Blake grew up in several states across the US, found herself studying abroad in—and loved—France and Scotland during high school, but currently resides in Japan with her two rescue cats.
Some of her favorite authors from her youth include Tamora Pierce, Brian Jacques and Anne Rice, but credit goes to The Hobbit at age 8 that got her to make the switch from The Babysitter's Club and Goosebumps to The Chronicles of Narnia.
Always creative, Blake went on to study Sequential Art at the Savannah College of Art and Design. There she learned the art of telling stories—pacing, story arcs, leading the eye, etc.—in illustration, storyboarding, animation, and comics.
Tragedy struck Blake in the last year at college when a drunk driver hit her car, rendering it impossible to draw without pain for many years. With that and more tragedies at home, she found solace in an online TTRPG series just starting out: Critical Role. Shortly after, she bought her first book back into the world of fantasy: The Last Stormlord by Glenda Larke. It would take another near-death experience to light a fire under Blake to begin writing the stories she carried in her head and put her lived trauma onto paper.
Find her a story with realistic drama, overcoming obstacles both internal and external, some sword fighting, magic and a sprinkling of romance and Blake would probably read it. But twist those tropes and she would probably write it.
Blake is currently seeking representation and can be reached in the contact form below.
FAQ
Q: I heard something about "boukentasy." What is it?
A: It's a word I have invented to encompass a genre in fantasy that has inspirations from Japan: setting, monsters, politics, and so on. "Bouken," pronounced "bow" like rainbow and "ken" like Barbie and Ken, means adventure or risk in Japanese. I think it flows well with the suffix -tasy, from fantasy, to encourage feelings of magic and mythical creatures.
Q: Have you published anything before?
A: As of 2025, no. But I will be submitting short stories to journals and magazines when the right ones open up and am currently querying my fantasy novel.
Q: Is there spice in your books?
A: Short answer, yes.
Long answer, I prefer to use story relevant "spicy" scenes for character growth. As readers, we cry when something tragic happens. We get excited when something fortunate happens. We get worried when the MC is injured. We get angry when something doesn't go the way the MC wants... Why are romance and intimacy not a part of our journey with the MC, especially if we are learning something about them?
So no, the "spice" doesn't reach 5 peppers, but it's not completely closed door either.
Q: Why be inspired by Japan? You're not Japanese, are you?
A: Short answer, my grandmother lived in Japan when I was just born. She nutured that part of me for my entire life until the day she passed, customs, tea parties, hanami, all the holidays and festivals, different foods and art. So when I had the opportunity to move to Japan in 2019, I wasted no breath making that happen. I'm no expert on the culture or history, but I have been able to take off my rose-tinted glasses and appreciate way more with first hand experiences these past years. My sensitivity readers were born and raised in Japan. They love MCITW. Yes, this was the short answer.
Q: But haven't you lived abroad in other (more Western) countries? Write about those.
A: I intend to. I have two other WIPs set in very different places. I'll use my first-hand experiences in those novels as well.
Q: I heard you commission art.
A: Yup, I draw too. You can check my IG art account for when my comms are open. @biscuitstrunk
Stay tuned for an update here in the next month or sooner.
Q: Is this your first novel?
A: Short answer, no.
Long answer, I've never published the other works, nor did I try. One was about a firefighter rescuing a fire-fairy. Another about a blacksmith's son making friends with a dragon. Another about a circus. Another about a daugther's inheritance and greedy family. Another about a prophecy. Anyways, I knew I had room to grow. Unfortunately, I lost them in the winter of '24. There is no recovering them. And as for MCITW, I'm on an entirely new story, with entirely new characters, who have entirely new motivations, you get the picture, right? It's nothing like it was decades ago when I conceived it.