Kaaren 
Undercover Mage
$7.95 – $30.00
A grumpy river dragon withholds rain. Their crops wilting in unrelenting sunlight, the provinces plan a festival of dragon boat racing...
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Author · Accredited Editor · Dragon Boat Paddler
Stories that paddle straight to the heart
Welcome to the official website of Australian author Kaaren Sutcliffe. Here you'll find her published books, how to purchase them, and the legacy being carried on by Kaaren's family and writing friends.
Kaaren passed away in August 2024. Her daughters Mara and Elena, and her writing friends, keep her dream for her books alive — and every book sold gives back to the causes she loved.
Her final book — available now
Kaaren's Legacy Fund
Every book sold gives back
From each print book sold from The Mage trilogy and Paddle.Live.Love, $5 goes to Dragons Abreast Australia and $3 goes to the McGrath Foundation's breast care nurse program. Each year we also fundraise at the Mother's Day Classic in Kaaren's memory.
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About Kaaren Sutcliffe, AE
She always loved stories
Kaaren aspired to become an author from as early as fourteen, when she set out to write an eighth Chronicle of Narnia — making it to almost a hundred pages before her father reclaimed his typewriter and her mother needed the dining table back. Her short story Fever Pitch won the Sixth Form category of the inaugural Canberra Times short story competition.
I like to tell people that I accidentally wrote a novel while I was on maternity leave. That night I had a vivid dream that I was a Pegasus foal waiting to be born... I was hooked. I loved writing.— Kaaren, on beginning The Ambitious Mage in 1995
Between 1998 and 2006 small independent publishers released five of her novels and three children's stories, and her self-published non-fiction book sold two print runs. After a breast cancer diagnosis in 2005, Kaaren left the public service and became a freelance editor, establishing Just So Words in 2009 and becoming an Accredited Editor with the Institute of Professional Editors in 2012. She served on committees for the ACT Writers Centre, the Canberra Society of Editors, Editors NSW and IPEd's national Mentoring Program, and judged short story and novel competitions, including five years volunteering for Romance Writers of Australia.
A mad keen sportswoman — long-distance runner and horse rider — Kaaren moved with her husband Andrew to the NSW South Coast in 2017 and took up dragon boating, which features in her latest books. When her breast cancer returned in 2021, Kaaren kept getting on with life, and The Mage and the Bird Caller trilogy came to life. Her final book, Paddle.Live.Love, gives voice to people touched by breast cancer and celebrates the power of embracing second chances.
Kaaren passed away in August 2024. With thirteen published books — children's stories, fantasy series and her moving final romance — her daughters Mara and Elena and her writing friends do their best to keep Kaaren's dream for her books going.
Kaaren's Books
Thirteen books, one remarkable imagination
From heroic fantasy to children's stories to a heartfelt sports romance — every purchase supports breast cancer causes.
New · A four chilli sports romance
Paddle.Live.Love
Hayley Banks has opted for a short-term sea-change in the South Coast town of Narooma so she can process her last year and find herself again. Despite her fear of committing to anything or anyone after her recent breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, Hayley soon finds herself paddling with the local dragon boat club — and falling for Justin Zhao, the team's lollipop-wielding head sweep. Pouring her heart and love for dragon boating into this romance, Kaaren created her legacy in her final book.
Buy — $7.95 to $30.00The Mage and the Bird Caller trilogy
A simple mission... with twists and meanders that capture his heart and divert his destiny. Available in print and eBook, plus money-saving bundles: the 3 eBook bundle ($18.00) and the 3 print book bundle ($80.00).
Fugitive Mage
$7.95 – $30.00
Book Two — the continuation of the dynamic and not-so-simple mission. Everand and Lamiya find events rapidly unravelling around them...
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Eminent Mage
$30.00
Fugitives in Riverplain, Everand and the rogue Malach prepare to face the ire of the Mages' Guild. The trilogy's triumphant conclusion.
