Spotlight: Dark & Mythical Fantasy Author Aveline Lark
This week’s Spotlight features dark and mythological fantasy writer Aveline Lark, author of her debut book: “The Cursed Prince’s Thief.” Ready to learn more about this talented writer?
Hey everyone, welcome to this week’s Spotlight, where we’ll be covering dark and mythological fantasy writer
, author of her debut book: “The Cursed Prince’s Thief.”There’s a lot to uncover about this incredible writer, so we’re going to dive straight into it. But before we do, make sure to go support her by checking out her amazing Substack. Thank you so much for being a part of this Aveline!
Aveline Lark is a writer from New York City, an artist, and a lifelong storyteller with far too many books that have never seen the light of day. She loves writing fantasy stories inspired by mythology and folklore, crafting worlds where anything is possible.
She is currently a university student studying Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, though her dream is to someday leave numbers behind and write full-time. When she’s not writing, she’s bringing her characters and worlds to life through digital illustration, losing track of time in fantasy novels, or creating elaborate story ideas that may or may not ever make it to paper.
She shares writing updates, bookish thoughts, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into her creative process on Substack, where her readers gave her the courage to publish her first book.
Below are some questions Aveline answered for the Spotlight:
What is the writing process like for you?
I tend to write in chaos mode first and structure later. My process always starts with a spark—a “what if?” question that won’t leave me alone. From there, I dive into world-building and character development, letting the story unfold naturally before shaping it into something cohesive.
I write best when I’m deeply immersed in my characters—letting them surprise me, challenge me, and sometimes completely derail my plans. I don’t outline everything from the start, but I always have major turning points and emotional arcs mapped out. The first draft is about getting the story out—the magic happens in revisions, where I refine prose and sharpen themes.
When I’m not writing, I’m usually illustrating my characters and worlds, which helps me visualize their emotions, settings, and relationships in a way that words sometimes can’t. My stories are fueled by classical music, late-night brainstorming sessions, and a relentless drive to create something that surpasses whatever I wrote before.
How do you get inside your characters' heads?
For me, getting inside my characters’ heads is about understanding what drives them—their fears, desires, and the lies they tell themselves. I don’t just think about what they would do in a situation, but why they react the way they do. What are they afraid of? What do they want most? And what will they do when those things are in conflict?
One of my favorite ways to develop characters is through dialogue and emotional reactions. I write scenes where they’re forced to make impossible choices or interact with people who challenge them. Sometimes, I’ll even put them in situations outside the main story, just to see how they’d respond.
I also visualize my characters a lot—sometimes literally, through digital illustrations, but also by imagining them as if I were directing a film. How do they carry themselves? What does their body language say when their words don’t? The more I explore their emotions, contradictions, and relationships, the more real they become.
At the end of the day, I don’t just create characters—I step into their skin, feeling every victory, failure, and moment of doubt right alongside them.
What drew you to your genres?
There’s something about stories rooted in mythology and folklore that has always fascinated me—the idea that even the most powerful beings can be challenged, that fate isn’t set in stone, and that the past always leaves echoes in the present.
I love creating worlds with deep histories, magic with consequences, and characters who refuse to be controlled. Fantasy gives me the space to explore power, defiance, and the weight of choice in ways that feel larger than life, but still deeply personal.
At its heart, I write fantasy because I love stories where the world pushes back—but the characters push harder.
What does your relationship with "Writer's Block" look like?
I hate her. She sucks. And she’s always stealing my thoughts. Writer’s Block is that unwanted guest who shows up uninvited, eats all my snacks, and refuses to leave—just standing in the doorway, smug, blocking all my good ideas from getting through.
Some days, she whispers, "What if this scene is actually terrible?" Other days, she just stares at me, arms crossed, waiting for me to fail. And honestly? Rude.
The only way I get rid of her is by tricking her into thinking I’m not writing. I’ll go for a walk, start a new project, or just scribble nonsense until she gets bored and wanders off. And when she does? I write out of spite.
Writer’s Block and I? Mortal enemies. But I like to think I win more often than she does.
When you're writing difficult or emotional scenes, how do you prop the mood?
I write in the dark—literally. Lights off, curtains shut, the world outside erased. Maybe the TV is on, playing some somber, atmospheric music from YouTube, just enough to keep the silence from swallowing me whole.
When I’m writing difficult or emotional scenes, I want to feel the weight of them—to sit in the moment, let the characters’ emotions pull me under, and translate that onto the page. If I can make myself feel something while writing, I know I’m on the right track.
Of course, sometimes I just end up staring at my screen dramatically for an hour, absorbing the vibe like an actor preparing for the most gut-wrenching monologue of their career. That’s part of the process too.
What was the most difficult part of getting a book published or self-published?
For so long, I didn’t even consider indie publishing. I thought it was too hard, too risky, too unstable. And honestly? Maybe all of that is true.
But what’s also true is that my book is out in the world right now. People are reading it. Something that once only existed in my head is real, tangible, and reaching readers who care about it.
The hardest part wasn’t the publishing process itself—it was believing I could do it. Once I let go of the idea that I needed permission, that I had to wait for someone else to say my story was worthy, everything changed.
So yeah, indie publishing isn’t easy. But neither is waiting forever for something that might never come. And I’d rather take the risk than regret never trying.
How do you process and handle receiving negative reviews or comments?
Have you ever seen Drag Race? There’s this quote I love—"Water off a duck’s back."
