Deb Cushman's Blog

 

The 8 Stages of Writing &Publishing a Book

(ATotally Serious, Extremely Scientific Breakdown)  

The Lightning Bolt of Inspiration
That magical moment when an idea hits you so hard you’re convinced you’re a literary genius. You immediately tell three friends, two pets, and one unsuspecting barista that you’re “working on a book.”

The Overconfident Outline Phase
You create a color‑coded outline so detailed it could guide a NASA launch. You feel unstoppable. Y...

Fantasy has always been more than escapism; it’s a way of revealing truths we don’t always know how to say out loud. Stories filled with magic, quests, and mythical worlds often illuminate the hopes, fears, and longings we carry within us. That’s what makes the genre so powerful. It reflects who we are while inviting us to imagine who we could become.

Deb Cushman'sChronicles of Nadavir
Frigg's Journey toAnasgar
Ping's Mystery in Pixiandria

https://debcushman.com

On a cold winter day, Ping, a spirited pixie faery, loves drinking cocoa from her tiny faery mug while munching on chocolate shortbread cookies. Nothing better than cocoa, cookies, and a good book! 

Deb Cushman'sChronicles of Nadavir
Frigg's Journey toAnasgar
Ping's Mystery in Pixiandria

https://debcushman.com

 

I tried joining them once, but they said my vibe was ‘too chaotic’ and told me to go back inside immediately. Now I just watch them from the window.

Deb Cushman'sChronicles of Nadavir
Frigg's Journey toAnasgar
Ping's Mystery in Pixiandria

https://debcushman.com

Pssst… there’s a brand-new FREE activity in the Nadavir Kids Club, and it’s ready to spark some serious imagination! Want in? Just hop over to my website https://debcushman.com and sign up for my monthly newsletter. You’ll unlock the enchanted clubhouse, where 56 FREE activities await curious minds and brave adventurers.

Each month brings a fresh activity announcement, sneak peeks, updates from the Chronicles of Nadavir, and reading resources to fuel young bookworms
No dragons to fight. No riddles...

Do you have the qualifications to perform the tasks of this magical job? We can use all the help we can get!
  Deb Cushman'sChronicles of Nadavir

Frigg's Journey toAnasgar
Ping's Mystery in Pixiandria

https://debcushman.com

If this happens, you may want to check for enchanted forests nearby.
 
                                                          Deb Cushman'sChronicles of Nadavir

Frigg's Journey toAnasgar
Ping's Mystery in Pixiandria

https://debcushman.com

Pixiandriaisn’t all sparkles and stardust. Ping’s mother, the queen, has vanished, andpixies aren’t rolling out the mossy welcome mat. Ping must face tough choicesas she seeks to find her mother. Along the way, she learns about loyalty,bravery, and staying true to herself.

Deb Cushman'sChronicles of Nadavir
Frigg's Journey toAnasgar
Ping's Mystery in Pixiandria

 

Reading is one kind of fuel that somehow leaves you more energized than when you started, like a secret portal to limitless imagination. Every chapter ignites your curiosity and sends your brain wandering into new worlds.
I've been rereading some of the books from Anne and Todd McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series.
What story has been fueling your mind lately?

I read 106 books in 2025. Here are some of my favorites!

It was a fun year of reading. My husband and I read several of Michael Connelly's Bosch series. I picked one I enjoyed, A Darkness More than Night, to represent the rest. 

Of course, kid's books were on the menu for me and there are some great ones below. Check them out, especially Nimbus Over Normandy, Stories of a Swedish Elf, and The Dragon Key. You won't be disappointed.

I had to revisit Anne McCaffrey's Pern series with Dragonsong. If ...