Emily Hayse’s days revolve around the joy of reading and writing. A teacher by day and published author by night, she has written 10 books of grounded, adventure-based fantasy inspired by classics and historical fiction.

We recently sat down with Hayse to learn more about her journey, how storytelling shows up in her classroom, and her newest release, The Dogs of War.

Katerina: Can you share a bit about your background and what first inspired you to start writing?

Emily: I grew up in the beautiful state of Michigan as an older child in a large family. I spent my early years playing imaginary games with my siblings in our small Detroit backyard and going up north to the lake with my family. In my teens, my family moved to the country and started a small family farm, where I got to work with and raise animals. While I didn’t aspire to become an author growing up–I was more of an outdoorsy girl–I loved telling stories. As a child, I’d tell myself stories at naptime, then I began telling them to my siblings at bedtime, and eventually that turned into plotting and typing them as novels. I loved history, heroes, and adventures, and my novels were a place to put my hopes and work out my griefs. I wrote consistently all through middle school, high school, and the following years. The more I did it, the more I loved it, and by the time I decided to pursue publishing in my early twenties, I already had seven or eight full-length novels under my belt.

Katerina: How long have you been at Viewpoint, and how do you see storytelling and writing showing up in your classroom or in your work with students?

Emily: I have been part of Viewpoint for three years, two with the amazing Kindergarten team, and now this year with Second Grade. In Second Grade, the students are starting to read through chapter books as a class, as well as working on many creative writing projects. I love being able to talk through characters and literary devices with them, encourage their creative voices, and give them the tools to begin harnessing their creativity and shaping their own literary tastes. 

Katerina: You’ve written 10 books. How would you describe the types of stories you enjoy telling, and what draws you to those themes?

Emily: The books I write are primarily grounded, adventure-based fantasy. They read a lot like a classic adventure novel, but with a little twist. I grew up on historical fiction, classics, and good old legends, and my books definitely reflect that. Among other things, I’ve done retellings from Shakespeare, reimagined King Arthur in a western fantasy, and put new spins on the El Dorado and Atlantis legends.

Thematically, my books do not shy away from the truth that life isn’t always easy: some have harsh settings, people who have legitimate life problems and consequences for their actions, or realistic danger. But I also show the reality that the world is beautiful, that there is goodness to be found in people and in choosing right, and because of that, there is hope. I have been blessed to experience these things in my own life again and again, and the beauty of storytelling is that you can share that and frame it in a way that really resonates with others. 

Katerina: Your most recent book was released in October. What is it about, and what inspired this particular project?

Emily: My newest novel is titled The Dogs of War, and it centers around an underdog sports team in a fictional empire reminiscent of mid-20th century USA. It’s sort of a Gladiator meets Remember the Titans. 

This book, the first in the War Games trilogy, comes from two of my greatest loves growing up: sports and stories about brotherhood. Many of my readers love the latter and have come to expect that from my books, but many of them are not necessarily sports fans. It was just time to share that side of myself with them and hopefully show them how much beauty can be found in sports. 

Katerina: What advice would you give to students or young writers who are interested in writing or publishing their own stories?

Emily: Don’t be afraid to play around, find your voice, and write what you love. Writing, even for yourself, is hard, and publishing can be even harder. You’re going to have to take critique again and again, and even once you get it to your satisfaction and a high professional standard, someone is going to not like it. If you learn early on to be okay with that and do it because you love it, the ups and downs won’t stop you. And just write. So much of writing is just doing the work. You do the work consistently and you’re already ahead. 

Katerina: What’s next for you as a writer? Are there any upcoming projects you’re excited about?

Emily: Yes! I have a pretty full publishing slate coming up. Book 2 in the War Games series releases this fall, and book 3 follows in spring of 2027. I also have a standalone adventure novel slated for 2027 release with another publisher.

To learn more about Emily Hayse and explore her books, visit emilyhayse.com and her Amazon author page.