Penn Cole: Fighting for Fantasy, One Fierce Flame at a Time

In a genre too often plagued by gatekeeping and antiquated standards, author Penn Cole has emerged as a formidable voice—an advocate, disruptor, and undeniable force within the fantasy romance space. Her presence is more than literary—it's a reclamation of a world long fenced off to female authors under the guise of “serious fantasy.” With her Kindred Cursed Saga, she doesn’t just pen stories—she dismantles stigmas.

“Women have every right to be within the fantasy space. Romance doesn’t dilute fantasy—it humanizes it.” —Penn Cole

For decades, fantasy written by women—especially fantasy with romantic elements—has been swept into the confines of YA, regardless of content, complexity, or intended audience. The unspoken bias? That women couldn’t possibly build worlds, architect layered lore, or weave epic tales with the same gravitas as their male counterparts. Penn doesn’t just challenge that notion—she incinerates it. This has unfortunately been a space where women are hauntingly criticized and set victim to the backlash of insecure men, she stands to make it known women have a place in this space, too. 

In addition to being witch hunted in this space, over the past few years, women authors have increasingly found themselves under a critical lens—not because their readers are displeased, but because their content is deemed “too mature” for the marketing category publishers have shoehorned them into. When asked about this troubling misplacement, Penn is both frank and fearless.

“It’s the publisher’s responsibility to ensure books are categorized correctly. Unfortunately, women are repeatedly mislabeled as YA simply because of the stigma—because we write romance, write intimacy, write sex, it is assumed it isn’t robust enough to be considered outside of the YA space.”

These themes—love, lust, longing—are not distractions from the fantasy. For Penn, they are the heartbeat. To dismiss them is to erase the full spectrum of human (and in many cases, inhuman) experience.

From Courtroom to Kingdoms

Penn Cole didn’t begin her journey as a full-time author. Before epic fantasy worlds, there were courtrooms. Before Kindred Cursed, there was a legal career. But life, as it so often does, pivoted.

When she and her husband moved to France—a place she described as a source of shared joy—the change brought with it both risk and revelation. Unable to find a role in law overseas, Penn took it as a sign. The door to law quietly closed; the gate to her imagination swung wide open.

“France felt like a homecoming. When I couldn’t continue law, I realized—maybe this was the push I needed to take writing seriously.”

Thus began the journey of the Kindred Cursed Saga, a world not only built from rich mythology and slow-burning tension but also from a deep internal resolve to carve her own path.

The Slowest of Burns—and We Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way

Penn designed her saga as a rapid release, debuting Spark June 1st, 2023, Glow July 18th 2023 and Heat, September 13th, 20th. Yet within this swift schedule lies a delicious paradox: Penn may just be the queen of the slowest slow burns in the romantasy kingdom.

We asked her how intentional the pacing was. She laughed, genuinely, admitting that it was supposed to be even slower.

“My beta readers would have rioted.” —Penn Cole (We gasped. They were right.)

As readers ourselves, we can attest: the tension is exquisitely torturous. Every charged glance, every unresolved moment, leaves you equal parts devastated and desperate. If emotional masochism is an art form, Penn is a master.

Indie or Traditional? Yes.

We then turned to a topic authors are constantly navigating—indie versus traditional publishing. Penn has experienced both, and her insights are sharp and candid.

“It all depends on what you’re desiring. But if there’s one thing I learned early: Don’t sell your audio rights.”

Penn shared her own misstep—signing away her audio rights early on in her career for a dollar amount that, at the time, seemed exciting.

“I saw a number on a piece of paper and thought, ‘That looks great!’ But now, I have no say in how my audiobook is produced.”

She’s quick to note that while traditional publishing comes with support, marketing, translation opportunities (her books are now in 18 languages), and financial backing, it does not guarantee more income. In fact, many indie authors are thriving—financially and creatively.

“Just because you’re indie doesn’t mean you can’t be successful. Once you’ve found your audience, they’ll fight for you. They’ll advocate for you. They’ll be your biggest cheerleaders.”

“I love my community. They’re some of the most loyal, loving people I’ve ever known.”

Still, Penn acknowledges the value of traditional publishing—especially for authors looking for broader distribution, translation, and time to focus solely on the craft. But no matter which path you choose, her advice remains the same: “Advocate for yourself. If something doesn’t feel right, speak up. Stand up for your story. For your voice.”

The Spark Becoming the Burn

With the release of Books 1, 2, and 3 of the Kindred Cursed Saga, the flames of Penn’s literary legacy are only growing. Every detail—from artwork to interior endpapers—has intention. Each book carries a transformation, a subtle visual cue woven through the design: a Spark becoming a Burn.

“It tells a story without saying a word.” —Penn Cole

As for what’s next, the final installment of the saga looms like a raging inferno on the horizon. Readers—ourselves included—are hungry for the conclusion to Luther and Diem’s journey. But Penn isn’t just wrapping up a series. She’s celebrating it, too.

The Kindred Cursed Ball, hosted by Mountains and Magic Events in Castle Rock,  is a full-scale bookish event, sanctioned and set to be MC’d by Fantasy Fan Girls (see the full companion article in this volume). It promises to be more than a celebration—it’s a coronation.

We ended our interview by asking Penn what she would recommend as a favorite read of hers. Without hesitation, she replied, “Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey.” Her reasoning wasn’t rooted in romance, but in the novel’s masterful political intrigue, its unapologetically strong female protagonist, and its richly layered historical backdrop. With over 83,000 reviews and a commanding presence in the fantasy genre, it’s clear how deeply this book has influenced Penn’s own work. Much like Kushiel's Dart, Penn doesn’t shy away from politics—or from speaking the truth about the world around us.

“For people who enjoy classic fantasy, (like Lord of the Rings) this was written at a time when no one else was writing this. It’s forbidden romance, politicas, a lot of prose, very poetic writing style, with an epic fantasy feel. She was one of the very first mainstream romantasy authors, she set me on this path and so I forever recommend her writing. Her style is what made me love romantasy. We have to know where we have been to know where we are going. It’s good to read the early books, they set the foundation for what romantasy is today.” 

In a space long guarded by old perceptions, Penn Cole is breaking chains, lighting fires, and reminding the world:

“For all those caught in the flames, remember that the hottest fires forge the strongest swords.” - Diem - Heat of the Everflame 

And in her fire, we find a kindred spark. One we hope will keep burning for a long time to come.

Coming Soon:

Burn of the Everflame

"Thrones will shatter, knees will bend. What was forgotten will rise again..."

War has overtaken Emarion. In the north, Ophiucae and his army of bloodthirsty mortals seek to eradicate all Descended from the continent. In the south, the Guardians of the Everflame lie in wait, plotting a rebellion generations overdue.

In Lumnos, Realm of Light and Shadow, the Crowns are gathering. Caught between two deadly foes, they must form an unlikely alliance to save their people.

But the Crowns have a secret—and a heart without its mate will burn the world down to fulfill its fate.

Hatred reigns. Hope seems lost. With the future in darkness, can a flame emerge to bring the light?

Burn of the Everflame is the fourth and final book in The Kindred's Curse Saga, an epic fantasy romance series that follows our feisty, bad*ss heroine Diem Bellator in her fight against injustice, her struggle to survive in a royal palace full of betrayal and intrigue, and her journey of self-discovery and finding true love.

This slow burn, enemies-to-lovers series is perfect for fans of unique magic systems, dragons and other mythical creatures, angst and romantic tension, and hilarious banter. This book will appeal to fans of plot-heavy, character-driven romantasy such as A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, From Blood and Ash, Gild, Shadow & Bone, and The Serpent & the Wings of Night.