Katelynsam's Blog

In this entry, I talk about my next fantasy book, announce some early Black Friday deals, and share an opportunity to get a discount for Bookshop.org!

I love the vintage clicking sound my typewriter keyboard makes whenever I’m deep into a writing session. There’s just something about it combined with the lights that pulse along its keys in different patterns that calms my mind and wakes my imagination.

November 20th, 2025

Dear Writing Diary,

It feels amazing to be working on a new fantasy novel again. In between publishing my other three projects this year, I have been quietly plugging away at the first draft of a novel, and now I am half a chapter away from completing it! I will be making several rounds of revisions before it is professionally edited. But my search for an editor is well underway, and I can’t help but be both nervous and excited to see how the process goes. I revised The Fated approximately 10 times both on my own and with two different literary agents before I ultimately published it. So, I am thrilled to soon finish up the drafting stage and begin diving into the challenging but rewarding process of revisions since I hope to release this novel later in 2026.

While I don’t want to give away too much about it yet, this next novel will center around wishes: specifically the ability to make wishes come true—in exchange for a hefty price.

And with that teaser, I will move on for now, but I look forward to sharing more details about this new fantasy world and the characters who inhabit it in future diary entries.

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Nominate The Fated to be listed on Bookshop.org’s Best Gift Book List

As many of you might know, one of the ways to help support your local bookstore (other than buying directly from them) is to make a purchase from that store through Bookshop.org. I specifically made The Fated available on this online bookstore because it supports indie bookstores around the US by sharing a portion of its profits with them. This month, Bookshop.org is compiling a list of the best books to give as gifts for 2025. So, if you read and loved The Fated, I would deeply appreciate it if you could recommend it for the list by filling out this short form HERE. By filling out the form you also get a discount off your next Bookshop.org purchase, and I believe next weekend they will offer free shipping throughout Black Friday/Small Business Saturday.

If you haven’t read The Fated yet, you can grab your physical copy on my own bookish corner of Bookshop.org (this is an affiliate link, and I earn a commission at no extra cost to you) and select whichever bookstore you would like to support through your purchase!

Also, speaking of Black Friday...

Early Black Friday Deals

I am offering the ebook version of The Fated and my novella, The Phoenix & The Neverending Winter for only $0.99 from now through next weekend. Check out my website at Katelynsam.com to see where you can find your copies today in time for the holiday season.

The Phoenix & The Neverending Winter is an enchanting and lyrical tale that serves as an ideal stocking stuffer this holiday and Christmas season for the fantasy lover in your life. Its uplifting themes of hope and good prevailing over evil offer the perfect opportunity to curl up by the fireplace for a cozy, escapist read on a cold winter night, making it a thoughtful and uplifting gift.

The Fated is a brilliant gift this holiday and Christmas season for readers who appreciate an eclectic mix of genres, seamlessly blending fantasy, magical realism, paranormal, and mystery into a single, gripping narrative. The novella’s atmospheric and evocative setting provides the perfect escape for a cold winter night, as readers are drawn into an intriguing tale of dreams, desire, and self-discovery aboard a luxurious yet mysterious ship.

Free Bookish Goodies

Lastly, I also have 2 promos this month to share with you all! I have joined together with some fellow authors to offer you some free e-books, so browse through them to find your next read.

The Fiction Giveaway Extravaganza

Worlds of Wonder

Here’s to seeing what the rest of this year holds.

-K

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P.S. Whoever’s reading this, if you’ve enjoyed these glimpses into my writing life, could you please hit the subscribe button? I would love to share more of my writing journey with you in the future. :)

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In this entry, I’m thrilled to announce the release of my fantasy novella, The Phoenix & The Neverending Winter!

“Not all of us might be powerful enough to be dragons. But perhaps we can each be phoenixes, rising stronger and more resilient than whatever flames surround us.” Check out the details below for how to receive the signed book merch in this photo!

October 14th, 2025

Dear Writing Diary,

My third and final release of this year is here! I am so thrilled to announce that my fantasy novella, The Phoenix & The Neverending Winter, is officially out now. The e-book is free on Kindle Unlimited and the paperback is available on Amazon. The novella will soon be available in bookstores as well.

In this captivating tale, an empire is imprisoned by a neverending winter and an immortal emperor. But after a selfless act, Meiawen is gifted a magic that could finally melt the curse—if it doesn’t get her and her family killed first.

