Zoe is a 16-year-old writer living in Louisville, Kentucky. She has been writing for as long as she can remember. On March 23, 2022, she started her main project, a novel called The Otherfolk. She finished the first draft of The Otherfolk in February of 2024 and published it on March 23rd of 2025. Zoe says, “As a young writer trying to figure out how to publish, I encountered so many difficulties just in the beginning. From editing and revising to ISBNs and barcodes, it wasn’t an easy journey. Even though there have been hundreds of times I’ve wanted to give up, I was determined to figure it out. Eight months later, I’m publishing the sequel, Beyond the Wall on November 14th. I’ll also be part of an Anthology releasing on November 8th.”
She continues, “My first book (The Otherfolk) isn’t currently for sale due to cover issues, but here’s the synopsis: “Princess Anna Carillo and her best friend Peter decide to run away from the castle, they know it’s risky. The east side of the island has always been off-limits, and they’ve never found out why. But they never thought they would find a whole other world full of mythical creatures and magical plants. As enemies arise, tragedies strike, and mysteries unfold, Anna becomes more and more unsure of whom she can trust. What more does she not know about the island — and what other lies is she being told?”
Here’s the synopsis for the second book (Beyond the Wall), which comes out on November 14th: “Anna and her friends are no closer to stopping the fires blazing on the coast of Beyond. There seems to be no end to the list of things Anna doesn’t understand—somehow, even her best friend only serves as a reminder of what she’s lost and what she could lose. What will it cost to keep the fires from consuming all of Beyond—and is it a price Anna is willing to pay?
There will be a release party on November 14th where you can view and purchase her books! You can visit her website zoecottrell.com or her blog https://zoetheotherfolk.wixsite.com/zoecottrell for more information.
