Find Your Wonder
Novel Creature Issue 3 | August 2026
It’s an invaluable skill to have an eye for detail, to notice what others cannot see, understand, or have the capacity to even anticipate ( patterns, systems and fine print). Such a skill is often attributed to analytical, logical, Type A minds and personalities or to those who are proficient in business and other high-powered, complex tasks. But I’d like to argue that we all have an eye for detail, even if we’re a big picture kind of person. Because, when it comes to perception, the true question isn’t how much you see or pay attention. The real questions are: What are we perceiving? What gets your attention? What do yo focus on? Everyone has an eye for some kind of detail, and this month, I’d like to invite you to train your eye for wonder.
The Montrez-Verse features stories that are often about finding the extraordinary within our ordinary existence. You’ll find enchanted realms hidden in nooks and crannies of our everyday world or average people going on fantastical adventures, or performing impossible feats.
Why?
I hope my stories will serve as friendly reminders and encouragement to shake up your schedule, discover new possibilities, and see the world (and yourself) from a more curious angle.
I used to say that I wrote “fiction with feeling”, but when I really thought about what kind of emotional experience I wanted my work to create, three words resonated the most: whimsy, wonder, and angst.
Over the next few issues of Novel Creature, we’ll explore those three key elements and how they show up in the Montrez-Verse. This month, we’re holding space for wonder…
What’s happening in August?
📚Find Your Wonder
What’s your Movel Creature alignment? It’s all based on your current mood and what you want your reading experience to feel like.
This month, discover new Power Read recommendations to suit your kind of wonder. Each wonder recommendation comes with an immersive reading kit to enhance your story fun.
💥How Errant are you?
Learn to defy the odds from your favorite fictional underdogs. From self-care to mindset and more, the main characters of Errant give their candid two cents about surviving, thriving, and enjoying life.
😱Ohio is so Sunnydale
I know my home state for the moody weather, the stubborn potholes despite the perpetual roadwork construction, for its obsession with football and all the fun food and cultural festivals throughout the year. Apparently, the rest of the world sees the Buckeye State in a different light. I’ve heard the Ohio slander, and I’m using my writing to explore the allegations of weird, and to redefine our reputation on my own fantastical terms.
✍🏾Logging off to lock in
While I’ll still be posting to Substack on the weekends and on Patreon as scheduled, I’ll be on a much needed hiatus from Instagram. The once beloved platform has been a bit draining lately and doomscrolling has occupied more of my time than it should.
Last month I injured my knee, and as I’m slowing down to recover this month, I’m making creativity a big part of self care. I’m replacing IG time writing time, drafting stories I can’t wait for you to read. If you want to stay connected or you’re curious to see what I’m creating, join me on Patreon.
💜Montrez
Community Pulse
Would you like a new layer of immersive story fun in the Montrez-Verse? I’d love to revive the idea of Choose your own Novel Creature Adventures. I’ve been wanting to add some exclusive low-pressure fiction here while you wait on the major new releases. Short stories are cool. Serialized stories are fun. But what if you could embark on immersive side quests into the Montrez-Verse?
Choose your character.
Every chapter ends with a community poll where you can shape the outcome of the story.
I’d also love to eventually include custom art featuring the talents of new and up-in-coming artists (no AI, please).
I think it might be a fun new feature, but interactive stories aren’t something I can do successfully on my own.
