Blog

Let me start with something simple:

I love telling stories.

Stories with messy characters. Queer characters. Brown characters. Neurodivergent ones. Stories that don’t treat diversity as a checkbox, but as a given—as real as the world we actually live in. Stories where love isn't confined to shadows and shame, and where the hero doesn’t always look or sound or think like the status quo.

I’m not alone in this. There are countless authors doing this work—writing with courage and honesty and a...

“The Citizen”

They came for Maya at 6:42 AM.

It was a Tuesday. The sun hadn't even finished rising over the New Mexico horizon when she heard the sharp knock—three raps, fast and official. She shuffled to the door in sweatpants, phone still plugged in, coffee machine half-started. When she opened it, the ICE officers were already stepping in, hands on tasers, voices clipped and cold.

“Maya Sullivan?”

“Yes?”

“You’re being detained for violations of immigration law.”

She blinked. “I was born in Santa...

Introduction to Chapter Six

Hey there—Kendra Cassidy here. You know, there’s something about the inside of a car that turns it into a confessional booth. Maybe it’s the road slipping past the windows. Maybe it’s the way the silence gets heavy between gears. Or maybe it’s just the fact that you’re side by side with someone, facing the same direction, with nowhere to run.

This chapter? It’s not just about a drive.

It’s about trust—the kind that wavers, the kind that breaks, and the kind that ...

From the Desk of Kendra Cassidy

Alright, folks, gather 'round, because I've got a gem to share. Felicity Hewitt, indie author extraordinaire and fellow escapist into fantastical realms, has unleashed her debut novel, Violets & Vipers, upon the world. This isn't just another fantasy romance—it's a whirlwind of magic, monsters, and morally ambiguous characters that'll have you questioning your own alignment.

Hewitt, a stay-at-home mother to three kids and two cats, channels her love for epic...

Hey there -

Warning, vague spoilers ahead!

This is a quick look at the Hero's Journey/Heroine's Journey tropes that I've either used or subverted in The Eternity Protocol.

Like I said...

Vague Spoilers Ahead - which is to say, I allude to events in the book without giving you the specifics.

If you want to get the book without knowing anything? Stop here!

Tropes in Eternity Protocol

Eternity Protocol weaves together a mix of classic and subverted storytelling tropes, drawing from both traditional...

Introduction to Chapter Five

Hey there, readers—Kendra Cassidy here again, bringing you the next chapter of The Promise Keeper by Taylor Anne Vigil. By now, you’ve probably noticed something about this story—it isn’t just about survival. It’s about the people who show up when you least expect them to. The ones who don’t fix everything, who don’t make the pain disappear, but who stay. Who listen. Who remind you, in the moments when you need it most, that you’re not as alone as you think.

This...

Hey everyone, Kendra here! Today, I'm thrilled to introduce you to a rising star in the fantasy genre, someone who’s been weaving tales since she was just five years old: K.J. Cloutier. Hailing from a cozy lakeside nook in British Columbia, Canada, K.J. crafts stories that are as enchanting as the landscapes that surround her.

Her debut novel, Beyond the Horizon, launched on January 10, 2023, introducing readers to a world brimming with magic, morally gray characters, and the kind of...

Welcome back, folks! You know I have a soft spot for writers who build intricate, lived-in worlds, and today’s guest? He’s practically an architect of ancient Rome—with magic, mystery, and a whole lot of murder thrown in.

Assaph Mehr is the mind behind the Togas, Daggers, and Magic series, where private investigator Felix the Fox navigates a version of Rome where the gods are still meddling, magic is as practical as engineering, and crime—well, crime is still crime. His latest book, In Victrix...

Hey there, readers—Kendra Cassidy back again, bringing you the next chapter of The Promise Keeper by Taylor Anne Vigil. If you’ve been following along, you know this story isn’t just about words spoken—it’s about the silences in between. The quiet battles, the small victories, the weight of what we hold onto and the freedom of what we choose to let go.

In Chapter Four, that battle shifts upward—toward the open sky. This chapter isn’t just about fear; it’s about what happens when we face it. It...

You know, I’ve met a lot of people in my time—starship captains, politicians, smugglers, and even the occasional pirate—but I don’t think I’ve ever come across someone quite like Kathryn LeBlanc. Or should I say Kathryn Mykel? Don’t worry, no secret identities here—just a writer who wears multiple hats (or should I say quilting bonnets?) and masters more than one literary universe.

