A Young adult cozy fantasy meets frontier survival in a story of faith, family, and starting again.

Introducing Jason and Jami’s first co-authored young adult novel—Hearthstead!

It all began when Jami went looking for something new to read. She kept coming across the rising genre of cozy fantasy—gentle, low-stakes stories that celebrate everyday life, community, and warmth. The only problem? Most of the books she found weren’t clean or suitable for younger readers.

At the same time, she longed for a story with a strong female lead who embodied distinctly feminine virtues. Too often, modern heroines are simply written as warriors in disguise, showcasing traditionally masculine traits. But what about a heroine who is strong in her own right—through wisdom, diligence, and the kind of quiet courage that builds homes and communities? (And don’t worry—this isn’t a “girls only” book! Men and boys will find plenty to love in this series as well.)

One day, Jami turned to Jason and said, “I think I want to write a cozy fantasy, with a little more action than usual, that’s clean, fun, and features a heroine who shows the strength of working hard as a woman.” Jason’s response? “DONE! Let’s start brainstorming.”

That small idea, 18 months ago, grew into the rich, immersive world of Hearthstead: a blend of cozy fantasy and sci-fi that will encourage your faith, inspire you to work with joy and purpose, and remind you of the beauty found in ordinary life lived well.

Hearthstead (The Rooted Lands, Book One)

Seventeen-year-old Elya Hawthorne has never set foot on real soil, until now. Alongside her family, she leaves behind the safety of the sky platforms to join a small band of settlers on a fragile new beginning: the founding of a village called Hearthstead, on Earth.

Each family has been assigned a task (farming, baking, smithing, brewing, and more) to rebuild the skills humanity long ago forgot. They’re given little more than basic supplies and a handful of quirky Lorekeepers, mechanical-organic constructs that claim to hold ancient knowledge… though not always reliably.

For Elya, the transition is anything but simple. Harsh weather, unfamiliar land, and the overwhelming weight of survival press against her small frame and steady hands. Yet what frightens her most is not failure, but whether her people will endure together. As the settlers struggle to coax crops from the earth, raise sturdy walls, and build trust among neighbors, Elya begins to discover that strength is measured not in size or skill, but in resilience, faith, and quiet acts of courage.

With the steady voice of a preacher reminding them of hope, and with bonds forming around shared meals, laughter, and labor, the people of Hearthstead slowly knit themselves into something more than survivors: a community.

Why You’ll Love It

• Cozy frontier survival: Gardens, grain mills, ovens, and forges come alive as families relearn the crafts of life.

• Hopeful, grounded world-building: Sky-platform history meets hand-hewn living; the roots of the old world run deep, and nothing is ever truly forgotten.

• Quirky Lorekeepers: From a flour-puffing cookbook to a gruff blacksmith’s hammer, their imperfect guidance adds humor and heart.

• Found family & craft: Sourdough starters, iron in the fire, irrigation lines threading through rocky soil; every skill learned becomes a lifeline.

• Faith woven gently: Encouragement and endurance shine through in moments of doubt and gathering.

• A spark of connection: Amid hardship, relationships grow, friendships deepen, and the villagers wrestle with relying on each other for success.

The Vibe

Hearthstead is cozy frontier survival with a hopeful heart and fantasy elements, part cozy homestead tale, part survival drama, and part quiet exploration of what it means to rebuild when the world has forgotten how. It’s about planting seeds you may never see grow, about laughter returning after long days, and about finding purpose in the simple, ordinary work that holds a community together. Threaded throughout are homesteading stakes, community conflict, gentle faith, and human-scale heroism. The drama isn’t in explosions; it’s in whether bread rises, whether the trellis holds, whether a village keeps its promise to the land, and to one another.

Hearthstead launches The Rooted Lands: a sweeping, character-first saga about rebuilding what was lost and remembering what was true. If you love quiet bravery, craft and community, and the kind of endings that feel like a lantern left lit in the dark, you’ll feel right at home in Hearthstead.

Step into The Rooted Lands and discover the story of a village’s first days, where faith, family, and perseverance might just be enough to ensure humanity's survival.

Who this series is ideal for: 

Hearthstead is written for adults and older teens who enjoy cozy fantasy with strong family, faith, and homemaking themes.

• Adult readers who love cozy, character-driven fantasy. 

• Christian readers who want faith woven naturally into fiction.

• Older teens (15+) who are mature enough to enjoy slower, reflective storytelling centered on community, relationships, and survival.

So while the book is clean and family-friendly, the target age group is primarily adults  who resonate with themes of home, purpose, and faith—but it can also appeal to younger readers who enjoy thoughtful, slow-build fantasy.

Read Chapter 1 here

If you want a little sample of the story, download chapter 1: 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/7ll13u4smffs2bfpe75vs/The-Rooted-Lands-Hearthstead-Chapter-1-Sample.pdf?rlkey=4r5p2sreqk7to5ojldi1r3bc5&st=ihx7f5bl&dl=0