Finn O’Malley’s Spellbinding Worlds of Fantasy and Self-Discovery

Award-winning author Finn O’Malley blends elemental magic, deep introspection, and dynamic storytelling to captivate readers with her imaginative worlds and thought-provoking narratives.

Finn O’Malley’s novels and mindfulness journals seamlessly fuse fantasy with personal transformation. Mosaic Digest explores her creative process, character development, and the profound connection between her fiction and spiritual growth.

Finn O’Malley is a literary force whose work transcends the boundaries of fiction and personal transformation. As an award-winning author, international speaker, and creator of the GLOWup mindfulness journal series, she infuses her narratives with a deep spiritual connection, encouraging readers to explore both fantastical realms and their own inner landscapes. Her novels, rich with elemental magic and intricate world-building, offer immersive experiences that challenge perspectives, provoke thought, and inspire growth.

In this exclusive Mosaic Digest interview, O’Malley takes us into the heart of her creative universe. From the thought-provoking premise of Sessions with a Demon, where a Synergy demon grapples with therapy, to the enchanting elemental magic of Awakening of Light, her works push the boundaries of traditional storytelling. She reveals the challenges of weaving intricate magical systems, the interconnectedness of her book series, and the unexpected evolution of her short story characters into full-fledged novel protagonists.

Beyond her fiction, O’Malley’s passion for personal growth shines through her GLOWup mindfulness journal series, a project born from a desire to help others realign with their authentic selves. Her ability to merge creative storytelling with self-exploration has made her a standout voice in contemporary fantasy and self-improvement literature alike.

Join us as we delve into the mind of Finn O’Malley—her inspirations, creative process, and the alchemy of magic and mindfulness that defines her work.

O’Malley’s storytelling brilliance weaves magic, introspection, and adventure, creating an enthralling literary experience that resonates with the soul.

Your novel Sessions with a Demon presents a unique perspective by delving into the psyche of a Synergy demon undergoing therapy. What inspired you to explore the concept of demons in therapy, and how did you develop Ren’s character to reflect this intriguing narrative?

Everyone needs therapy, even demons! The question arose in a conversation: What if demons had to go to therapy and what would they discuss? Would they know they were inherently evil? And my brain absolutely needed to explore this concept. (Insert devil smiley emoji) In creating Ren’s character I utilized my knowledge and skills from my other job as a Massage Therapist and Energy Practitioner and flipped everything around to view from the perspective of “evil.” If I’m raising someone’s vibration for their highest good, creating positive alignment with the divine, then they would want to do the opposite. It was interesting to frame the realization that “good” is in the eye of the beholder and perspective is dependent upon the angle. 

Ren’s just doing what he was born to do, and he thinks angels are the abominations. 

Ren might be one of my favorite characters, and such a fun series. I’m currently working on the second book “Demon in Crises”which is further linking all my books and characters together. 

All three of my series, Demon, Fae and Keeper are telling the same overarching story, but from three different perspectives so as each series continues there will be more character crossover, and the layers of the story will unfold showing how it impacts each of their lives. 

In Awakening of Light, the first book in the Keeper of Elements series, you introduce readers to a world rich with elemental magic. Can you share your creative process in building this universe and the challenges you faced in balancing complex magical systems with character development?

I remember early on in writing when Aislynn first crossed over into Hallervania I stopped and was like oh freaky frack! Now I have to make all the rules! What was I thinking!? The universe I have created is complex and introducing the readers to it slowly through watching Aislynn learn magic was a huge learning curve. (For myself and my characters!) Now, with my other books it’s easy to integrate more and more pieces of the magical system into place because in each book you learn a little bit more and the crossover allows me to revisit the same places and concepts to further integrate my readers into my world. 

I love to incorporate the concepts of our diverse multifaceted lives as humans into my writing and story development. Who someone is under these particular set of circumstances can be entirely different when facing a separate set of pressures, I truly love exploring this type of character development. I love for my reader to pause and think about how they might react if in a similar situation. 

Your short story “Fire Dance” is featured in the anthology Dragons Within: Guarding Her Own, which has received notable accolades. How does your approach differ when writing short stories compared to full-length novels, especially within collaborative projects?

Writing short stories is so difficult, especially when I love to toy with long intertwining stories, but the concept of collaborating to create a consistent theme within one book was a fun challenge. A simple concept of creating a “female character with dragon-like qualities” developed into this fascinating character Percy, a magical bounty hunter, whose feisty nature demanded attention. Balance of Seven Publishing did a magnificent job matching her with eleven other fierce stories and creating a stunning book while giving the opportunity for new authors to promote themselves and each other. 

The intriguing part of writing a short story is when the characters stick with you, and you must know more about them! (Or perhaps, they demand you tell their story.) I had no idea Percy would infiltrate my writing and become an integral part of my newest book, Fae on the Rocks. I think of short stories as little pills of potential, opening a door into a vast universe of possibility. 

Beyond fiction, you’ve created the GLOWup mindfulness journal series, aiming to help others find alignment with their authentic selves. What motivated you to venture into mindfulness journals, and how does this work complement your fiction writing?

After everything society navigated in 2020, I felt like we needed something positive as a reset to recover from the chaos we were experiencing. I have always journaled, but desired something beautiful and inspiring to create a shift in my own life. The idea of practicing GLOW (Gratitude, Love, Opportunity, Wonder) to set intentions and find alignment grew into a gorgeous four edition 60 day journal series. Each journal has its own energy and colorful theme: Rose Gold, Gold, Platinum and Crystalline compelling the user to examine their life in a reflective manner. 

My fiction writing and character development leans into this same narrative, as they discover and reflect on their own lives as they navigate life’s dilemmas. In my newest release Fae on the Rocks, the main character makes “GLOWup” water, to help heal her cousin, as a creative nod to my journals.

Balancing life as an author, international speaker, and self-proclaimed elemental goddess involves a unique blend of interests, from crystals to yoga. How do these diverse passions influence your storytelling, and in what ways do they manifest within your characters and plots?

Haha! Elemental Goddess, that is a story! I was at a writer’s retreat and it was the opening night, after dinner we were all introducing ourselves and “pitching” our story. I was the only fictional author, so everyone else had these harrowing memoir type stories, and in my mind I was like I need to be as impactful as these other authors, even though I write fiction! Well a massive thunderstorm had rolled in over the lake as this was taking place and as I began to tell my synopsis of a girl who must save elemental magic for Light, the elements took this opportunity to accompany me with perfectly timed cracks of thunder and lightning. They dubbed me the “Elemental Goddess” and I truly believe fiction proclaimed victory that night. 

I love incorporating a quirky blend of interests into my stories. I have an absolute obsession with crystals which gave me the idea of the “Prophecy Library” in which all prophecies ever witnessed live within crystal towers of all shapes and sizes and have become an intricate piece to my books. Being human is an opportunity to create endless impact on those around us.