by msk | Mar 16, 2026 | Tropes & Worldbuilding
Let’s play a game. I am going to list several of the most favorite fantasy book tropes in YA fiction. You are going to read them. And at some point (probably sooner than you’d like you are going to feel personally attacked. That’s fine. That’s...
by msk | Feb 13, 2026 | Harry Potter
Okay, I get it. You’ve probably reread the Harry Potter series so many times you could sort yourself into a Hogwarts house blindfolded. You know the password to the Gryffindor common room, you have opinions (oh so many opinions) about Snape, and you’ve...
by msk | Feb 3, 2026 | Fantasy Deep Dives, Mermaids & Ocean Fantasy
When Urban Fantasy Villains Steal the Show Why Antagonists Matter Let’s be honest. You have a favorite villain. You might not call them your favorite. You might say “complicated” or “tragic” or “weirdly charismatic.” But somewhere along the way, you found yourself...
by msk | Jan 27, 2026 | Mermaids & Ocean Fantasy, Uncategorized
Writers are often asked, “Where do you get your ideas?” Usually, the answer is a mix of “I had a weird dream” or “I stared at a wall until my forehead hurt” or “I honestly have no clue.” But every once in a while, a...
by msk | Jan 19, 2026 | Fantasy Deep Dives
You know that feeling when you walk past a bookstore window and immediately recognize a YA fantasy novel without even reading the title? That’s the power of cover design. And lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how dramatically different YA fantasy...
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