Here is the full blurb:

Winter in the Shaolyu Empire has lasted for thousands of years. On the night of a terrible blizzard, Meiawen is born but barely survives the chilling temperatures. For years afterward, she remains overly sensitive to the cold. Yet when Meiawen nearly sacrifices her life to rescue a stranger in a storm, she is gifted with magic of her own. Meiawen’s new powers not only allow her to no longer become sick from the cold but also give her the ability to transform into a bird and melt away the winter around her, bringing the land back to life.

Magic, unfortunately, hasn’t been allowed in the empire for thousands of years—and if Meiawen is caught practicing her powers, both she and her family will be executed.

Yet when she falls in love with a handsome and brave noble, Meiawen must journey to the capital where she is forced to live under the watch of the immortal and cruel Emperor whose unnaturally long life is tied to The Neverending Winter. But even as Meiawen struggles to conceal her magic, the Emperor begins to suspect her. When her family is threatened, Meiawen must ultimately choose to either reject or fully embrace her powers, no matter the cost.

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The World and Characters

In addition to create a Pinterest board and Spotify playlist of songs that inspired me for this novella, I took some time this weekend to create a visual Reader’s Guide to the characters, stakes, and aesthetics to this lyrical and romantic story. Take a look below to dive deeper into Meiawen’s powers, Keir’s secrets, and the Emperor’s cruel reign.

Check out the full Pinterest board I created for this novella HERE.

A Chance to Get Signed Book Merch!

I am also excited to be offering readers who purchase the novella this week an exclusive opportunity to receive signed book merch! This offer ends October 21, so claim your exclusive merch by filling out the forms linked below!

🌟US-based readers who purchase the novella can receive a physical signed concept art print, bookplate, and a double-sided bookmark. Check out the form to submit your receipt here.

🌟Non-US-based readers who purchase the novella can receive a digital concept art print, 2 digital bookmarks, and a digitally signed bookplate personalized for you, all of which you can print out for your use. Check out the form to submit your receipt here.

A YA Fantasy Recommendation

Also, for all of you YA fantasy fans out there, I have a recommendation I’d like to share with you. I recently read and enjoyed Saints & Monsters by . This beautifully romantic and action-packed tale revolves around a princess who must make an alliance with a dangerous sea dragon who can shapeshift into a human. As I may have mentioned before, I love Miyazaki anime movies, and reading this novel reminded me of Howl’s Moving Castle and Studio Ghibli films in general in the best way. So if this interests you, add it to your TBR list (find it on Goodreads here) and check out Ellen McGinty’s newsletter on Substack to follow her epic writing journey!

Freebies!

I also have 2 October promos to share with you all! I have joined together with some fellow authors to offer you some discounted e-books, so browse through them to find your next read.

Free Sci-fi & Fantasy Reads on Kindle Unlimited Promo

Portals & Power - Free Sci-fi & Fantasy Ebooks (Book Cave promo)

Lastly, since this will be my only Dear Writing Entry for this month, I just wanted to wish everyone Happy Halloween who celebrates! I likely won’t be dressing up, but I am looking forward to curling up with a blanket and reading some atmospheric reads and eating candy. Have you picked out your costume for Halloween yet? If so, let me know in the comments or reply to this email. I’d love to hear from you!

Here’s to seeing what this spooky season holds.

-K

P.S. Whoever’s reading this, if you’ve enjoyed these glimpses into my writing life, could you please hit the subscribe button? I would love to share more of my writing journey with you in the future. :)

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In this entry, I’m thrilled to reveal the following cover art I designed for my upcoming novella, THE PHOENIX & THE NEVERENDING WINTER:

First Meeting

September 24th, 2025

Dear Writing Diary,

It’s officially autumn! Soon it will be sweater weather, followed by cool nights that are perfect for sipping hot chocolate and cozying up with a current read. While summer is my favorite season, there’s something about fall that makes it especially wonderful for writing—and for publishing!

Over the course of this summer, I’ve been busy with publishing preparations for my upcoming novella, THE PHOENIX & THE NEVERENDING WINTER, to be released on October 10th! So, today, to celebrate the upcoming release of this novella next month, I wanted to give you all an exclusive first look at the above concept art piece I designed.

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In the scene this piece depicts, our main character, Meiawen, is enjoying a festival with Keir, a handsome duke, as they stroll over a bridge bathed in the glow of the lotus lanterns along the frozen canal below. When they encounter the infamous and immortal Emperor, however, the evening takes an unexpected turn. To make matters worse, Meiawen might also be keeping a dangerous secret that the Emperor must never discover.

