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Emily Barnett

@embarnettauthor

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Redeemed | Wife & Mama
Storyteller of Fantasy & Sci Fi
🐈 Cottage of Quirks (Oct 2026)
Rep: Andrea Morrison, @writershouseagency

POSTS STORIES REELS

Hello!

My name is Emily and I love writing poignant and wonder-filled stories. Most of my works are fantasy or sci fi (or have some speculative element) and I would describe my voice as lyrical, moody, and sometimes just plain wacky—depending on the age group and genre. I’m a wife, a boy mom of two, a homeschool teacher, a follower of Christ, a gardener, and artist on occasion. I love to encourage other writers; my feed will always be one of lifting up rather than tearing down. I hope you stick around, I’d love to get to know you!

#emilybarnettauthor by @embarnettauthor

✨MY PROJECTS✨

FLIPPITY GILBERT’S COTTAGE OF QUIRKS
—MG Cozy Fantasy
Fearful Flip inherits a sentient cottage that sends him and his cat on (very dangerous) adventures through its many portals, including doorways, wardrobes, and bathtubs.
(Novella written as a family Read Aloud)
—Publishing this year!

PROJECT SCRAPPERS—MG Sci Fi trilogy
Gem Crew scours the galaxy for ship parts until they fall in with a crime lord and are coerced into a dangerous mission of thievery. Will Captain Jo and her crew continue down a path of self-interest, or will they learn to fight for more than themselves? (Guardians of the Galaxy X Skeleton Crew X Stranger Things)
—Rewrites

THE BOTANIST—YA Fantasy
A magical botanist must save the manor, the father, and the girl who once broke his heart.
(Fantastic Beasts X Persuasion)
—On sub

THE ILLUSIONIST—YA Fantasy
The son of a crime boss and the daughter of the limelight clash at a magical school that harbors darker secrets than what lies within their hearts. (Harry Potter X Pride & Prejudice)—On sub

ORPHEUS—MG Fantasy
Anora befriends a dangerous dragon in hopes of finding a cure for the dwindling magic in her town. (Wingfeather Saga x The Ogress and the Orphans)—with betas

WINTER—YA Fantasy
When Spring is killed, her three sisters must find the culprit and the cure before the land reverts to seasonal chaos. (Little Women x Fae & Magic)

LIGHTHOUSE—Thriller/Speculative
The island makes you forget your sins, then holds you captive.
(Piranesi X Lost)

THREAD OF DREAMS—YA Science Fantasy
Nova steals dreams to save her dying planet but then meets a human boy already dreaming of her. (A Wrinkle in Time X Skyward) (out of print) by @embarnettauthor

When Flippity Gilbert inherits a Yorkshire cottage from a mysterious uncle, he is hesitant to leave his comfortable—albeit dull—life in America behind. Flip and his cat take one look at the dilapidated place and decide to sell. That is, until the teapot magically pours itself and the walls begin to speak. The Cottage is sentient, and it needs Flip’s help. The only way the cautious man can ever have peace again is to find the Cottage’s stolen bricks scattered through time and space.

Unfortunately, Flip’s middle name is Johan, not Adventure. But as he meets odd and dangerous creatures, befriends a neighbor woman who reminds him of sunshine, and learns his cat can talk (and lovingly despises him in the way only a cat can), Flippity realizes he has more capacity for bravery, compassion, and creativity than he ever thought possible.

In a place where every doorway, window, picture frame, and light switch holds a portal, Flip has no idea where he will end up next. What happens if the Cottage doesn’t get what it wants? And what happens when Flip begins to feel content in a house that has no intention of being a home?

🐈🐈🐈

FLIPPITY GILBERT’S COTTAGE OF QUIRKS is a cozy Middle Grade novella that can be enjoyed quietly or read aloud to the whole family.

Coming Oct 9th, 2026 by @embarnettauthor

I adored receiving this audio of @writerfullyalive and her daughter discussing FLIPPITY GILBERT’S COTTAGE OF QUIRKS. Just don’t tell Andrew Peterson what she said (he’s actually one of my biggest inspirations, so I’m honored! 😉)

At church on Sunday a little boy showed me a picture of Mildred he was drawing while listening to the sermon.

These are no kirkus reviews.

Nope. They’re even better.

🐈🐈🐈 by @embarnettauthor

If you’re looking for a fast-paced read aloud for your family during the cozy months, may I recommend FLIPPITY GILBERT’S COTTAGE OF QUIRKS? This MG book was born out of my love for whimsy and reading funny/adventure books to my sons (they even got to help me name the villain!).

Reviews from adults are cool (thanks for those—they’re helping my book get seen!) but when I get a message or text or email from a parent passing along a note from their young reader, I grin from ear to ear.

I have plenty of stories for you adults and older teens. But this one? This one’s for the kids (and the kids at heart). 💛

🐈🐈🐈

When Flippity Gilbert inherits a Yorkshire cottage from a mysterious uncle, he is hesitant to leave his comfortable—albeit dull—life in America behind. Flip and his cat take one look at the dilapidated place and decide to sell.

That is, until the teapot magically pours itself and the walls begin to speak. The Cottage is sentient, and it needs Flip’s help. The only way the cautious man can ever have peace again is to find the houses’ stolen bricks scattered through time and space.

But what happens if the Cottage doesn’t get what it wants? And what happens when Flip begins to feel content in a house that has no intention of being a home?

🐈🐈🐈

Paperback and Kindle available now through Amazon! (Also, the varying color for my cover is cracking me up—thanks printers 😬. It also tends to change depending on lighting. Or maybe it’s like a mood ring and it’s picking up on Mildred’s sass and charm?) by @embarnettauthor

Since it is National Cat Day, I had to highlight my favorite cat (which is a fictional cat… for reasons) from FLIPPITY GILBERT’S COTTAGE OF QUIRKS, my MG adventure fantasy!

