Touched by Light, Marked
by Mia B
Released: May 09, 2026
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Why this book and why now?
Touched by Light, Marked by Song was the book that arrived the moment my life cracked open. After seventeen years in oncology nursing, I hit a breaking point that forced me to finally ask who I was beneath all the roles I had been carrying. The story came during that year of rebuilding, a mix of shadow work, travel, and learning how to breathe again. It felt like the right time because I was finally brave enough to write women who are powerful, messy, magical, and still worthy of love. This book is the version of me that survived, healed, and chose to begin again.
What is a significant way your book has changed since either the first draft or the way you thought it would turn out when you first had the inspiration?
In the first draft, the story was much quieter, almost polite. Then the characters staged a coup. Suddenly the magic was darker, the emotions were louder, and the romance refused to stay subtle. What started as a gentle fantasy about healing turned into a full sapphic romantasy with teeth, wings, and a heroine who absolutely refused to behave. I didn’t so much write the final version as negotiate with it.
Would you and your main character(s) get along?
HELL YES! My two main characters were inspired by me and my wife, so getting along with them is basically guaranteed. One of them carries my softness and emotional chaos, and the other carries my wife’s calm logic and quiet strength. Together they balance each other the same way we do in real life. So yes, we would get along perfectly, mostly because I already live with the original versions.
Do your character names have special significance or meaning?
Nymera’s name carries two layers of meaning. “Nyx” comes from night, reflecting her quiet strength, her shadows, and the parts of herself she keeps hidden. “Mera” is tied to the sea, symbolising depth, emotion and the way she loves with the force of a tide. Together, her name means night and the love of the ocean, which fits her perfectly.
Zevara’s name was created to hold contrast. It carries the softness of something mysterious and gentle, but also the quiet danger of someone who can destroy you with a single choice. Her name reflects her entire essence, beautiful, enigmatic and not to be underestimated.
Did any real-life events or personal experiences influence the story?
Absolutely! The entire emotional backbone of the book comes from my own year of unravelling and rebuilding. The themes of burnout, identity, chosen family, and learning to take up space all came directly from my life. Even the magic system is rooted in somatic healing and the idea that the body remembers everything, including the light we forget we carry.
How does it feel to finally share this book with readers?
It feels surreal in the best way. This story lived inside me through one of the most transformative periods of my life, so releasing it feels a little like handing someone my heart wrapped in pretty paper. I am excited, nervous, proud and slightly feral all at once, which I think is the correct emotional state for any author hitting “publish.”
Is there anything you wish readers knew before diving into this book?
I hope readers know that this book was written with a lot of tenderness, even in its darker moments. Every piece of magic, every emotional spiral, every moment of softness came from a very real place. It is a story about healing, identity and choosing yourself even when it feels impossible. If they go in with an open heart, the book will meet them there.
What’s one fun fact about your book that most people wouldn’t know?
One fun fact is that the entire magic system was inspired by somatic healing. Every ability in the book is tied to the body remembering things we pretend we’ve forgotten. Also, one scene exists purely because I misheard something my wife said and thought, “Actually… that would be a great plot twist.”
What TV show would your main character(s) most likely binge watch and why?
Nymera would binge watch “Shadow and Bone.”
She would fall in love with the atmospheric magic, the emotional tension, and the way the characters carry their trauma like armour. She would call it “studying worldbuilding,” but really she just enjoys the dramatic lighting and the yearning.
Zevara would binge watch “Killing Eve.”
She would admire the intelligence, the danger, the slow burn obsession, and the morally grey women who could ruin your life with a smile. She would pretend she’s watching it for the plot, but everyone knows better.
What’s your main character(s)’s favorite book and why?
Nymera’s favourite book would be “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern.
She would be drawn to the lyrical writing, the quiet magic, the sense of destiny, and the way love feels like a spell cast slowly over time. It matches her soul.
Zevara’s favourite book would be “The Priory of the Orange Tree” by Samantha Shannon.
She would love the powerful women, the dragons, the political tension, and the unapologetic strength woven through every page. She would never admit it, but she rereads her favourite chapters.
One of your main characters is planning a romantic night. Tell us about it.
Nymera would plan the kind of romantic night that looks effortless but actually took her three days of overthinking. She’d set up a quiet spot by the water, pack food she pretends she cooked (but absolutely ordered), and light far too many candles for someone who works with magic. Zevara would show up pretending she didn’t notice the effort, but the moment Nymera relaxes, she’d pull her close, tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, and whisper something that ruins Nymera for the rest of the night. It’s soft, intimate, and just chaotic enough to feel like them.
Which character do you relate to the most, and why?
I relate most to Nymera. She carries softness like armour, feels everything too deeply, and still chooses to love with her whole chest. Her journey of learning to take up space mirrors my own.
Were there any scenes or characters that surprised you as you wrote?
Yes, several. Some emotional scenes arrived out of nowhere, especially moments where the characters confronted truths, I wasn’t ready to admit in my own life. And one side character who was supposed to appear briefly ended up stealing entire chapters because she refused to leave. The story kept revealing layers I didn’t plan, which is my favourite kind of surprise.
