Nikki Auberkett

As a cultural anthropologist with a focused background in archaeology and global folklore, I love to weave real-world discoveries and intercultural theories into my fictional works. My current series, Song of the Sidhe, combines fantasy storytelling with “what if?” concepts, from the fae folk living in (and potentially having built) downtown Chicago to the mythological Fomorians existing within marginalized communities around the world.

After living in downtown Chicago before, during, and after the pandemic, I entered my “Stars Hollow Phase” and relocated to a small village cluster in Iowa known as The Amana Colonies. I started an indie bookstore, BumbleBooks, which is currently a “pop-up situation” inside the village’s new herbs & tea shop, Serenity Sage. While I admittedly dipped my toes into pursuing traditional publishing for my books, it didn’t feel exactly *right* for myself or my career. This is another reason why I’m pushing to continue to support indie authors and their books through local and online bookstore programs & events.

On any given day, I can be found sipping handcrafted coffee, making book paper crafts, faceplanting on my laptop keyboard, and/or whispering to the kobolds who live in my home.