C. C. Hartly

Hey there! I'm C. C. Hartly, and I write dark fantasy romance that blurs the lines between our world and the realms we only glimpse in our wildest dreams. (Or nightmares. Sometimes definitely nightmares.)

I never expected to become an author, much less one who'd spend her days crafting stories about dangerous fae kings and dormant magic. Growing up in a small Midwestern town, I was that kid who always had her nose buried in a book, usually something with magic, monsters, and forbidden romance. My teachers probably should've been concerned about how many times I wrote "and then she was whisked away to another realm" in my creative writing assignments.

After spending years working in corporate marketing (trust me, soul-crushing doesn't begin to cover it), I finally listened to that persistent voice in my head that kept whispering stories about powerful beings and the humans who dare to love them. In 2023, I took the plunge and started writing what would become "Mythic Spark" - a story that quite literally wouldn't let me sleep until I wrote it down.

When it comes to my writing style, I'm all about those gray areas between light and dark. My characters aren't your typical heroes and heroines - they're complex, often broken individuals who find strength in the most unexpected places. King Thaddeus? Yeah, he's definitely not winning any "Most Charming Fairy Tale King" awards anytime soon. But that's exactly how I like my characters - raw, real, and sometimes morally questionable. (Okay, maybe more than sometimes.)

In "Mythic Spark," I wanted to explore what happens when an ordinary woman discovers she's anything but ordinary, and the ripple effects that has across multiple realms. Nyleeria's journey from a struggling young woman living in a run-down cabin to someone who could either save or destroy entire worlds is the kind of story I live to tell. And don't even get me started on the romance - I believe the best love stories are the ones that make you question everything you thought you knew about right and wrong.

When I'm not writing (which isn't often - these characters are LOUD), you can find me hiking in the woods with my rescue dog, Luna (yes, named after Luna Lovegood, because of course), or attempting to perfect my homemade cold brew recipe. I'm convinced there's magic in getting that ratio just right, though I haven't quite mastered it yet.

My writing cave is basically a cozy chaos of fantasy art prints, empty tea mugs, and about seventeen different notebooks - because apparently, I can never have too many places to scribble down random plot ideas at 3 AM. I've got a map of the fae realms pinned to my wall that probably makes me look like one of those conspiracy theorists connecting everything with red string. (But hey, keeping track of multiple magical dimensions is HARD, okay?)

To my readers: expect stories that push boundaries and challenge perceptions. I write about power dynamics, forbidden attraction, and the kind of love that could either save or destroy worlds. There will be spice (because let's be real, fae kings aren't exactly known for their restraint), but there will also be heart, humor, and moments that hopefully make you feel seen in ways you never expected.

I'm currently working on expanding the world of "Mythic Spark" into a larger series because, turns out, there are a lot more stories to tell in these realms. The fae aren't done with me yet, and I'm definitely not done with them.

You can find me on Instagram and TikTok where I post probably too many behind-the-scenes peeks at my writing process, random mythology facts that inspire my stories, and the occasional video of Luna judging my life choices. Fair warning: I tend to ramble about magical theory and the proper way to bargain with fae (hint: don't).

So if you're ready for stories that blend darkness with light, magic with reality, and feature characters who are beautifully, unapologetically flawed, welcome to my world. Just remember - in the fae realms, nothing is ever quite what it seems.

(And yes, I do actually believe there might be doorways to other realms in the woods behind my house. Don't judge me.)