Destiny: Julie Abe & Triona Murphy

Local author Triona Murphy’s debut novel Socks & Secret Quests tells the tale of Peri, a hopeful magician and Apprentice Shopkeeper that supplies equipment to local adventurers. While she waits for her magic to manifest, the Master Shopkeeper is kidnapped, and she must rely on the nearest adventuring party to rescue the Master Shopkeeper. In The Magic Library of Waterfall Way by Julie Abe, Lyra is looking for a Guild to join and discover the village of Waterfall Way and the secretive Guild of Scholars. To join, she embarks on a quest to recover their lost scholar’s crystal and meets many along the way. Both authors will join moderator Kate Ristau to discuss the quests their young protagonists go on to claim their destinies.  

About The Magic Library of Waterfall Way:

In this delightful cozy fantasy, an Unremarkable girl with a remarkable destiny must save a magic library to find her forever home. Perfect for fans of Greenwild and Kiki’s Delivery Service! 

The Alterran Empire hasn’t seen an Unremarkable in centuries . . . until Lyra Hunt. All Lyra wants is a guild to call home–preferably one with a library full of storybooks–but because she is cursed with horrible luck, nearly everyone has rejected her.

Then Lyra stumbles upon the secretive Guild of Scholars in the cozy village of Waterfall Way. With their tight-knit community and magical Library, this might finally be the perfect place for her. However, to be accepted, she must recover the Scholars’ crystal, the source of their magic that was lost in a terrible fire. With the help of a mischievous furry friend, Lyra must brave the Library’s cursed halls.

Lyra may have an Extremely Unremarkable past, but she’ll do whatever it takes to find a home where she belongs.

About Socks & Secret Quests:

Howl’s Moving Castle meets Dungeons & Dragons in this debut cozy fantasy adventure that follows an unlikely heroine who rallies a ragtag team to face a dark wizard, uncovering her own magic along the way.

• LOCAL AUTHOR: Triona Murphy is local to Portland, Oregon. She lives near Portland with her husband and three kids, and her background designing knitting patterns inspired the knitting-based magic at the heart of the story.
• A HERO TO ROOT FOR: Peri starts out quiet, anxious, and convinced she is not hero material, which makes her journey especially satisfying. Her story will resonate with readers who do not always see themselves as the bold one in the room, and it offers a lovely reminder that bravery can look soft, thoughtful, and deeply human.
• TEAMWORK, MAGIC, AND FRIENDSHIP: When Peri sets out to save her kidnapped mentor, she is forced to team up with a group of adventurers who are much better at arguing than working together. The result is a funny, heartfelt quest full of clashing personalities, unexpected friendships, and the kind of group dynamic that will especially appeal to kids who love fantasy parties, game worlds, and found family stories.
• COZY FANTASY ON THE RISE: Readers are craving warm, comforting fantasy adventures, and Socks & Secret Quests absolutely delivers. With a magical traveling shop, knitting-based enchantments, dragons, wizards, and a shy heroine discovering her strength, this is the kind of heart-forward, imaginative fantasy that feels perfect for middle grade readers.