An interview with fantasy author Geanna Culbertson

Hi everyone, today I’m back with an interview with one of my favourite authors, Geanna Culbertson.

My first introduction to Geanna’s books was Protagonist Bound, the first book in her Crisanta Knight series, which is a YA series focusing on the kids of fairytale protagonists. I completely devoured all nine books in the series, as they’re full of magic, extremely well-written and choreographed fight sequences, high stakes, and characters who defy traditional roles and choose their own paths. (Check out my review for Protagonist Bound HERE.)

If you’d like to find out more about Geanna Culbertson’s books, you can find her on Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkeIn, Goodreads, and Spotify.

Alternatively, you can check out her websites, including her shop:

www.CulbertsonKingdom.com | www.CrisantaKnight.com | CulbertsonKingdom.net

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Image description: A photo of author Geanna Culbertson, a Hispanic woman with long brown hair, who is wearing a blue jacket and skirt with a white blouse. She’s sitting outside near a brick building, and is writing in a notebook.

Image description: The front cover of You Can Only Imagine by Geanna Culbertson. The cover features a tree with neon blue and purple leaves, and the colour graduates down the trunk into pink, red, then orange for the long, twisting roots. At the bottom left, a character stands looking at the tree, dressed in a dark suit with glowing decoration, and is holding a trident. Held in the centre of the tree’s roots is a blue, stone-like shape.

When did you realise you wanted to be a writer?

I didn’t have a big enlightenment moment of realization. I have loved to create imaginative stories since I first learned to write. In the first grade I wrote and illustrated a story about a trick-or-treating elephant. I loved doing that, and went on coloring and writing more short stories for years. It wasn’t until I got the idea for The Crisanta Knight Series years later in school that I delved into writing full fiction books. At that time, though, I didn’t initially think about getting published. I was writing the story because I had to write the story. The idea kept growing and couldn’t be contained, and I wanted and needed to see it through.

Image description: The covers of all nine books in the Crisanta Knight series by Geanna Culbertson: Protagonist Bound; The Severance Game; Inherent Fate; The Liar, The Witch, and the Wormhole; To Death and Back; The Lost King; Into The Gray; Midnight Law; Eternity’s End. Each cover is very colourful and, aside from Midnight Law, features the main protagonist, Crisa, in various situations and places. Midnight Law’s cover shows a pocket watch and a cat with blue and purple stripes and a large grin.

What’s your latest book about?

This November, I am releasing the third book in my guardian angels inspired Heaven't You Heard? Series entitled: Infer-No, Thank You. Pre-orders for that will become available in the summer. The book will have more adventure, epic world building, slow-burn romance, sass, moving character growth, and quite a few surprising twists and turns.

Then next year on May 3rd, 2027, corresponding with Mental Health Awareness Month, I am releasing a standalone novel called, You Can Only Imagine. It's an epic part sci-fi, part coming-of-age story that I know so many ages of people will love. Here’s the summary:

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Seylah Kaur is an apprenticing surgeon and aspiring bestselling author. Chase is a neuron inside Seylah’s brain in charge of defending imagination. As Seylah tries to balance family expectations, a medical career, and creative passions, Chase and her neural network must deal with the consequences. And that means fighting the manifestations of Seylah’s anxiety, which take the form of idea-devouring monsters.

Though the battle with anxiety is an endless war, both Seylah and Chase fight the good fight—believing that hard work, persistence, and passion always pay off. But what happens once they realize it doesn’t?

When health issues, family pressure, and writing setbacks converge, the many aspects of Seylah’s life threaten to tear each other apart. Meanwhile, when Chase discovers her host’s own mind is working against her, this curious neuron must try to solve the mysteries of the mind and root out the danger without jeopardizing the 86 billion other neural cells protecting the same person.

Can Seylah and Chase be true to themselves and still exist in harmony? Or are both about to find out that the price of being yourself is more than ordinary brainpower can handle?

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I’m really excited to share this with readers because it has the world building, strong characters, action, spunk, and arc evolution I am known for. However, its focus on personal wellness, mental and emotional health, and dealing with external and internal expectations as you try to find your best self are topics that many people deeply relate to.

As a whole, it’s a story that explores the struggle of conquering anxiety in a world where daily demands risk killing passion and creativity, and I can’t wait for people to read it!

