Sapphic cozy fantasy with warm endings guaranteed
Home of The Last Route by James Heppe-Smith — a 20-book cozy fantasy series of found family, gentle magic, and slow-burn sapphic romance set in the realm of Aeldra.
Cozy fantasy series & indie author books
Browse our current authors — or start with our flagship cozy fantasy series.
The Last Route (Cozy Fantasy)
Found family, gentle magic, and slow-burn sapphic romance — set across the realm of Aeldra.
Free bonus story: Get Quills & Quiet (PDF + ePub) when you join the reader community at heppesmithpublishing.com/thistle.
Our authors
Nonfiction, education, relationships, business, and more — published with clarity and care.
William Smith
Business, entrepreneurship, AI & marketing, and property investing.
Evelyn A. Stonebridge
Mindful relationship books: communication, conflict repair, connection.
Tracy Schultz
The Empowered Educator Series: classroom practice and maths confidence.
Publishing services for indie authors
Need help publishing? We offer practical, human-led support — tailored to your book and goals. Every project starts with a conversation about what you actually need.
Proofreading & editing
From light proofreading to deeper developmental support, depending on what your manuscript needs.
Learn more about editingKDP & platform setup
Guidance setting up Kindle, paperback, and related storefront details — done cleanly and correctly.
Learn more about KDP setupFormatting, covers & ads
Interior formatting, cover creation, and Amazon ads / launch support when you want visibility.
Learn more about coversFrom the blog
Cozy fantasy recommendations, genre guides, and indie publishing advice.
What Is Cozy Fantasy?
Low stakes, warm endings, and stories that make you feel better. A complete genre guide with reading recommendations.
Read postSapphic Cozy Fantasy Reading List
Every sapphic cozy fantasy book worth reading, in one list — from genre classics to hidden gems and new releases.
Read postWhy I Wrote The Last Route
The honest answer is that I couldn’t find the book I wanted to read. So I made a spreadsheet, drew a map, and started walking.
Read postAbout
Small press. Clear process. Books made with care.
Heppe-Smith Publishing
We publish fiction and nonfiction under a small set of author brands — with a focus on quality presentation, reader trust, and long-term catalogue value.
Heppe-Smith Publishing is part of VitaVerse LLC • 30 N Gould St, Ste R, Sheridan, WY 82801, USA.
James Heppe-Smith
James Heppe-Smith writes cozy fantasy with warmth, gentle magic, and the occasional small animal with secrets. Originally from the UK (with a long detour through Germany), he now lives in Northern Cyprus with his partner and two rescue dogs who have very strong opinions about walk times.
The Last Route is his debut series — a twenty-book cozy fantasy saga about mail, magic, and finding home in unexpected places. It features found family, sapphic romance, and a hedgehog named Thistle.
Contact
Tell us what you’re working on — we’ll reply with next steps.
Email: info@heppesmithpublishing.com
Telephone: +1 307 381 6444
For publishing services, please include your genre, word count, and what kind of support you’re looking for (editing, formatting, covers, KDP setup, ads, or launch help). Pricing varies by project.