Flint Hills Festival with the Backyard Bookstore

This past Saturday, I was invited to join a mobile bookstore at the Flint Hills Festival in Manhattan, KS. Everyone was wonderful and welcoming to us! I’ve never done an in-person event before, and I’ll admit, I was skeptical that I’d be able to sell any books whatsoever. But people loved the premise of the

6 Clichés in Fantasy and How to Avoid Them

Fantasy tropes, while familiar, can become clichéd if overused, leading to boredom among readers. Key clichés include “The Chosen One,” “The Evil Dark Lord,” “The Magical Artifact Quest,” overused races like elves and dwarves, “The Farm Boy Hero,” and “The Wise Old Mentor.” Writers should reimagine or avoid these to create fresh, engaging stories.