This week’s Indie Interview features an epic fantasy indie author, Mike Cahoon, alongside his story, The Scion Conspiracy. Check out information about Mike and his books (and his upcoming work) below!

“Mike Cahoon is a husband, dad, firefighter and a brand new indie author with a deep love of stories across many genres and mediums, but he always holds a special place in his heart for the holy trinity of fantasy, science fiction and horror. Growing up, he was a poor student despite his teachers and parents best attempts to get him to apply himself. Despite this, he had a passion for reading and writing which has stubbornly stuck with him throughout his entire life. Now, he is finally embarking on his own literary journey and getting the stories out of his head that have been knocking around in there for decades.”

THE INTERVIEW

What inspired your novel, THE SCION CONSPIRACY?

The Scion Conspiracy is the result of several of my interests coming together and melding into a unique idea. I have long been a lover of fantasy and its detailed worldbuilding, epic scope and explorations of complex characters. But I am also a big history buff and am fascinated by the long and complex road it took to get to our modern society. At some point, the idea of a fantasy novel set during an Age of Exploration formed in my head and wouldn’t go away, so I had to get it down on paper.

What is your favorite object in the novel and why?

This is a question I’ve never been asked before and certainly an interesting one. Were this about the series as a whole, I would have a definite answer, but the object I’m thinking of doesn’t show up until later. As far as this book, I would have to say Holton’s compass. In the book, it is shown to be able to point the way to individuals who are within a certain distance. It is a mysterious item that adds to the depth of the world and offers some interesting insight into just how much possibility there is behind this world’s magic system.

Did you always want to be an author? What first inspired you to take up writing?

I’ve been writing since I was a kid, scribbling stories and doodles in my notebooks instead of working on my schoolwork. I’ve always loved stories, especially genre fiction, since I was little and I was first introduced to it via my dad. He was and is a big fan of all things classically nerdy, from Star Trek to Lord of the Rings. Writing fantasy was just a natural progression from reading it for me.

Deciding to publish came later though. After the birth of our first child, I decided I wanted to try writing seriously and see if I could actually publish a book. It was an idea that had sat germinating in the back of my mind for years, and once I became a dad I thought it was important to be able to tell my kids I had pursued my passions.

What was the most challenging chapter to write in your novel, and why?

The most challenging chapters were most certainly in the middle. I started writing my book with a strong hook and a strong conclusion in mind, but the middle took a bit of work. As I was writing, I realized I had a lot of plot, worldbuilding and character development that needed to happen in a relatively short period of time. It was the classic “soggy middle” problem that many authors speak about. But through working with early readers I’d like to think it did a pretty good job of getting it straightened out!

What is one thing about this book that most readers may not realize just by reading it?

Many readers have commented on how dark this book is, especially the subject material. And while I certainly intended for my series to be darker in tone and style, I think it’s important to note that this is the first in a series. I hope that people recognize the through lines of a story that is about more than simply a grim story about grim people. This story is about the importance of each persons individual choices and how what we do makes a difference. Ultimately, it’s about how we create the world we live in.

How many versions of the book did you go through before landing on the one that got published?

So many. In a lot of ways, I’ve been writing this series since I was a kid. Echoes of these characters and plot lines can certainly be found in some of my old story scribbling and rough drafts. But if you’re talking true drafts? At least four or five. I cut POVs and added them, changed events and even played around with where to end this book in reference to the greater story.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? How do you go about writing your novel?

I aspire to be a plotter, but it is in my nature to be pantser. I try to write outlines and do take detailed notes, but I always end up deviating from them once I get into the actual writing. I’ve found the best method for me personally is a “sign post” type of outlining. Figuring out major character beats and plot points that need to happen, but giving myself the freedom to get there however I feel works the best in the moment, is an effective hybrid of the plotter vs pantser schools of writing that works for me personally.

Have you ever had writer’s block with this novel? How did you overcome it?

I am happy to say I don’t suffer from writers block so much as I do a lack of time dedicated to writing. Between work, family and other obligations, my writing often gets shoved into the little corners of my life and I don’t have the time to truly flesh out my ideas like I need to. This usually results with me frustrated as I try to speed through writing, ending up with an inferior product.

The best way I’ve found to deal with this issue is to slow down and focus on one thing at a time. Rather than getting frustrated that I don’t have time to write out a whole chapter, I try to just make sure I can get one paragraph or one scene perfect. By just focusing on finishing one small piece of the project at a time, I end up making far more progress than if I try to rush through the whole thing.

Who is your favorite character in THE SCION CONSPIRACY and why?

