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I'm Back... With Stories!


Perhaps you thought I'd fallen into a hole during an archaeological excavation, or accidentally time-traveled to the past and ended up as a farmer in medieval Ireland or a scribe in ancient Syria. But no! I've just been finishing my dissertation and then getting started with teaching an all-new slate of classes.

And, of course, I've been writing!

My big project of the last few years has been the tales of the Faerie Queen, a series of middle grade/ young adult adventures inspired by Sir Edmund Spenser's poem, The Faerie Queene. As a huge fan of King Arthur, knights, and magical worlds, I've loved Spenser's work since high school. I'm really looking forward to sharing these stories with everyone!

The first book, George, the Shield, and the Veiled Lady, will be available on Amazon on July 1, 2026. The ebook is available for preorder now, but the paperback version won't appear until July 1. Once the book comes out, it will also be available on Kindle Unlimited.

Here's the preorder link: Amazon.com: George, the Shield, and the Veiled Lady (Faerie Queen Book 1) eBook : McConaughy, Kathryn: Kindle Store


What is George's story about? 

When George finds a Faerie road beyond the boundary wall of his family's farm, he bids his mother and sisters goodbye and sets off in search of adventure. He soon arrives at Queen Gloriana's Feast of Adventures, where he makes friends with a mysterious squire named Arthur. But after a veiled lady recruits him to help her slay a dragon, and the special armor she provides makes him a target for every wicked witch and wizard in Faerieland, can George still save the day?

If you or someone you know likes sword fights, friendship, and comedy, give this book a try! Good for ages 10 and up.

The beautiful character art on the cover is by Sarah Rios (Courtesy of Cat). She's been amazing to work with. Find her here: Courtesy of Cat Commission Page

I've drafted another six books and two and a half novellas in the series, so I'm hoping to bring them out relatively quickly. Each book is a stand-alone story featuring a different hero, so there are no cliffhangers between books. However, although the books are self-contained, the main characters of each volume do have a tendency to turn up in each other's books. George usually visits to be helpful, but some of the others seem to appear just so they can argue!


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