Stephanie A. Cain

Snarky, independent women, queer characters, and found families on irreverent but hopeful journeys through vividly-drawn magical worlds
 

Blog

Saying Goodbye

Some of this post is duplicated from a post at my Morrigan McBride Substack, but it's been almost a month since I posted that, and...
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Giftmas 2025: Human Connection

Every year I participate in Rhonda Parrish's Giftmas fundraiser, which she organizes to help people who need a little help at this time of year....
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Introducing Morrigan McBride

I’m in the middle of the last book of my epic fantasy Storms in Amethir series, and… I’m stuck. There’s a lot going on in...
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Cover Reveal – Witchery’s End

I'm finally here to share the cover of Witchery's End with you! The art is once again by the amazing Nicole Cardiff. I gave her...
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A Life of Research: Phyllis Waye Boone

This is the text of a talk I gave several years ago at the Montgomery County (Indiana) Genealogy Society. My love of writing comes in...
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Dive into Your Next Fantasy Beach Reads Adventure! 

If you like A Song of Storm and Shadow, you'll love the Fantasy Beach Reads Fest! Fantasy Beach Reads Fest (June 3-30, 2025) The portal...
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My 2025 Stationery Resolutions

A line in the official bio I use for author events says, "She owns way more movie scores and fountain pens than she can actually...
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Storms in Amethir has changed!

You may already know that I went through a period of burnout from around 2019 to 2023. You may also know the backstory of my...
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About

 

I’m so glad you’re here!

A drawing by Julie Z. Bickel of the author, a redhaired woman with blue eyes, dressed as a pirate, with a red dragon on one shoulder and a sword shaped like a fountain pen over her other shoulder.I write snarky, independent women, queer characters, and found families on irreverent but hopeful journeys through vividly drawn magical worlds–whether it’s our own world with a touch of magic, or a completely made-up world.

A proud crazy cat lady, I’m happily owned by Eowyn and Strider. In my free time, I enjoy hiking (except for the spiders), bird-watching, and collecting (and sometimes even using) stationery supplies. I unwind by playing Skyrim, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect, and I’ve recently picked up World of Warcraft again.

I enjoy organizing things, am overly fond of 3-ring binders, and visit office supply stores for fun. I own way more movie scores and fountain pens than I can actually afford.

I grew up in Indiana, but I dream of living somewhere with a little less winter. I graduated from Purdue University before the turn of the (21st) century with a bachelor of arts in history and creative writing, with a medieval studies minor. I also have two-thirds of a master of library science, but ran out of money and enthusiasm for grad school at about the same time.

Despite this, my years of work in libraries were not wasted–besides having a lot of librarian friends (everyone should have at least one) I also spent a great deal of time hanging out in the stacks at 398.2, which gave rise to many of my urban fantasy stories.

I’ve attended various author fairs around Indiana and participated in a panel discussion called “Reach Your Readers: How to Survive and Thrive in the World of Self- and E-Publishing” at the Allen County Public Library Authors Fair in 2014, and “Successful Self-Publishing” in 2015. I have an ongoing blog series called “Self-Pub 101” about my journey to becoming an indie author. My favorite authors are J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Elizabeth Moon, Tamora Pierce, Garth Nix, W.R. Gingell, Laura VanArendonk Baugh, and Robin McKinley.

Standard Disclaimer: Product links on this blog may be affiliate program links, but I promise I don’t link to things I don’t love. :)