Dark Retellings & Happily Ever Afters: K E Barden’s Fairytale Rise

Author: MG Hunt
Published: Thu 11 Sep 2025
Episode Link: https://mghunt.substack.com/p/dark-retellings-and-happily-ever

Indie author K E Barden wrote her first draft entirely on her mobile phone. That’s not just commitment, it’s creative grit at its best.

A seasoned storyteller in the realm of fairytale retellings, Barden has spent years weaving magic into her stories. With a successful series re-release behind her, she’s turned every setback into storytelling gold. Proof that resilience and imagination make a powerful combination.

Barden’s ‘Finding Ever After’ series is already three books in, with book four and five scheduled to be released 2026. The series is an exploration into commonly familiar fairytales with a dark, YA twist to them. It is also an exploration into how far one would go to find their ‘happily ever after’.

The momentum doesn’t stop there. Barden’s indie journey is on an impressive trajectory. She was recently invited to pitch the ‘Finding Ever After’ series for a film/TV adaptation. It’s a bold reminder that indie authors aren’t just keeping up, rather, they’re redefining an industry once ruled by traditional publishing.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

02:01 K E Barden's background

07:51 Writing routine

16:14 What K E Barden's writing process looks like

21:39 Hardest vs. Most Enjoyable part of writing

31:37 The Finding Ever After Series

38:16 Publishing Timeline for Finding Ever After Series

45:39 Latest publication: Book 3, A Glass Darkly

56:31 Future for K E Barden

K E Barden’s Links

* Instagram