A WBS™ Pick!

WBS CLOSEUP: Kristina Garlick’s Magical Worlds

06 Aug 2025

Meet Author Kristina Garlick

Indie author Kristina Garlick enchants readers with a signature blend of diary-style storytelling, immersive fantasy, speculative science fiction, and delicate threads of romance.

With over twenty published novels under her belt, Kristina crafts tales that are both transportive and deeply personal—perfect companions for a quiet afternoon or a sleepless night.

Kristina Garlick

How did your writing journey begin?

My writing journey began when I was ten, simply because I was bored one summer. That boredom turned into two or three filled notebooks. The following year, I filled even more. At twelve, I typed up my first two stories—though, thankfully, the world will never read those!

By thirteen, I wrote The Moon, the Stars, and the Night After, followed by two loosely connected novels. I signed with an agent and a publisher while still in high school, and my first book was published in 2003.

Over time, I developed a unique storytelling style I call diary-play format.

Think of it this way: imagine if comic book thought bubbles and the structure of a stage play had a love child. Influenced by Shakespeare and fueled by my passion for graphic novels, this format lets readers step inside my characters’ heads while keeping the story fast-paced and emotionally grounded.

Diary-play format runs through all my books; people either love or hate my writing style, but it’s one hundred percent me.

Kristina Garlick Books

What drives you to keep telling stories?

Writing is like an itch I can’t quite scratch. Each book brings a brief sense of relief, but then the ideas start creeping in again.

There’s always a moment near the end of a manuscript when I fear that this will be the last story I ever tell. Yet, despite life’s interruptions, the next idea always seems to find me when I least expect it.

Whenever I consider giving up, something always compels me to go forward. A new idea. A kind comment from a reader or friend.

A goal just within reach. I hope my persistence encourages someone else to begin their own journey.

The next great author might be one hesitant keystroke away from changing the world.

Kristina Garlick Books Worlds Best Story

What is your most personal story?

Death & Sunshine holds a special place in my heart. I originally wrote it in 2009, but at the time, publishing felt out of reach, so I shelved it.

When I revisited the story in 2023, it transformed into something entirely new.

The premise of Death & Sunshine is quirky. Death takes a vacation, but the emotional core runs deep. It’s a story about grief, healing, and the quiet hope of doing better.

Writing it was therapeutic for me, and I believe readers will connect with its sincerity. If you’re a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or School Spirits, Death & Sunshine might just be your next favorite read.

Books Set in Shared Universes

While I rarely write complete series, several of my books are connected through shared worlds and recurring characters.

If you enjoy discovering subtle links between stories, start with these pairings:

Heart of Wonderland, Hokum, and Scarlet’s Life
Imaginary Friend and Last Eternity
Arcadia: The Wayward Hero and Then There Was New York

Notable Standalones & Fan Favorites

✨ From Ashes to Books
A heartbroken princess lets the man she loves marry another. Her silence allows a tyrant to seize power.

Now, armed with a long-held secret and decades of planning, Ember is ready to take back her kingdom—and settle the score.

🎧 Last Thing Forgotten (Audiobook Available)
Buffy is offered a chance to rewrite her past and save the one person who always loved her. But this second chance may cost her more than she expects—possibly even her sanity.

🚍 Girl on the Bus (Fan Favorite)
Emerald and Dustine are identical strangers traveling together. After a crash, only one girl wakes up in the hospital with no memory.

Who was she before the accident? And what really happened to the other girl?

Upcoming Release

Title: Lights, Camera & Axe ‘Em
Genre: Horror / Dark Fantasy
Release Date: October 15, 2025

A killer stalks the shadows of Final Laugh Amusement Park. Check. Falling for a rock star with a suspicious past?

Double check. Living in a dystopian world ruled by President Faust? Complete nightmare. And somewhere along the way, freedom vanished.

Vera Sage must keep smiling for the cameras while hiding her identity and staying alive.

Meanwhile, El Diablo—the axe-wielding killer with a flair for the dramatic—leaves a trail of bodies and twisted clues behind. As ratings rise, so does the body count, and Vera begins to question everything… including what the killer knows.

Come one, come all. Lights, cameras… and we all fall down dead. Or maybe, just maybe, Vera can revise the script and leave this amusement park alive.

Why is Lights, Camera & Axe ‘Em special?

This story began during an interview on the Bitten Apple TV podcast with Rafael Tavares.

The original idea was very different: a serial killer possessing amusement park workers to collect thirteen souls. But as I wrote, the story shifted into something more profound.

What emerged is less about gore and more about grit. It’s filled with dark humor, unexpected twists, and a lot of heart.

At its core, it’s an underdog story about survival, trust, and missing red flags.

Writing this book was no easy feat. It took 18 months to finish compared to Heart of Wonderland, which I wrote in just two weeks.

Most nights were a battle (due to health issues), but I pushed through, and I’m proud of the result. It’s wild, weird, and unforgettable.

What’s something readers might not know about you?

I’ll give you two things.

First, my favorite part of attending conventions is meeting readers, especially kids. I love encouraging young readers and helping them see the magic in books.

Second, my dream isn’t to get rich from writing. It’s to see one of my books turned into a movie.

That moment when I watch my story unfold on the big screen would be the ultimate “I made it” feeling.

Sneak Peek: What’s Next?

If you’ve made it this far, here’s a little secret: My next book will be called Between Ghosts & Kings, and it is scheduled for release in late 2026 or early 2027.

This is a return to mythology, something I haven’t explored in over a decade.

The story takes the legend of Atlantis and reimagines it in the modern world. I’m incredibly excited about this new direction, and I can’t wait to share it with readers.

Connect with Kristina: