About

A.J. Larke writes fantasy stories for readers ages 8 & up, drawing on her reading, parenting, teaching, and playing. Dungeons & Dragons. Her debut novel, Darkrunner Rising, will be available at all major retailers on August 19, 2022.

From the time I could form words on a page, I’ve been telling stories. At first they involved unicorns, then expanded to fairy tale remixes and aliens once I was allowed to wander my local libraries freely. As all small-town girls of a certain intellect and anti-beauty queen personality were expected to do, I went to college and became a teacher. Once in the classroom, I continued telling stories and encouraging my students to do the same. (One time, at the behest of my sixth grade students, I even invited the Queen of England to my class’ Writer’s Tea. The letter expressing Her Majesty’s regrets via a lady in waiting is still in a frame in my archives.) Currently, having traded much of my reading time for time parenting my two young children, I get much of my creative inspiration from playing and running Dungeons & Dragons games. Starting with a character who has strengths and weaknesses and a backstory is my favorite way to build a world and story in which I and hopefully others will love to lose themselves.