About Me
Angela Lombardo was raised on the wide‑open farmland of Akron, Ohio, where muddy boots, barn cats, and the quiet hum of rural life shaped her childhood. A born tomboy with a restless curiosity, she spent her days racing dirt bikes with her older brother, picking out melodies on the piano, and getting lost in comic book adventures with Spider‑Man and Wonder Woman.
Her love of storytelling began early, from the handmade yarn‑bound book she created for her grandmother to the full play she wrote in high school—a piece she still keeps tucked away, waiting for the right moment to become a novel. But it was The Chronicles of Narnia that first sparked her fascination with hidden worlds and courageous hearts.
That spark deepened in 2017, when a single question—“Where is the mother?”—sent her down a creative rabbit hole and ignited what would become The Katori Chronicles, a five‑book fantasy saga exploring mystery, sacrifice, and resilience.
Angela is the author of A Shadow’s Curse (2024) and Trial by Starlight (2026), the first book in the Children of Polaris duology. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found outdoors, seeking quiet moments and gathering inspiration from the natural world.
My Journey
I have always loved telling stories.
Some stories start with a whisper. Mine began with a dragon.
One night, while telling my young son a bedtime tale—him, his loyal dog, and a fiery showdown with a dragon—I noticed how much he loved the adventure. Night after night, he asked to hear it again. Then came the question that stopped me cold: “Why isn’t there a mom in the story?”
I didn’t have an answer. I’d written myself out.
That single moment rewired everything. I couldn’t shake the thought, and by morning, I had dreamt her into existence—where she’d gone, what she’d sacrificed, and why she’d mattered. What began as a small act of storytelling for my son transformed into a growing world I couldn’t keep to myself.
With his encouragement and relentless curiosity, I started writing things down. I sought out an editor, learned how to shape a stronger story (and avoid the dreaded mushy middle), and eventually self-published The Half-Light. But that was only the beginning.
The Katori Chronicles were born from wonder, questions, and a boy who believed a bedtime story could become something real. What began as a spark grew into a five‑book fantasy series shaped over seven years—a true labor of love. Even now, with the series complete, I often find myself drawn back to that world. Riome and Benmar’s untold stories still whisper to me—perhaps one day, they’ll have novels of their own.
The Book That Fought Back
Amid the chaos of a full house renovation, I found the spark for my next book. Born from dust, drywall, and constant noise somehow carved out space for a new idea—but A Shadow’s Curse quickly became the book that fought back. I pushed, rewrote, circled back, and pushed again. Nothing clicked.
What kept me going were the weekly calls with my nephew—conversations that wandered through life, creativity, and writing in general. His encouragement kept me from giving up, even when the story refused to cooperate.
But the real turning point came during a quick call with an old friend. He told me to stop forcing the idea—to let the story become what it wanted to be. To stop being afraid of the darker places it might lead.
So I let go.
And the moment I did, the wraiths appeared—twisting the entire concept on its head and pulling the book into deeper, shadowed territory I had refused to explore. From there, the story grew like the rafflesia flower in my world: quietly at first, then rooting itself around me until I couldn’t imagine it any other way. With the guidance of my new writing coach and the steady support of my editor, the book finally took shape.
Nearly two years later, in November 2024, A Shadow’s Curse bloomed into the world—right on time for Christmas.
Breathing Life into My Latest Creation
Trail by Starlight took shape over a year and a half—a story that began as the seed of what I thought would become Book Two. But characters have their own opinions, and Faber, my MMC, refused to wait his turn. His voice arrived first: clear, insistent, and impossible to ignore. Before I knew it, I was writing his book instead.
What followed was a long, steady season of creation. I breathed life into the world around him, shaping the magic, the lore, and the emotional heart of his journey. With the guidance of my writing coach and the sharp eye of my editor, the story grew into something deeper and more luminous than I ever expected.
The moment Faber truly came alive. Yes, he is a pencil... he came first—simple, ordinary, unassuming. But it spoke to me. From that spark, Faber emerged, much like Pinocchio stepping out of wooden stillness into real boyhood. A character who shouldn’t have existed suddenly felt inevitable. The dedication I wrote for him remains one of my favorites. Shown below.
Trail by Starlight finally released in April 2026—later than planned, but worth every moment of the wait.
Now, as I turn toward Book Two—title kept safely under wraps—I’m returning to the idea that sparked this entire adventure. If all goes well, you’ll be holding it in your hands in Summer of 2027.
To all those kissed by the gift creation.
I knew from the moment we met it was fate.
Did she feel it? The profound connection we shared.
She must have. She took me with her.
I watched silently for over a decade, waiting for the moment I would change her life. She hid me away more times than I could count, but there was reverence and care in the act, and for that, I am grateful.
But our time is now.
I sit watching her craft my spirit into being. She is passionate about my design and relentless in her storytelling. I feel life surging into my being.
I must go now.
The world she built awaits. My life is my own now.
Although we will never meet in person, I will do my mother proud.
Works In-Progress • Future Stories
Once I publish book two of the Children of Polaris duology (name TBD).
Like many writers, I’m constantly juggling ideas. My process isn’t always linear, but it usually begins with scattered notes—scribbled in journals, typed into my phone, or jotted on whatever scrap of paper is nearby. Once a few ideas take shape, I pitch them to my team. We vote, debate, and eventually choose a direction. From there, I gather inspirational artwork, build character cards, and slowly piece together an outline. Then, the real writing begins.
Here are a few other story ideas that are in various stages of development:
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Victorian Fantasy
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Twins with a Destiny
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Treasure Hunt
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Witchy Story
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A Story of Survival
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Riome's Story: The Katori Chronicles
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Benmar's Story: The Katori Chronicles