Stay tuned for next month’s newsletter to see where you can grab your copy of the novella as well as a chance to receive a print of this art piece yourself!

In between publishing preparations, I have also been able to begin working on my next project. I can’t share many details yet, but what I can say is that I’m very pleased and enchanted with how the story is developing so far. And the characters! Well, they never cease to surprise me, which makes this particular project all the more interesting and unpredictable to write. I can’t wait to introduce you to them in the future!

I’m keeping today’s diary entry short and sweet, but before I close the page, I wanted to share another opportunity to grab some fun bookish freebies in the promo below. Additionally, if you click on the link, you can enter a giveaway for a $25 gift card for an e-book retailer of your choice!

Here’s to seeing what this autumn holds.

-K

P.S. Whoever’s reading this, if you’ve enjoyed these glimpses into my writing life, could you please hit the subscribe button? I would love to share more of my writing journey with you in the future. :)

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In this entry, I’m thrilled to reveal the cover I designed for my upcoming novella The Phoenix & The Neverending Winter!

August 19th, 2025

Dear Writing Diary,

As summer winds down, I’m beyond excited to finally share the cover I designed for The Phoenix & The Neverending Winter—a romantic, lyrical fantasy novella about forbidden magic, ancient curses, and a girl gifted with magic in a land frozen by fear.

Here is the official blurb:

Every winter must end…and her magic just might be the spark.

In this captivating and romantic fantasy novella inspired by the legend of the phoenix, one young woman’s power threatens to melt the curse that keeps the land frozen and the evil emperor who rules over it eternally alive.

Winter in the Shaolyu Empire has lasted for thousands of years. On the night of a terrible blizzard, Meiawen is born but barely survives the chilling temperatures. For years afterward, she remains overly sensitive to the cold. Yet when Meiawen nearly sacrifices her life to rescue a stranger in a storm, she is gifted with magic of her own. Meiawen’s new powers not only allow her to no longer become sick from the cold but also give her the ability to transform into a bird and melt away the winter around her, bringing the land back to life.

Magic, unfortunately, hasn’t been allowed in the empire for thousands of years—and if Meiawen is caught practicing her powers, both she and her family will be executed.

Yet when she falls in love with a handsome and brave noble, Meiawen must journey to the capital where she is forced to live under the watch of the immortal and cruel Emperor whose unnaturally long life is tied to The Neverending Winter. But even as Meiawen struggles to conceal her magic, the Emperor begins to suspect her. When her family is threatened, Meiawen must ultimately choose to either reject or elevate her powers, no matter the cost.

The Phoenix & The Neverending Winter is an enchanting and lyrical tale about love, family, and sacrifice that will appeal to fans of Sue Lynn Tan, Elizabeth Lim, Roshani Chokshi, and anyone who loves fairy tales.

Readers can expect:

🌨️ Immortal emperors

🔥 Rebellious phoenix magic

❤️ A love that could thaw a kingdom

🗡️ And a sacrifice that might cost our heroine everything

📖 If you love emotional fantasy, timeless legends, and heroines who rise from the ashes, this story is for you.

✨ Add to your TBR for October 2025

📚 I’m still looking for ARC Readers, so fill out the ARC Interest form in the link in my bio if you’d like to read and review a free copy!

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Since I created the cover, I also wanted to offer you a behind-the-scenes look at my design process! Here is a time-lapse video of how I drew the cover using Procreate on my iPad from start to finish along with some of my comments:

I knew I wanted to depict Meiawen and the Phoenix as if they were in motion. The setting of this story was largely inspired by the Chinese historical and fantasy (xianxia) dramas I love watching, and the illustrated posters for those dramas always depict characters with long flowing robes and features while the natural elements surrounding them (most notably, falling flower petals) are in motion as well. To accomplish a similar effect, I emphasized the length and flowing nature of Meiawen’s dress and the Phoenix’s tail feathers.

You might notice another image with the title and vague outline of the trees and phoenix flickers in and out of existence in the clip above. This is because when I design any piece of graphic art, I create an initial sketch just to get an idea of where I want the main elements of the work to be placed in relation to each other as well as the general color scheme.

In the clip above, the trees change hues because I didn’t know at first what color I wanted them to be. In the end, I chose blue to complete the winter aesthetic of the novella, and I added a few falling flower petals to add to the illusion of motion within the artwork.

I also have 2 final summer promos to share with you all! I have joined together with some fellow authors to offer you some discounted e-books, so browse through them to find your last-minute summer reads!

