About
C.H. Brown’s poetry has been published in Oakwood, the literary magazine of South Dakota State University.
She was a runner-up in the 2016 Flash Fiction / Prose Poetry Contest of The Offbeat, a literary journal of Michigan State University for her story, The Secret Language of Moles.
In April 2018, her story The Kiska Tablet, was published in Havok Magazine, a flash fiction magazine specializing in speculative genres.
In Spring 2018, her story Making Lemonade appeared in 2 Elizabeths’ print anthology, Love and Romance.
In 2018, her short story, Paradoxical Timing, placed 10th in the Writer’s Digest’s Annual Writing Competition in the Genre Short Story Category.
In spring of 2019, her short story, Super Heroes, appeared in The Veggie Wagon Journal.
In summer of 2019, her short story, Purrfect Revenge, was a finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association 2019 writing contest in the Short Story Category.
In summer of 2022, her short story, A Hell of a Rescue, was a finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association 2022 writing contest in the Short Story Category.
In 2023, her stories, The Heart of Kublai Khan’s Menagerie Keeper and Finding Namaste, were finalists in the Chanticleer International Book Awards 2023 SHORTS Contest for Short Stories and Essays. The Heart of Kublai Khan’s Menagerie Keeper went on to win grand prize.
In 2024, her story, Finding Namaste, was a first place winner in the Chanticleer International Book Awards 2024 SEA Shorts Contest for Short Stories and Essays. Her young adult fantasy novel, The Appearance of Power, was a first place winner in the Chanticleer International Book Awards 2024 Dante Rossetti Young Adult Fiction contest.
In 2025, her micro flash fiction stories, A Griffon’s Ransom, and Reservations were published with Sudden Flash.
C.H. Brown has presented on writing craft topics, including YA vs Middle Grade fiction and mistakes writers make when they write about medications at several writing conferences, including the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association Conference and the Chanticleer Authors Conference.
She is a member of the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association, Chanticleer Reviews’ The Roost Community, Literary Launchpad, a community for aspiring sci-fi and fantasy authors, and the Flamingos Revised Critique Group.
She worked as a pharmacist manager for a large healthcare system managing their formulary for twenty six years, and she has an extensive technical writing background, including numerous formulary drug monographs. She has been published in a pharmacy textbook, The Clinical Practice of Drug Information, and she has several published articles in the medical literature.
C.H. Brown has completed her first novel in the Merlien Magic Power Saga, a fantasy series for young adults, titled The Appearance of Power, due out in the summer of 2026. She is plotting the second and third books to follow, respectively titled The Price of Power and The Purpose of Power.
She recently relocated from the Seattle area to the Sioux Falls area with her husband and two rescue cats. In her spare time, she manages their popular social media account on Petzbe.
Featured Work
The Appearance of Power
Coming in Summer 2026.
If you’re the look-alike son of a magic-abusing tyrant, just showing your face is a risk. Displaying any hint of magic could be a death sentence.
For Krislov Merlien, growing up the mirror image of his father was a burden. Krislov’s despot father abused his magic, and thousands of innocent subjects either disappeared or were killed fighting in his armies.
It’s been seven years since the king’s own magic killed him and the Hasans invaded the realm. Magic is the last thing that Krislov wants any part of. He desperately wants to leave the country with his cousin and become a simple stonemason building majestic cathedrals. His aspirations are irrelevant, because the Mage authorities are determined to find out if Krislov also has magic.
He tests negative and can almost taste his freedom when his cousin is ensnared instead. During an attempt to escape, they are caught in a riot and briefly vanish in a freak magic incident. Krislov must somehow prove he’s not responsible for the mysterious magic or die trying.
If you love young adult fiction with magical adventure, if you crave atmospheric medieval style settings, and if you obsess over cryptic spells, quirky mentors, and mysterious prophecies, you will love The Appearance of Power.
Appearances can be dangerous, but magic is lethal.