Which character was the most fun to write, and which was the hardest?
Zevara was the most fun, she’s mysterious, sharp, quietly dangerous, and her dialogue practically wrote itself. Nymera was the hardest, not because she’s difficult, but because she’s the closest to me. Writing her meant being honest about softness, fear, desire, and healing. It was rewarding, but it demanded vulnerability.
If your book were to be adapted into a movie or TV show, who would be your dream cast?
For Nymera, I imagine someone with the emotional depth of Adria Arjona: soft, expressive, and quietly powerful.
For Zevara, someone with the intensity and magnetic presence of Sofia Boutella: elegant, dangerous, and impossible to look away from.
The rest of the cast would be a mix of rising actresses with strong sapphic‑energy screen presence, because this world deserves a lineup of women who can command a scene with a single look.
Did any of your characters surprise you by developing in unexpected ways?
Nymera surprised me by becoming braver and more emotionally honest than I expected; she kept stepping into scenes with a softness that carried more power than any spell. Zevara surprised me in the opposite direction, she was meant to be controlled and mysterious, but she kept revealing flashes of vulnerability that made her far more human than I planned. Even a side character I intended to appear once ended up carving out her own emotional arc because she refused to stay quiet.
If you could spend a day with one character from the book, who would it be and why?
I would spend the day with Zevara. Not because she’s the safest choice, she absolutely isn’t. But because she sees the world with a clarity I admire. She notices everything, speaks only when it matters, and carries a kind of quiet intensity that makes even ordinary moments feel meaningful. I’d follow her around for a day just to see what she sees and maybe learn a little about my own blind spots along the way.
Publishing a book is a huge accomplishment and it’s time to party! Choose a celebratory beverage for one of your main characters to toast the release of your new book.
Zevara would toast with a classic gin and tonic, no nonsense, no garnish fuss, just crisp, clean, and brutally honest.
It fits her perfectly: sharp, refreshing, and impossible to misinterpret. She’s not the type to order something whimsical or sweet; she wants a drink that gets straight to the point, just like she does. The simplicity is the point; it’s her way of celebrating without pretending to be someone she isn’t.
What song does your character put on to start your book launch party?
Zevara would put on “Cosmic Love” by Florence + The Machine.
It’s intense, emotional, and filled with the kind of soaring energy that feels like magic cracking open the sky. She’d never admit it, but the song reminds her of the way Nymera’s presence shifts her entire world. It sets the tone: dramatic, powerful, and a little unhinged: exactly the vibe of the book.
If your book had a scent, what would it smell like?
Moonlit water, wild jasmine, old books, and the faintest trace of storm‑charged air.
A mix of softness and danger, the kind of scent that feels familiar and otherworldly at the same time.
If your book had a signature dessert, what would it be?
A dark chocolate tart with sea‑salt flakes and a lavender cream swirl.
Rich, emotional, a little intense, but softened by something unexpectedly gentle. It’s the perfect blend of Nymera’s sweetness and Zevara’s edge.
Your characters are throwing a party—what’s the theme?
“Celestial Night Market.”
Lanterns floating in the air, glowing runes, soft music, enchanted trinkets, and food stalls that smell like magic and memory. It’s intimate, atmospheric, and just chaotic enough to feel like home for both of them.
If your book had an official mascot, what (or who) would it be?
A tiny bioluminescent fox that glows brighter when it senses strong emotions.
It’s cute, magical, slightly mischievous, and absolutely capable of exposing everyone’s feelings, which fits the book’s themes a little too well.
Do you outline your books in detail, or do you prefer to discover the story as you write?
I’m a discovery writer at heart. I start with a feeling, a few key scenes, and the emotional arc, then the characters drag me through the rest. I outline just enough to avoid chaos, but I always leave space for the story to surprise me. And it always does.
Were there any books, movies, or personal experiences that influenced this story?
Yes. The emotional core of the book came from my own year of burnout, healing, and rebuilding my identity. In terms of media, I drew inspiration from the atmospheric magic of The Night Circus, the emotional intensity of Shadow and Bone, and the quiet, powerful relationships found in sapphic fiction. Everything blended into something uniquely mine.
Do you have any writing rituals or habits?
I light a candle, put on a playlist that feels like moonlit magic, and make myself a drink, usually tea, sometimes something stronger if the chapter is emotionally chaotic. I also reread the last paragraph I wrote to slip back into the mood. It’s simple, but it works every time.
Who are your biggest literary influences?
Erin Morgenstern for atmosphere, Samantha Shannon for worldbuilding, and every sapphic author who writes women with depth, power, and vulnerability. They shaped the way I think about magic, emotion, and the kind of stories I want to put into the world.
What are you currently reading?
Right now, I’m reading a mix of sapphic romantasy and cozy fantasy, anything with magic, emotion, and women who refuse to apologize for taking up space. My current read is The Adventures of Amina al‑Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty.
If you could have dinner with any author, living or dead, who would it be?
Erin Morgenstern. I’d love to talk to her about atmosphere, symbolism, and how she creates worlds that feel like dreams you can walk through. I’d probably be too starstruck to eat, but it would be worth it.
