I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how certain stories seem to find you. Not the ones you plan to write—those tidy little ideas you file away for “someday.” I mean the ones that crash into your life uninvited and refuse to leave until you give them a voice.

That’s how Icebound: Fabled, Book 1 started for me. I didn’t intend to write a story about grief, courage, or the thin line between innocence and responsibility. I only meant to write about a boy—one who felt trapped by expectations too heavy for his shoulders. But as I followed him through the snow and silence, the story began whispering truths back to me. About fear. About love. About the way we sometimes have to lose parts of ourselves before we can really see who we are.

I think every writer has that one story that changes them, not just as a creator, but as a person. Icebound became mine. It grew with me, taught me patience, and showed me that fairy tales aren’t just escapism; they’re reflections. Mirrors, sometimes cracked, sometimes merciful.

If you’ve ever had a story (or even a single character) sneak up on you like that, I’d love to hear about it.

And if you’re curious about Icebound, it’s the first book in my Fabled series—a fairy tale for anyone who’s ever felt too small for their own destiny.

Icebound: Fabled, Book 1 is available now on Amazon and free to read on Kindle Unlimited until December 18th.