Finding Unlikely Heroes for Your Story in Unexpected Places

When reality isn’t enough, you build your universe. That’s precisely what J.F. Monroe did with the Legacy of the Four trilogy, creating a world where ancient powers walk among us and destiny can be rewritten by the courage of the human heart.

A lifelong devotee of fantasy fiction, Monroe crafts stories that blend epic adventure with deeply personal journeys. Her writing draws inspiration from the character-driven narratives of “The Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter,” the high stakes of “The Hunger Games,” and the intricate plotting of Christopher Nolan’s films. These influences combine in her work to create stories where even the most extraordinary characters feel remarkably real.

At the heart of Monroe’s storytelling philosophy lies a simple truth: the most powerful magic comes from human connection. Her characters—whether they’re vessels for ancient powers or loyal companions with four legs—face struggles that resonate with readers long after they turn the last page. She crafts protagonists who aren’t just extraordinary in their abilities but also in their capacity for growth, love, and sacrifice.

When not weaving tales of legendary guardians and supernatural realms, Monroe can be found immersed in the stories that fuel her imagination—curled up with a good book and a steaming cup of coffee, embarking on movie marathons, or exploring virtual worlds through video games. These moments of escape and adventure inspire new stories and new worlds for readers to discover.

Website, Instagram, TikTok, J.F. Monroe’s bookshelf

Her books: The Legendary Guardians Reunion, Descent Into the Voidheart 

Sarah J. Maas, Author

Brandon Sanderson, Author

C. S. Lewis, Author

J. R. R. Tolkien, Author

James Michener, Author

Taylor Caldwell, Author

Thinking Maps

Fiverr, Freelance platform

Lucinda’s book: The Space Between Time Soon to be published: Time’s Echo

PodMatch, Dating service for podcasters

Classic Cinema With the Sage Sisters, YouTube channel with Lucinda’s sister, Celeste

Prolific Writers Life

Terry Pratchett, Author

Debrah Strait, Author and Lucinda’s friend

Affiliate link for PodMatch only.

PodMatch

This episode is brought to you by PodMatch, the dating service for podcasters. They introduced me to J. F. (Jenna) Monroe, and I’m so glad they did. I hope you’ve enjoyed our conversation and remember that if you have a podcast or something to share with the world, check out PodMatch at my affiliate link at PodMatch and tell them Lucinda sent you.

Prolific Writers Life

My husband, Barry and I are members and experts at Prolific Writers Life, which offers members a variety of free online work sessions and discounts on coaching with industry experts. They offer opportunities to hone your writing skills, develop your author brand, and connect with a supportive community in live events. You can participate in group chats or send private messages to members through Prolific Writers Chat. If you’ve got a writing project, or are an expert who can help members finish their books, come join the community.

They also offer fun events like Films for Writers, which is free for anyone who wants to attend. It’s like a film club. We watch the movies about writers often with tidbits about their writing life, and then come together on the last Friday evening of every month to discuss the movie. You can check out Prolific Writers Life with a free 14 day trial to see if this the community you have been looking for. 

Classic Cinema With the Sage Sisters

Stories are a huge part of the way humans communicate with each other. Celeste and I think all stories are allegories where we can learn all kinds of important things, not the least of which is how to understand ourselves and others better. The best stories can be told over and over from one generation to the next and still teach great lessons. Emotional Intelligence and critical thinking are two of those lessons. Celeste and I think there are many classic movies that show us the progression of where humanity is today and we want to share them with you.

Shakespeare was right, “All the world is a stage and all the men and women merely players.” The stories we tell and consume are us trying to figure out who we are, why we’re here, and the kind of world we want to live in.

Come join the conversation on YouTube and our Facebook group.