Do you have any writing rituals?

I don’t have any writing “rituals”, but I do have some preferred setups. Most of my time writing is spent on a treadmill. I built a contraption to support my laptop over a decade ago, and average around 6 hours a day on the computer that way. The other thing I would say is very important to my writing setup is music. Every book I’ve ever worked on has a very specific, very long playlist custom made for that book, with different songs to hit different vibes, energies, and characters. They make the story, and the emotions that go with it, flow better pretty consistently. Every month I actually highlight five songs from one of my writing playlists on my website in case fans want in on those vibes, or other writers are looking for musical inspiration. You can check them out HERE.

What do you hope readers will gain from reading your work?

All of my books focus on important themes that are expressed through the emotional and meaningful journeys of complex, relatable characters. Some topics I’ve covered over the years include: the power of change, self-acceptance, taking fate into your own hands, self-forgiveness, understanding, balance, the importance of friendship, and the significance of being yourself. These are just some of the themes I’ve woven into my writing because it is important to me to put positive messaging into the world.

It is my hope that as my characters grow and evolve through stories emphasizing these themes what they learn and who they become speaks to people/readers—connecting with them, inspiring them, and lifting them up. I think good stories can be like pool floaties in that way. They can help us learn to paddle ahead and feel safe to explore the depth of what life surrounds us with. Because goodness knows the world is full of things that can make a person feel like they’re drowning. So anything we connect with that helps build the confidence to hold our heads high above water as we figure out how to swim through it is a win.

Who are you favourite authors?

I have to come back to Rick Riordan. The Percy Jackson Series is the only series, and the only books in general, that I’ve read more than once and that means something. I love the way Riordan blends action humor, heart, honorable heroes, and plot building across a series. These are elements in my own writing, so I relate to that tremendously. I also have loved many Meg Cabot novels. And Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl was the first series I ever loved, so it had a huge impact on me.

Do you have any dreams about where you’d like your writing career to go? (like film adaptations, merchandise, having your book on everyone’s shelves?)

I love seeing my literary universe, and now the publishing company I founded Culbertson Kingdom, grow year after year. I fully intend to keep growing both, and growing my fan base across additional countries. Seeing and hearing from fans what my work has meant to them really moves me and I am grateful to have been a part of their lives and be on their shelves. Without a doubt, someday soon you’ll see a trailer for one or more of my works advertised on a streaming service, or in the theaters, or on a billboard.

Image description: The logo for Culbertson Kingdom publishing company, which features golden, styled lettering, a purple background, and whimsical dots which resemble stars and specks of magic.

Do you have any hobbies or things you love to do?

I love to dance and sing. Drawing/coloring is something I like to do as well, though I don’t have time to do it often. I always have, and always will create the cover art for my books though, and that’s fun. My cover designer (WHO IS AMAZING) works really closely with me to bring those to life as magically as possible. I’m very detail oriented, and I love how much she understands my vision and the notes I give as we produce new projects. In the end, I enjoy posting the first design I come up with side by side with the final version of a book cover on my website so people (like aspiring authors and my fans) can see the journey and appreciate the progression. You can check some of those out HERE.

Are there any other fun facts you’d like to share about yourself or your writing?

Some fun facts about me? Hm . . . let me see. Well, I’ve been through a special culinary school program that made me a certified sushi chef. I’ve earned my black belt in karate despite various surgeries and health setbacks I’ve been dealing with since elementary school. And I’m a Pi memorization champion—as in 3.14… Pi.

Get caught up on the Heaven't You Heard? Series now before the third book in Geanna's guardian angels epic Infer-No, Thank You comes out. And you can order her sci-fi, coming-of-age adventure about facing and overcoming anxiety You Can Only Imagine now through her online shop HERE.

Image description: A promotional image showing the front covers of Heaven't You Heard? and Halo, My Name is... books one and two in the Heaven't You Heard series by Geanna Culbertson. The cover for Heaven't You Heard features a blue cloudy sky with orange flames at the bottom, with the title in gold text, and the cover of Halo, My Name is... features a purple background with blue flames at the bottom, and the title in gold text. A black, starry background makes both covers stand out, and a tagline alternating from yellow to white text reads: Join guardian angel Grace in the search for Happily Ever Afterlife. Book 3 coming this fall.