The Line Between Fantasy and Reality: An Exploration Into Urban Fantasy

Join local author Cortni Marie for an exploration of how authors blend reality, history, and folklore to create a realistic and transformative world in which to immerse their readers. From researching ancient printing techniques to walking the streets of a new city using Google Maps, dive into it all to answer the most pressing question: what the heck is urban fantasy?

Growing up in the St. Louis metro area, Cortni dreamed of escape. She found it in the pages of books and through fantasizing about missed conversations and interactions. It took her over a decade to harness that skill into writing a novel, but we all get where we’re going in the end. When not writing, she can be found on her small (read: tiny) farm in rural Kentucky with her incredible partner, two lovingly awful herd dogs, and a horse that is an absolute menace. Cortni was also a finalist in the 2024 Bluegrass Writer’s Coalition Short Story Contest. Find out more about the author and her work at authorcortnimarie.com.

Following the presentation, Cortni Marie will be signing Love You Forever, the first book in the La Fleur de Lis Trilogy, with copies available for purchase.