Press Kit

A woman with long, blonde and red hair, wearing makeup, a choker necklace, and a red and black top with a crisscross pattern, posing against a black background.

Bio Options

Option 1: The Hook

C.N. Mackey writes at the intersection of myth and lived experience. Her work is less concerned with heroes and more with the psychological cost of becoming one.

Option 2: The Short Bio (~100 Words)

C.N. Mackey writes epic fantasy from the inside out. She is the creator of The Hearthlight Cycle, an upcoming seven-book series set in the original, immersive world of Aestraea. Her debut novel, A World Reborn, explores a dark, godless realm where survival depends entirely on human connection and grit. Built for readers who crave deeply flawed ensemble casts and poetic prose, her stories dive beneath the grand spectacles of fantasy to examine what it truly costs a person to become a hero. When she isn't forging new worlds, she connects with readers through her newsletter, Keynotes.

Option 3: The Medium Bio (~175 Words)

C.N. Mackey is an epic fantasy author dedicated to telling stories that are forged from the heart. She is the architect of The Hearthlight Cycle, a sweeping seven-book series that begins with her debut novel, A World Reborn. Set in the richly realized world of Aestraea, her writing sits firmly at the intersection of myth and lived experience.

Rather than focusing on flawless, legendary figures, Mackey’s work explores the raw, psychological reality of survival, trauma, and the true cost of heroism. Her complex characters, high-stakes world-building, and lyrical prose appeal to fans of character-driven, atmospheric fantasy.

Operating under her independent imprint, Map’s Edge Media, LLC, she is passionate about building a community around deeply impactful storytelling. Based in the United States, she keeps in close contact with her growing reader base through her regular newsletter, Keynotes.

Headshot

Book Information

Book cover for 'A World Reborn' by C.N. Mackey, featuring a dark, hooded figure with tattered robes standing in a fiery, apocalyptic landscape with burning city ruins.

A World Reborn

The Hearthlight Cycle, Book 1

  • Title: A World Reborn

  • Author: C.N. Mackey

  • Genre: Epic Fantasy / Character-Driven Fantasy

  • Imprint: Map's Edge Media, LLC

  • Publication Date: TBD

  • Formats: E-book, Paperback, Hardcover (TBD)

  • ISBN: TBD

Logline: A dark, godless realm where survival depends entirely on human connection, grit, and the true psychological cost of becoming a hero.

Sample Interview Questions

  1. The Hearthlight Cycle is described as epic fantasy "forged from the heart." What does that phrase mean to you as a writer?

  2. Your work focuses heavily on the psychological and emotional cost of becoming a hero. What drew you to explore the darker, heavier side of heroism instead of the traditional glorious fantasy tropes?

  3. A World Reborn introduces readers to a dark, godless realm. How does the absence of divine intervention shape the magic, the stakes, and the survival of your characters?

  4. You lean heavily into the intersection of myth and lived experience. How do your own life experiences or worldview influence the mythology of Aestraea?

  5. The Hearthlight Cycle is planned as a sweeping seven-book series. How do you approach the massive undertaking of plotting and world-building a saga of that scale?

  6. Your stories are built around complex ensemble casts. How do you balance giving each character a distinct voice and a compelling psychological arc?

  7. You publish under your independent imprint, Map’s Edge Media, LLC. What motivated you to choose the indie publishing route for this series, and what has that journey been like so far?