Fall Author Boutique Spotlight: Meet C.M. Clark

An Author Q&A

One of the things I'm enjoying most about putting together The Fall Author Boutique is been getting to know the incredible authors who will be joining us. Every one of them has a different story to tell, not only through their books, but through their own journey as a writer.

I thought it would be fun to introduce you to some of these authors, to give you a chance to get to know the people behind the pages. Hopefully, by the time September 26, 2026 rolls around, you'll feel like you're meeting old friends instead of strangers.

Today, I'm excited to introduce C.M. Clark, author of The Rift Lands series. If you love young adult fantasy filled with adventure, mystery, unforgettable characters, and—yes—dinosaurs, you're in for a treat. C.M. has a wonderful way of balancing heart, humor, and high-stakes adventure, creating stories that remind us that courage isn't the absence of fear—it's choosing to move forward anyway.

I had the chance to ask C.M. a few questions about her writing journey, the inspiration behind The Rift Lands, her favorite characters, and what she's working on next. I hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as I have—and if you'll be attending The Fall Author Boutique, be sure to stop by her table and say hello!

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Q. Tell us a little about yourself and what first inspired you to become a writer.

I'm C.M. Clark, an author of young adult fantasy and adventure stories, but I'm also a wife, mom, homesteader, animal lover, and someone who has always had a very overactive imagination. I've loved books for as long as I can remember, especially stories that let me escape into another world.

For years, I had characters and stories floating around in my head, but becoming a published author always felt like one of those "maybe someday" dreams. Eventually, I decided that someday had to start somewhere. Once I finally sat down and started putting those stories on paper, I couldn't stop. Now I have more story ideas than I could probably write in a lifetime, and I'm definitely going to try anyway!

Author C.M. Clark

Q. What made you decide to write books for young readers?

I love the sense of possibility that comes with writing for young readers. When you're young, books can shape the way you see the world. They can be an escape, an adventure, or even a place where you finally feel understood.

I also love writing stories where young characters are thrown into situations that seem completely impossible and have to discover what they're capable of. My characters aren't perfect. They make mistakes, get scared, make terrible decisions, and sometimes have absolutely no idea what they're doing, but they keep going.

And, honestly, I just love a good adventure.

Q. What inspired you to write about dinosaurs in The Rift Lands Series?

I've always been fascinated by dinosaurs and prehistoric life. There's something incredible about knowing that creatures that seem almost too extraordinary to be real actually walked this planet.

But what really inspired The Rift Lands Series was the idea of seeing dinosaurs as part of a living ecosystem rather than just monsters chasing people.

I wanted to imagine a world where dinosaurs never disappeared, a place where humans had to learn how to exist alongside them. Some are terrifying predators, obviously, but others are simply animals living in their environment. That gave me the opportunity to play with everything I love: science, survival, adventure, mystery, and world-building.

And let's be honest, sometimes you just want to write a scene where your characters realize there's a dinosaur nearby and everything immediately goes horribly wrong.

Q. Where did the idea for your latest book come from?

Echoes of the Rift grew naturally from the questions left behind at the end of The Rift Lands. I knew Riley's story wasn't finished, and I wanted the second book to expand everything readers thought they understood about the Rift Lands.

The first book was about discovery and survival. Riley finding herself in this impossible world and learning how to navigate it. With Echoes of the Rift, I wanted to dig deeper.

The world becomes bigger, the mysteries surrounding the rifts become more complicated, and Riley begins to realize that what is happening is much larger than just her own journey.

I also got to introduce new characters, including Hunter, Lilly, and Noah, who brought entirely new personalities and dynamics into the story. I really wanted Echoes to feel like the moment when the reader realizes, "Oh. This is much bigger than we thought."

Q. Is Riley, your main character from The Rift Lands, based on anyone in particular?

Riley isn't based on one specific person. She's more of a combination of traits I admire, and some I recognize in myself.

She's stubborn, curious, and determined, but she doesn't always know the right thing to do. She's thrown into a world she doesn't understand and forced to adapt incredibly quickly. What I love most about Riley is that her strength isn't about never being afraid. She's afraid plenty of times. Her strength comes from continuing forward anyway.

I wanted her to feel like a real person who was suddenly dropped into an impossible situation, not someone who magically knew how to be a hero from the beginning.

Q. As a reader, I was particularly fond of Hunter's sense of humor. Was there a character in Echoes of the Rift that you fell in love writing? If so, why?

Hunter was definitely one of them!

