When I first started writing The Magick in Me, I had no idea just how much of me I’d discover along the way.
This journey has been about so much more than creating stories for children. It’s been about learning who I am as a creator, as a mother, and as a woman with a voice that refuses to be quieted, even when the path forward felt unclear.
At first, I tried to play by the rules, figuring out how to pitch to publishers and media outlets, researching what “success” was supposed to look like. I’d sit for hours tweaking a query letter or wondering if I was saying the right thing, sounding “professional” enough. But the more I tried to fit into someone else’s formula, the more I felt like I was losing the heart of why I started this in the first place.
Eventually, I made the decision to do this on my own terms. I chose to keep creative control and publish the stories myself — and wow, was that a learning curve! From ISBNs and formatting, to figuring out cover design and marketing, it felt like I was building a whole world from scratch. And yeah, I probably did things the hard way. Maybe even the “wrong” way sometimes. But every misstep came with a lesson, and every challenge brought me closer to the kind of freedom and honesty I wanted in this work.
Through it all, I found community, especially in kidlit and LGBTQ+ groups where I could show up as myself. Vulnerable. Messy. Passionate. And most of all, determined to stay true to my voice and the stories that feel sacred to me.
This hasn’t been the easiest road, but it’s been mine. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Thank you for being here and for letting me share this wild, beautiful adventure with you.
With heart and gratitude, Cassie