Choosing a favorite character is a bit like choosing a favorite meal. I enjoy different ones all for different reasons. But if I had to choose I would say Cassius. As a reader, I am absolutely a sucker for a traditional hero. I also love reading stories that serve as dissections and analysis of the heroic archetype. Without giving too much away, the story of the glory seeking disgraced Prince certainly fits that mold.

What are you working on now/next?

I just finished the prequel novella to The Scion Conspiracy, which is with Beta Readers and in the hands of editors now. I have one more collaborative project I am wrapping up, then my plan is to be spend the next several months locking in exclusively on Book 2 of the Crucible of Legacy series, which I hope to have done by the fall of this year.

FOLLOW MIKE & WHERE TO BUY HIS BOOKS

You can find Mike’s socials and bookish information on his website, here. Be sure to check it out for his most recent publications and updates!

THE EPILOGUE

I absolutely love doing these author interviews, and I hope you are enjoying them as well! Indie authors don’t often get a lot of attention compared to traditional authors, so my mission is to help build them up. Authors like Mike have some phenomenal works, and I hope many of you check him out!

Until the next one,

—Mylee J. Miller

INTERESTED IN BEING FEATURED?

Hello readers! If you’re interested in being featured on The Literature Lunatic, you’re in luck! Email themanuscriptmaniac@gmail.com to inquire about an interview, a book cover reveal, or a book review (the lattermost of which would be featured on SFF Insiders!)

I look forward to hearing from you, and to talking to you in the next newsletter!

This week’s Indie Interview features a wonderful indie author and friend of mine, Aradhna K, alongside her story, Kind Regards and Warm Wishes. Check out information about Ara and her books (and her upcoming work) below!

“Aradhna K. is a Southeast Asian Indian writer and poet aiming to highlight and celebrate her culture and history via her words. An author of romance, fantasy and science-fiction stories, she wants to write stories that her children will feel represented by in a way she struggled to find growing up. Her first novella What Happened In Vegas came out in April 2024, and she has over 30 fiction pieces and poems up on her Ko-fi page.”

THE INTERVIEW

Tell us a bit about your published works!

As I write this now, I have a few stories published, something that always seemed distant not so long ago. These stories were written for friends, inspired by them, inspired by the personal. I put a little bit of them in each thing I write. A little bit of authenticity, a little bit of myself - and a lot of love. At the end of the day, all of these stories are about love in some form or the other, it’s a theme I always come back to. Not necessarily romance at a genre, though I do enjoy writing that too!

What made you decide to write WHAT HAPPENED IN VEGAS?

My novella What Happened In Vegas was a story I wrote for my friends many years ago. It started off as a wishful ‘wouldn’t it be nice if we could actually meet someday’ and then turned into a self-indulgent story along those lines, with a little bit of drama and inside jokes. Even after some of these friendships drifted, as they do, the story remained very near and dear to me. I wanted to sort of immortalise that period of my life, in a way. So I edited the story, cleaned it up, and I hope those friends I haven’t spoken to in many years might see it someday and go, oh I remember that! I hope it makes someone smile.

Do you write full novels or only short fiction?

Both! I have a novel that is with my CPs now and that I hope to publish in October. Short fiction, however, is easier for me to write. Novels and novellas take more time, and more focus, and sometimes that’s just not easy with the hows and whats of life.

Do you ever plan to publish traditionally?

I’d ideally love to. If I ever reach a point with either of my romcom type novels, I’d love to query them. But as an author of colour living outside of the UK and the USA, realistically speaking, the odds are not so high.

What made you decide to self-publish?

The stories I’ve written thus far have been shorter than the lengths of manuscripts accepted by traditional publishers. I want to share them, but I knew that traditional publishing would not be a route open to me for these particular stories. So, self- publishing. It helped me get over a little bit of the imposter syndrome as well. (Just a little bit.)

What genres do you write in? Would you ever expand those genres?

I’ve found I’ve been writing a lot of romance. Most of my projects wind up being romantic stories at the end of the day, though I do also have at least a couple of fantasy stories I’d dreamed up. But even then, there’s always a touch of romance. I love love stories, I will admit.

If you could visit any of your stories for a day, which one would you go to? Which character would you hang out with? What would you do?

I don’t think I’d want to meet any of my characters! Maybe the characters of the Hallmark novella I am currently writing, if only because I’d love to eat the food I write about.

Has there ever been a time when you felt like you wanted to stop writing? What made you push forward?

A number of years ago, I started feeling that my writing was just - lackluster. I’d lost the love for it, it felt like. And then this actor I followed on Twitter started posting a Story A Day, and I thought I’d try and write a short thing for it. I didn’t write a story every day, but I did manage a couple of weeks of a few hundred words of poetry and flash fiction, and it reignited my love for writing.

