329 ratings | 98 reviews | avg rating:3.26

Katherine’s Year In Books

Katherine’s 2025 Year in Books

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Katherine A. Smith’s Followers (4)

Katherine’s Bookshelves

to-read (43)
currently-reading (5)
read (326)

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Katherine A. Smith

Goodreads Author

Born

The United States

Website

http://www.elucidationimages.com

Twitter

Tahtanista

Genre

Fantasy, Romance, Children's

Influences

Martha Wells
Mercedes Lackey
Peter S. Beagle ...more

Member Since

February 2015

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/tahtanista

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I aim for the following in my stories:
--a grand adventure
--nonhuman characters
--female lead characters with agency
--a variety of healthy relationship types
--diversity of genders, ages, species, races, and abilities
--at least a nod to scientific accuracy whenever possible
--mixing in of other genres, including drama, thriller, mystery, horror, and romance
--something bizarre, something unusual, something surprising, something funny

I do not aim for the following:
--graphically described sex scenes or gore
--abuse in relationships presented as healthy, normal, or sexy
--killing off characters or doing horrible things to them just to upset the reader

I grew up in Northern California, learning to read early and starting to write stories around age 6. ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Katherine A. Smith I don't think I have writer's block. I never force myself to write. I never sit in front of a page and agonize and torture myself about not being able…moreI don't think I have writer's block. I never force myself to write. I never sit in front of a page and agonize and torture myself about not being able to think of something to write. I don't need that stress; I don't do it to myself. That's one thing good thing about being a self-publishing author; I'm not on a schedule; there's no deadline. If I suddenly feel uninterested in writing, there's a reason; the story isn't flying; it isn't right. Trying to force it will *not* make a good story, in my opinion.

I go away, work on something else, and trust that my subconscious will provide the solution when the time is ready. Often, a story isn't working because there isn't enough tension or conflict. I believe in making things hard for my characters, and then making it harder, and then making it harder still, so I may be able to try that, and see if it works.

I can't really explain my process, except that I let my creative juices percolate, feed them with new experiences, and watch for the thoughts and ideas that bloom up into my hands. That's not something I can force. To do so would be like breaking a butterfly's cocoon and inadvertently ripping off its wings.(less)

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What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Katherine A. Smith As a reader, you get to experience an exciting new world every time you read a book. As an author, you never get that experience with your own work. I…moreAs a reader, you get to experience an exciting new world every time you read a book. As an author, you never get that experience with your own work. Instead, you get a different experience, which your reader will never have. I can't fully explain it, but for me, my characters become my children and best friends. They're almost real entities for me.

At the beginning I sometimes feel I'm getting the ball rolling, gently pushing the story. Then, at some point (if I've hit on a good story) my characters turn around and start pushing and pulling me. I feel like they're demanding to have their story written. That feeling signifies when the story has taken flight, like a plane achieving take-off, and now I'm just along for the ride. To put it another way, I stop carrying the story, and the story carries me, and claims me, and I can't stop writing, can't give it up. That feeling is the best thing about being a writer, for me.(less)

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Combine Editions
Katherine A. Smith’s books

Average rating: 4.34 · 65 ratings · 10 reviews · 19 distinct works

	Dragons to Loose (Dragonic Voyages #1) 4.25 avg rating — 16 ratings — published 2008 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dragonic Pride (Dragonic Voyages #3) 4.64 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2010 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dragonic Freedom (Dragonic Voyages #2) 4.36 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2009 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dragons to Keep (Dragonic Voyages #4) 4.11 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hawkwind's Tale (The Northnest Saga #1) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Otter Twin Magic really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Checkup with the Doctor (Group Pack) liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Fledging of Hawkwings (The Northnest Saga #2) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hearthsraven 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Otter Sea Magic 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Katherine A. Smith…

7 posts
Katherine A. Smith's Blog

4th Northnest book released

Hello all,
I did release the 4th Northnest Saga book in 2022: "Assault on the Anchored City."
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-954180-06-2
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-954180-07-9
eBook ISBN: 978-1-954180-08-6

The 5th book is in a bit of a stall, but I will return to it eventually.

In the meantime, I am actively working on the illustrations for my third Otter Magic children's book. This one is called "Otter Fire Magic." Read more of this blog post »

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Published on January 22, 2023 15:57 • Tags: new-books, northnest, update

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Series by Katherine A. Smith

Dragonic Voyages (4 books)
by

Katherine A. Smith (Goodreads Author)

4.34 avg rating — 47 ratings

The Northnest Saga (2 books)
by

Katherine A. Smith (Goodreads Author)

really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 7 ratings

Katherine is Currently Reading

Katherine Smith is currently reading

Crown of Vengeance

by Mercedes Lackey (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jan 11, 2025 10:32PM

Katherine Smith is currently reading

Blade of Empire: Book Two of the Dragon Prophecy

by Mercedes Lackey (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jan 11, 2025 10:31PM

Katherine Smith is currently reading

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

by Arthur Conan Doyle

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Dec 23, 2024 05:22PM

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Katherine’s Recent Updates

Katherine Smith wants to read The Raven Scholar (Eternal Path Trilogy, #1) by Antonia Hodgson (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Fantasy	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 14, 2026 08:14PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Katherine Smith rated a book really liked it Jinian Star-Eye (The End of the Game, #3) by Sheri S. Tepper	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 14, 2026 08:09PM · like
Katherine Smith rated a book really liked it Dervish Daughter (The End of the Game, #2) by Sheri S. Tepper	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Another entry in one of my favorite series, I regularly re-read the entire nine books. I enjoy Jinian's journey, her strategy, her intelligence, her struggles to overcome her own shortcomings, and to exert herself in her pursuit to protect those she ...more
Feb 07, 2026 04:42PM · like · see review
Katherine Smith rated a book really liked it Wizard's Eleven (Land of the True Game, #3) by Sheri S. Tepper	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 02, 2026 09:01PM · like
Katherine Smith rated a book really liked it Jinian Footseer (The End of the Game, #1) by Sheri S. Tepper	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 02, 2026 09:00PM · like
Katherine Smith rated a book liked it Dragon's Ring (Dragon's Ring #1) by Dave Freer (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Things I liked and things I didn't in this book. First off, I did not grasp the overall arching plot line until very near the end of the book. However, the character interactions were interesting enough to keep me reading. I also really appreciated t ...more
Jan 24, 2026 06:49PM · like · see review
Katherine Smith rated a book really liked it King's Blood Four (Land of the True Game, #1) by Sheri S. Tepper	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 22, 2026 07:17PM · like
Katherine Smith rated a book really liked it Necromancer Nine (Land of the True Game, #2) by Sheri S. Tepper	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 22, 2026 07:17PM · like
Katherine Smith rated a book really liked it The Search of Mavin Manyshaped (The Chronicles of Mavin Manyshaped, #3) by Sheri S. Tepper	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 11, 2026 08:37PM · like
Katherine Smith rated a book it was amazing The Flight of Mavin Manyshaped (The Chronicles of Mavin Manyshaped, #2) by Sheri S. Tepper	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
One of my very favorites that I reread again and again, an amazingly creative world with distinct characters and plot. Love this series and #2 is my favorite.
Jan 03, 2026 06:07PM · like · see review