Murphy – Local resident Karrisa Van dabbles in magic in her new book, Tried and True, a Melody Grey Novel.
“When I was a kid,” Van said, “I grew up reading the Dragonlance collection by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis. It was a big series from 1980s fiction.”
Van liked the rich characters and plot, which allowed room for her imagination.
“That’s what I’ve tried to do in my book,” she said.
Van said she has wanted to write a book for many years, but as a full-time employee for One Support, a call center based out of Texas, and a mother to an 11-year-old daughter and 9-year old son, she had to bide her time.
Like most authors, she finally realized the perfect time would never open up, so she dedicated seven months to serious writing. The result was Tried and True, Van’s first published work.
The story, drawn from her Dungeons & Dragons roots, follows the adventures of protagonist Melody Grey, a motherless 20-something who works as a bard or performer in a magical setting. Van has high hopes for her book.
“I hope people are able to find an escape,” she said, adding, “that they will find something they can identify with and start having some conversations that are long over due.”
Van tackled a topical theme in her book as her characters struggle with consent. Melody, not unlike her creator, is a strong female lead.
“I’m a confident person,” Van said with a laugh.
Van plans to write the sequel in 2023 but is branching out in 2024.
“I’m working on an historical romance fiction about mermaids,” she said.
Outside of her literary endeavors, Van is co-founder of the Green Grotto Community, an organization dedicated to assisting homeless veterans and single parents with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Her book is available at The Curiosity Shop in Murphy, Wall Street Books in Waynesville and Blue Moon Books in Canton, Ga. It’s also available online via Amazon and Barnes & Noble.