Knoxville teachers launch second Mapkeeper fantasy novel on Amazon

Knoxville English teachers Natalea Waller and Emily McKeehan have released the second book in their young-adult fantasy trilogy, building on a debut that earned strong Amazon ratings and classroom traction. The new novel expands the Mapkeeper series while the first book will be free on Kindle for a limited time starting November 13.

Why it matters: - The Mapkeeper series has moved from a classroom idea to an independent-publishing success with a built-in readership among students, teachers and families. - The new release gives fans a sequel and gives new readers a low-cost entry point into the series.

What happened: - Knoxville English teachers Natalea Waller and Emily McKeehan released Mapkeeper: Race for the Relics on Amazon on November 12, 2026. - The book is the second installment in their young-adult fantasy trilogy set in Ensonio. - The authors held a community release party on November 7 at Berean Christian School in Knoxville, where the series first found an audience.

The details: - Race for the Relics follows 15-year-old Greyson Jones across nine regions of Ensonio as he races against a deadline. - Greyson carries a mysterious mark that makes him the only person who can find relics tied to his sister's life. - The sequel raises the stakes by making Greyson's family the direct cost of failure. - The new book is available now in Kindle and paperback. - The first book, Mapkeeper: Journey Through the North, holds a 4.9-star average on Amazon. - IndieReader gave the debut its IR Approved distinction with a 4.5-out-of-5 rating. - Reviewer Kara Dennison praised the book's immersive worldbuilding and strong cliffhanger. - Teachers and readers spread the first book by word of mouth, including classroom recommendations and parent-to-parent sharing. - Mapkeeper: Journey Through the North will be free on Kindle from November 13 through 17. - The books are listed at Race for the Relics and Journey Through the North.

Between the lines: - The series was built to solve a practical problem: finding fantasy that teachers could recommend without reservations. - The second book appears to deepen the world while keeping the same audience in mind, especially reluctant readers who responded to the first installment. - The limited-time free Kindle promotion is a clear push to convert new readers before the trilogy advances further.

What's next: - Waller and McKeehan are positioning the sequel as the next step for returning readers and a launchpad for anyone starting the series now. - The authors are available for interviews, along with cover artwork, author photos and review copies on request. - Media inquiries go to mapkeeperbook@gmail.com. - Their social media page is here.

The bottom line: - Two Knoxville teachers turned a classroom need into a fantasy series with real traction, and the sequel is now live for readers to continue the journey.