CAROLINE J. TRUSSELL
Caroline J. Trussell is a speculative ficion author who has previously written for Her Campus and Folio Weekly. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a major in Writing and Rhetoric and attended the prestigious Columbia Publishing Course. Caroline is a creative writing MFA candidate at Butler University.
Her science fiction fantasy series, book #1 ENHANCED (August 2025) and book #2 Liberated (February 2026), are now out with Fire and Ice YA Books. She is a queer and neurodivergent author who identifies as a mental health and chronic illness warrior. Caroline hopes to inspire others through discussing these topics in her work.
LIBERATED, YA Speculative Fiction
LIBERATED (BOOK 2 OF 2 IN THE ENHANCED DUOLOGY), FEBRUARY 2026, FIRE & ICE YA BOOKS
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“LIBERATED is a riveting finale that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Readers will enjoy the mental health representation & romance elements."
When the Disorder lands in New Canada and discovers Alex has been captured by the Council, they must make a plan to continue to uncover Secretary Frankie’s corrupt practices regarding the Elixir and save their Engineer.
Traveling across the globe, Thea and her allies appeal to the International Committee on Health and Wellness to aid them in their goal to distribute the Elixir to those who need it and to deliver military action against the New States.
Frankie declares war and, as Thea and company wait for political decisions to be made, she trains to become a Mental Specialist. Thea counsels trauma victims who have been affected by the fighting and Frankie’s new weapon that can eradicate mental abilities in addition to tirelessly working to perfect a new method of administering the Elixir that could help millions.
Everything comes to a head when an attempt to save Alex from Frankie’s grip is fatal, and Elias shows signs of illness. Thea has to travel from Belgium to Ireland to save the lives of those she loves most, but she also must save the lives of millions of New Americans who have been threatened by Frankie’s master weapon, else the world could collapse even further into chaos.
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Fire & Ice YA Website​​​​​​​​
ENHANCED, YA Speculative Fiction
A gripping and thought-provoking dystopian thriller that blends intrigue, rebellion, and emotional depth into an instant YA classic. Perfect for fans of Divergent, Legend, Suzanne Collins, and Scott Westerfeld.
When THEA turns seventeen, she’s accepted into The Elite society of New America and given her dose of the Elixir—a substance that promises to eradicate all negative aspects of ‘mental illness’ and enhance natural abilities. With the Elixir declaring one’s place in society, Thea is astounded when she is declared not one, but two roles—a Moodist and an Analyst.
With her newfound skills, Thea is determined to use them to help others. After throwing herself into her studies and befriending the intelligent Seer HARLEY, Thea uncovers a web of lies and deceit surrounding the distribution of the Elixir.
As more and more horrendous truths surrounding the government and the Elixir are unearthed, Thea abandons everything she used to believe in and joins an underground rebellion known as the Disorder.
Bonding with the insurgent ELIAS, they make it their mission to find out why the Elixir is being held back from those who need it most. To take down the corrupt agenda of New America’s governing body, Thea will have to face the mysterious scientific Order of Alchemists and someone closer to her than she could imagine.
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ENHANCED (BOOK 1 OF 2 IN THE ENHANCED DUOLOGY), AUGUST 2025, FIRE & ICE YA BOOKS
ADULTHOOD, Flash Fiction (Nonfiction)
BRIGHT FLASH LITERARY REVIEW, OCTOBER 2025
Caroline's first flash fiction piece is now available to read in Bright Flash Literary Review.
Here’s a snippet:
Get a good job after school, move to a big city. Work from 9-5 and sometimes even later. Say yes ma’am and yes sir. Take the coffee orders. Come home late and always be available via email. Go the bar down the street that serves the $3 drinks, try to forget your day. Verbal abuse is expected in the industry, just smile and twist your personality to fit the people who are paying you. Eat a whole box of Cheez Its to numb the pain, lie in bed staring at the popcorn ceiling wondering what you were really taught besides how to endure pain.
