Mages & Mapmakers—May 2025 Edition
In which we discuss writing updates, reading quests, and cats
Welcome, adventurers!
The birds are singing, the trees are budding, and the warm winds of May have brought magic back to the air. The season of outdoor adventures—and outdoor reading—has arrived!
This month, I’m sharing exciting news about Charmless, a fun summer reading challenge for kids, and a few fantasy books that inspired me all over again.
✒️ Behind the Quill ✒️
Here’s what’s happening in my writing world this month:
Current project: Charmless (the sequel to Luckless)
Stage: Final revision—just finished beta reads, cover is complete, and (fingers crossed) I’m preparing for a summer release!
Fun fact: I’ve started learning how to draw fantasy maps—and I’m having a blast designing new maps for the world of Charmless. How many castles is too many?
🧭 Adventurer’s Guild 🧭
This month’s activity is: Summer Reading Quest!
Get ready for a reading adventure like no other! This summer, book lovers can embark on a Summer Reading Quest, where each book unlocks a square on the map and brings you closer to treasure. There will be dragons, maps, faraway settings, and more! This isn’t just a reading challenge—it’s a full-blown quest through enchanted lands!
Print your bingo card, grab your gear (and your library card), and start your journey today.
There’s more! Hop on over to The Adventurer’s Guild for bonus printables.
💡 Challenge: Share your bingo cards or favorite reads with me by commenting below or tagging me on Instagram @kjhansenwrites.
📚 Bookshelf of Wonders 📚
Like both Lewis’s and even more so Tolkien’s work, Hendrix creates an incredible sense of nostalgia throughout. It made me want to go back and re-read some of my favorites! The TBR is growing with these three nostalgia picks:
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Here, There Be Dragons by James A. Owen
✨ Real-Life Magic & Adventure ✨
Life is full of magic and adventure, as long as you know where to look!
Now that it’s finally nice outside, I’m back on guard duty — gatekeeping for my little cat Gabby, who very much wants to sneak outside and have some backyard adventures of her own. She’s fast. She’s small. She’s quiet. I am none of those things. Bring it on.
Farewell for Now
Thanks for journeying with me this month!
Next month, we’ll explore more behind-the-scenes magic from Charmless and my own quest to create the perfect library.
📣 Your Quest:
Create your own summer reading treasure map: where does each book take you?
Until then… keep your eyes open for magic. It’s everywhere.
💌 KJ
reader, wanderer, cat-wrangler
P.S. I’m new at this, so if you have any feedback for me about content, formatting, or something else, let me know in the comments!
So excited you started. I love the cute cat!