Cozy Fantasy and the World of Avelare: What It Means to Me

Hello, dear readers!

I’m so excited to welcome you to my cozy corner of the internet, where I hope you will join me in exploring the world of Avelare, the setting of my cozy fantasy novels.

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is YH Duval. I’m an avid reader, a writer, and a lover of the magic that lies within the pages of cozy fantasy novels. With a love of fantasy literature the dates back to my earliest years (seven years old!), I seek to create a world of epic fantasy stakes within a safe and inviting setting with characters who feel like family.

A Little About Me

YH Duval - Age 17

As a first-generation American of Haitian parents, I grew up at a time where being different from the "mainstream" was challenging.

If you remember the 80s like I do, this snapshot of 17-year-old me says it all. For the rest of you, let me explain. Big hair was accompanied by big colors, big tech changes, broadening social norms, and even bigger confusion!

Add to all that 80s angst my mixed racial ancestry, and I struggled to find "my people." I often resorted to playing the role of a chameleon, shifting between groups in search of a niche that felt like me.

Often, that journey led me to comic books, role-playing games, and fantasy novels, where I found solace in imagined worlds filled with whimsy and wonder. They were places where being different meant being special. Even better, it usually meant being powerful and important. Those forays into distant, magical lands led me to a lifelong love of literature - as a reader, a writer, and (briefly) a teacher. Even better, that journey led me to find "my people". My fellow lovers of grand adventures, sweeping tales, powerful magic, and deep, abiding friendships and romances - no matter how unique and blended we adventurers might be.

I am also a nearly pathological lover of animals, particularly dogs and cats, and I unashamedly feature that love in my stories. For me, there is nothing cozier than the constant and unmatched devotion of a well-loved animal companion.

My pack of companions (Top, from left to right): Brandie, Rafa, and Mia (Bottom, from left to right) Sophia and Gabe

The Stories I Write

To me, cozy fantasy is about creating a safe harbor in a sometimes chaotic world. It’s a space where extraordinary magic intermingles with the everyday, ordinary magic we all practice in day-to-day life. So, as I venture into writing my own cozy fantasy novels, I find great joy in crafting characters that are relatable and full of potential. I write stories that center around strong female protagonists (write what you know, they say!) who struggle with balancing the strength of their powers with their vulnerabilities and needs - physical and emotional. Their ability to successfully do so will determine the fate of the world around them, for such is the power women often wield.

Each tale I create is designed to offer a sense of comfort and escapism along with a sense of adventure and excitement, and I hope you find that to be true for you.

A Warm Welcome

YH Duval Now - Age 51

I officially welcome you to the world of Avelare! I hope you will join me on this cozy journey with the first installment of the Children of the Younger God Cycle, Women of the Weave.

Go brew that favorite cup of coffee or tea, grab a blanket, find your comfiest chair, and follow me into the world of Avelare. The Women of the Weave and I await you.

Hayden's Corner & The Steading The Sisters of Hayden's Corner The Headmistress & The First Seer