Each month we work indie author from our community to shine the spotlight on them and their work. We want to celebrate their achievements, give you insights into their process and expose our readers to some wildly talented folks you may not have heard of before. This month we're featuring Karla Molina, Author of The Veil of Embers Sit back, put the kettle on and get to know Karla!

Hi Karla, thanks for agreeing to an interview with us, and welcome to the cosy corner of Caffeine & Legends! We have to start with our most telling question: What’s your beverage of choice—coffee, tea, or drinking chocolate?

 I live off coffee in the mornings and green tea in the evenings. My mornings are usually busy with kids, events, and work, so taking even fifteen minutes to sit down with my coffee is my quiet moment before the day really begins. It’s something I’ve come to rely on, and honestly, it’s necessary.

Evenings feel more like a ritual. I have this floral teapot I absolutely adore, and making tea has become a way to slow everything down. I boil the water, steep a couple of tea bags, and sit with a book or whatever I’m working on next. It’s something small I do for myself to unwind and take a few moments to breathe. 

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your debut novel, Veil of Embers? 

’m a mom of three with a lifelong love of art, travel, and books. Before becoming a mother, I worked as an early childhood educator for a time, but storytelling has always been something I’ve carried with me.

Writing a book was a dream I held onto for years, but it truly began to take shape during the early years of raising my children. During those late nights, when sleep was scarce, I would  find myself on the phone with my mother. She has always had a deep love for nature, gardening, druids, and many of our conversations were around folklore, Samhain (Halloween) and stories revolving around that time. 

It was on one of those late nights, what started as curiosity quickly turned into a deep dive into Irish mythology and folklore, and from there, the idea for my debut novel was born. 

Between the literary award, physical book store presence, and upcoming special edition, it seems like you’re pretty business savvy! What has that process been like for you with your debut?

I originally set out wanting to be traditionally published, and during that time of querying, researching, and really trying to understand the industry, I learned so much about the process. I’m still learning and building today but It was also a lot of stepping outside my comfort zone. Putting myself out there didn’t come naturally to me, and I didn’t have everything figured out, not even close. But I think that willingness to learn, adapt, and keep showing up made all the difference.

You seem passionate about art, and your book cover looks amazing! What do you think makes for good cover art, and how did you find your artist?

Art has always been really important to me. I’ve always loved it, and when I first started this process, I actually tried to learn digital art myself with the intention of creating my own cover and characters. But with my debut approaching and the learning curve involved, I quickly realized I wasn’t anywhere near where I wanted to be. So I shifted my focus to finding the right artist. I wanted something that immediately sparked excitement, which, to me, is what makes a good book cover. It’s the first impression you get to make on readers, and you want that impression to be something they don’t forget. Finding someone whose style aligns with your genre and still feels current is incredibly important, especially if you want the book to stand out in a crowded market.

I found Llysaan while scrolling through art, and I was instantly drawn to her style. There was something about her work that just clicked for me, and I knew right away she was the one I wanted to work with. I reached out on a bit of a whim, even though her page wasn’t specifically focused on book art, but I saw that she did commercial work and worked with authors, so I took the chance.

She’s been incredible to work with. Not only did she create the cover, she’s worked on the map, interior elements like headers and breaks, and is continuing with me into book two with the next cover and additional character art.

What’s next for you? 

Right now, my focus is Book two. Which is set to release toward the end of this year, and it’s a bit of a shift in pace. Where the first book leans more into character and world-building, book two really opens things up. It’s a lot more action, higher stakes, and deeper exploration of the world, which I’m really excited about. Book three is already well underway so I’m looking forward to sharing all that’s to come in the Threadfire Series. 

At the same time, I do have other projects in progress, including an urban fantasy that I’ve been developing alongside the series. 

So to answer the question, I have a few things planned but I’m focused on continuing to grow as an author, expanding my reach, and getting to know my readers. 

Thanks for chatting with us, Karla! Anything you’d like to say to our readers to close off?

To everyone who’s picked up my book or supported me in any way, thank you. It means more than I can put into words. 

Karla Molina is the author of the Threadfire Series, writing immersive fantasy and romantasy inspired by Irish mythology and Celtic folklore. Her stories blend atmospheric worlds, slow-burn romance, and found-family bonds with morally complex characters. When she isn’t writing, Karla can usually be found baking, drinking far too much coffee, and getting lost in a good book with her family nearby.