About the Authors
Two hearts, one pen name, and a shared love of cozy stories.
M & J Gillbright
M. J. Gillbright is our shared pen name. We are a husband-and-wife storytelling team who build worlds together (usually fueled by imagination, optimism, and delicious dinners). We believe the world needs more stories that feel like a warm cup of “everything is going to be okay” with extra marshmallows.
As recovering theme park designers, we’ve spent years crafting immersive experiences and learning that the best stories don’t just entertain… they make you feel like you belong there!
When we’re not writing, you’ll find us hiking Southern California trails, sending out positive newsletters, and practicing the art of eating good food together (because we firmly believe that snacks are a love language).
Positopian Publishing
Positopian Publishing is our indie press built on one belief: stories should leave you feeling better than when you started. We publish fiction that chooses joy, warmth, and the quiet heroism of everyday kindness.
Joy as a Radical Act
In a world of grimdark, we choose warmth. Our stories affirm that kindness, connection, and hope are not naive — they’re brave.
Found Family Always
Every story we tell explores the families we choose — the friends who become kin, the strangers who become home.
Magic in the Mundane
The most powerful magic isn’t fireballs — it’s a perfectly crafted truffle, a book that changes your perspective, a dragon who won’t leave your storeroom.
Our Writing Process
Writing as a duo is like a trust fall — except the fall is 160,000 words long and there’s a dramatic dragon watching.
Dream Together
Every book begins with a “what if?” conversation — usually over delicious dinners, always with too many tangents about dragons.
Outline & Divide
We map the story arc together, then split chapters based on our strengths. J takes world-building scenes; M owns the emotional beats.
Write & Weave
Drafts ping-pong between us. We rewrite each other’s work until our voices blend into one — the voice of M.J. Gillbright.
Polish & Share
Beta readers, editing and revisions, and far too many late-night debates about semicolons later, the book is ready for the world.
Why Cozy Fantasy?
“We believe the bravest thing a story can do is make you feel safe enough to hope.”
Cozy fantasy isn’t about ignoring the world’s darkness — it’s about choosing to light a candle anyway. It’s fantasy where the stakes are personal, the magic is warm, and the hero’s greatest weapon is compassion.
We fell in love with cozy fantasy because it gave us permission to write stories where nobody has to die for the plot to matter. Where opening a chocolate shop is as heroic as slaying a dragon. Where the happy ending isn’t a cop-out — it’s the whole point.
If you’ve ever finished a book and thought, “I wish I could live there,” then you already understand why we write cozy fantasy.
Low Stakes, High Heart
No world-ending threats. Just deeply personal ones.
Comfort & Warmth
Stories that feel like a hug in book form.
Whimsical Magic
Dragons, enchanted bookshops, and charmed chocolates.
Kindness Wins
Compassion is always the right answer.
Sense of Place
Towns you want to move to. Shops you want to visit.
Happy Endings
Not naive. Earned. And always worth the journey.