations that hinge solely on my skin tone. At times it’s been hard and a challenge to the life of virtue. Undoubtedly I am leaving money on the table, but I have faith that I am more than the base materials of my physical body. What remains, and what is important, is the diversity of my mind and soul, which God made perfectly to His design.
Beyond Biometric Metrics
Reducing diversity to metrics like race, gender, or class oversimplifies a much richer and more vital conversation. Biometric diversity does not automatically guarantee depth or quality in storytelling.
True diversity emerges from exploring nuanced ideas, conflicting beliefs, and different cultural frameworks for understanding universal human experiences.
Imagine a world where fantasy novels challenge readers to see the world differently—to entertain new possibilities and reflect deeply on their own beliefs.
That is authentic diversity.
More Than Skin Deep
Reducing diversity to physical characteristics is a form of tokenism, where characters are included as symbolic gestures rather than meaningful contributors to the narrative.
Instead, let’s consider stories whereideas and beliefs are the defining elements of uniqueness.
For example, a Black author can skillfully craft a European medieval fantasy steeped in knights, castles, and folklore. Likewise, a White author can authentically write a story centered around urban Black youths navigating the challenges of Chicago through the lens of portal fantasy.
The richness of a story stems not from the biometric traits of its characters or creators, but from the depth and clarity of its ideas.
Biological factors ≠ Diversity.
They are merely a potential starting point from which diversity might emerge.
This is not to deny the importance of representation but to elevate the conversation.
Our ultimate goal as lovers of literature should be compelling storytelling that speaks to the human condition. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, what matters most is “the content of their character.”
For fantasy, this means content that challenges, inspires, and transports readers into the vast frontiers of imagination.
The Reader’s Role in Seeking True Diversity
Writers aren’t the only ones responsible for cultivating meaningful diversity. Readers play an equally crucial role in shaping demand for more thoughtful and expansive narratives.
When audiences seek out stories that offer fresh perspectives and complex characters, they help pave the way for a broader, richer literary landscape.
Supporting Authentic Storytelling
Here’s how readers can contribute:
Explore New Authors: Seek out voices from various cultural and social backgrounds. But celebrate them not for their skin or heritage—celebrate them for the merit of their thoughts and craft.
Foster Conversations: Discuss books with others. Unearth the deeper themes and perspectives within a story.
Prioritize Depth: Choose books that offer intricate world-building, moral complexity, and provocative ideas over ones that simply check superficial boxes.
By demanding authenticity and intellectual richness, readers uplift authors and help shape a publishing culture centered on excellence.
Raising the Next Generation of Readers
Creating a culture where diversity of thought thrives doesn’t happen overnight. It begins with nurturing a love for reading in young minds. Exposing children of all backgrounds to a range of high-quality, diverse literature helps expand their worldview and strengthens critical thinking.
How to Foster a Love for Diverse Literature:
Start Early: Introduce imaginative fantasy stories that stretch the mind and expose kids to different ideas.
Align with Values: Share stories that reflect your core values but don’t avoid those that challenge or stretch them.
Create a Rich Literary Environment: Fill homes or classrooms with books spanning genres, cultures, and philosophies.
Celebrate Curiosity: Encourage kids to ask hard questions about characters, themes, and conflicts.
Train for Excellence: Stop paying lip service to mediocrity. If you’re invested in the future of Black youth—or any youth—invest in their craft. Train them rigorously. Push them to be extraordinary.
A sustained effort to introduce children to rich, diverse storytelling shapes a generation that values both creativity and authenticity. Excellence is the only foundation that ensures diversity lasts beyond trends.
Building a Future of Excellence in Fantasy Literature
Fantasy offers endless room for exploration, creativity, and connection. But for the genre to thrive, it requires intentional effort from writers, readers, and publishers alike.
Christian authors, especially, have a unique opportunity to contribute by anchoring their work in faith and reflecting the boundless creativity of God’s design.
The future of fantasy doesn’t rest on superficial representation. It depends on cultivating excellence and allowing the diversity of ideas to compete in all aspects of storytelling.
Yorks spent six years as a professional Track athlete, earning silver in the United States championships, among several other distinguishing awards. Now, he seeks his true passion for authoring fantasy works with a heart for virtues that chase the Good, True, and Beautiful.
Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Yorks is now happily lost in Hillsborough, living the small-town life and raising a growing family with his wife Courtney.
Check out his book!
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
