EP #139 How A New Mom Built A Dark Fantasy Trilogy From Scratch

A fantasy trilogy doesn’t always start with a master plan. Sometimes it starts with motherhood, a return to reading, and one scene that won’t leave your head. I’m joined by Fredericksburg local author Kate Cunningham, who writes adult fantasy with moody, dark settings, and she shares how The Blood Kingdom grew from a personal writing exercise into a complete three book arc, with the final release on the way.We get into the real craft work behind finishing a series: how Kate knew her story needed three books instead of stopping at a duology, how her psychology and engineering background shows up in character work and structure, and what it looks like to build a drafting and editing process that actually fits life. She also opens up about racing a hard deadline while very pregnant, tracking daily word count goals, and staying focused long enough to deliver a satisfying ending.If you’re curious about indie author marketing, Kate breaks down why Instagram is her best platform for connecting with readers and how tapping into Fredericksburg, VA independent bookstores helped her build momentum. She also busts common writing myths, especially the idea that you need credentials or a perfect outline to begin, and gives simple advice for starting anywhere and weaving the story together later. Subscribe for more local creator stories, share this with a writer friend, and leave a review with your biggest writing question or the scene you’ve been afraid to start.The Blood Folk SeriesBook 1: The Blood KingdomBook 2: The Blood CrownBook 3: The Blood Reign All books can be found on Amazon, Kindle Unlimited, and Barnes & Noble as well as the local fredericksburg bookstores: (Tales & Tails, Curated, Novel, TBR Shelf, The Book Market)Kate CunninghamLocal Authorkatecunninghambooks.comlinktr.ee/kate.cunningham.books