A Deaf Magical Academy? Yes, Please. This is a book review for A Handful of Spells by Kimberley A. Shaw. I grew up in the height of the Harry Potter era. And while She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has made the series complicated for many of us, the story of discovering you’re special and whisked away to a magical school? That theme shaped an entire generation. So when I saw a magical academy story centered on a hard-of-hearing girl, I didn’t hesitate.

A Handful of Spells has that magical academy nostalgia — one centered on access, language, identity, and belonging. One that lets a Deaf or hard-of-hearing child open a book and find magic waiting for them.

Read my full review on my blog, or watch it on YouTube! #deafrepresentation #authorktjames

On Writing and Indie Publishing I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the creative process — the struggles, the late-night-rewriting, the panicked but excited “this character just changed everything” moments (seriously, this was Alexis in The Heritage Series) Right now, I’m deep in writing and editing. It’s exciting, frustrating, and emotional. And I’ve realized I want to share more of that journey, not just the polished end result.

✨ Big news

My manuscript is with an editor, an illustrator is drawing my characters, and I’ve launched a Patreon to help support publication.

If you’re new here - hi! I also have Substack for Deaf content, tips & resources.
Patreon will have full chapters & behind-the-scenes edits.

Link in bio🤟

Keeping the Page Turning Happy New Year! Somehow it’s already 2026—and somehow, February is almost here. I’m not entirely sure where 2025 went, but it feels like it passed in a blink. For the past several years, I’ve written a year-end wrap-up followed by a list of goals for the new year. When I sat down to do that again, I realized something: many of my goals haven’t changed much at all.

Happy New Year! Somehow it’s already 2026—and somehow, February is almost here. I’m not entirely sure where 2025 went, but it feels like it passed in a blink. Here is my latest blog post about my 2026 goals and some updates from my life. Here's to 2026!

Weekend of Words: Inside A Cozy Book Retreat There’s something magical about stepping away from the noise of everyday life and sinking into stories — both the ones we read and the ones we write. I recently went on a book retreat with a group of friends and it was everything a I could dream of: reading, crafting, bookstore adventures, chatting, and even a little writing time for me as I dove back into editing my story.

Weekend of Words: Inside A Cozy Book Retreat

There’s something magical about stepping away from the noise of everyday life and sinking into stories — both the ones we read and the ones we write. I recently went on a book retreat with a group of friends and it was everything a I could dream of:…

The World is Loud Again It always surprises me when I can hear. Really hear. A couple of months ago, I got new hearing aids — and yes, they’re purple! 💜 But let me back up a bit. About a year ago, I lost one of my hearing aids. I searched everywhere for nearly six months. I deep-cleaned the house, retraced my steps, checked under the seats in my car, even looked in places I’d already cleared three times over.

I forgot how LOUD the world is! Recently, I got new PURPLE 💜 hearing aids after a year with a barely-working 2013 backup pair. Now it feels like I hear everything - to the annoyance of my kids. This blog is an update after having them for several months. Do you use hearing devices?

The Hellp Desk I Never Knew I Needed CHAMP. That’s It. But really, what I feel about this book can’t be summed up in one word. It took me completely by surprise—in the best way. “Our first thoughts about a situation are seldom what we actually believe. They are what we have been conditioned to think, or sometimes they truly are random spits of consciousness. But our second thoughts, ah, that is where we are.

CHAMP. From Whom the Belle Tolls is a rare book that burrows into you and refuses to let go. It's big and complex, beautiful and heart-wrenching, healing, full of humor, sass, and love. It's joined my annual re-reads list.
⭐ 5 stars = easily.
💀 Hellp Desk scenes = perfection.
💜 Lily + Bel = swoon.

#Deafawareness doesn’t need to stop at the end of the month. 🤟🏻

Challenge: Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days. No explanations & no judgement. (12/20)
📚✨💙

“Just the hint of something other out there gives hope to possibilities.”

#BookSky #writing #WriteSky

Challenge: Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days. No explanations & no judgement. (11/20)
📚✨💙

“To be worn always, to remember and breathe.”

