Hi!

I'm Zoë, and I'm a 16-year-old writer in Louisville, Kentucky. Welcome to my blog! This is where I share updates about my books and my thoughts on the writing process, being a young author, self-publishing, and how to thrive as an author in today's world. You can learn more about me, look through my blog posts, ask me a question, see the list of my books, see my Instagram posts, subscribe to my blog, or become a member of this site to get access to exclusive writings and resources. I hope to see you around!

THE OTHERFOLK
BEYOND THE WALL

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The Otherfolk's Anniversary, Part One

This time last year, I was scrambling to get everything ready to publish The Otherfolk on March 23rd, 2025. Now, one year later, I'm planning several big things to celebrate the anniversary! I'll be announcing two today, one next Monday, and one the Monday after that (on The Otherfolk 's first birthday)! First of all, I'll be doing a free giveaway of personalized copies of The Otherfolk and Beyond the Wall ! IngramSpark gives me the option to insert a customizable page into

3 days ago2 min read

Writing Clubs: Reading The Room And Entertaining Everyone

I am in three writing clubs. These three "clubs" are different because they contain different types of people and exist for different purposes. How do you entertain everyone?

7 days ago5 min read

I Can't Publish Because... The Book Isn't Good Enough

"I'm not good enough" is one of the first things that pops into your brain. The good news is, no one is.

Feb 133 min read

I Can't Publish... So I Shouldn't Write

"Why am I wasting my time writing this? I'm never going to publish it, so it won't ever make any money. Shouldn't I be doing something profitable with my time?"

Feb 55 min read

Writing with Community: Why You Should Start a Writing Club

In the 1930s, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and several other writers saw the need for real human encouragement and critique. So why shouldn't we do the same?

Jan 284 min read

Happy 2026: New Year's Resolutions for Writers

With the beginning of 2026 comes New Year’s resolutions. Resolutions like “write 100,000 words” get far more daunting as you go into the year. So what is doable?

Jan 106 min read

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ABOUT ME

A photo of Zoe Cottrell; a young blonde teenage girl in a red shirt leaning against a brick wall

Hi, I'm Zoë Cottrell! I'm a 16-year-old writer living in Louisville, KY. I published my first book when I was 15. I aspire to help other authors and crafters follow their dreams like I have.

In my most recent blog post, I take a look at the common thought, "I can't publish a book, so I shouldn't write." Is this true? What's the root cause of this fear? Find out at zoecottrell.com!

Stay tuned to learn why you can publish a book no matter what stands in your way, get updates on the last book in the The Otherfolk trilogy, and more!

#authorsofinstagram

Ever noticed how AI does nothing but tell you you're right all the time? It's tempting to think that's "community", isn't it? In the 1930s, AI writing "help" was not an issue. However, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and several other writers still saw the need for real human encouragement and critique. They didn't know it, but their books would be renowned for decades. So why shouldn't we do the same?

Read about why you and your friends should start a writing club at zoecottrell.com, and stay tuned for resources you'll be able to use on your own or with a group!

#writingclubs #creativewritingclubs #writingcommunity

Happy New Year!! This past year has been a wild ride-from finishing line editing The Otherfolk to finding out my cover artist used AI to publishing Beyond the Wall, it's been up and down over and over. But looking back, even through all the stress and difficulty publishing brings, I'm so glad it all happened.

So what's next? 2026 is going to be a big year for me... look out for the end of the The Otherfolk trilogy, a new blog post schedule, members-only website features, a book containing all three The Otherfolk books, and more!

That isn't even all the fun that comes with New Year's Eve... Happy birthday to Charles!! (Okay, maybe that isn't actually fun. But still.)

This year has been a whirlwind that went by far too fast. I can't wait to see what next year holds. 🎉😄

Happy Thanksgiving! For a limited time, you can get both The Otherfolk and Beyond the Wall for only $11.99 - 20% off the usual price of $14.99! Usual shipping fees still apply. The offer is only valid through the link on my blog (zoetheotherfolk.wixsite.com/zoecottrell) today, Black Friday, and Saturday! Get your copy now through my blog (link also in bio)!

Happy Publishing day, everyone!!

