Up until now, I’ve been writing children’s books — and when I find time to read, I read the same kinds of stories I write. Not for inspiration or style ideas, but simply to stay grounded in the world of my readers. When I write early chapter books, I read early chapter books. It’s how I stay connected.
Now I’m stepping into a new space: middle grade fantasy. Cozy fantasy for middle grade readers.
I already have the outline for a seven-book series. The ideas are my own, and the story is ever evolving. But since I’m writing in a new genre, I felt it made sense to peek at what’s popular in that space, just to see the landscape.
That’s how I came across The Wingfeather Saga. I had heard it was a Christian-based fantasy series that was now also a show on Angel Studios. Curious, I watched the first episode. And to be completely honest… I was taken aback.
When Darkness Is the Default
The animation was good, the world-building imaginative, but the story quickly took a dark turn. Evil lizard-like tax collectors reminiscent of Robin Hood. People vanishing in the night. Children being hunted/chased. Families in danger. I know I should go further into it, but my preference was not to…
And this isn’t just about Wingfeather. So many middle grade fantasy stories seem to follow a similar structure:
- An impossibly evil villain
- A child with a hidden power or destiny
- A world on the brink
- A prophecy that must be fulfilled
- A journey of pain, peril, and war before eventual triumph
I understand the appeal. These stories echo classic mythic structures, and they’re incredibly popular for a reason. Maybe if I were younger I would understand it more…
But I kept asking myself: Why do these stories always come with so much darkness?
What If Fantasy Didn’t Have to Hurt?
I want something different. Stories that begin with wonder, not war.
I want kids to feel safe in the story, not constantly in danger.
To feel that being themselves is already magical.
Picture this: a group of children are playing on a beach, building sandcastles, snorkeling, collecting shells. One of them starts humming a tune they’ve never heard before and from the ocean, a shimmering water dragon emerges, listening.
There’s no prophecy. No villain in the shadows. No desperate quest to save the world. Just kids being curious, joyful, creative kids, and finding that those very simple qualities are enough to spark a magical adventure.
Cozy Fantasy for Middle Grade Readers – Because Kids Deserve to have Fun!
The kind of stories I want to write fit into a growing but still rare category: cozy fantasy for middle grade readers.
These stories are:
- Full of friendship, not fate
- Centered on adventure as exploration, not escape
- Enchanted with magic that arises from creativity and play
- Populated by mystical beings who aren’t monsters, but potential friends
- Rooted in the idea that you don’t need trauma to grow, and you don’t need a prophecy to be special
There is real depth and beauty in stories that don’t hinge on darkness to create meaning. Some kids, many kids, crave stories that are gentle, whimsical, warm, and full of wonder. And frankly, so do I.
Writing the Kind of Magic I Wish I’d Had
Children’s lives can be hard enough already. I don’t need to go into all of the negativity in the world. They deserve stories that uplift them, that affirm that simply being themselves can be great. Stories that show wonder can live in quiet places — not just at the end of a war.
So that’s the kind of series I’m writing. Not every fantasy has to save the world…. Sometimes it just has to show us how beautiful the world is already.
The Immortal Explorer Series Coming Soon!
Debuting Everywhere September 28th – Pre-Order it Now!