Are you working on any other projects? When can we expect another publication from you?

Yes! I have a number of short stories in the works. I try to post two each month on Ko-fi. I also have a novel hopefully coming out in October, and a bundle of two short stories in December!

Why do you write?

Growing up, there were very few characters who looked like me in books. Very few characters whose life experiences reflected my own. I loved stories anyway, found ways to relate to the characters in the books anyway, but I want to write stories the kid I used to be could have used. I want to write stories for kids that look like me, for my kids to see themselves in.

FOLLOW ARADHNA

Interested in following Ara and seeing what else she’s up to? Check out her socials below:

Bluesky
Instagram
TikTok
Website
Newsletter

WHERE CAN I BUY HER BOOKS?

The links to purchase Ara’s books are below! Check them out, and be sure to review, rate, and share them with your friends!

Books2Read

Ko-Fi Shop

THE EPILOGUE

Stay tuned for more indie author interviews via The Literature Lunatic, and other awesome indie news! Maybe even judge updates for SPFBO and SSBA, both of which are competitions I’m participating in as a judge!

Until the next one,

—Mylee J. Miller

I’m back again with this quarter’s short fiction piece, and this time it’s a flash fiction story in the contemporary genre! I will note that this specific piece was written several months ago during a time in which I was struggling mentally. There are content warnings for Suicidal Ideation, the use of prescription medication, familial neglect, etc. Please read at your own risk!

Short Story PDF

THE EPILOGUE

Thank you for reading my stories, and I’ll see you in the next publication!

Until the next one,

—Mylee J. Miller

LEGAL STATEMENT

This segment of The Literature Lunatic is meant to promote unpublished short fiction written by Mylee J. Miller. It includes but is not limited to: deleted scenes, alternate POVs, AUs of her works, novelettes, novellas, short stories, flash fiction, and micro fiction pieces. All of these publications are provided free of charge via PDF downloads, with watermarks and author ownership included. Do not distribute or share these works with Artificial Intelligence or plagiarize them, attributing them to your own work.

This week’s interview features a wonderful indie author by the name of M. (Meg) A. Vice, and their trilogy, The Impavidus Cycle. Grab some popcorn, snag some copies of the Impavidus Cycle trilogy, and enjoy the interview below!

“M. A. Vice is a novelist and artist from the pacific northwest USA. A deep love for fantasy and history, which began early in her life, inspired a passion for writing and has continued to ever since. She enjoys creating epic tales about overcoming adversity and finding family, with a decent helping of political intrigue and mystery. When she is not writing, she enjoys creating illustrations, playing her favorite video games with friends, and exploring the pacific northwest woods with her family.”

THE INTERVIEW

Tell us a bit about The Impavidus Cycle!

The Impavidus Cycle is my passion project! It’s a dark historical fantasy trilogy about Albtraum, a young daemon who awakens in a forest with no memories and only one companion - the voice of his daemon father who directs him to hunt and kill humans. This is all he knows of the world until one day he’s captured by a secretive group led by immortals, who expose his father’s lies and offer him a chance to fight back and find his humanity.

What made you want to write the trilogy?

This is a tough question to answer, because I’ve been working on this trilogy, in some way, since I was 16 years old. It started as a personal obsession I would sneak in paragraphs for between high school classes and homework assignments, and over the years more and more ideas were added, transformed, trimmed, changed, hair was pulled out… and eventually, it ended up in the form it’s in today.

What was the hardest part about writing the trilogy?

Finishing it. I struggled with what direction to take the story in for years before it wound up in the form it’s in now. Like a lot of people, I had a lot of time on my hands in 2020, so I decided it was finally time to get serious. It was really, really hard to balance writing such a hefty trilogy with work, college, maintaining social connections and getting used to living in a new city in the middle of the pandemic… but I did it!

What was the most rewarding part about writing the trilogy?

Again… finishing it. Being able to share it with others. Being able to go back and read it and really love it and be proud of what I made. It’s definitely the series of my heart and having it be complete in the world feels really good, even if a lot of other aspects of being an author have been difficult.

What is your favorite and least favorite scene in the trilogy?

I’ll start with my least favorite scene - not because I think it was bad, or I regret writing it, but because it frustrated me so much in the moment - Albtraum and Brunhart’s chess match in Impavidus. The two of them care so much about each other, but they’re struggling to be vulnerable through the whole book, and the chess match is where this comes to the most aggravating head. After all they’ve been through, you want so bad for them to just… talk to each other! But it wasn’t quite the right moment… and making them work harder for it made the eventual connection that much more rewarding. As important as Albtraum’s romance with Mianna is, I think his father-son dynamic with Brunhart is the real emotional core of the series.

