Ellie Lerum
@authorellielerum.bsky.social
A fantasy author writing stories where shadows fall and hope rises.
Follow for gritty fantasy with minimal swearing and no open-door scenes. Hard topics need to be discussed, too.
Upcoming Releases:
Phantom in the Dark, Oct 21
Souls in the Ice, Dec 23
Follow for gritty fantasy with minimal swearing and no open-door scenes. Hard topics need to be discussed, too.
Upcoming Releases:
Phantom in the Dark, Oct 21
Souls in the Ice, Dec 23
Phantom in the Dark is coming soon... are you prepared?
#PhantomInTheDark #grittyfantasy #indieauthor
#PhantomInTheDark #grittyfantasy #indieauthor
September 22, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Phantom in the Dark is coming soon... are you prepared?
#PhantomInTheDark #grittyfantasy #indieauthor
#PhantomInTheDark #grittyfantasy #indieauthor
Phantom in the Dark grew from my own nights of fear. These two images show what Jean fights: formless shadow-threats and the chittering anxiety that disguises itself as the familiar. This is a story about seeing the phantoms—and about the light that reaches in. #PhantomInTheDark #ChristianFantasy
September 19, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Phantom in the Dark grew from my own nights of fear. These two images show what Jean fights: formless shadow-threats and the chittering anxiety that disguises itself as the familiar. This is a story about seeing the phantoms—and about the light that reaches in. #PhantomInTheDark #ChristianFantasy
There are some topics that make people uncomfortable, but what is worse? Bringing those topics to the light to heal and repair, or letting them fester for comfort's sake?
#healing #author #hardtopics
#healing #author #hardtopics
September 12, 2025 at 4:35 PM
There are some topics that make people uncomfortable, but what is worse? Bringing those topics to the light to heal and repair, or letting them fester for comfort's sake?
#healing #author #hardtopics
#healing #author #hardtopics
Demons hide in the light, and the shadows are alive.
If you had to choose, would you fight the demons you see, or the ones you can't?
#fantasy #gritty #PhantomInTheDark #indieauthor
If you had to choose, would you fight the demons you see, or the ones you can't?
#fantasy #gritty #PhantomInTheDark #indieauthor
September 10, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Demons hide in the light, and the shadows are alive.
If you had to choose, would you fight the demons you see, or the ones you can't?
#fantasy #gritty #PhantomInTheDark #indieauthor
If you had to choose, would you fight the demons you see, or the ones you can't?
#fantasy #gritty #PhantomInTheDark #indieauthor
Life has been hectic, but I'm still around!
Find me at the Idaho Falls Farmers Market on September 13th, and mention this post for $2 off any book purchase!
Find me at the Idaho Falls Farmers Market on September 13th, and mention this post for $2 off any book purchase!
September 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Life has been hectic, but I'm still around!
Find me at the Idaho Falls Farmers Market on September 13th, and mention this post for $2 off any book purchase!
Find me at the Idaho Falls Farmers Market on September 13th, and mention this post for $2 off any book purchase!
Me: I'll just read one chapter...
Also me: finishes the book at 4am.
What's the latest you've ever stayed up reading?
#reading #stayuplate #indieauthor #book
Also me: finishes the book at 4am.
What's the latest you've ever stayed up reading?
#reading #stayuplate #indieauthor #book
September 8, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Me: I'll just read one chapter...
Also me: finishes the book at 4am.
What's the latest you've ever stayed up reading?
#reading #stayuplate #indieauthor #book
Also me: finishes the book at 4am.
What's the latest you've ever stayed up reading?
#reading #stayuplate #indieauthor #book
It's been a long time coming, but I've finally written in Specter again.
I'm sitting at 32, 730 words... not yet a novella, and certainly not a novel!
What do you do when it's hard to focus on the story?
#indieauthor #SpecterintheShadows #grittyfantasy
I'm sitting at 32, 730 words... not yet a novella, and certainly not a novel!
What do you do when it's hard to focus on the story?
#indieauthor #SpecterintheShadows #grittyfantasy
September 7, 2025 at 4:20 PM
It's been a long time coming, but I've finally written in Specter again.
I'm sitting at 32, 730 words... not yet a novella, and certainly not a novel!
What do you do when it's hard to focus on the story?
#indieauthor #SpecterintheShadows #grittyfantasy
I'm sitting at 32, 730 words... not yet a novella, and certainly not a novel!
What do you do when it's hard to focus on the story?
#indieauthor #SpecterintheShadows #grittyfantasy
Fantasy confession time: I always get attached to the mentor character I know will die. What kind of character grabs your heart every time?