#BookSky #writing #WriteSky

Challenge: Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days. No explanations & no judgement. (10/20)
📚✨💙

“Your hearing aids help you hear and this is a hearing world; you need to be able to communicate to them.”

#BookSky #writing #WriteSky

Challenge: Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days. No explanations & no judgement. (9/20)
📚✨💙

“The ocean gave us another precious daughter to love since it took one away.”

#BookSky #writing #WriteSky

Challenge: Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days. No explanations & no judgement. (8/20)
📚✨💙

“I can’t keep paying for making the wrong choice.”

#BookSky #writing #WriteSky

New challenge: Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days. No explanations & no judgement. (7/20)
📚✨💙

“Until we meet again, may the magic of the sea Watch over you.”

#BookSky #writing #WriteSky

New challenge: Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days. No explanations & no judgement. (6/20)
📚✨💙

“It’s as if the sun just rolls off your back.”

#BookSky #writing #WriteSky

Has it really been 5 days?! I didn’t forget… it’s just a little delayed. 😅 Day 6 will be tonight

New challenge: Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days. No explanations & no judgement. (5/20)
📚✨💙

"If there was magic, why can’t there be monsters?”

#BookSky #writing #WriteSky

New challenge: Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days. No explanations & no judgement. (4/20)
📚✨💙

"You can pretend all you want that you don’t need hearing aids - that you aren’t different, but once you start learning sign, it becomes real.”

#BookSky #writing #WriteSky

New challenge: Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days. No explanations & no judgement. (3/20)
✨📚 💙

"Deaf people are normal, Dax.”

#BookSky #writing #WriteSky

New challenge: Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days. No explanations & no judgement. (2/20)
✨📚 💙

"What would you do if you couldn’t be there to Watch her?”

#BookSky #writing #WriteSky

I took an unplanned social hiatus for my mental health and burnout. I am back and will be restarting this challenge as I was excited about it. #authorktjames #writesky #writing

Most times I write a synopsis of the story, then I split that into chapters (or sections). I then start writing from the beginning, filling in the details as I write. Every now and then, I just start pantsing, then when I get to a stopping point, I’ll write the synopsis and continue my normal way.

New challenge: Post 1 sentence a day from any project for 20 days. No explanations & no judgement. (1/20)
✨📚 💙

"It begins with quick glances, small talk, time spent together - it ends with death…”

#BookSky #writing #WriteSky

Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis book set cover. 2 children (brown haired boy and blond girl) on the back of a winged horse flying over a valley

A Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett book cover. A black-haired girl in black ragged outfit looking in an oval standing mirror, seeing herself dressed in a pretty blue and pink dress with pink bows.

Awake At Dawn by C.C. Hunter book cover. A girl standing in front of a waterfall

Apparently… I’m not great at consistently posting with challenges 😅 Here’s days 14, 15, 16.

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days in no order. No explanations or reviews. Just covers. (14-16/20) #20daybookchallenge #bookskychallenge #booksky

Good morning and happy Saturday!! Going to focus on self care this weekend and just rest. ♡

Artist: littlesunnydoodles

I love this image. It is a helpful reminder!

Ransom by Julie Garwood book cover. Open mansion gate to a long road

Mind Game by Christine Feehan book cover. Man staring out with rain coming down his face.

Heaven and Earth by Nora Roberts book cover. A sailboat on the beach with a lighthouse on a cliff in the background.

Well.. I missed 2 days, so here’s day 11, 12, and 13.

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days in no order. No explanations or reviews. Just covers. (11-13/20) #20daybookchallenge #bookskychallenge #booksky

I’m curious… I’ve done livestreams on TikTok (writing and reading sprints) but with the ban, I am working to move to YouTube; however, what kind of livestreams happen there? What do people like? #youtube #livestream

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi book cover. A brown haired girl in a blue dress on a ship.

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days in no order. No explanations or reviews. Just covers. (10/20) #20daybookchallenge #bookskychallenge #booksky

Same!

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury cover. A man made of books burning

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days in no order. No explanations or reviews. Just covers. (9/20) #20daybookchallenge #bookskychallenge #booksky