My favorite scene is one people might not expect - when Ismaire cuts Albtraum’s hair. They’ve gone from being mortal enemies to having a deep, enduring friendship by that point, and this moment of them connecting and sharing their fears and regrets was so emotional for me that I actually cried quite a lot while writing it.

What makes your books unique?

I think the balance of heartfelt emotion and deep connection between characters while still being very dark and sometimes bordering on horror is not something I see often in fantasy. I personally adore darkness and angst in stories, but it always hits so much harder for me when there’s heart in the rest of the story.

What can you tell us about your writing style?

Descriptive and sometimes a bit flowery, and very introspective. I put my POVs to work and really get you into the characters’ heads. In heavier moments, it can get frenetic and turn into a stream of consciousness. It’s nothing too out there, but I don’t think I have a terribly “conventional” style either.

Would you ever write more stories in the Impavidus world?

Absolutely! I’m currently working on the sequel, Children of Impavidus (I planned this as a duology, but we’ll see how that goes…) and I also have plans for a side anthology and maybe a prequel or two. There’s a lot to this world I made, and I want to explore more of it!

Are you working on any other projects? When can we expect another publication from you?

The next thing you can expect in the semi-near future is the Birthright Audiobook, currently in production with incredible voicework by Prince Lowell. I’m beyond thrilled with how it’s coming along and can’t wait to share it with everyone.

For my writing, I’m taking it slower, working more on projects I have fun with and I’m not hard set on publishing anything this year. (ImpCycle was very long, and I know there are plenty of people who haven’t finished it yet, so that should keep a lot of people busy for now!) I’m getting married this year which will keep me pretty busy, but I hope to have the first book of Children in reader hands by 2027. We’ll see, though!

Why do you write?

I have a lot of characters and ideas in my head, and writing is the only way I can really share them with others. It feels good when the ideas are finally out, when I can show them to others. It feels like the only way I can truly express myself.

WHERE CAN I BUY THIS SERIES?

The links for the Impavidus cycle are below! Be sure to check it out and rate the books on Amazon, Goodreads, and The StoryGraph!

Buy M.A. Vice’s Books Here!

THE EPILOGUE

Stay tuned for future newsletters with interviews and spotlights just like this! If you’d like to write a guest post or participate in an interview (or have your book cover featured on my Substack in a reveal) please email me at myleemillertheauthor@gmail.com for more info!

Until the next one,

—Mylee J. Miller

INTERESTED IN BEING FEATURED?

Hello readers! If you’re interested in being featured on The Literature Lunatic, you’re in luck! Email themanuscriptmaniac@gmail.com to inquire about an interview, a book cover reveal, or a book review (the lattermost of which would be featured on SFF Insiders!)

I look forward to hearing from you, and to talking to you in the next newsletter!

After a poll on Twitter, it seems like many of you are interested in reading the few (very few) short stories I write. I don’t currently have the capacity to submit them for potential publication in literary magazines or anthologies, so I thought, why not share them with the audience I’ve befriended on Substack?

This short story segment will be published only to The Midnight Moore (aka the self-publishing side) of my Substack, and I’ll likely post a short story, flash fiction, or micro fiction piece (or few) once every couple months, maybe one a quarter. I’m not a super strong short fiction writer, but some readers have enjoyed my smaller tales, so I hope you guys do too!

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

There’s a chance that, if this kind of content is well-received, I might expand to publishing free and downloadable novellas/novelettes that you can also rate and review on Goodreads, potentially as expansions of my existing works that I hope to someday self-publish.

There’s also the possibility that I’ll post deleted content, bonus chapters, and other such exclusive BTS text on this segment in the future!

THE STORY

I will note that these stories aren’t like your regular newsletters, and I’ll attach a watermarked PDF to this post so you can download and read the story at your leisure. Enjoy!

Short Story PDF

THE EPILOGUE

Thank you for joining this ride with me, and I hope you enjoy my first installment in this segment: Letters To The Woods, a speculative short fiction piece.

Until the next one,

—Mylee J. Miller

This is a new segment of my self-publishing segment of The Manuscript Maniac, all about interviewing my fellow indie authors and featuring their publications on my newsletters. The first author on the lineup for this segment is my good, 4-year-old friend (in terms of friendship length, not age) is none other than Ayrton Silva! Below is the interview I had with him, alongside links to check out his books, but first let me tell you what I think of Ayrton!

WHAT ABOUT AYRTON?

