đź—» calling all cozy fantasy readers

now accepting alpha reader applications!

Author

Addison Horner
August 29, 2025

I couldn’t have written this three years ago.

I’m a fantasy adventure nut. I grew up on Star Wars kidlit, Artemis Fowl, and Christian-flavored portal fantasy. Give me magic, mystery, and mayhem, and I’m sold.

Then, mere days after I started writing Stories That Bleed in 2023, I had a son.

Project Tamelands is a cozy fantasy celebration of becoming a dad. It has found family, middle-aged romance, rivals to lovers, redemption, and drama set on a nature preserve for mystical creatures. It’s for TJ Klune and Travis Baldree fans. It’s about discovering who you are and who you want to become after you thought your life had been decided for you. And it features a bunch of original species I invented for this story, along with twists on classic creatures!

The first draft of my pitch: When a trapper is sentenced to work at a mystical nature preserve, the caretakers and creatures open his eyes to a new future and a new legacy—if he can escape his past.

If you’re interested, sign up at this form by Monday, September 1!

Writing Updates

STORIES THAT BLEED // I’ve tackled the biggest revisions—rewriting a few scenes, changing some revelations, and ironing out the kinks in the plot. What’s next:

  • Implementing minor beta-read revisions

  • Editing prose for brevity and impact

  • Proofreading

  • Printing proof copies!

Oh, and I have some sick new character art I’ll reveal soon. Follow the Kickstarter for the best updates!

IRON // I’m thrilled to dive into this prequel to The Vitalian Chronicles, featuring a surprising character that will pair neatly with the jaw-dropping twists of Stories That Bleed. It’s only appropriate that this novella will be available in the Kickstarter next May!

SPOOKY FINALE // Now that the plot’s in place, I’m going to tighten up the character development and make sure every character gets their due. For those rare readers who are concerned I haven’t killed off enough of the series cast . . . I’m listening.

TAMELANDS // Haven’t you heard? You can apply for the alpha read today!

Here’s a snippet from the opening:

Shepherd Skye wiped the dirt from his boots before walking into the trap.

This particular trap was shaped like a mansion. Tamelands-chic paintings, vaulted ceilings, even a butler in a curly mustache who took his coat in the lobby. The butler didn’t raise an eyebrow at Shepherd’s rolling cage or the tarp covering it as they wound through a series of tight hallways to reach the parlor.

Shepherd knew traps better than most. Tonight, his instincts were screaming for him to escape before the jaws snapped shut. But he was tired, so into the trap he went.

The last hallway opened into a candlelit parlor with luxurious furs draped over every seat, save the chaise occupied by Countess Mendoit. She lounged in a blood-red sheath dress and matching bold lipstick, looking every part the wealthy young heiress.

Shepherd didn’t mind the fake pelts and the glass-bulb earrings cut to look like diamonds. Everyone was entitled to a few secrets. He wheeled the cage past the butler and parked it in the center of the room, then waited for the countess to spring her trap.

“Is Shepherd your real name?” she asked.

from Project Tamelands

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