#fantasyauthor #book #character
#fantasyauthor #book #character
September 5, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Fantasy confession time: I always get attached to the mentor character I know will die. What kind of character grabs your heart every time?
#fantasyauthor #book #character
#fantasyauthor #book #character
Jean battles not only demons, but her own mind? Have you ever read a book where the scariest part wasn't the villain, but the character's inner struggle?
#PhantomInTheDark #gritty #fantasy #indieauthor
#PhantomInTheDark #gritty #fantasy #indieauthor
September 3, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Jean battles not only demons, but her own mind? Have you ever read a book where the scariest part wasn't the villain, but the character's inner struggle?
#PhantomInTheDark #gritty #fantasy #indieauthor
#PhantomInTheDark #gritty #fantasy #indieauthor
Would you rather... a loyal creature at your side or a cursed weapon that makes you invincible?
#wouldyourather #fantasyauthor
#wouldyourather #fantasyauthor
September 1, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Would you rather... a loyal creature at your side or a cursed weapon that makes you invincible?
#wouldyourather #fantasyauthor
#wouldyourather #fantasyauthor
Fantasy Survival Game: The last snack you ate + the last book you read = your adventuring pack.
Mine would be cinnamon rolls and Turning Point.
What's yours?
#adventure #fantasygame #books
Mine would be cinnamon rolls and Turning Point.
What's yours?
#adventure #fantasygame #books
August 29, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Fantasy Survival Game: The last snack you ate + the last book you read = your adventuring pack.
Mine would be cinnamon rolls and Turning Point.
What's yours?
#adventure #fantasygame #books
Mine would be cinnamon rolls and Turning Point.
What's yours?
#adventure #fantasygame #books
Jean thought being curseborn was the heaviest burden she'd bear, and so she didn't expect the shadows to whisper back.
Do you like your fantasy stories more mysterious or action-packed?
#PhantomintheDark
Do you like your fantasy stories more mysterious or action-packed?
#PhantomintheDark
August 27, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Jean thought being curseborn was the heaviest burden she'd bear, and so she didn't expect the shadows to whisper back.
Do you like your fantasy stories more mysterious or action-packed?
#PhantomintheDark
Do you like your fantasy stories more mysterious or action-packed?
#PhantomintheDark
My TBR Pile: ⛰️
My reading time: 🍵
Be honest! How many unread books are sitting on your shelves right now?
My reading time: 🍵
Be honest! How many unread books are sitting on your shelves right now?
August 25, 2025 at 2:01 PM
My TBR Pile: ⛰️
My reading time: 🍵
Be honest! How many unread books are sitting on your shelves right now?
My reading time: 🍵
Be honest! How many unread books are sitting on your shelves right now?
I've survived, but it's been a long weekend!
Thanks to all for stopping by and sharing your own stories, I love hearing them!
Thanks to all for stopping by and sharing your own stories, I love hearing them!
August 24, 2025 at 10:30 PM
I've survived, but it's been a long weekend!
Thanks to all for stopping by and sharing your own stories, I love hearing them!
Thanks to all for stopping by and sharing your own stories, I love hearing them!
Phantom in the Dark isn’t for everyone.
It’s heavy. It’s real. It’s raw.
But if you’ve ever felt crushed by shame, or chased by something no one else could see—
You might just find yourself in these pages.
www.amazon.com/Phant...
It’s heavy. It’s real. It’s raw.
But if you’ve ever felt crushed by shame, or chased by something no one else could see—
You might just find yourself in these pages.
www.amazon.com/Phant...
August 20, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Phantom in the Dark isn’t for everyone.
It’s heavy. It’s real. It’s raw.
But if you’ve ever felt crushed by shame, or chased by something no one else could see—
You might just find yourself in these pages.
www.amazon.com/Phant...
It’s heavy. It’s real. It’s raw.
But if you’ve ever felt crushed by shame, or chased by something no one else could see—
You might just find yourself in these pages.
www.amazon.com/Phant...
You know the drill! Markets on both August 23 and 24 this week, the first at 350 College Street and the second at 235 Lomax!
Hope to see y'all there!
Hope to see y'all there!
August 19, 2025 at 4:54 PM
You know the drill! Markets on both August 23 and 24 this week, the first at 350 College Street and the second at 235 Lomax!
Hope to see y'all there!
Hope to see y'all there!
A huge thanks to my dear friend Milissa Garnette Leather Company for inviting me to help at her booth! I'll be surfing the crowds from 9-2 at the Idaho Falls Farmers Market, and I'd love to tell you about her products and my books!
