If there’s one thing you’ll take away from this episode, it’s Kristen’s fearlessness. She’s not afraid to put herself out there, challenge the norm, and even write something as a joke—only to have it take off in the best way possible.

We dive into her debut Alex Bain series, her worldbuilding process, and the question every author faces: how do you put your own stamp on a story when nothing is truly “original” anymore?

Other highlights include:

✨ The struggle of drumming up commitment for later books in a series—and why standalones and duologies are on the rise.

✨ The growth of indie-to-trad or hybrid publishing, and how to decide what’s right for you.

✨ Why all of Kristen’s series may share fantasy roots, but each feels completely unique (even if they’re all connected!)

✨ Pen names, day jobs, and the reality of being “discovered.”

✨ Balancing motherhood, marriage, and a full-time job while still chasing your writing dreams.

And of course—we wrap it up with a good dose of girl power.

You can find Kristen's instagram account here.