S. Y. Thompson
Updated 18 April, 2026
About the Author
S. Y. Thompson is a PRISM Award-winning author whose life has been defined by high stakes and deep ancestral roots. From her early days writing Star Trek fanfiction to publishing fourteen expansive novels, she has always looked toward the horizon. But her stories are grounded in a reality few get to see. She is an honorably discharged US Marine and a former San Diego County Deputy Sheriff with a history in Top Secret intel. That ‘boots on the ground’ experience gives her science fiction, paranormal, and mystery novels an unmistakable edge of authenticity.
A woman of Cherokee and Scottish heritage, Thompson lives at the intersection of her ancestry and a life-long dedication to the land. When she isn’t exploring the depths of the mountains and forests, she can be found tending to her registered wildlife habitat. Known to her neighbors as ‘Dr. Doolittle,’ she finds her greatest inspiration among the animals and the ancient Tennessee woods. For Thompson, writing is more than a craft. It is an immersive, sensory-rich journey into worlds where tactical grit meets a wild heart.
Live May 1, 2026
Available for Presale now
In a world stitched by memory and flame, one rift threatens to unravel it all.
Captain Cordelia Serin crashes onto the haunted shores of Draythmire when her star‑faring vessel is torn from the sky. Here, time fractures, myths breathe, and a malignant Blight spreads from a widening rift between worlds.
At her side rises Vaeler, the golden dragon queen whose magic can hold the unraveling at bay. Together they face corrupted creatures, shifting landscapes, and the growing influence of the Unraveler’s will.
But Cord is not alone in this fight. A gifted mage bound to her by duty and something deeper may hold the key to closing the rift before the Blight consumes everything.
To save their world, Cordelia must confront the ghosts she carries, the futures she fears, and the myth she is destined to become even as love, fragile and fierce, threatens to reshape her path.
A tale of sacrifice, sentience, and the quiet power of chosen bonds, Riftwoven is a science-fantasy odyssey where fairy tale meets fracture, and legacy is stitched in starlight.
Live!
April 19, 2026
The second edition of Illusive Witness is live. This novel is updated for the times and includes expanded chapters and content.
She survived the fall. Now she has to survive the truth.
Full Synopsis
Ruth Gallagher survives the mountain‑climbing disaster that kills her best friend. She refuses to accept the official story. Her search for answers uncovers a brutal truth. The fall was engineered, and the person responsible wants her dead next.
A powerful mobster is convinced Ruth holds secrets that could ruin him. As the attacks escalate, Ruth fights to stay one step ahead, even as her injuries slow her down and her world narrows to a single, brutal question. Who can she trust now?
U.S. Marshal Emma Blake steps in with a badge, a plan, and a stubborn determination to keep Ruth alive. But trust is a wound Ruth hasn’t healed. To survive, she’ll have to decide whether to let Emma in or face her enemy alone.
The Indie Author's Formatting Guide
Live now on Amazon
When I started out, I was represented by a traditional publishing house.
Over time, that didn't work for me anymore. I wanted to go independent
(indie), but had no idea how to accomplish that. A friendly author spent
hours teaching me to typeset and make my own covers. Along the way,
I learned many more tips, tricks, and shortcuts on my own.
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I purchased books on self-publishing that were really only emotional
support books saying, "You can do it!" I needed something more technical.
To that end, I began compiling notes, formulas, and shortcuts that I kept
in a binder. Eventually, I transferred all of that into a computer file that
I could share with others. I can and have freely shared this information
for anyone who asked, but that wasnt' enough. Just like the author who spent
so much time teaching me, I wanted to pass along what I learned. Not for profit,
but for anyone who wished to be self-published and didn't't have a clue where
to start.
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This guide covers typesetting, cover creation, margin settings for print/eBook/Hardcover.
It covers the dos and don'ts of uploading to Amazon as well as step-by-step instructions
on creating your own cover in PowerPoint.
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I wanted to give this information away for free, but Amazon tends to balk at a permanently
free book. For that reason, I have listed The Indie Author's Formatting Guide on Amazon for
less than a dollar.
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I'm not saying I have all the answers. I learn something new everyday. But I do think this
guide is invaluable for the beginner indie author. At .99 cents, what have you got to lose?
MY BOOKS
Winner of a 2025 Prism Award and a seven-time finalist for the Golden Crown Literary Society. Two-time Rainbow Award winner.
To find out more about each of my novels by clicking on the images contained in the slider box below. Thank you all for your unwavering support.
I can be contacted by clicking here.
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