Kobo Plus Fiction Book Fair:

Dear Kobo readers, don't miss out! Get a wide selection of amazing fiction books for free with Kobo Plus!

High Stakes Magic Promo:

Dear fantasy and sci-fi lovers, your next read is already waiting! Dive into this selection of freebie page-turning titles.

Here’s to seeing what the rest of this summer holds.

-K

P.S. Whoever’s reading this, if you’ve enjoyed these glimpses into my writing life, could you please hit the subscribe button? I would love to share more of my writing journey with you in the future. :)

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THE FATED is a semi-finalist for the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award! Also, in this entry, I reveal the title for my upcoming fantasy novella and open ARC reader applications!

July 22th, 2025

Dear Writing Diary,

I’m so thrilled to announce that my third and final project title to be released this year is THE PHOENIX & THE NEVERENDING WINTER, which is now also officially open for ARC reader sign-ups!

𝖨𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖼𝖺𝗉𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗋𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇𝗍𝗂𝖼 𝖿𝖺𝗇𝗍𝖺𝗌𝗒 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅𝗅𝖺 𝗂𝗇𝗌𝗉𝗂𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝖾𝗀𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗁𝗈𝖾𝗇𝗂𝗑, 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇’𝗌 𝗉𝗈𝗐𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗇𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝖾𝗅𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗎𝗋𝗌𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗄𝖾𝖾𝗉𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗓𝖾𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝗏𝗂𝗅 𝖾𝗆𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗈𝗋 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝗋𝗎𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗂𝗍 𝖾𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗇𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾.

𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖯𝗁𝗈𝖾𝗇𝗂𝗑 & 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖭𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖶𝗂𝗇𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗂𝗌 𝖺𝗇 𝖾𝗇𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗅𝗒𝗋𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗅 𝗍𝖺𝗅𝖾 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾, 𝖿𝖺𝗆𝗂𝗅𝗒, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝖺𝖼𝗋𝗂𝖿𝗂𝖼𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝖾𝖺𝗅 𝗍𝗈 𝖿𝖺𝗇𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝖲𝗎𝖾 𝖫𝗒𝗇𝗇 𝖳𝖺𝗇, 𝖤𝗅𝗂𝗓𝖺𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗁 𝖫𝗂𝗆, 𝖱𝗈𝗌𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗂 𝖢𝗁𝗈𝗄𝗌𝗁𝗂, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗌 𝖿𝖺𝗂𝗋𝗒 𝗍𝖺𝗅𝖾𝗌.

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Check out the short clip I made for the title reveal here (which I also posted to my instagram!):

I’ve always loved the symbolism of the phoenix, so I’m excited to share my take on the legend with you all in the fall. Here is a look at the first 2 pages as well!

In this novella, you can expect:

✨a forbidden love story

🐦‍🔥folklore, mythology, and fairy tale vibes

🌺 Asian drama aesthetic and vibes

🪄unique magic system

👑 badass female lead taking on an evil immortal emperor

If you’re interested in reading an Advanced Reader Copy, you can apply through the ARC Interest Form HERE.

Additionally, I’m thrilled to announce The Fated is now a semi-finalist in the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award competition! BBNYA is a contest for indie authors that is judged by a large and diverse panel of book bloggers from all around the world. The Fated has officially sailed into the second round and will be a contender to be a finalist, so stay tuned for hopefully more good news soon!

Also, I just got back from summer vacation, and I’m thrilled to be making progress on my next fantasy project, which I hope to release next year. I’ve never been a fast writer, but I consistently write every day and with 32k words written for this project so far, I’m loving seeing it start to take shape. This project will be the most fantastical one I’ve released yet and will have major Studio Ghibli/Miyazaki vibes 🐉.

What I’ve been listening to: the sound of summer rain (perfect for writing!)

What I’ve been reading: Here’s a glimpse of some of my reads so far this summer. Do you spot any you’ve read?

I’m also currently reading A Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle L Jensen and am enjoying it so far!

Lastly, I have a fun promo to share with you all. Some fellow fantasy authors and I have joined together to offer some discounted and free e-books, so check out the selection, for your next epic read!

Here’s to seeing what kind of magic the new fantasy project I’m working on brings.

-K

P.S. Whoever’s reading this, if you’ve enjoyed these glimpses into my writing life, could you please hit the subscribe button? I would love to share more of my writing journey with you in the future. :)

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In this entry, I share some fun news about my upcoming fall fantasy project, my new writing goal of one day getting a BookBub deal, and some FREE e-books!

