Hello

Hayley Arens writes romantic fantasy drenched in yearning and whimsy. If not writing, she can be found collecting artsy hobbies like infinity stones. She lives in Kentucky with her husband and their two dogs.

THE DIVINING WILDS

ON SUBMISSION SOON

Lights Out meets Holly Black in this adult romantic fantasy perfect for fans of the Appalachian setting in The Starling House and the creature medicine of Strange Familiars, exploring the power in small acts of kindness and what it truly means to be human.

Blair Byrne never would have saved the stranger if she’d known he wasn’t human. It’s dangerous to bargain with the fae, but he must fulfill his life debt, and pledges to take care of her. Only, their bargain supersedes a centuries old treaty protecting the Byrne family diviners from fae scheming. Suddenly, Blair is without a safety net, pursued by dangerous coal-mine-owning princelings, murderous redneck redcaps, and fiendish banshee queens—the only person she can turn to for help is the lovesick half-fae who got her into this mess.

Other Projects

(Not)Ghost WIP: PRACTICAL MAGIC meets THE STARLING HOUSE, where the murderous ghosts are not ghosts and generational curses are a metaphor for passed down trauma.

Wish WIP: SWEET HOME ALABAMA meets HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, in a second chance romance where exes have to break their (accidental) magically binding promise to marry.

Museum WIP: EMILY WILDE'S ENCYCLOPAEDIA FOR FAERIES meets BOOK LOVERS, exploring complicated family dynamics alongside a museum of magical artifacts wreaking havoc, and a workplace romance.

Space WIP: THE MUMMY meets DOCTOR WHO but sixties space age, with a haters-to-lovers romance, a mysterious galactic illness, and a planet-sized library.

About

Hayley Arens grew up telling herself bedtime stories, and once she got old enough, started writing them down. Though her early work featured more canon characters than original, the yearning has never changed. She gravitates toward stories that mix fantasy into the ordinary: real heroines, real problems amidst lush and whimsical settings. She is represented by Brent Taylor.Outside of writing, she collects artsy hobbies: painting, pottery, jewelry making, and sewing. And after watching LOTR too many times, has developed very hobbit-like interests: baking, gardening, sunny days spent in greenhouses, checking out all the local breweries. She works in Healthcare by day, and lives in Central Kentucky with her husband and their two dogs, General Leia and River Song.

Contact

If you'd like to message me directly, please fill out this form.For professional inquiries, I am represented by Brent Taylor.