“I Knew From the Start It Would Be Eleven Books”
An interview with fantasy author Annemiek Steur
A childhood story, thirty pages long, about elves. That’s where it all began. On a family trip to Vancouver Island, a ten-year-old Annemiek Steur grew bored of audiobooks and began scribbling in a notebook.
When she read her fantastical tale aloud to her parents and siblings, she discovered two things:
“One, other people liked my story—weirdly enough. And two, I actually liked writing.”
Fast forward a few years, and thirteen-year-old Annemiek was already drafting the first book in what would become the Jonas Dubelaar series: an ambitious eleven-part saga that blends magic schools, dragon bonds, and parallel worlds. By fifteen she had published the prologue; at seventeen, her first full book. Now in her twenties, she’s still writing, still publishing—and still aiming for that eleven-book finish line.
Magic Watches, Dragon Bonds, and Growing Up
At the heart of the series is Jonas, a boy who discovers a mysterious pocket watch in his attic. The moment he fumbles with it, he’s transported into a magical world—where a dragon rider finds him and brings him to the capital. There, Jonas begins his studies at a magic school, bonds with dragons, and undertakes perilous missions for the empire.
“It’s a coming-of-age story,” Annemiek explains. “A bit like Harry Potter. In the first books he’s insecure, a teenager. But he matures—especially through the challenges of traveling between two worlds. Each book covers two years of his life. Because I started so young, it was easier to immerse myself in the teenage mindset. And now that I’m older, I can bring more reflection and depth to the later stories.”
“I Don’t Know How I Find the Time. I Just Do.”
Writing an eleven-book fantasy series sounds overwhelming. But Annemiek’s approach is simple: start small.
“Starting is always the hardest part. So I lower the threshold. I tell myself: just write one word today. It sounds ridiculous, but once you’ve written the first word, the rest flows.”
As a teenager, she wrote chapters in the spare hours after school. Now she works in smaller chunks—sometimes 250 words, sometimes much more if inspiration strikes. “It’s not about speed. I don’t like writing fast and publishing whatever I wrote without looking at it again. It’s about stamina and consistency.”
From Word Doc to Hardcover
Many indie authors dread the logistics of publishing, but Annemiek thrives on it.
“I love that this is an industry you can learn by doing. I wanted to understand every step—writing, editing, publishing, even printing. I wanted to know how it all worked.”
That curiosity has made her not only a writer but also a producer. Her latest release is a sturdy hardcover with a striking cover designed by Dominik Broniek, known for his work with Patty van Delft and Brandon Sanderson. The cover features a watch—the story’s catalyst—floating in mystery. “Less is more,” Annemiek says. “I want readers to sense the genre and the mood, but not know the plot. The discovery should be theirs.”
Her editorial process is equally disciplined: first beta readers (ideally people who already know the series), then professional editing. “Sometimes the editing takes as long as the first draft. But it’s worth it. I want my books to compete with traditionally published titles. And I think I’ve figured out how.”
Charging Up and Finding Readers
So where does she find the energy to keep going?
“By rereading my own work!” she laughs. “Every author knows that feeling—you read something back and think, wow, this is actually good. Other days you’re convinced it’s the worst thing ever. But those highs help.”
Events like Castlefest also fuel her. “When someone tells me, ‘I came just for your book,’ or recognizes Jonas among sixty other authors—that’s incredibly energizing. Writing is solitary, but moments like that remind me who I’m writing for.”
Beyond Jonas: A Chinese Twist
Annemiek isn’t limiting herself to one series. A graduate in Chinese language and culture, she’s now writing a standalone novel inspired by Chinese history.
“They have a history over four thousand years old. I want to give people a glimpse of that—outside politics, just the culture. To make them curious.”
It’s another ambitious project, one she hopes will draw readers into a new world of ancient traditions and timeless imagination.
Looking Fifteen Years Ahead
Fifteen years from now? Annemiek dreams of seeing her books in ten or more languages—and perhaps even on screen. “Every writer dreams of a film,” she admits. “But I’d also love to see the series translated more widely. My debut was published in Chinese, the prologue is already in English—so why not keep going?”
A Final Word for Aspiring Writers
If there’s one lesson Annemiek’s story makes clear, it’s that you don’t have to wait for permission.
“You can start writing now. You can publish now. You can learn as you go.”
And maybe—all it takes is a single word.
Annemiek Steur’s English Patreon Page with writing updates and articles.
Annemiek Steur’s website
Watch the video of the interview:
Very encouraging and inspiring.