June 17th, 2025

Dear Writing Diary,

It’s finally starting to feel like summer! Ironically though, just as the weather warms up, I am working on the final edits to my upcoming novella, which takes place in winter. You may recall that this novella is a retelling origin story of my favorite mythical creature, the phoenix. At its core, however, it is both a romantic and coming-of-age tale that I am so excited to be sharing with you all soon. Over the past few months, I have been working on some graphic art pieces for this project. While I originally considered adding these art pieces as illustrations within the novella itself, I have decided instead to share these pieces with my readers through some fun merch items, such as the bookmark in the photo above.

These free materials will only be available for a limited time to readers who purchase the novella within the first few weeks, so stay tuned for more announcements about this project to be released in the fall!

✨In the meantime, here’s a little bit more about the novella’s plot:

𝖤𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗐𝗂𝗇𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗆𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝖾𝗇𝖽.

𝖨𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖼𝖺𝗉𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗋𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇𝗍𝗂𝖼 𝖿𝖺𝗇𝗍𝖺𝗌𝗒 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅𝗅𝖺 𝗂𝗇𝗌𝗉𝗂𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝖾𝗀𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗁𝗈𝖾𝗇𝗂𝗑, 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇’𝗌 𝗉𝗈𝗐𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗇𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝖾𝗅𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗎𝗋𝗌𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗄𝖾𝖾𝗉𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗓𝖾𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝗏𝗂𝗅 𝖾𝗆𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗈𝗋 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝗋𝗎𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗂𝗍 𝖾𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗇𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾.

𝖳𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅𝗅𝖺 𝗂𝗌 𝖺𝗇 𝖾𝗇𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗅𝗒𝗋𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗅 𝗍𝖺𝗅𝖾 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾, 𝖿𝖺𝗆𝗂𝗅𝗒, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝖺𝖼𝗋𝗂𝖿𝗂𝖼𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝖾𝖺𝗅 𝗍𝗈 𝖿𝖺𝗇𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝖲𝗎𝖾 𝖫𝗒𝗇𝗇 𝖳𝖺𝗇, 𝖤𝗅𝗂𝗓𝖺𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗁 𝖫𝗂𝗆, 𝖱𝗈𝗌𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗂 𝖢𝗁𝗈𝗄𝗌𝗁𝗂, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗌 𝖿𝖺𝗂𝗋𝗒 𝗍𝖺𝗅𝖾𝗌.

I will officially be opening up the ARC Interest Form in my next newsletter in July for those who are interested in being ARC readers. However, if you already are interested, then feel free to reply directly to this email or message me via Substack, and I can send you the link to the ARC Interest Form before everyone else!

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If you’re reading this, I also wanted to ask if you might be willing to help me reach my dream of getting a BookBub deal for my novel THE FATED.

BookBub is a top promotional newsletter for discounted e-books that both indie and traditionally published authors use to feature their books to gain hundreds if not thousands of more readers. For this reason, it is very difficult for indie authors to be featured in this newsletter. But the more Amazon and other retailer reviews the book has, the better chance it has at being featured.

So, how can you help? By leaving a voluntary & honest review on any of the novel’s retailer pages below:

Amazon

Goodreads

B&N.com

Google Play

Kobo

You can also help by following me on Goodreads, BookBub, and Amazon. If you do, you will also be the first to be notified of any new releases ahead of time (such as the release for my upcoming fall fantasy novella!) and promotions. Any review or follow helps, and your support would be so greatly appreciated!

Additionally, as a token of my appreciation for subscribing to these diary entries, please enjoy a FREE sample of the first chapters of THE FATED as well as a graphic art piece I designed in the form of your very own boarding ticket to the ship the novel takes place on! I left the name, date, and destination you are sailing from blank for you to fill out either digitally or by hand if you wish to print it out.

The Fated Boarding Ticket Graphic2.76MB ∙ PDF fileDownloadDownload

Lastly, I have bookish freebies to share with you all! Some fellow authors and I have teamed together to offer free e-books in the following 2 promotions below. Browse the selections and grab your newest summer read!

Fantasy & Sci-fi June Freebies Promo

Mythic Universes: A Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Gala (entries also have a chance to in a $25 giftcard!)

Here’s to seeing what this summer holds.

-K

P.S. Whoever’s reading this, if you’ve enjoyed these glimpses into my writing life, could you please hit the subscribe button? I would love to share more of my writing journey with you in the future. :)

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In this entry, I share my experience attending my first-ever book signing event, how readers can get a few remaining signed copies of their own, an upcoming giveaway, and how to access your free chapters of THE FATED today!

