The writer who isn’t a secret anymore.
Now that my website is live (and google can actually find it) I want to take a moment to welcome you. I need to say this because you see, I’ve been writing books that I never told a soul about before recently. To be honest, I didn’t think the world would get my creative obsession with this urban fantasy world. I didn’t expect to find any more acceptance for my overactive imagination than I had as a painfully unpopular teenager. I figured these little entries and creative endeavors would make me a laughing stock. Maybe they will.
I am an artist, an empath, and a nurse with a pretty unusual job….
When you live with physical and psychological challenges, the difficulties conceal the blessings. Because I have known pain, I understand how much it matters when someone goes the extra mile to make pain better. Because I have been alone, I know the value of love and companionship. Because I have been without friends, I value those I have and defend them fiercely. Because I have been on the receiving end of abuse, I understand it’s dark side. Because I find people fascinating, I can build engaging characters for readers.
…these things have created an author who has run out of reasons to keep it all in the shadows.
What do I mean? Well… My favorite character is Michael Haddon because he has such a very warm, jovial attitude that attracts others affections. His kindness may have unusual origins, but he strikes a balance between fierce and gentle no other character (except perhaps Melody Ellam) has mastered. He is the calm center and the grounding talisman other characters rely on. Perpetually the sidekick and the mentor, Michael is someone who I wish existed. He is just a little bit of my best friend, my determined brothers, my favorite partners, and my tireless father.
The closest second I have so far among them all is Nathaniel Greyling. He is the unusual male healer who has so much compassion it gets in the way of his objectivity, but the effect is endearing. Nate takes away fear as well as he does pain and he can put anyone at ease. He’s instantly trustworthy and accepted by almost anyone he meets. He’s also critically underestimated so often he’s come to expect it. A melding of so many personalities, Nathaniel reminds me of every unexpected kind gesture I have witnessed at the hands of my male paramedic partners. He is not one, he is all of them formed into a character who is so easy to love, I had to pair him with three female characters before I found a character that meshed with him.
Amaya Lamb is my very favorite female character because she is so strong and determined to do the hardest job in the Magi world, she forgets to feel. It’s going to cost Amaya dearly to find her heart, but getting her there is going to be a really good story. Amaya, poor thing, might not succeed on her first try. Amaya is a product of the women I have known who do hard jobs and truly excel. The women I admire. There’s a little RBG and Elanore Rosevelt in her for sure, but there’s also a few drops from all the incredibly strong ladies I know rocking a really difficult job in a man’s uniform (because the women’s EMS pants just don’t fit!). One of my closest friends, who takes on the world by herself because failure isn’t an option–even if you have to give up your home country and start all over–loans Amaya some grit.
My dears, did you really think I wasn’t paying attention?
All this time, all these years, while I sat in the silent office with a computer or pen appearing uninterested.
Did you think I wasn’t studying you?
I was taking notes.
This author is out of hiding. Hang onto your butts.
(…and do me a favor, guys, now that I’m out here doing something hard, don’t make it weird.)
Love and Gratitude Always,
