Frogs, Fairytales, And F-bombs: The Chaos Behind Veil And Valor

Hey friends,

Let’s get one thing straight: writing a dark fantasy series while wrangling toddlers at a daycare and dreaming of a future as a therapist is… a vibe. A chaotic, coffee-fueled, occasionally frog-themed vibe, but still, a vibe.

And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

🐸 Let’s Start with the Frogs:

Yes, they’re real. Yes, I’m obsessed.There’s just something about those weird little amphibian weirdos that feels right. Frogs don’t care about rules. They live in mud and sing in the rain and look like tiny old men. If that’s not the energy of this book series, I don’t know what is.

Frogs have officially wiggled their way into the Veil & Valor worldbuilding, too—whether it’s the sacred Letamon Forest glowing with firefly-lit trees that a frog could hide in or the strange little toad spirits that might pop up in future stories (yes, that’s a hint). Call it worldbuilding, call it chaos, call it therapy; I call it home.

📚 Fairy Tales, But Make It Dark (and a Little Horny)

I grew up on fairy tales. Then I tore them apart and rewrote them with blood on the crown and monsters in the bed. Of Fire, Flesh, and Fables—dropping June 2025—is my love letter to the twisted stories we were never told. Each tale crackles with magic, danger, and a healthy dose of steam while planting the seeds of a much bigger world.

This collection isn’t just smut for smut’s sake (though hey, no judgment)—it’s about power, identity, and what happens when the stories we’re given don’t fit the people we become.

💥 And Now… the F-Bombs

Listen. I’m a daycare worker by day, a fantasy author by night, and a future therapist in progress. Some days I am soothing tiny humans through emotional meltdowns, and other days I’m writing about dagger-eyed assassins and morally gray lovers making Very Bad Decisions™. Do I say “oh my frog” at work and then write full-on rage monologues at night? You bet your fantasy-loving butt I do.

This dual life is messy, magical, and full of lessons. Working with kids has taught me more about humanity, resilience, and raw emotion than any psychology textbook ever could. And that deep well of empathy? That’s where Shadows of A Withering Heart comes from. That’s how Violet and Ryland are able to love so fiercely, hurt so deeply, and still fight like hell for what they believe in—even when it shatters them.

🌙 What’s Next?

The world of Veil & Valor is expanding fast—lore books, twisted fairy tales, smoldering betrayals, and glittering cities full of secrets.And I’m right here, straddling both sides of my life, pouring magic into my keyboard while cleaning finger paint off my shoes.

If you’ve been here since the beginning, thank you.If you’re just arriving, welcome to the madness. This world is for the wild ones, the quiet rebels, the ones who still believe in magic—even when it’s messy.

Stay weird, stay wicked, and never underestimate a frog.

With love and chaos,

Marissa