May 20th, 2025

Dear Writing Diary,

What an exciting month it’s been! With bookish happenings in my life picking up, it looks like these entries will now be monthly, but I promise to send only the best highlights to your inbox.

My First Book Signing Event and How You Can Get Signed Copies

This weekend another one of my childhood dreams came true: I was thrilled to participate in my first-ever book signing! The event took place at Mysterious Galaxy, a local bookstore of mine that specializes in fantasy and science fiction. Only last year, I was attending another author’s book signing at this store, doubting I would ever be able to do the same, and yet this weekend, I was able to do exactly that! The day was made even more special because my family was able to attend, and I will be cherishing the memory for a long time to come. Ever since I wrote my first book at 12, I’ve dreamed of becoming an author and sharing my stories with the world. It took me 6 books over 10 years and hundreds of rejections to get my first literary agent. After 6 years, 2 agents, 7 revisions, and dozens of more rejections, THE FATED at last has sailed into the world, and I couldn’t be happier or any more thankful with the enthusiastic reception it’s received. I loved meeting enthusiastic readers and signing my books (even though, I’ll admit, I was a bit awkward and nervous at first). Here’s a reel I made on Instagram with some highlights from the event:

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There are still a few signed copies left in the store, so if you’re reading this and would like a signed book, please reach out to Mysterious Galaxy to grab your copy! They are on the shelves for anyone located in the San Diego area or you can order a signed copy by calling the store and speaking to one of their lovely booksellers. Last time I checked, there were only 5 left, so grab a copy while you can!

Upcoming Goodreads E-book Giveaway

I am also thrilled to announce that I’ve entered The Fated in a Goodreads E-book Giveaway, starting today! Goodreads will deliver 100 free copies of the e-book to some lucky readers’ kindles, so enter yourself and tell your friends about it as well! You can enter this giveaway from now until June 14th, so submit your entry before time runs out next month. Also, follow me on Goodreads for fun updates about future giveaways, release dates (the next one will be this coming fall!), and more.

A Free Sample of The Fated’s First Chapters

As a thank you to you all for subscribing to these writing diary entries, I also wanted to give you access to read the first 8 chapters of The Fated for FREE! Read the sample chapters HERE, which can be downloaded to any e-reader device of your choosing.

Lastly, I wanted to say 𝖧𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗒 𝖠𝗌𝗂𝖺𝗇 𝖠𝗆𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖯𝖺𝖼𝗂𝖿𝗂𝖼 𝖨𝗌𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋 𝖧𝖾𝗋𝗂𝗍𝖺𝗀𝖾 𝖬𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗁! 🌸

I’ve always loved fantasy, and growing up in the Midwest even as an adoptee, my creative inspiration came from western fantasy movies, tv shows, and books, such as Lord of the Rings, Merlin, The Infernal Devices, Throne of Glass and more. While I still love these works, and they have undoubtedly influenced my writing, it wasn’t until college that I discovered the equally amazing fantasy worlds of Asian dramas, books, and movies, such as Spirited Away, Goblin: The Great and Lonely God, Ashes of Love, The Night Tiger, and more.

Exploring different cultures’ approaches to fantasy expanded my mind and imagination, and forever afterward changed my storytelling and worldbuilding for the better. Those who have read my stories may have noted that the worlds the characters inhabit often contain a blend of both western and Asian aspects, and I believe this is a unique and endearing element of my writing. This next novella I plan to release in the fall, however, will more closely resemble the ancient Chinese and Korean fantasy dramas I’ve come to love with all of their tension, romance, longing—and of course, magic 🐦‍🔥 ✨.

Here’s to seeing what next month holds.

-K

P.S. Whoever’s reading this, if you’ve enjoyed these glimpses into my writing life, could you please hit the subscribe button? I would love to share more of my writing journey with you in the future. :)

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Before I get to the Dear Writing Diary entry, I wanted to bring your attention to Indie Author Month! I had no idea until recently that April is now a month dedicated to celebrating independent/self-published authors. To join in the fun, I am offering my debut fantasy paranormal novel THE FATED for only 99 cents in e-book form on multiple retailers from now through this upcoming weekend, so find out where to grab your discounted copy here while you can!

Even if you don’t purchase from me, please consider buying a book from an indie author this month. We take so many risks and invest so much time into getting our stories in your hands all on our own, so your support truly means the world to us!