Ayrton Silva is an absolutely fantastic person as well as a phenomenal author. Although he’s self-published (which many writers sadly think of as “less than” traditional publishing), his work is some of the best short fiction—especially in fantasy—that I’ve ever read. His novels are quick to consume and immersive, and I recommend them for readers who are new to reading fantasy to readers who are looking for original fantasy concepts in digestible fiction.

He is well worth supporting, following, and looking out for. I’ve read all of his books. Trust me.

Now…onto the interview!

THE INTERVIEW

Tell readers a bit about yourself!

I'm Brazilian, I write code for a living, and I write fantasy in my free time to avoid going nuts. I have two dogs but keep forgetting to talk about the youngest dog in my author bio.

What are your published novels about? What are your quick pitches for them?

Coward and Noxious are part of a series (entitled Bloodmaster, nicknamed the Cowardverse), about a young woman who wants to hunt monsters. The pitch is more or less like: The world is cursed, and people can be randomly turned into monsters. An accident in Lina's village helps her realize that she can do something about it, and therefore she SHOULD do something about it.

My other book, Unfortunate, is a standalone about a banker of questionable character that makes a pact with a deity of even MORE questionable character after his boss tries to have him killed.

What inspired your published novels?

Mostly my favorite books and manga. I also have a short story inspired by a *song*, though that one is only published in Brazil.

What are you working on right now?

My latest project was about a journalist that uncovers a plot to facilitate the invasion of her country, and she has to figure out how to stop it. Sounds modern, but it's actually fantasy and there's pirates and monsters and stuff.

When can readers expect your next publication?

This year (2026), possibly around May or June. I'm coming to realize that most of my publications are gonna happen around those two months due to how my life works.

Are you ever going to publish print versions of your books?

The answer is one big maybe. I don't live in the US, which means getting Amazon printed books to my address is difficult, to put it mildly. Kinda hard to publish printed books when I can't get my hands on proofs. But a friend of mine has volunteered to cover that for me, so... maybe?

What makes your stories different from others?

That is one hell of a question. I think there's so many people out there, and so many people writing, that even if I don't know *of* someone who's writing the same kind of stuff that I am, there probably *is* such a person out there, and I actually... like that? There's probably someone out there just as weird as I am. That being said: I write magic systems that are chaotic and may have nasty consequences. That can be the TLDR.

What is your favorite thing about writing?

A lot of people talk about the escapism of writing, but, personally, I like giving structure to all the weird stuff that my brain comes up with. My brain wants to write about someone whose face was stolen? Cool! Let's see how I can fit that with my worldbuilding and simply go nuts. I feel like that makes my ideas feel more real, if that makes any sense.

What has been the most difficult thing about self publishing?

It's a little hard feeling seen, at times. There's so much writing out there that it can feel like one is shouting into a void. I had trouble getting over that at first, but then I realized that I sort of *need* to write to stay sane, so I decided that I would write at least for *me*, even if nobody else bothers to see it.

What other self published authors would you recommend readers to follow?

Adam Joseph and C.B. Lansdell have written my favorite indies of 2025 and 2024, respectively. I strongly recommend their books. I also recommend Rebecca Crunden (the beloved Indie Book Spotlight on Twitter and elsewhere), A.J. Calvin, Timothy Wolff, Bill Adams and J.C. Faust. This list would be even longer if I were allowed to recommend books in Brazilian Portuguese, or if only I could read a little faster and learn of even more awesome books.

THE END

That’s it for this round of the Indie Author Feature segment of The Manuscript Maniac! Stay tuned for featured interviews with other indie author guests in the future. I’m excited for you to meet these awesome writers whose books are absolutely extraordinary!

If you want to learn more about Ayrton, you can check him out on Twitter here, on BlueSky here, or on his website here. Also, it’s Ayrton’s birthday the day that this newsletter releases, so be sure to tag him on social media with birthday wishes!

Until the next one.

—Mylee J. Miller

Welcome to a brand-new segment of The Manuscript Maniac: the Midnight Moore segment! This segment will contain an amalgamation of all sorts of exciting things, from author interviews to guest posts to cover reveals to news about my own pursuits regarding publication. Be sure to stay tuned for some awesome content soon-to-be posted!

Although this newsletter will be published sporadically throughout the year, and most times once per month at maximum, if you’re an indie author and you’d like to contribute to my large audience via a guest post, interview, or you want your book featured on this newsletter via a cover reveal, please reach out with your request to myleemillertheauthor@gmail.com to check if I have any openings for you or your books to get involved with my newsletter!

I’m excited for this new chapter in my newsletter’s life.

Until the next one,

—Mylee J. Miller