World Registry of Heroes & Villains Book 1: Hero Tower

I wrote this book back in 2019ish. I honestly can't remember. I do remember writing and writing and writing. By the time I was done, the book was 155,000+ words. I edited it here and there over the years until finally picking it up again. I am glad I did. It is definitely one of my favorite books I've written, and I hope it will be yours too.

I didn't end with 155,000 words. I edited out 20,000. Still 135,000 words was a lot. Especially when I added another 4,000 words. I put it into a book, and it started to fall a part at the corner of the front near the binding. I looked at the Sci-Fi genre word limits, splitting it in half after speaking to an author buddy. Best idea ever.

Blurb:

Any individual with extraordinary powers must register.

Cassie never has, and she never plans to register until she’s on trial. If she doesn’t use her abilities to beat the charges, she’ll die. If she does, authorities will collar her and jail her for ten years for not registering, or worse—she’ll join the hero celebrities in the ivory tower.

Garrison is the number one superhero in the world, and he won’t let anyone forget it. But he’s plagued by nightmares that he thinks he can run away from. When a mission for him to look after the criminal Cassie, sparks will fly and he’ll finally meet his match.

Nico owns Hero Tower. He’s trying to change the minds of the world who loathe and love superheroes, but his biggest challenge is babysitting them. After Cassie predicts the destruction of his home, he pursues all efforts to stop it from happening. And have her join his company. She needs to beat a few pesky charges first.

https://mybook.to/WRHV1HT

Thanks, K. A.

MFWG September 2026 Author Spotlight: Kristin Schmidt Larson

I met Kristin Schmidt Larson through the Moorhead Friends Writing Group at a vendor show last year. She was open and kind. I'm excited to share her newest book Max the Traveling Cat.

Author Bio:

Kristin Schmidt Larson wrote Max the Traveling Cat, inspired by her real-life cat, Max. Max travels with Kristin across the Dakotas in her Jeep. Kristin loves to write about kindness, love, and, in this book, God’s constant care.

She founded Simple Kindness and believes that every act of kindness can change the world. She is the author of Rosalita Spreads Kindness and Traveling Caravan, Growing up Under the Big Top.

You can kind find Kristin:

Website www.simplekindness.co

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kristin.larson3

LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-larson-985087383

Max the Traveling Cat is a heartwarming adventure about courage, curiosity, and discovering the world one pawprint at a time.

Max is no ordinary cat - he's a brave little traveler with a suitcase full of dreams and a heart ready for adventure. Max journeys across new places, meets unforgettable friends, and learns that home is not just a place... it's the love we carry with us.

Filled with imagination, kindness, and playful charm, Max the Traveling Cat inspires children to explore the world, embrace new experiences, and believe in the magic of every journey.

Perfect for young readers ages 5 to 9 years, families who love to travel, and anyone who believes adventure is always just around the corner.

Join Max as he packs his bags and discovers that the greatest adventures are the ones shared with those we love most.

Buy links:

https://www.amazon.com/Max-Traveling-Kristin-Schmidt-Larson/dp/B0H3P3DV85

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/max-the-traveling-cat-kristin-schmidt-larson/1150293868

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Max-The-Traveling-Cat-Paperback-9798198229440/20252512489

All books are available at:

1 st Ave Market, Fargo, ND

The Novel Exchange, Bismarck, ND

National Day Calendar Store, Mandan, ND

Words to Live By, Moorhead, MN

Silver Dawn, Grand Forks, ND

Ddr, Watertown, SD

Witchwood Shoppe, Grand Forks, ND

Avera McKennan Gift Shop, Sioux Falls, SD

K.A.: Where did you get your idea for your book?

K: I travel through the Dakotas, from North Dakota to South Dakota, and into Iowa. When Max is with me, he always enjoys looking at the countryside, so I thought up this story on a trip in the summer months when the sunflower fields were in full bloom.

K.A.: What is your favorite character in your book and why?

K: Max, of course, is the star of the book. He gets lost, and it is scary for both him and Zoey.

K.A.: Is there any scene in your book based on real life? If so, what?

K: Yes, when we travel together in my old Jeep.

K.A.: Tell us about your artist. How do you find her?

K: I was talking to an acquaintance and mentioned I was looking for an illustrator for my first children’s book. She said she knew a fantastic artist who did illustrations. I reached out to her and we met for coffee. I mentioned the book and I just asked her to draw elephant.  and she drew such a beautiful elephant with no problems.

Maria Standing Bear is gifted with her Native American art but she can literally draw anything you ask her to. Her talent, she learned at a young age, watching her father as he was an artist.

I also dedicated Rosalita spread kindness in memory of her father.

Sneak peek is a bit hard to do with a picture book, but we'll make it work:

Children, do you want to hear the story about Max the Traveling Cat?

Max is no ordinary cat. He loves to travel, discover new places, and meet new friends. His heart is always ready for an adventure!

Max is kind, curious, and charming. He loves exploring the world and seeing what each new day

brings.

Would you like to join Max and discover where his adventures will take him?

This is the first series of Max the Traveling Cat.

Where will Max go in the second series?

We don't know yet—but one thing is certain:

It will be another wonderful adventure!

So, come along with Max...

The adventure is just beginning!

Definitely check out Kristin's book. It is on my TBR pile!

-K. A.

World Registry of Heroes & Villains Book 1: Hero Tower Chapter 1

Here is a sneak peek of my book Hero Tower.

Chapter 1 Cassie

The guard removed my handcuffs but didn’t take off my collar. He and his partner continued to stare at me, hands near their holsters, as they shuffled backward.

