Indie Author of the Month: Brendan Arnold
- teganfairleywrites
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Author of Rise of the Phoenix
This month’s Indie Author of the Month is the incredibly talented Brendan Arnold — award-winning queer fantasy author and 2025 Debut Author of the Year (casual overachiever energy, we absolutely love to see it). His debut novel has already collected a bucket load of awards — including 2025 Young Adult Book of the Year and Cover of the Year — which feels entirely deserved because both the storytelling and the aesthetic are next level.
Truly one of the loveliest humans to follow on Instagram — generous, talented, and constantly uplifting the community — and I’m so excited to spotlight him this month.
About the Author
Brendan Arnold is an award-winning queer author and 2025 Debut Author of the Year. A lifelong lover of fantasy, he longed for more representation in the genre and set out to write stories that champion queer characters and strong, powerful women. Based in Canberra, Australia, his debut novel won 2025 Young Adult Book of the Year and 2025 Cover of the Year.
Brendan writes rich fantasy filled with emotional stakes, heartfelt angst, and villains you love to hate. He aims to craft stories that are easy to read yet layered with themes that resonate with both adults and younger readers.
When he isn’t writing, you’ll find him sketching new covers and character art on his iPad, buried in a good book, or deep in a story-driven video game.
About Rise of the Phoenix
Filled with emotional stakes, heartwarming angst, and shocking revelations, Rise of the Phoenix is the first book in the Phoenix Chronicles where magic is just the beginning.
One moment can change your life forever.
Will Tavner never imagined his quiet life in Fawkeston would end with fire and shadows. Marked by a strange glowing symbol and plagued by visions he can’t explain, Will’s dreams of leaving his small town behind crumble as he’s thrust into a world where magic is more than myth — and far more dangerous.
Together with his fiercely loyal friends — Aylise, Seb, and Rupert — Will is drawn into an ancient conflict brewing across the kingdom of Arulean. The ruthless Queen Haveena and her husband, King Rickard, rule the land with fear, wielding their powers to crush dissent. When whispers of rebellion stir and a long-forgotten power begins to rise, their reign threatens to topple.
As secrets unravel and loyalties are tested, Will must decide who he can trust and what he’s willing to sacrifice to awaken a long-lost power. In a world teetering on the edge of revolution, his choices will either spark a new dawn — or doom it to ashes.
Available Now - Shop – Brendan Arnold
Fast Facts about Brendan Arnold
Plotter, pantser, or chaotic gremlin: "I'm half and half. I plot out the important things, get the basis of each sequence and then follow my hear and my imagination."
If your WIP had a theme song, what would it be? "Teenage Dream - Katy Perry"
Best Advice for Writers: "Buy and read the nutshell technique by Gillian Chamerlain to start you off and then just write, get it out and polish it later."
First to Hear the News: "My husband."
One fictional character you’d love to invite for dinner: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer, because who wouldn't want to eat with Buffy?"
Where to Find Him
Website:
Socials:
Book link:
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