Photo: Author Finn O’Malley, creator of immersive fantasy worlds blending magic, mindfulness, and the complexities of human nature.
Where Magic Meets Mindfulness
Finn O’Malley discusses her imaginative worlds, morally complex characters, and mindfulness work, revealing how fantasy, spirituality, and human psychology intertwine across her novels, short stories, and journals.
F inn O’Malley emerges as a distinctive and imaginative voice in contemporary fiction, blending fantasy, spirituality and psychological insight into a body of work that continues to captivate readers worldwide. Based in Northern Utah, where she lives with her husband, their teenage children and two spirited cats, O’Malley balances domestic life with an expansive creative career as both an author and international speaker. Her work reflects not only a vivid imagination but also a deep curiosity about the human condition, expressed through stories that challenge, inspire and entertain.
Best known for her Amazon best-selling novels, O’Malley has cultivated a reputation for creating richly layered worlds that transcend traditional fantasy. Her writing is characterised by its ability to merge the mystical with the introspective, inviting readers to question established binaries such as good and evil. This thematic boldness is perhaps most evident in her novel Sessions with a Demon, a work that explores the provocative concept of therapy for demons.
Finn O’Malley is a visionary storyteller whose originality, depth, and creativity redefine fantasy while inspiring reflection, emotional growth, and imaginative exploration.
The idea, she explains, originated from a simple yet compelling question: what if demons needed therapy? From that seed grew a narrative that examines morality from an inverted perspective. The protagonist, Ren, is a Synergy demon undergoing therapeutic intervention, and through him, O’Malley invites readers to reconsider the nature of “good” and “evil”. Drawing on her professional background as a massage therapist and energy practitioner, she approached the character by reversing her understanding of healing and alignment. If her real-world practice focuses on raising vibration and promoting positive energy, then Ren’s world operates on the opposite principle.
This inversion allows for a nuanced exploration of perspective. In Ren’s view, he is simply fulfilling his purpose, while angels are perceived as aberrations. Such narrative choices demonstrate O’Malley’s fascination with moral relativity and her desire to encourage readers to reflect on their own assumptions. Ren, she notes, remains one of her favourite creations, and his story is set to continue in the forthcoming sequel, Demon in Crises.
What makes O’Malley’s storytelling particularly ambitious is the interconnected nature of her works. Her Demon, Fae and Keeper series are not isolated narratives but rather interwoven strands of a larger overarching story. Each series presents events from a different perspective, gradually revealing a complex, multi-dimensional universe. As these narratives progress, character crossovers and thematic links deepen, rewarding attentive readers with a more immersive experience.
Highlights From The Interview
- The unique concept behind Sessions with a Demon and therapy for demons
- Exploration of morality through the character Ren
- Interconnected storytelling across Demon, Fae, and Keeper series
- Challenges of building complex magical systems
- Transitioning between novels and short stories
- Success of Fire Dance in a collaborative anthology
- Creation and purpose of the GLOWup mindfulness journals
- Influence of personal spirituality and energy work on writing
- Introduction of recurring characters across different works
- The origin story of the “Elemental Goddess” title
This expansive world-building is especially prominent in Awakening of Light, the first instalment of the Keeper of Elements series. Here, O’Malley introduces readers to a realm governed by elemental magic. She candidly reflects on the challenges of constructing such a universe, recalling the moment she realised she had to establish its rules and systems. The process, she admits, was as much a learning curve for her as it was for her characters.
To maintain balance between intricate magical frameworks and compelling character development, O’Malley chose a gradual approach. By allowing readers to discover the world alongside her protagonist, Aislynn, she ensures that the complexity unfolds organically. This technique not only enhances accessibility but also reinforces her commitment to character-driven storytelling. For O’Malley, the essence of fiction lies in exploring how individuals respond to varying circumstances, highlighting the fluid and multifaceted nature of identity.
Her versatility as a writer is further demonstrated in her short story Fire Dance, featured in the anthology Dragons Within: Guarding Her Own. Unlike her novels, which often span intricate and interconnected plots, short stories require precision and restraint. O’Malley acknowledges the difficulty of condensing her expansive ideas into a more limited format, yet she embraces the challenge. Collaborating within an anthology also introduced the added dimension of aligning her narrative with a shared theme.
From this constraint emerged Percy, a fiery and memorable character described as a magical bounty hunter with a fierce personality. Interestingly, Percy refused to remain confined to a single story, later reappearing in O’Malley’s novel Fae on the Rocks. This evolution underscores the author’s view of short stories as “pills of potential”, capable of opening doors to larger narrative possibilities.
Beyond fiction, O’Malley has extended her creative vision into the realm of personal development through her GLOWup mindfulness journal series. Conceived in response to the global upheaval of 2020, the journals aim to provide a structured yet inspiring tool for self-reflection and emotional realignment. Rooted in the principles of Gratitude, Love, Opportunity and Wonder, the series encourages users to cultivate positivity and intentional living.
Each edition of the journal carries its own distinct aesthetic and energy, from Rose Gold to Crystalline themes, reflecting O’Malley’s belief in the importance of beauty and inspiration in personal growth practices. This venture complements her fiction, as both avenues explore themes of self-discovery and transformation. Indeed, elements of the GLOW philosophy often find their way into her narratives, blurring the line between her creative and personal development work.
O’Malley’s diverse interests—ranging from crystals and yoga to energy work—play a significant role in shaping her storytelling. These passions are not merely decorative but integral to the worlds she creates. For instance, her fascination with crystals inspired the concept of the “Prophecy Library”, a striking feature within her books where prophecies are stored in crystalline forms. Such details enrich her narratives, lending them a distinctive texture and depth.
Her self-styled title of “elemental goddess” originated from a memorable moment at a writers’ retreat, where a dramatic thunderstorm coincided with her presentation. The synchrony of lightning and narrative left a lasting impression, earning her the playful moniker. While humorous, the story encapsulates the essence of O’Malley’s work: a seamless blending of the natural, the mystical and the imaginative.
Ultimately, Finn O’Malley’s writing stands as an invitation—to question, to reflect and to explore. Through humour, insight and boundless creativity, she crafts stories that resonate on both fantastical and deeply human levels. Whether through demons in therapy, elemental magic or mindfulness practices, her work encourages readers to consider their place within a vast and interconnected universe.