Come say 'hi'!
Come say 'hi'!
August 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM
A huge thanks to my dear friend Milissa Garnette Leather Company for inviting me to help at her booth! I'll be surfing the crowds from 9-2 at the Idaho Falls Farmers Market, and I'd love to tell you about her products and my books!
Come say 'hi'!
Come say 'hi'!
Gentle stories of miracles.
Gritty stories of survival.
Same author. Same faith.
Just different kinds of readers.
Which story do you need right now?
Gritty stories of survival.
Same author. Same faith.
Just different kinds of readers.
Which story do you need right now?
August 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Gentle stories of miracles.
Gritty stories of survival.
Same author. Same faith.
Just different kinds of readers.
Which story do you need right now?
Gritty stories of survival.
Same author. Same faith.
Just different kinds of readers.
Which story do you need right now?
Weekly updates are here! I'll be at the Idaho Falls Farmers Market on August 16, and on the 17th I'll be interviewing live with Kay McCabe! Check it out on my Facebook page, Author Ellie Lerum!
August 12, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Weekly updates are here! I'll be at the Idaho Falls Farmers Market on August 16, and on the 17th I'll be interviewing live with Kay McCabe! Check it out on my Facebook page, Author Ellie Lerum!
Sometimes the hardest part of writing isn’t the words… it’s being honest enough to bleed on the page.
This month I’m writing through more of Jean’s pain. I don’t always feel ready.
But I keep showing up. From what I've learned, that's what faith can look like, too.
This month I’m writing through more of Jean’s pain. I don’t always feel ready.
But I keep showing up. From what I've learned, that's what faith can look like, too.
August 11, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Sometimes the hardest part of writing isn’t the words… it’s being honest enough to bleed on the page.
This month I’m writing through more of Jean’s pain. I don’t always feel ready.
But I keep showing up. From what I've learned, that's what faith can look like, too.
This month I’m writing through more of Jean’s pain. I don’t always feel ready.
But I keep showing up. From what I've learned, that's what faith can look like, too.
The Market at 350 College St. is such a fun one, as we get to meet new people each time! I'd love to be able to say 'hello', and I'm happy to point you towards some of my favorite vendors (like the Cozy Book Cafe, run by Kaitlyn King, another local author!). 10-3, see you there!
August 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The Market at 350 College St. is such a fun one, as we get to meet new people each time! I'd love to be able to say 'hello', and I'm happy to point you towards some of my favorite vendors (like the Cozy Book Cafe, run by Kaitlyn King, another local author!). 10-3, see you there!
Market days are my favorite days!
I love meeting readers who’ve been through their own battles and still choose stories.
I’ll have copies of both the Illeross series and preorder cards for Phantom—let me know if you’ll be around!
I love meeting readers who’ve been through their own battles and still choose stories.
I’ll have copies of both the Illeross series and preorder cards for Phantom—let me know if you’ll be around!
August 8, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Market days are my favorite days!
I love meeting readers who’ve been through their own battles and still choose stories.
I’ll have copies of both the Illeross series and preorder cards for Phantom—let me know if you’ll be around!
I love meeting readers who’ve been through their own battles and still choose stories.
I’ll have copies of both the Illeross series and preorder cards for Phantom—let me know if you’ll be around!
The line between light and dark is often where the truest faith is found.
That’s where my characters live.
That’s where I’ve lived, too. Heck... that's where my entire family is right now.
I get it. Truely.
That’s where my characters live.
That’s where I’ve lived, too. Heck... that's where my entire family is right now.
I get it. Truely.
August 6, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The line between light and dark is often where the truest faith is found.
That’s where my characters live.
That’s where I’ve lived, too. Heck... that's where my entire family is right now.
I get it. Truely.
That’s where my characters live.
That’s where I’ve lived, too. Heck... that's where my entire family is right now.
I get it. Truely.
Starting something new this month; weekly updates! If you don't care too much about what I'm up to, this post will serve only as a blip on your timeline... otherwise, you can find more about each 'event' the morning of!
August 5, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Starting something new this month; weekly updates! If you don't care too much about what I'm up to, this post will serve only as a blip on your timeline... otherwise, you can find more about each 'event' the morning of!
Not every character is a warrior. Some are just... breathing through the fear.
This one's for the anxious ones, the grief-weary ones, and the survivors.
This one's for the anxious ones, the grief-weary ones, and the survivors.
August 4, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Not every character is a warrior. Some are just... breathing through the fear.
This one's for the anxious ones, the grief-weary ones, and the survivors.
This one's for the anxious ones, the grief-weary ones, and the survivors.