The first illustration is mine, but the rest are Mildred Fan Art I’ve received from kids! It’s one of my favorite parts of being an author—hearing what you enjoyed in the story. And Mildred is a crowd favorite.

Parents! Send me your kid’s drawings either by DM or email. I love them so!! 🐈 by @embarnettauthor

Look at that pretty book stack. 🥹

Flippity Gilbert’s Cottage of Quirks is about a slightly paranoid man and his cat being launched into adventures by a sentient cottage. It’s all quite alarming. And endearing.

For kids, but with their parents in mind too. 😉

Find it now on Amazon! by @embarnettauthor

Do you love Middle Grade stories?

I sincerely adored this sweet (and funny!) MG book by @annvalwrites! It had everything I love in middle grade: Humor, witty writing, creative POVs, and poignancy. (Plus the illustrations are beautiful! My 7yo said so too!)

If you haven’t given Ann Val a read yet, please snag her book with @twenty_hills. I can’t wait to read what comes next from her!!

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I will be highlighting some great books I’ve been reading or are on my TBR via my Substack this week. So make sure to subscribe! by @embarnettauthor

Good morning, friends!

Thanks for being on this literary journey with me! Here’s a little bit about the author behind the stories:

My mom liked the name Emmy Lou Harris so I was named Emily Louise.

I’m 5’11 (elf height but more hobbity)

My husband won me over by getting Weezer tickets for our first date (my favorite band at the time) and writing me a birthday poetry comic.

I tend to watch more sci fi and read more fantasy, but I love both genres.

I homeschool our 7 and 10 year old boys and I never thought I would! The only silver lining of covid was that it kickstarted our journey when my oldest was in pre-k. We never looked back.

A few books that live rent free in my brain are Holes, Piranesi, Skyward, Return of the King, Emily of New Moon, The Goblet of Fire, the Lunar Chronicles, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Lockwood & Co., and Perelandra.

We have two Aussie pups and I mostly don’t regret it. Just kidding. They’re pretty great. Ash is currently licking my hand wondering why I’m not petting him.

I love nature and finding random flowers or bugs or birds in the woods near our home.

Some favorite movies are the LOTR trilogy, the marvel movies (Tony Stark’s arc is one of the best out there, but Spiderman takes the cake for me), Penelope, Sense & Sensibility (1995), & This Beautiful Fantastic.

I began writing my first novel 7 years ago when my youngest was 2 months old. I could not have done it with my first (hello, postpartum & anxiety), but with Ru I didn’t feel the weight of the world and could enter into the craft. I have been hooked since.

My favorite food would be street tacos.

And most importantly: I’m a follower of Christ and I’m so thankful for Him. My stories always have themes of my faith woven in them: redemption, hope when darkness falls, sacrifice in love, life and death, new life, the effects of sin, the afterlife, the unseen, and Wonder.

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What is one thing we have in common?

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Looking for a MG read full of adventure, sci fi, fantasy, mystery, humor and poignant moments? FLIPPITY GILBERT’S COTTAGE OF QUIRKS is out now! It’s like a broth of all the things I love, boiled down into 12 chapters. Find it on Amazon! by @embarnettauthor

Do you enjoy stories full of creative settings, silly characters, and poignant moments for your kids?

How about for yourself?

FLIPPITY GILBERT’S COTTAGE OF QUIRKS was written as a read aloud for my sons. Now, it’s for you too.

But don’t just take my word for it. Here’s the next lovely endorsement by my dear friend @melody.trowell who I met in person a few years back (and can’t wait to see again one day!). If you have yet to try out her fairy tale then please do! (It reminded me of The Light Princess by George MacDonald!)

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“Are you quite ready for another adventure? Jump through these pages into myriad worlds! This book reignites our natural curiosity and childlike imagination. Barnett’s pitch perfect balance of humor and depth softens us back up to the idea that we are all inherently connected no matter where we live. And, when you’re finished adventuring, you’ll remember that home is a people, not a place.”

—Melody Trowell, author of THE GIRL WHOSE FROWN SHOOK THE GROUND

✨✨✨ by @embarnettauthor

We officially enter the post-book-release silence. Like the after effects of a parade with confetti and squished candy littering a quiet road. It’s a normal transition. A parade can only last a couple hours at most after all. And once you hand your book to the world, each copy takes its own little journey through homes, imaginations, families, and hearts. And that’s quiet work. Work we may never hear about. But maybe that’s part of the beauty of stories. They are no longer ours but a shared experience with others.

But the quiet can also make me twitchy, if I’m honest. (This is not a plea to hurry up and read my book, I promise!) It’s a reminder that waiting is okay and even good. This path I’m on is one of learned patience and perseverance. It’s full of roadblocks and hurdles and dead ends, and sometimes, victories.

Each day is a gift. Sitting in the quiet with the Lord, being content with Him alone, is something I’m praying to keep growing in.

So as the parade dies down and the candy sits badly in my stomach (I’m old, okay?) then hopefully I can enjoy the beauty of each moment of this journey and not wish away the in-betweens.

Have you felt impatient for something recently? by @embarnettauthor

I’ve been watching a lot of @britishbakeoff as fall settles over the Midwest and I couldn’t help but compare it to my Middle Grade book, FLIPPITY GILBERT’S COTTAGE OF QUIRKS!

☕️High personal stakes

☕️A cozy British setting

☕️A man who is out of his element and a nervous wreck

☕️Found family

☕️The Tent/Cottage looks bigger on the inside

☕️Food so good it seems magical

☕️A cast of quirky characters

Can you think of any other comparisons?

🐈Maybe a sassy but funny sidekick (Noel & Mildred?) by @embarnettauthor