Creating the map of Nav was a little more difficult than I expected. As clearly as I visualize the characters, castles, forests, and individual scenes within my stories, I had never imagined the world from a geographical perspective. I knew what each place looked and felt like, but I had never stopped to consider where everything existed in relation to one another. When it came time to create the map, the process was incredibly fun, but also slightly overwhelming. How do you

In Slavic folklore, the Vodyanoy is a spirit who guards lakes and rivers. In my interpretation, he is also a Warden, an ancient being who helps guide the souls of those who drown across the Veil. But the Vodyanoy is neither entirely good nor entirely evil. He can protect his waters, offer guidance, and preserve the balance between worlds. He can also play cruel tricks on humans, mislead swimmers, and pull unsuspecting people into the depths. Like the water he commands, his na

To me, Baba Yaga has never been just a witch. She is something far older and far more complex. I see her almost as a goddess, a keeper of balance who exists somewhere between life and death. She is often portrayed as a frightening old woman living deep within the forest, inside a mysterious hut standing on chicken legs. In many stories, travellers seek her help without knowing whether she will guide them, test them, or devour them. She may offer wisdom in one tale and destruc

The Island beyond the veil, have many interpretations throughout Slavic folklore, but this is mine. Buyan is said to be a real island hidden somewhere beyond the boundaries of the mortal world. Sometimes it can be seen rising from the sea, while at other times it disappears completely beneath mist and magic. Not everyone can find its shores. The island reveals itself only to those it chooses, or perhaps to those who need it most. At its heart stands an ancient oak tree, forev

Sofiya was born with everything a woman could dream of, a magnificent castle, beautiful gowns, and the promise that she would one day become Tsarina. But none of it was ever her choice. Her future was decided long before she understood what freedom meant. Because of this, Sofiya learned to survive quietly. She is observant, patient, and careful with her words. She notices the secrets others miss and always searches for the truth hidden beneath the stories she has been told. A

Koschei the Deathless traditionally one of the most infamous villains in Slavic folklore. A man that separated his soul from his body and hid his death somewhere no mortal could easily reach. On an island behind the Veil, beneath an ancient oak tree, lies a chest. Within the chest, a hare. Within the hare, a duck. Inside the duck, an egg. In the core of that egg, a needle. There lies the death of the Koschei. In old stories, he is often described as an impossibly thin old man

In Slavic folklore, a home is sometimes said to play host to a Domovoi. A little household spirit who, depending on which story you hear, protects the family and the home it has claimed as its own. In my own interpretation, I like to imagine that a Domovoi is somehow created from the spirit and energy of the people who live there. Traditionally, the Domovoi is often described as a tiny old man, no taller than your knee. He has a long beard, wears an old hat, and in some depic

I have always loved fantasy and the creatures it brought into our world. Like many fantasy romance readers, I spent years falling in love with werewolves, vampires, fae, angels, demons, and all the beautifully dangerous creatures we probably shouldn't be rooting for but somehow always do. Eventually, I started looking for something different. Something new, yet strangely familiar. I wanted creatures I hadn't already met a hundred times. Monsters whose characteristics I didn't

The title The Wardens of Nav was one of the very last things I came up with. By that point, I had written an entire book. I had outlined the next three. I knew my characters, their creatures, their stories, their worlds, and even where each of their journeys would eventually lead. And somehow, I still had absolutely no idea what to call the series. I didn't want a title that simply sounded mysterious or fantastical. I wanted something connected to the folklore that inspired t

I grew up with these creatures. They were part of the bedtime stories I heard as a child, old tales filled with strange beings, ancient magic, and creatures you were meant to fear. They were always the monsters. The villains. The warning hiding in the story. But as I grew older, I started wondering about the other side of those tales. Why were they the monsters? Were they always meant to be feared, or had we simply never heard their side of the story? I didn't want to change