Read the full piece on Bright Flash Literary Review's website
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AN INVITATION TO RUIN, YA Speculative Horror
COMPLETED AS OF JULY 2026
- DON'T LET THE FORES IN x I FEED HER TO THE BEAST AND THE BEAST IS ME
- Obsession and power
- Unreliable and unlikeable narrator
- Body horror & psychological horror
- Connecting with spirits past
- Blood sacrifice​
- Bi chaos
NO CANCELLATIONS, Paranormal Horror
SHORT STORY SINCE AUGUST 2025
- Idyllic coastal Georgia island setting with vast historical roots
- A hotel you can't escape
- Lots and lots of ghosts
- A spirit that doesn't realize she's dead
- Loss of sense of time and space
A GREED SO RUINOUS, Angels and Demons/Cult Horror
WORK IN PROGRESS SINCE JULY 2024
- Angels and demons
- Plagues/apocalyptic
- Stepford Wives-eqsue Connecticut elite community setting
- Cult that needs to be eradicated
- Greed that could ruin it all
- Feminine rage
FEMME FATAL, Serial Killer Horror/Thriller
OUTLINED SINCE OCTOBER 2024
- Female serial killer
- PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN vibes
- Northwest Florida university setting
- Revenge for wronged women
- F**k the patriarchy and the casualness of harassment in university settings
THE MARKED ONES, YA Gladiatorial Fantasy
OUTLINED SINCE NOVEMBER 2024
- GLADIATOR II X DIVINE RIVALS
- Decided fate since birth
- Sacrifice to the gods for power and prestige
- Ancient Rome inspired
- Female gladiators
- The prophesied one trope
- Feminine Rage
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HOUSE OF MINDS, Psychological and Speculative Horror
OUTLINED SINCE 2023
- House of horrors/worst nightmare come to life
- What's real vs. what's not?
- Sentient house that plays on your fears
- OCD rep
- Is the demon you and your thoughts?
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A PROPECHY WRITTEN IN ASH, YA Magical Realism with Elemental Magic and Feminine Rage
WORK IN PROGRESS SINCE 2023
- Mental illness and LGBTQIA+ rep
- Bi-sexual MC
- Irish and Argentinian folklore
- Elemental, divination, and healing magic
- Prophecy to end all prophecies
- New England setting
-Close knit cast of characters
- Wonderfully supportive dads
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A SPITE SO SHARP, Vampire Romantasy
WORK IN PROGRESS SINCE 2020
- Futuristic world where vampires rule and deem people worthy or not
- Enemies to lovers
- Major mental health rep
- Strong female MC
- Drug-ridden city
- Survivor and vampire prince
-Close knit cast of characters
PAINT IT RED, YA Psychological Thriller
WORK IN PROGRESS SINCE 2019
Everything changed for sixteen-year-old Elliot Abernathy in the blink of an eye. One night his mother comes home, clearly out of sorts, and is admitted to the hospital, where she is deemed as having large quantities of drugs in her system. She is immediately transported to the Adirondacks Psychiatric Facility, where she stays as a rehab patient. However, Elliot’s mother divulges to him that this was part of her plan: to uncover the mistreatment of the patients by the head psychiatrist, Dr. Axley.
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Elliot must get his mother out of the facility. He discovers that the facility is not only mistreating its patients but is being funded by high-level politicians and that his own father has a connection to the wrongdoings. He begins to write for his mother’s paper to expose the corruption and, with each new discovery, Elliot feels that his world is being turned upside down. A school fire twenty-five years ago, a group of missing children, and the sick-looking appearance of the psych patients all drive Elliot further towards finding out what is going on behind the walls of this facility. If Elliot doesn’t expose the corruption and help release the patients, he risks losing his mother forever, and fears that his town will never know the truth.
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PAINT IT RED is set in 1983 and explores how far someone will go for their loved ones while examining mental health issues. With many twists and turns, PAINT IT RED will keep anyone on their toes and on the edge of their seat. PAINT IT RED strives to tell the story of a young man who fights for what is right, at all costs, and finds himself in the process.
At around 90,000 words, it is a young adult psychological thriller and can be described best as THE PROJECT by Courtney Summers and STRANGER THINGS meets SHUTTER ISLAND.