Not every book is for everyone, and that’s okay. If someone doesn’t like my story, they’re not wrong—it just wasn’t the book for them. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t the book for someone else.
Of course, I’m human, so sometimes a comment stings. When that happens, I let myself feel it for a moment—then I remind myself that I wrote a book. I finished something, put it out into the world, and that alone is worth more than any one-star review.
So I take a deep breath, shake it off, and keep writing. Water off a duck’s back.
What is a piece of advice you've received which has helped propel your writing forward?
The best writing advice I ever received was “Write the book you want to read.”
It sounds simple, but it changed everything for me. For a long time, I hesitated—I worried about what people would like, what publishers would want, what would make sense in the market. But the moment I stopped worrying about all that and just wrote the kind of story I was dying to read, everything clicked into place.
Now, every time I feel stuck, I ask myself: Would I be excited to read this? Would past me have devoured this book? If the answer is yes, I keep going. If it’s no, I figure out what’s missing.
At the end of the day, writing is a long process, and you have to love what you’re creating. Otherwise, why do it at all?
Without spoiling your books, is there a character you've written you relate to most? How has it evolved your writing?
The first book I ever wrote had a character who was just like me. It wasn’t intentional, but when I reread that draft years later, it was hilariously obvious that I was projecting.
Her name is Eden, a girl caught between two worlds—one where she’s expected to be something she’s not, and one where she gets to decide for herself. But that’s between me and my therapist.
Eden was actually my breakthrough when it came to writing complex characters. Through her, I learned that characters aren’t just their actions or dialogue—they’re shaped by the things that hurt them, the choices they regret, the fears they try to bury. Once I understood that, everything else in my writing started to fall into place.
Is there anyone who's inspired you to write your books? Can be other authors, or friends and people in your life.
My best friend is my biggest supporter. He’s been there for me every step of the way—from convincing me to write my first book to celebrating the first sale of my debut novella.
Writing can be an incredibly lonely process, but having someone who believes in me, even on the days I don’t believe in myself, has made all the difference. Every book I write exists because, at some point, he told me, “You can do this.” And honestly? He was right.
Do you have any book recommendations?
Fairy Tale by Stephen King is one of my favorite books—the world-building is incredible. Aside from some choice decisions, it’s everything to me, even years after reading it. Another favorite is The Westing Game—it’s so fun, and part of me wishes I could write my own mystery novel… but honestly? I don’t think I’m smart enough for that.
I also have to give huge props to Sarah Dessen. Even though I don’t read her books anymore, they got me through middle school and high school. She’s the reason I fell in love with reading, and without that love, I might have never become an author in the first place.
Is there anything else you'd like to include that we haven't covered in the Spotlight?
I just want to say thank you—to every reader who has ever picked up a book, supported an indie author, or taken a chance on a story they knew nothing about. Writers spend so much time alone in their heads, so knowing that real people are out there, reading the words I put into the world, means everything.
Also, if you ever see me staring into space or looking deeply stressed, just assume I’m mentally rearranging an entire plot arc or trying to figure out how to make my characters suffer more. It’s part of the job.
In this section we’ll be looking at Aveline’s book, The Cursed Prince’s Thief (and an excerpt from it), as well as any of her social or website links. Synopsis is pulled from the book’s Amazon page.
A dark fantasy adventure filled with curses, reluctant alliances, and a dangerous game of fate.
Sable Moren never wanted to be a thief. But when a crime lord demands repayment for her family's debts, she has no choice but to accept a suicide mission: stealing a sacred relic from the tomb of the Fallen Prince.
For centuries, legend has warned of Adrian Castrel—the cruel ruler who defied the gods and was sealed away in eternal sleep. His tomb is a death trap, untouched by time, haunted by whispers of his sins.
But the moment Sable lays her hands on the relic, the prince awakens.
And the curse awakens with him.Now, the relic—the artifact that once held Adrian’s immortal heart—is bound to Sable’s own. If she strays too far, she dies. If Adrian does not reclaim his power soon, he will rot away into nothing.
Their only hope lies in the ruins of his lost kingdom, where the remnants of a war between gods and mortals still fester. But the deeper they venture into the past, the more Sable begins to wonder...
Is Adrian truly the monster history remembers?
Or is something far worse waiting for them in the dark?
Below is an excerpt Aveline included for the Spotlight!
What do you think, did that pull you in? I know it did for me! If you’re interested in supporting Aveline and buying a copy, you can do so by clicking the button below.
The Cursed Prince’s Thief is set to be book one of a trilogy from Aveline. So keep an eye out as she hopes to get book two: The God-Touched Heir out sometime this month.
If you want to support Aveline’s incredible work and get updates on her upcoming book, go subscribe to her Substack.Not only does she post shorts there, but she also showcases some of her illustrations, like the one below:
Thank you so much for reading everyone! And thank you once again Aveline for being a part of this Spotlight. It was a lot of fun working with you on it!
If you enjoyed reading this Spotlight and would like to learn about other Authors, too. Consider supporting my blog and subscribing. I post new Spotlights every week, as well as short stories, book reviews, and poetry! There’s plenty to look forward to, so be among the first to get notified when new posts come out!
And that’s about it for this post, so buh-bye everyone! Thanks again for being here. I’ll see you next time xoxo.
This is so cool! Thanks so much for putting in the time and effort to put this together, it means the world 😭🥹