Indie Author of the Month: C. M. Koch

teganfairleywrites
Dec 1, 2025
4 min read

Author of The Girl Who Swam Between Worlds

C. M. Koch spends majority of her writing time either staring at a blank page or doing literally anything other than writing, claiming, ‘At least I’m being productive!’ (News flash, C, that doesn’t make the procrastination any better). But during the rare moments that words are actually flowing through her veins, it’s as if her fingers can weave magical threads that craft enchanting worlds, captivating stories, and emotionally traumatised characters. Sometimes even she is mesmerised by what she creates.

About the Author

Author S. K. Stapar sitting on a chair — Author - C. M. Koch

C graduated from the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2023 with a Bachelor of Creative Industries, and uses that now to create characters like me that live completely rent free in her mind.

When she isn’t staring at a computer screen, you’ll most likely find her staring at her phone or TV screens instead. She does, in fact, have plenty of family and friends, but instead she chooses the hermit crab life along with her partner and cat.

Grab your swimmers and scuba gear and prepare to swim into Harukai.

The ocean hugged her on all sides, squeezing out the life she was leaving behind.

Every weekend, 16-year-old Ivy Medina sinks beneath the waves and explores the ocean of the beach she lives on. But on this already peculiar day, she conjures a most vivid dream where she discovers an underwater tunnel that leads her to the captivating world of Harukai.

Only, Harukai is anything but a dream, and upon returning home, everything she’s ever known is quite literally torn from her hands as her mother is taken captive.

Now trapped in Harukai with the loss of her mother and her own identity pulling her under, she ends up living inside a tree, inherits a pile of old books, and finds a sword made of glass.

With a mysteriously friendly faun and a flirtatious yet slightly irritating merfolk by her side, Ivy scours old tomes and learns how to fight, all in the name of finding a way home and rescuing her mother. But her search has her questioning everything she knows, leading her to uncover her hidden identity and the truth about her past, her present, and her future.

Available Now - and check out our Goodreads to hear what people are saying:

C. M. Koch | Fantasy Author — CMK

The Girl Who Swam Between Worlds flat lay book and images

Fast Facts about C. M. Koch

Favourite Trope: "I'm a sucker for a good prophecy/chosen one trope (don't come at me) and of course an extremely slooooooooowwwwwwww buuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrn romance."

Plotter, pantser, or chaotic gremlin: "I didn't realise there was a third option! Definitely chaotic gremlin, although I'm really trying to focus on plotting a bit more for future projects, because I hate being chaotic."

Fun fact: "Usually my fun fact is that I've written and published a book! In this instance, I have a super duper healthy obsession with Roronoa Zoro from One Piece. Super healthy. "

Weirdest place you’ve ever gotten an idea: "While drafting/writing my debut, I once drove past a place called "Theo's Garden Centre." I thought Theo was a really good name for the love interest, but what if I added an "n" at the end? And thus, the name Theon was born! Now every time I drive past that place I start thinking about my story."

One fictional character you’d love to invite for dinner: "Honestly? Alvaro, from my debut. He's my favourite character in my story, so lovely and kind but full of secrets. I'd love to sit by the fire with him and roast vegetables while drinking his homemade tea."

Best Advice for Writers: "Can I have two? The first is something I was once told, or once heard: If you don't write down your idea, it'll find it's way to the next person. No matter what it is, write it down. I've taken this advice so literally that I have never-ending folders of stories I know I'll never write, but I keep them just in case.

The other is this: Stop overthinking and just write the damn story. (In the nicest way possible.) Stop thinking about whether it'll be good, or whether it'll be successful. It'll never be good or successful if you never write it. And the good thing about writing is that it's just for you. If you don't want to publish it, then don't. But don't force your mind to hold onto things that should be put down on paper just because you're scared. Just write the damn story."

First to Hear the News: "Oh god, I don't even know. I've dreamt of being an author my entire life and have been writing for about 10 years, even went to university for creative writing. I've started writing so many things that I don't remember who I told about this one specifically. But probably my fiancé."

Elevator Pitch: "When sixteen-year-old Ivy Medina finds herself trapped in the Realm of the Folk, she has to find her way back to the human realm to rescue her captive mother while uncovering her connection to ancient beings and her role in the ongoing war."