Kathryn is an award-winning author who’s conquered not just one but two very different genres—cozy mysteries and...

Hey there, folks! Kendra Cassidy here—retired Admiral, occasional smuggler of books, and your go-to for deep dives into the minds of fantastic authors. Today, I’m beyond excited to introduce you to someone who’s bringing a fresh, magical perspective to the world of fantasy—Morgana Sinclayr!

If you have a soft spot for fairytales, anime, and the thrill of discovering hidden royal lineages (and really, who doesn’t?), Morgana’s debut novel, Chrysanthemum Palace, is about to be your next...

Alright, folks, listen up—Kendra Cassidy here, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s what makes a real thriller. Not the kind where the hero miraculously has time to monologue in the middle of a fight (seriously, who does that?), but the ones where every second counts, every decision matters, and not everyone makes it out alive. I’ve lived through the kind of high-stakes action that most thriller authors only dream about, and trust me—this bundle delivers.

We’re talking heists, spies, deep-sea...

Introduction to Chapter Three

Hey there, readers—Kendra Cassidy here, bringing you the next chapter of The Promise Keeper by Taylor Anne Vigil. We’re three chapters in now, and if you’ve been paying attention (which I know you have), you can feel it—that slow, quiet shift, the moment when walls start to lower, when something real begins to take shape.

This chapter isn’t loud. It doesn’t shout its revelations. Instead, it lingers in the silences, in the spaces between words, in the weight of a...

Hey there, folks! Kendra Cassidy here, back in the interviewer’s chair, and I’m thrilled to welcome back a returning guest—Jessica Thompson! That’s right, she’s back, and you know what that means… more books, more mystery, and undoubtedly, more delicious recipes woven into crime-solving brilliance.

Jessica made a name for herself with her Caterer’s Guide to Crime series, where food and murder go together like, well, a perfectly seasoned dish with a killer twist. Since we last spoke, she’s been...

Hey there, readers! Kendra Cassidy here—retired Admiral, troublemaker, and your guide to the fascinating minds behind the books you love. Today, I’m sitting down with Mandy O’Dell, a storyteller whose passion for romance, history, and just the right amount of ghostly chills has made her a name to watch in the indie book world.

Mandy’s love for stories started early—she was the kind of kid who stayed up way past bedtime, lost in the pages of a good book. She even carried around a binder filled...

Hey there, folks! Kendra Cassidy here—retired Admiral, occasional troublemaker, and lover of a good story. Today, I’m sitting down with Tess Bentley, a historical fiction author who weaves together the best of time travel, gothic mystery, and romance into stories that pull you right into the past—whether you’re ready for it or not.

Tess has always been a lover of books, but before she took up the pen, she spent a decade as a registered nurse. Then she pivoted back to her first love:...

Hello, everyone! Kendra Cassidy here, retired Admiral of the Terran Federation and avid fan of all things storytelling. Today, I have the pleasure of introducing you to D.H. Hoskins, a high fantasy author with a knack for political intrigue and world-building that draws you in and never lets go.

D.H.’s debut novel, The Council of Athyzia, flips the classic dark lord narrative on its head. Instead of following the fight against evil, this story delves into the aftermath—the politics, backroom...

When you spend as much time as I have among the stars, you come to appreciate the storytellers—those who have the courage to pull us into their worlds and make us feel, think, and dream. Today, I’m thrilled to introduce a creator who does exactly that: Atlas Creed. This multi-talented author has mastered the art of blending genres, crafting tales that are equal parts thrilling and thought-provoking. From dark urban fantasy to gripping paranormal thrillers, Atlas doesn’t just write stories; he...

Let me channel my inner Kendra Cassidy, retired Admiral, Terran Federation, to introduce today’s guest: Camilla Vavruch. When you meet someone who balances saving lives as a doctor with creating vibrant, magical worlds in her writing, you can’t help but be impressed. Camilla, hailing from Sweden, is the author of The Elemental Saga and Stories of Gereon, both fantasy series filled with strong friendships, found families, and breathtaking adventures.

Camilla’s writing journey started early,...

It’s not every day you get to chat with someone who can seamlessly blend the supernatural with the mundane, but today’s guest, Mandi Kontos, does just that—and so much more! Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Mandi is the brilliant urban fantasy author behind Faded Fragments, the first in her Nexus Series. But she’s not just a writer—oh no. She’s a buying assistant by day, a writing mindset mentor by night, and the host of The Writing Apothecary Podcast, where she takes a holistic approach to...