Hello, and welcome

I live in the land of palm trees and gulf breezes. Dolphins pass under the dock, and seeing them never gets old. They are magnificent. There is magic in this world if you look hard enough.

As much as I love it outside, I can't write there. I write in a quaint room upstairs. My son once called it HP's room under the stairs, and he isn't wrong: the staircase narrows as you climb, the wall art turns a little gothic, and the room has slanted ceilings, family treasures, and a strange, wonderful vibe. I haven't seen a ghost yet. I won't be surprised when I do.

Fantasy is my first love, and I enjoy writing young-adult contemporary too. I'm independently and traditionally published, and I've written under a pen name. You may have met me on a panel at a book event or a comic con. Come say hello at the next one.

Janelle Gabay Janelle browsing a used bookstore
Janelle's writing room: slanted ceilings, a narrow gothic staircase, a round window onto moonlit palm trees, and a desk with an open notebook

The room under the slanted ceilings

“I haven't seen a ghost yet. I won't be surprised when I do.”

What's coming next

Manuscript complete, working title

Bloodstones, Bargains, & Beasts

It's her day to die. Her life is bound to a bargain made a thousand years ago, and when she dies, the witches are free to take back Beldam and resurrect their cruel magic. But the dragon fails to kill her, the human king rescues her, and a royal guard with many secrets trains her to fight back.

High fantasy series, hero's journey

Draft in progress, working title

Blaise Taylor

Blaise grew up poor but determined, and she has finally made it into the exclusive House Kestrel at a prestigious university, only to discover she's not the only one with psychic abilities. A trip home for Thanksgiving, her mother's secret safe, and an annual blood ritual pull her deeper into House Kestrel than she ever wanted to go.

New adult, dark academia, secret society

Plus a dark academia paranormal novel in the works, written in the room under the slanted ceilings.

Awards

  • ✦ Florida Book Awards Silver Medal
  • ✦ Mom's Choice Award
  • ✦ Independent Author Network Book of the Year finalist
  • ✦ Family Choice Award
  • ✦ New Apple Award