A Confession...
... and the reason behind writing books
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” —Toni Morrison.
This quote appears on top of my author account on X because it’s exactly what inspired me to write my first book, The Woodweaver. It’s also what made me think bigger than just one book. The Flowbinder is already in the edit phase, while The Linewalker is already taking shape. And yes—I have already mapped out more (I mean, it wouldn’t be ‘think big’ if I hadn’t considered more than three books, would it?) in a spreadsheet.
I was looking for books about teenagers, or ‘Young Adults,’ as they are categorized in the world of books, which find their way into traditional trades, such as carpentry or plumbing, while also fighting something bigger. Something they didn’t know they could fight. Something they didn’t even know they had to fight.
And yes, some books might touch on one of these topics, but existing YA books tend to either focus on corporate resistance without the trade arc (Illuminae, Proxy) or highlight hands-on craft/apprenticeship without a modern corporate antagonist (Steeplejack, Cinder). Still, not exactly what I was looking for—so I took Morrison’s advice and started writing the book I wanted to read.
But here’s the confession: I’m nervous, because I don’t know if readers want to read books about teenagers, trade skills, big corporations, and community building. Sure, there are ways to analyze sales ranks and such, but that’s the thing. If there’s no true apples-to-apples comparison, how would I know? Oh, and of course, because I’ve never published a book before.
If the description below excites you (or a teen you know), I’d love for you follow along, immerse yourself in the world I’m building, share bits and pieces with fellow readers, family, and friends, and follow me on social media to stay up-to-date on progress, launch dates, and, of course lore drops that didn’t make it into the books.
All Riley wanted was out.
Out of Hollow Reach. Out of her grandfather’s dusty old workshop. Out of a life that felt like it was going nowhere.
But when a brutal storm tears through her town, escape is no longer an option—and neither is ignoring the past.
Still reeling from her grandfather’s death, seventeen-year-old Riley wants nothing to do with the pile of lumber and stubborn memories he left behind. But when fallen trees block the roads, Wi-Fi goes dark, and a shady corporation starts sniffing around the wreckage, Riley is forced to confront more than storm damage.
She’s about to lose the one place she couldn’t wait to leave—and the people she never thought she’d fight for.
Then she finds it: a hidden message from her grandfather, tucked inside a carved chest in his workshop. Suddenly, the dust, the tools, the wood—they aren’t just junk. They’re clues. And they might be the only thing standing between Hollow Reach and a sellout future.
The Woodweaver is a heart-tugging, voice-driven YA contemporary with a twist of teak, a touch of legacy, and a whole lot of grit.
Oh, and don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with me. It’s nice not to speak into the void.
—dK