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Trilogy bundles
eBooks $18.00 · Print $80.00
Buy all three Mage books together and save — available as a 3 eBook bundle or a 3 print book bundle.
Buy the bundle →The Prophecy of the Sharid trilogy
What if our hero is assailed by scars both visible and invisible? Print only.
Kered's Cry
$7.95 – $30.00
Prince Kered loses everything in the brutal Sarod invasion of Tanaria — his family, his kingdom, his people, and almost himself.
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Kered's Call
$7.95 – $25.00
Initially, Kered feels safe in the northern realm of Zapot with his uncle Gonov and cousin Mirayla. Events rapidly unfold...
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Kered's Crown
$7.95 – $25.00
The battles between armies begin! Kered tries to retake his kingdom and to save his people — difficult when Nactus stands against him.
Buy this book →Previously published
The Ambitious Mage Saga — sadly out of stock, but may be re-released.
The Pegasus Touch
Out of stock
A tale of the lure of power and ambition — contrasted with courage, camaraderie and love.
The Scales
Out of stock
Rhyan and Gerrid reach Ossilis to rescue Elemar. But Elemar is not prepared to come home — she wants to stay.
Children's books
Kaaren completed a Diploma in Professional Children's Writing with the Australian College of Journalism in 2000, and had three children's books published by Ginninderra Press and Loranda Publishing. Now out of print, though limited stock is held — enquire by email if interested.
Watch
Trilogy book trailer
Book launch
Community Involvement
Giving something back
A number of wonderful people and organisations helped Kaaren on her journey, and it was important to her to give something back. Kaaren was heavily involved in the dragon boating and writing communities, and chose to donate part of the proceeds from The Mage fantasy trilogy and Paddle.Live.Love to two directly relevant and worthy causes.
$5
Dragons Abreast Australia
From each print book sold, $5 supports Dragons Abreast Australia's encouragement of breast cancer survivors to take up dragon boating — the sport Kaaren loved and that inspired her final books.
$3
McGrath Foundation
From each print book sold, $3 goes to the McGrath Foundation's breast care nurse program, supporting families experiencing breast cancer across Australia.
Testimonials
What readers and writers say
It's clear that with each book, Sutcliffe has expertly expanded the scope of the narrative while maintaining a consistent and captivating tone... a delightful blend of fantasy, mystery, and romance that successfully concludes the trilogy on a high note.
K.C. Finn 5 stars — Reader's Favorite, USThe realism with which Prince Kered's situation is tackled is a revelation, and makes compulsive reading... Sutcliffe has found her voice as a writer. And what a powerful voice it is.
Trudi Canavan Author of The Black Magician TrilogyKaaren has created an exquisite impression of a time when river dragons were respected... This is an inspiring story for all current and any would-be paddlers!
Marian Matti Sweep, Nature Coast Dragon Boat Club, MoruyaI highly recommend it to anyone who loves epic tales full of mystery and intrigue, with a touch of romance. This story has all that, and a whole lot more.
Wendie Daniels Romantic Suspense Author, RWA Sapphire finalistA delightful and beautifully written novel that will appeal to a wide range of readers... Everyone loves a good romance, and Undercover Mage does not disappoint. I want more!
Gail Tagarro Accredited Editor, The Book Writing CoachSutcliffe's trilogy has all the elements you love in fantasy, plus twists and turns, soul searching, identity crises and surprises around every corner. A great romp.
Sarah Endacott Orb speculative fiction magazine
Contact Us
Get in touch
For book orders, enquiries about limited-stock children's books, or anything about Kaaren's legacy and the annual fundraiser, the family would love to hear from you.
Find us
- Email: kaarensutcliffebooks@gmail.com
- Twitter / X: @sutcliffekaaren
- LinkedIn: Kaaren Sutcliffe
Kaaren's website and book sales are lovingly maintained by her daughters Mara and Elena, and her writing friends.