Perfect for fans of “Percy Jackson” and “The Wingfeather Saga,” a MG fantasy of friendship and teamwork
Southwest of Western Australia – Follow Tilly through Clayton Forest and Wythic Woods filled with magical creatures, wizards, and “Gobight” martial arts as she searches for her lost cousin in the fun-filled first book of “The Wythic Wood Mysteries” series, “Vanishings” (May 20, 2025, SparkPress).
Debut author Catharina Steel’s fantastical, fresh worldbuilding inspires young readers to break down their mental blocks, embrace their differences, and encourages them to put down their phones and explore the world outside.
Here’s more about the book: Tilly’s friend Michael disappeared from Wythic Wood a year ago, and he’s still missing. Convinced that no one’s searching for him, Tilly persuades her Gran to allow her to spend the summer with Opa, their family’s magical teacher and wizard, at his home in Clayton Forest—which just so happens to be right next to Wythic Wood.
In Clayton Forest, alongside her twin cousins, Jess and Zach, Tilly meets magical beings like fairies and gnomes, gets lessons in potion-making and a goblin style of martial arts called Gobight fighting, and starts to understand her own magic better. But none of this excitement distracts her from her real goal, and with Jess and Zach at her side, she soon embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth about Michael’s vanishing. But as usual, impulsive Tilly doesn’t exactly think ahead—and she and her cousins soon find themselves hunted by the Witch of Wythic Wood and the creatures under her command.
“Vanishings: The Wythic Wood Mysteries Series”
Catharina Steel | May 20, 2025 | SparkPress | Middle Grade Fantasy
Ebook | 9781684633098 | $9.99
Paperback | 9781684633081 | $13.99
CATHARINA STEEL has an adventurous spirit and enjoys traveling and exploring. The forests in The Wythic Wood Mysteries series stems from her love for hiking, the outdoors, and the enchanting essence found in these settings. She’s had various pets over the years, among them a kid goat called “Billy,” named after the famous “Billy the Kid.” Her current cherished companion is Macherie, a gentle and sweet greyhound. During her leisure time, Catharina enjoys viewing properties, walking in the southwest region of Western Australia where she dwells, reading, sketching, and watching TV series. Find out more about them at www.catharinasteel.com.
Follow Catharina Steel on social media:
Facebook: @CatharinaSteel.Author | Instagram: @catharina_steel_author
TikTok: @catharinasteel_author
Youtube: @CatharinaSteel_Author | Goodreads: @Catharina_Steel
In an interview, Catharina can discuss:
- How her love for the fantasy and mystery genres came from her need for escapism
- How she developed a passion for telling children’s stories
- How she created “gobight,” a goblin style martial arts
- Why she emphasizes exercise and outdoor exploration to help children overcome anxiety
- How she experiences anxiety and how she works to overcome it
An Interview with Catharina Steel
1. What is the most important lesson that you want readers to gather from your stories?
I hope the readers will learn to show kindness to those around them, regardless of how similar or different they are to themselves. I hope they will see how much our differences make us unique and special in our own ways and that this is something to appreciate about others/ourselves. I would love to encourage them to stand up for others and help those who feel left out, to be included and welcomed.
2. How did your personal experiences shape this novel?
I stood out from my peers—literally—I was tall for my age, and am now 6 foot! I also had white blond hair with dark eyebrows and eyelashes—an uncommon trait but more typical of Frisian people. I also tended to stand up for others who were bullied or made to feel less than—perhaps because I knew what this felt like from the age of seven. I was bullied a lot, mostly by boys, which I found very confusing as a child. I still struggle with the effect of how this shaped my view of the world.
I discovered reading fantasy [the faraway tree is one of my childhood favorites] and/or mystery books [the famous five series] gave me a place where I could adventure in different worlds and experience things like friendship which were hard-won in my youth.
3. What drew you to writing novels for a younger audience?
I care about the impact that bullying can have on a child. I also remembered how much novels helped me and I wanted to write something that would do for young readers as the books I read at this age did for me—I guess it’s like giving back to something–recognising how much benefit I got from reading. I wanted to write a fun and magical story that took the reader away from themselves and allowed them to experience something wonderful, uplifting, and to also show them the beauty that can be found in the great outdoors!
I’m a strong believer that fitness and health can be nourished in children—creating good habits that will carry through to their adult lives—setting them up for a healthier future.
4. Tell us about gobight martial arts!
I originally had the children learning martial arts but an editor (rightly) suggested that I make it more interesting. This was in the early stages of me learning to write—I still am [chuckles]. The children learn the skill from a goblin called Mort, and his goblin friends. Goblins have long arms and sharp fingernails and toenails. It made sense that the hand-to-hand combat stances would need to be altered for both attack and defence moves.
I also wish I had learned self defense as a child, or even as an adult, because it would have helped me feel safer in certain environments during my life. I believe it’s a skill all people should learn—particularly girls. It also made sense, for this story, that the children learn a style of martial arts as they would need to defend themselves if they were to risk the dangers of Wythic Wood.
5. Why write about anxiety and how does being outside help with it?
As someone who was bullied a lot, I’ve developed a thing for keeping my “back to the wall” so that I only need to focus on what is in front of me. When you are out in the open, this is simply not possible, inducing anxiety.
A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.
Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.