1,331 days after I started writing The Otherfolk, its sequel, Beyond the Wall, is out everywhere!! Use the link in my bio to buy it direct from me. Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble's website, or anywhere you buy books online! If you know me in person, reach out and I'll reserve a copy for you!

Direct from me: https://bit.ly/3XucYct

Three years, seven months, and fourteen days ago, a twelve-year-old girl started writing a story. 1,331 days later, after hundreds of edits, pages upon pages of ideas, plot maps, outlines, graphs, brainstorms, and notes, plus chapter rewrites and scene deletion, it's finally almost time.

Beyond the Wall, the sequel to my debut novel The Otherfolk, is out everywhere tomorrow.

There are only two days until Beyond the Wall is out in the world, but before that comes another very exciting announcement! The Cooperative Guild of Authors and Artists, a subset of @thehabit.co, is proud to present Firefly Tales, an anthology by 30 young authors and artists! Firefly Tales is comprised of 26 short stories by young authors, each illustrated by another member of the Guild. A short story of mine, The Sanctuary, is in Firefly Tales, and I'm so excited to finally see it out in the world!
Learn more at collaborativeguildauthorsartists.substack.com or purchase the book on Amazon!

Use the link in my bio to RSVP to Beyond the Wall's launch party—or just stay tuned to see what the process has looked like and what the future looks like...

Only three days until Beyond the Wall is out everywhere... And here's a peek at what it looks like inside, from the front and back covers to new illustrations to chapter formatting to an acknowledgement sneak peek!

Stay tuned for tomorrow and Thursday, when you'll get to see what the process looked like leading up to Friday and what'll happen after Beyond the Wall is out in the world. Then on Friday, either RSVP through the link in my bio to attend my launch party or keep an eye out for a video of how it went!

Only four days left until launch day - and here's the revamped Meet the Character for Eli!

Stay tuned for the rest of the publishing week countdown—set to include peeks at what Beyond the Wall looks like inside and more!

Use the link in my bio to RSVP to Beyond the Wall's launch party on Friday, November 14th!

With only 6 days to publishing day, here's the second of my countdown posts... my favorite quote from Beyond the Wall!!

"Maybe it’s just gestures and inexplicable feelings. Bruised hands covered in innocent blood, the look on the face of someone who used to not have a care in the world. An 'I’d do it all again'. An 'I’m sorry'. A 'you never should have gone through this'.
A simple wish that things were different."
-Peverley Antario

Be on the lookout for the next countdown post (Monday)!

RSVP to Beyond the Wall's launch party on the 14th of November with the link in my bio!

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ABOUT THE OTHERFOLK

The cover of The Otherfolk; the silhouette of a girl sitting cross-legged on the ground in the dark woods

When Princess Anna Carillo and her best friend Peter decide to run away from the castle, they know it's risky. The east side of the island has always been off-limits, and they've never found out why. But they never thought they would find a whole other world full of mythical creatures and magical plants. As enemies arise, tragedies strike, and mysteries unfold, Anna becomes more and more unsure of whom she can trust. What more does she not know about the island -- and what other lies is she being told?

Buy The Otherfolk

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THE OTHERFOLK
BEYOND THE WALL

AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE

BLOG POSTS

The Otherfolk's Anniversary, Part One

Writing Clubs: Reading The Room And Entertaining Everyone

I Can't Publish Because... The Book Isn't Good Enough

I Can't Publish... So I Shouldn't Write

Writing with Community: Why You Should Start a Writing Club

Happy 2026: New Year's Resolutions for Writers

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ABOUT THE OTHERFOLK

Have a question, idea, or need a speaker?

Hi!

Subscribe and don't miss a thing

THE OTHERFOLK BEYOND THE WALL

AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE

BLOG POSTS

The Otherfolk's Anniversary, Part One

Writing Clubs: Reading The Room And Entertaining Everyone

I Can't Publish Because... The Book Isn't Good Enough

I Can't Publish... So I Shouldn't Write

Writing with Community: Why You Should Start a Writing Club

Happy 2026: New Year's Resolutions for Writers

Browse by Category

ABOUT ME

FOLLOW ME

​

SUBSCRIBE

Subscribe and don't miss a thing

ABOUT THE OTHERFOLK

Have a question, idea, or need a speaker?

THE OTHERFOLK
BEYOND THE WALL