I loved writing his sense of humor because it brings some much-needed light into situations that can become incredibly intense. He's the kind of character who can look at a completely impossible situation and still find something sarcastic to say, which makes his interactions with the rest of the group so much fun to write.

But what I really enjoyed about Hunter is that his humor isn't just there for comic relief. Sometimes humor is how people cope with fear, uncertainty, and the things they aren't ready to talk about. There's more to him beneath the jokes, and I loved being able to explore that while still letting him be the character who can make everyone, including me, laugh when things get a little too serious.

Q. What's one scene you've written that still makes you smile (or cry) when you think about it?

Some of my favorite scenes in Echoes of the Rift are actually the quieter moments between the characters. They're dealing with enormous dangers and questions they don't have answers to, but they still find ways to joke with each other and form connections.

I love found-family dynamics, and watching these characters begin to rely on one another is one of my favorite parts of the series. When you're writing a world filled with dinosaurs, danger, and mysterious rifts, sometimes the smallest human moments end up meaning the most.

Q. Paint a picture – What does a writing session look like for you? (Drink, music, distractions, etc.)

Controlled chaos fueled by caffeine!

I have a pretty serious caffeine addiction, so there is always some form of caffeine within reach when I'm writing. Music is usually playing in the background, and I tend to choose songs that match the mood of whatever scene I'm working on. I love creating playlists for my books because music helps me completely disappear into the world I'm writing.

Editing, however, has its own requirement: Cheddar Jalapeño Cheetos. I don't know when it became a rule, but apparently I cannot properly edit a book without them. Caffeine and Cheddar Jalapeño Cheetos have probably contributed more to my publishing career than I'd like to admit.

Of course, there are also plenty of distractions. Dogs need to go outside. Kids need something. Chickens exist and apparently believe everything is an emergency. Someone in my house will inevitably need me the exact second I finally figure out how to fix a scene I've been stuck on.

But once I really get into a story, I tend to disappear into it. The real world fades into the background, and suddenly hours have passed, and I've consumed a questionable amount of caffeine and probably an entire bag of Cheetos.

Q. What's something readers would be surprised to learn about you?

Probably how chaotic my writing life actually is! I don't have a beautiful, perfectly organized writing office where I sit peacefully for eight uninterrupted hours surrounded by candles and bookshelves.

Real life is usually happening all around me. I have a husband, kids, dogs, cats, chickens, and a homestead, so there's almost always something, or someone, demanding my attention. Somehow, in the middle of all that chaos, books get written.

I'm also a huge science and history nerd, which probably explains why my story ideas tend to involve things like dinosaurs, Norse mythology, lost civilizations, mysterious maps, and worlds that shouldn't exist.

Q. What is your favorite part of being a professional writer and published author?

Honestly, it's knowing that something that once existed only inside my head is now a real book that someone else can hold in their hands and experience for themselves. There is something incredible about creating characters, worlds, and adventures and then having a reader tell me that they connected with them.

I especially love when readers become invested enough to ask what happens next. As an author, there's no better feeling than realizing someone else cares about these characters almost as much as I do.

Q. What's one piece of advice you'd give to aspiring authors?

Write the story you can't stop thinking about.

It's so easy to get caught up in trends, rules, algorithms, and what everyone says you "should" be writing. But the stories I've loved writing the most are the ones I couldn't leave alone, the characters who kept talking to me and the worlds I kept wanting to return to.

Your first draft doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to exist. You can fix a messy page. You can't edit a blank one.

Q. What are you working on next?

I'm continuing to work on The Rift Lands Saga, and there is still so much more of this world, and its history, to explore. Echoes of the Rift answers some questions, but it also opens the door to much bigger ones about the rifts themselves, Riley's connection to them, and what all of this means for both worlds.

Outside of the Rift Lands, I'm also working on several other young adult fantasy and adventure projects involving everything from Norse mythology and magical academies to mysterious maps, lost civilizations, time travel, and prehistoric adventures.

Apparently, I don't know how to write just one series at a time!

Q. Where can readers connect with you online?

Readers can find me on TikTok and Instagram at @c.m.clark_marielambert, where I share book updates, behind-the-scenes looks at my stories, upcoming releases, and probably a little bit of my everyday chaos.

You can also visit my website at cmclarkmarielambert.com to learn more about my books, upcoming releases, and events.

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I appreciate C.M. Clark taking the time to answer these questions.

Join us for The Fall Author Boutique: A Cozy Literary Experience on Saturday, August 26th to meet local authors, get autographs and pictures!