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April 9th, 2025

Dear Writing Diary,

I am thrilled to officially announce I will be publishing another project in the second half of 2025! I became inspired to write a short story late last year. Yet with every week, it continued to expand into a longer and richer project until it ultimately became a novella spanning over a hundred pages long. Here are a few things I love about this project and hope my readers will too:

✨It’s my own spin on the origin story of my favorite mythological creature, the phoenix 🐦‍🔥

✨There will likely be illustrations. This is my first time illustrating a book, but I love designing my covers and drawing graphic art, so I’m ecstatic (and a little terrified) to bring my characters to life by both words and illustration. See this time-relapsed clip of me designing a new character from this novella below (with all my mistakes and experimentation included):

✨At its core, this novella is a romantic and magical story that explores the topics of immortality and sacrifice, and it is told in the style of a folktale/fairytale with elements of adventure, angst, suspense, and romance.

✨The story has an atmospheric winter setting, so I’m planning for a fall or early winter release.

✨It will be available as both an ebook and paperback.

So, there it is! The latest scoop! My not-so-secret secret. There will be more updates in the coming months, such as the cover reveal, ARC sign up information, and additional sneak peaks of the artwork to be included 🤗!

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To whoever is reading this, I also would like to open up this newsletter series to your suggestions! Throughout the Dear Writing Diary’s first 30 posts, I’ve touched on a variety of topics, such as my general writing updates, my move from traditional publishing to self-publishing, my publishing tips, my current reads and tv/movies I’m watching, and more.

However, are there other topics YOU, my valued reader, would like me to write about? Are there any subjects I’ve briefly discussed in the past that you would like me to delve into deeper detail on? Some possibilities include:

· the technical aspects of self-publishing (e.g. interior design tools, cover design tools, platforms for self-publishing, etc.)

· the inspiration for my fantasy works and style

· writing elements (e.g. story pacing, creating tension between characters, character development, etc.)

· general publishing (both traditional and indie) news with links to relevant articles

Feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments below or to email me with any suggestions you have!

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Also, I’m currently entertaining the idea of moving this newsletter to a monthly rather than bi-weekly occurrence. But before I make a decision, can you let me know your preference?

I know this Dear Writing Diary entry is a bit unconventional. But I wanted to give you, as my readers, an opportunity to tailor this newsletter to your personal interests and insights.

Here's to seeing what the future of this newsletter holds.

-K

P.S. Whoever’s reading this, if you’ve enjoyed these glimpses into my writing life, could you please hit the subscribe button? I would love to share more of my writing journey with you in the future. :)

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March 26th, 2025

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."

-Charles Dickens

Dear Writing Diary,

It feels magical to be working on a new project again. I believe this one will challenge my writing and graphic art skills in a profound and hopefully rewarding way. Over the last few weeks, I've had to shift my mindset back into full-creative mode. In essence, I've had to mentally step back from The Fated—the novel I released at the end of February—and detach from the outcome of its publication as much as I can. I've carried this book in my heart for so long and revived it from the dead so many times that it proved challenging to let go of at last.

Even now, I have to restrain myself from refreshing the royalty reports every day or constantly researching for the next promo or podcast opportunity to further market my book (I was on a podcast earlier this month, which you can find here, and during which I had the chance to speak about my journey to publication and all the rejections and setbacks I faced leading up to it). While continued marketing for my book is important, I only have so many hours in the day, and my time now needs to be focused primarily on my next project if I want to release it in the fall.

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Still, I don’t want to place so much pressure on myself with such a tight writing, graphic designing, and work schedule that I risk burning out. During my debut novel’s launch last month, I was staying up late every night doing marketing-related things as well as pressuring myself to come up with strategies to reach a certain number of sales. It was exhausting, and after a few weeks, I mandated a “Wellness Weekend” for myself in which I did absolutely nothing writing-related for three days. Ever since then, I’ve intentionally slowed my writing schedule back to a more normal and sustainable pace. I take breaks when I need to. When I’ve stared at a screen for too long, I go on walks and admire the spring flowers and warming sunshine. I take time away from writing and creating to catch up with friends and family. I strive every day to remember to have a little more patience with myself—and just the right amount of fun. After all, what would be the point in being an indie author with the freedom to write on my own schedule if I didn’t enjoy it along the way?

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Some of the highlights from my Wellness Weekend include the following:

What I listened to:

Okay, so even though I didn’t do anything writing-related this weekend, I did listen to a writing-related podcast with Brandon Sanderson and Tim Ferriss, and I would totally recommend it for aspiring writers and published authors alike.

In the spirit of wellness, I listened to some calming short meditations on the app Insight Timer. The app also contains relaxing soundscapes that can be used as background music for writing as well.