“What are you doing? The collar prevents Cassie’s powers,” my attorney, Cage Orlian, said, sounding annoyed.

“We’re doing our jobs. She’s dangerous,” the first guard answered. A drop of sweat ran down his face.

“She’s barely one hundred pounds, soaking wet.” Cage faced me and asked, “You won’t do anything, right?”

I cleared my throat. “I won’t.” Not like I could. Nothing felt right. I had a big part of me missing.

“The way she hurt those men—” the same guard started.

“Is up to the court whether she goes to jail for it. You need to return to your station. Cassie will stay in line. Do you want to cause a mistrial?” Cage interrupted.

The guards grumbled, but obeyed.

A second later, the bailiff called, “All rise, Honorable Judge Gilroy Russo presiding.”

The courtroom stood; the Judge hurried into the room, and we sat.

Russo set a tablet onto the desk and asked me, “Cassie van der Aart, how do you plead to the eight charges of attempted murder?” He listed the men’s names next.

Cage whispered to me to stand next to him.

On my feet, I answered confidently, “Not guilty, Your Honor.”

“All eight of the charges?” Judge Russo asked. His eyes widened for a brief second.

“Yes, Your Honor. Every. Single. One,” I answered. My heart clenched, and tears bristled in my eyes from little Brianna begging me to stop. Who would protect her now?

I blinked away my tears before they fell. My neck itched from the collar, similar to the urge to scratch after hearing ‘lice,’ but touching the collar was a bad idea.

“How do you plead to not registering as a Hero?” Judge Russo scribbled on his tablet. Once he finished, his shoulders lifted, and he puffed his chest out. He perched upon his metal desk to intimidate me, perhaps?

The full weight of my decision rested on my shoulders. I glanced at my court-appointed attorney standing next to me.

Cage gave me a small smile of encouragement before facing forward again.

Individuals with unique abilities must disclose them to their government and register on the World Registry of Heroes and Villains. I had lived with my powers for eighteen years without adding myself to the WRHV. I intended to live the rest of my life without registering.

“How do you plead to not registering as a Hero?” Judge Russo asked again. This time, he sounded less thrilled with me.

“Not guilty,” I answered.

Dead silence filled the courtroom for a second, and then it erupted into a storm of chaos. Those involved in my case and the nosy ones spoke identical words. Their voices were a muddled mess, but I caught a few words.

“Murderer.”

“Freak.”

“Just die.”

“Order! I’ll have order in my court,” the Judge yelled. Clang. Clang. Metal hit against metal. He banged his gavel until everyone quieted down. “Ms. van der Aart, no one has ever pleaded not guilty to the charge. Your people need to tell normal citizens about your abilities as soon as you receive them so we can protect ourselves. Explain yourself.”

“My people?” I asked in disbelief. My jaw stiffened, and I ran my tongue along my bottom gum to get rid of the sensation. If I touched my face and accidentally hit my collar, the needles injecting a serum to stop my powers would dig further into me.

“Yes, Mutants.” The Judge cleared his throat. “I mean, Heroes. Post the Mutant Rebellion, any individual with extraordinary powers must register with their government. You’re a danger to society. You’re a weapon.” He recited the first line of the WRHV.

“How am I a weapon? A weapon is a gun or a knife, or an instrument used to cause bodily harm.” I lifted an eyebrow and cocked my head to the side. The Judge made no sense.

“Your abilities can kill people,” Judge Russo said.

“Alleged abilities, Your Honor,” Cage interjected.

“So can a knife. Why aren’t all owners forced onto a list?” I ignored the man standing next to me.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Judge Russo shook his head.

“Let’s write baseball bat owners while getting people to sign the registry. Are they not dangerous? A baseball bat can be a weapon,” I said. Every cell in my body buzzed as if I’d smoked crack and drunk a caffeine chaser. Once the hair-brained monkey with a gavel got me going, I wouldn’t stop. “The difference is anyone who owns a weapon can choose to kill someone with it.”

For a moment, I hesitated, refraining from uttering the M-word for my people. Mutants were bad. Calling them Heroes and Villains had helped a little. I continued by saying, “Heroes don’t have a choice. We’re born with abilities, and because we are, we must register. Becoming second-class citizens. No jobs. No welfare. No help whatsoever unless we’re paraded around in an ivory tower, all because we might harm someone. I’m not guilty of having been born. I deserve my freedom like everyone else.”

“Freedom isn’t free,” the Judge sneered.

“No shit,” I agreed.

“Ms. van der Aart, you will not use that language in my court,” the Judge said. His voice dripped with venom.

“Sorry, Your Honor, for agreeing with you.” I touched the collar around my neck to prove my point. Electricity zapped my fingers, and I yanked my hand away. The needle dug deeper into my neck, supplying more serum into my body. I bit my tongue to stop myself from screaming in pain. If I kept touching the collar, I would die.

If you want to know more:

Any individual with extraordinary powers must register.

Cassie never has, and she never plans to register until she’s on trial. If she doesn’t use her abilities to beat the charges, she’ll die. If she does, authorities will collar her and jail her for ten years for not registering, or worse—she’ll join the hero celebrities in the ivory tower.

Garrison is the number one superhero in the world, and he won’t let anyone forget it. But he’s plagued by nightmares that he thinks he can run away from. When a mission for him to look after the criminal Cassie, sparks will fly and he’ll finally meet his match.

Nico owns Hero Tower. He’s trying to change the minds of the world who loathe and love superheroes, but his biggest challenge is babysitting them. After Cassie predicts the destruction of his home, he pursues all efforts to stop it from happening. And have her join his company. She needs to beat a few pesky charges first.

https://mybook.to/WRHV1HT