Are you standing still or headed into new beginnings?

Hello friends,

I’ve been thinking a lot about new beginnings and next steps lately. My oldest is headed off to college this year! She was a 5th grader when I wrote the first draft of A Flash of Fire…and a lot has changed since then!

This month, the audiobook for A Flash of Fire hit Amazon’s Top 100 list for “Greek & Roman Fairy Tales for Children” and the audiobook for Drowning the Flames finished the final production rounds.

While I shepherd her off to college, I’m also watching my book babies make new strides in the world.

To new beginnings,

A Message from the Headmistress: On Becoming the Spy You Were Born to Be

To our graduating agents, operatives, and magical mischief-makers—

Congratulations, Class of 2025! You’ve survived enchanted exams, deciphered hex-coded messages, dodged enchanted hall monitors, and maybe—just maybe—learned to properly aim a glitter-shield spell and brew tea at the same time. You’re ready.

But before you vault into your next mission—whether it’s infiltrating a shadow realm, navigating the politics with the Board of Elders, or simply figuring out which college allows spellwork on campus—we want to leave you with this:

A good spy isn’t just stealthy.
They’re curious. Observant. Brave enough to ask the hard questions, and clever enough to escape through the window if the answer is “classified.”

A great spy isn’t just powerful.
They’re kind. They protect what matters. They stand in the shadows so others can walk in the light—and they know when to let someone else take the lead (especially if that someone is holding a thunder staff).

The best spies?
They never stop learning. They mess up. They laugh. They get back up again—covered in fae dust and dignity—and say, “Nice try, world. I’ve got this.”

So wherever your next chapter takes you—know this: You are seen. You are trusted. And you are ready. This school will always be your home base.

Stay sharp. Stay kind. And don’t forget Rule #1:

Always check for traps… and always leave a little sparkle behind.

With pride and mischief,
Headmistress Carmine
& The Entire Spy School Faculty