What I watched:

I continued my Kdrama binge-watching spree with the sleeper hit series “Lovely Runner”. This drama dealt with themes of time-travel, romance, comedy, and family beautifully, and the writing was masterful.

What I discovered in my backyard:

In the courtyard around where I live, I spotted a grapefruit tree, and I fall more in love with the fragrance it emits every day as I pass by it.

What I treated myself to:

Now while there is food for health, there is also food for the soul. So for this Wellness Weekend, I treated myself to one of the most delicious cinnamon rolls I’ve ever tasted, and I don’t regret a single bite.

Here's to seeing what this new season holds.

-K

P.S. Whoever’s reading this, if you’ve enjoyed these glimpses into my writing life, could you please hit the subscribe button? I would love to share more of my writing journey with you in the future. :)

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In this entry, I talk about what I’m doing post-launch of my novel THE FATED and some fun projects I’m working on next.

There are few things as glorious as a great writing session and a delicious cup of coffee.

March 12th, 2025

Dear Writing Diary,

From the flowers blooming all around and a new warmth in the breeze, I can tell spring is just around the corner! Summertime is my favorite, but I feel any change from one season to another always affects my writing in some way. Perhaps this is because as a writer I’m also an observer, and I can’t help but be fascinated by observing changes in my surroundings, such as how the same street can look so sunny and green in July and yet icy and covered in snow months later.

I also love how incorporating the seasons into my writing can subtly reflect the emotional state of my characters. For example, if my main couple in a story walks hand-in-hand beneath the falling petals of the cherry blossom trees in the spring, perhaps this colorful and vibrant setting can reflect the optimistic and promising start to their relationship. In contrast, if that same couple later walks on an autumn day side by side yet without holding hands, the half-bare trees and dead leaves crunching beneath their feet may hint at the growing rift in their relationship.

Similarly to the changing seasons, I, too, am now transitioning into another stage of my writing career for this year. Now that I’ve launched THE FATED, I’m focusing my efforts on marketing tactics to sustain sales while at the same time moving onto some fun future projects. Here’s a little more detail on each below:

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Publishing

I’m currently working to make my paperback available at independent bookstores, libraries, and other retailers! I also will be attending an author event in a few months, so I look forward to being able to help support one of my favorite local independent bookstores.

I’m experimenting with some Amazon book ads, and it’s definitely a steep learning curve. I took the free Amazon ads course by Dave Chesson of Kindlepreneur and read a helpful article on ads from Jane Friedman, but again it’s too soon to tell how successful (or not) my results will be.

I’m also exploring book newsletter promos, such Book Cave and Ereader News Today, to feature my book at a discounted rate for a limited time. I’ve heard these promos are good opportunities to make both sales but also increase visibility for my works.

I had a wonderful time signing some bookplates to send to readers during the launch. I’m also pleasantly surprised this little flower plant has blossomed despite my usual lack of a green thumb.

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Writing

Untitled Project for 2026 — I’m officially back on a writing deadline! I’m excited to be working on the first draft of a new fantasy project I hope to share next year.

Phoenix Story Project for 2025 – I’m also starting the cover design process for another fantasy project that you may be hearing more about in the very near future. I hope to release this project this year, and I’m exploring the possibility of creating several illustrations to go inside. This story is based on my favorite mythological character, the phoenix. I’ve always been inspired by the symbolism of a creature powerful enough to be burned and then rise from the ashes, and I look forward to sharing my own take on this beautiful myth.

What I’m Reading

I’m currently reading Tales from the Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan, which is a series of short stories inspired by Chinese mythology. I’m enjoying each tale and the accompanying illustrations as well as the overall gorgeous exterior and interior presentation of this anthology.

What I’m Watching

I first fell in love with Korean dramas on my last nights of college (specifically the last nights before my final college exams!), and it is a love that still burns brightly today. Lately, however, I’ve had trouble staying interested in the Korean dramas I’ve tried watching. But that all changed when I binge-watched When the Phone Rings last weekend. Despite the fact that it is full of familiar tropes and absurd in so many ways, the acting, character development, and plot twists of this drama is stellar in every way, and I’m slightly (or not slightly) upset that there are no more episodes for me to watch.

Here's to seeing other adventures this spring holds.

-K

P.S. Whoever’s reading this, if you’ve enjoyed these glimpses into my writing life, could you please hit the subscribe button? I would love to share more of my writing journey with you in the future. :)

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