The Enchanting Journey Of Marcus Moutra And His Magical Girls

Photo: Marcus Moutra, the imaginative creator of The Fairy Squad Princesses, inspires readers with his magical worlds and empowering characters.

Creating A Magical Girl Movement For Readers Of All Ages

Marcus Moutra shares his inspiration behind The Fairy Squad Princesses, discusses his self-publishing journey, anime influences, and offers advice to aspiring authors while celebrating magical girl empowerment in literature.

M  arcus Moutra has masterfully captured the hearts of readers across all ages with his enchanting middle-grade fantasy series The Fairy Squad Princesses. Drawing inspiration from iconic magical girl franchises like Sailor Moon and Winx Club, Marcus has created a unique universe filled with empowering moments, intricate storytelling, and vibrant characters. Passionate about self-publishing and spreading creativity, he encourages budding authors and readers alike to dive into the world of fantasy to celebrate imagination and originality. Marcus’ journey, marked by resilience, innovation, and an unmistakable love for storytelling, is a testament to his dedication to inspiring future generations.

Marcus Moutra is a trailblazing author who creatively revives the magical girl genre, inspiring young readers with empowering stories.

What inspired you to create The Fairy Squad Princesses series? 

When I was ten years old, I dreamed of the Sailor Guardians and the Winx Club meeting in an alternate dimension like a spinoff episode. Since I knew that was never going to happen, I made my own magical girls who were inspired by the two global magical girl franchises. I also wanted to write a book series were little girls could feel empowered. The times of damsels in distress are over. It’s okay to let the princesses rescue and save the kingdom. 

How did anime like Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z influence your writing style?  

These shows bridged the gap between young and older people. They aren’t your typical, “Oh, yeah this show is strictly for adults.” Or “Yeah, this is too childish for me to sit through and watch.” So, I wanted to write a book that I knew I’d enjoy reading but also something my niece and kids around her age would too back when book one first came out in 2018. And the proof is in the puddle because I’ve received several positive reviews from kids, teens, and adults. Despite this book series being targeted towards middle-grade readers.  

“The FSP is a cute story about 4 girls and 4 boys learning about their magical powers and their various dealings with a group of ruthless but funny villains. It definitely reminded me of when I was younger and watching Sailor Moon!” – Maria (Amazon Reviewer)

What was the biggest challenge you faced while self-publishing your books? 

The biggest challenge I’ve faced while being an indie author is getting more people to know my books exist. Fortunately, with the help of the BookTok community via TikTok I’m starting to get more noticed. 

Why did you choose self-publishing over traditional publishing? 

I chose to self-publish because I didn’t want or desire someone else’s opinion on whether, they felt my book was worthy to be published. Also, the fact that even traditionally published authors still have to promote their own books. 

“Teenage girls will love this book because it has all the things in it they love. Fairies, magic, adventures and boys. It would make a nice series, and they would also love that. It’s sometimes difficult to get teenagers interested in reading as they have so many other important things to do. I think this book might just keep their interest long enough to finish. Good job.” – L.G Bentio – Author of the Awaken book series 

Could you describe your experience with Kindle Direct Publishing and how it has impacted your journey as an author?  

I’m forever grateful for Kindle Direct Publishing because they helped me begin my self-publishing journey back in 2018. In fact, it was my friend and fellow author Scotty McCoy wo introduced me to the world of self-publishing. He is one author I look up to because I’ve seen the doors that have opened for him, and he started out as an indie author. He also has a podcast called Slasher Scotty where he interviews several A-list celebrities and authors like me. However, I’d be lying if I said KDP didn’t have any downsides to working with them. My advice to authors who may use KDP to start their self-publishing journey is to make sure you buy your ISBN. Also, to keep in mind, they’ll only let you run promotions if your eBook is exclusively on their website. It’s giving greedy if you ask me. Anyway, soon I will be publishing through Ingram Spark. Fingers and toss crossed that this new partnership brings more joy, success, readers, and sales. 

What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to start their own fantasy book series?  

My advice is to just start. Don’t be afraid to start writing that first draft. Also, the perk of being a self-published author is you can re-publish a book as much as you want. I’m getting ready to release my revamp of my Fairy Squad Princesses book series, and this will be the third time. (laughs & cries) BUT this time I have an agent that is helping me as well as a digital artist and interior designer. You know what they say third times the charm. 

What do you hope readers take away from your books? 

I want future Squad Fairies to not just enjoy reading the books but also be inspired to create their own magical girl books and original characters. Okay, not until they draw me some fan art, please. (laughs) Truth is we don’t have enough magical girl books. Yes, there’s manga and TV shows, but I can’t name any chapter books (excluding my own) where the female protagonist transforms and is kicking butt to save the universe. 

How do you develop your characters, and do you draw inspiration from real-life people?  

Every character I created has a little piece of me in them. The good and what some people might consider bad, but never ugly. For example, all my leaders are dressed in different shades of blue with turquoise (blue-ish green) being implemented someway into their outfit because it’s my favorite color. 

Can you elaborate on how you balance magical and real-world themes in your stories?  

The hashtags throughout the book series are what made transitioning from Planet Earth (the real-world) to the Realm of Spells easier for readings to follow along. As I wrote the books, I treated each scene and chapter as if they were episodes and scenes from a TV show. One day I do plan to make The Fairy Squad Princesses into a TV series. If anyone reading this interview has connections let me know. 

What was it like hearing your short story, The Poisoning of Mary Grace, on a podcast?  

I was blown away! It was the first time I wrote a murder mystery, and the first time I entered a writing contest. I don’t remember the woman’s name who read my short story, but she did an incredible job bringing it to life. Unfortunately, I don’t think the Overwrite Podcast is active anymore. Their last post was almost seven years ago. 

What advice would you offer to other authors looking to create and share their own unique stories with the world? 

Don’t be afraid. Never give up. Trust in yourself. Take the plunge. You’ve got this! And I can’t wait to read your books with the rest of the world. I mean it! Even if you want to send me your first draft or a teaser to read for some creative feedback, my Facebook or TikTok inbox is always open. 

Lastly, where can readers find you? 

All my social media platforms can be accessed through www.linktr.ee/MarcusMoutra.