Welcome to The Cache
....and get to know the man behind the map!
Michael Harrington asked me to focus on my book, Nylos in the Cache, and its release in August, but it’s really impossible to do so without talking about the people, like Michael, who have helped me bring this book to the finish line.
Michael isn’t just good at cartography, he’s a good person. And that matters. A good person creating something good is… more rare than it should be. So I wanted to share some thoughts about Michael before I jump into the map or the world of Nylos.
The man behind the map
Simply put, Michael is an extraordinary person. Michael and I worked at the same company together where I got to know him. He is a website genius (among many other things, but we’ll get to that). And as a product marketer myself, we worked together on a lot of projects.
There are a few things I would like to say about Michael.
One, he is respectful in a way that all people should be—especially in the workplace: he is kind and he never makes people feel silly or stupid or less than for what they say. He’s an advocate in the workplace for women and minorities. But he’s also respectful in the way that he challenges you. I learned so much working with him. He challenged my process, he asked questions, and he pushed back on my ideas.
I will always appreciate that.
When my husband was recovering from a terrible accident, Michael checked in on us. He drove further than he should have to drop off meals for us when my husband couldn’t walk, and he held my son who was just shy of 4 months old at the time.
And when I was struggling through the grief from my multiple miscarriages, he also checked in. He gave me a much needed hug in the office when I visited, let me know I wasn’t alone, and shared his own experience… He was always there for support and always “human first” even in the office. And I’ll never forget how he took his parental leave “loudly” to help normalize dads taking time away from work to support their families. It’s something I wish more men in the workplace would do. And he did so with great intention.
I will always appreciate that.
Third, he was one of the first to join my book club that I started at work. It grew to over 100 people! And Michael always showed up for the in-person/zoom conversations to discuss the books we were reading. I loved hearing his insights. We definitely do not share the same taste in books, though we do share the same appreciation for them. I miss the way he never missed an opportunity to bring up the excellence of a good Brandon Sanderson novel.
I will always appreciate that as well.
Okay, last detail about Michael before I talk about the Cache. He introduced me to the term “serial hobbyist” when he described himself. Over the course of the couple of years that we worked together, I’d learn what that meant. Turns out he is an excellent saxophone player. He is a dedicated lego-er (is that what they’re called?). He’s a health-focused chef. A crafty wood-worker. An avid fantasy reader (and insane Brandon Sanderson fan, may I add)... anddddd… also somehow in his spare time between all of that, work, and spending time with his family, he draws maps!
(…See where this is going?)
Michael and I no longer work together as he’s moved onto bigger and better things, but I figured Nylos in the Cache would be the perfect excuse to say hi. I sheepishly asked if he had any interest in drawing a map for my book, and I’m so glad I did, because look at what he created! Today, I present to you the world the Nylos were born in! The Cache!
When turning to self publishing, I never expected the connections I would make, or in this case, maintain. Collaborating and talking about my book has been such a thrill. Michael has taken the bits and pieces of my imagination and made them into a real place. It is truly a gift I will never forget.
The Cache
This world has shifted so many times. I’ve completely re-written the story more than a dozen of times—each time with the book starting in a different place. Oddly, I would say the place that has existed the “longest” since I started day dreaming about this world is the House of Haessig. You’ll know why that’s odd after reading the book.
The name
The Cache is a little out there for a fantasy world. I’ll be the first to admit it. However, the meaning behind it, a hidden or inaccessible place, is such a strong theme in the overall story, it was always a leading name for this world I was creating. Then there’s Cache Valley in Utah, another place that’s been made special to me by family, by blood. It was just too perfect, and so the name stuck.
The milestones
I often talk about how it’s easier to be honest when writing fiction. With the geography of this world, it is no different. Each place on the map represents something very deeply meaningful in my life. Questus represents a strict definition of righteousness. The Tunnels represent a rebellion to that singular path. Pagra represents what it looks like to be driven and willing to sacrifice anything to get what we want. These are all things I have lived…and now their places exist among mountains, deserts, and forests.
The Variety
Having moved around and traveled so often really helped me write about different landscapes and…habitats…if you will. Within this world, exists a climate that’s hot and dry like the years I spent in Las Vegas. Another climate is teaming with Florida’s humidity and rich rainforests. There are places that take me back to California’s sunny shores or the cold and snow-filled Utah winters… and more. It’s all there. Every temperature, every climate…It was all lived in by me at one point or another.
The End
While some areas of the Cache go unexplored in Book I, it only leaves plenty of time to explore those areas in Book II. Expect to see more of House of Haessig, Makani, and the Asting in Book II, with more additions to come!
Preorder Nylos in the Cache today!
The eBook is available for preorder on Amazon.com and will be released as part of the Kindle Unlimited program on August 5, 2025.
The paperback will be available multiple platforms including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more on August 5th, 2025. The preorder for paperbacks is live now and only available on my official website. Paperbacks preordered on my website include perks like a preorder discount and signed copies!