A lifetime ago, or at least it feels that long ago, I started roleplaying at a fantasy sim on Second Life. I had so much fun creating different personas and embracing them fully. I created Rowena Dubrovna, an older woman who’s loyal to a fault and loves rules. I made Nicholas Rozenstrauch, a man addicted to cocoa, and concocted Landon Grey, a man in his eighties who was obsessed with pie. Creating those characters brought out something in me, and I knew I had to start writing.
How do we make sure people feel like they belong? What does redemption mean? How do we embrace difference? What is difference?
Through Shadowmoon, Veylora, Faraway, Hearthmere, and Everbound, I created worlds where I could explore those questions and the idea of loving everyone. I also love writing historical fiction, whether set during the Holocaust, the Salem Witch Trials, or in ancient Rome. Across these very different settings, I return to questions about who gets to belong and how we learn to love who we are.
For a long time, I kept everything I wrote locked away. It took me a while to imagine putting my novels out into the world. But the more time I spent with my characters, the more I knew I had to try. So here we are!
Incarceration, disability, aging, identity, redemption, and romance all find their way into my stories. And if you’re wondering when you’ll get to meet Rowena, Sidonie, Nicholas, Landon, Alex, Will, Brindle, Katie, Lorelai, and the hundreds of people who make up my worlds, you’re in the right place. Check in for news. 😊
This blog will also give me a place to talk about the issues that matter to me and share glimpses of the characters, stories, worlds, and cultures I’m creating. There’s plenty I’m looking forward to sharing with you.
On August 25, 2026, the world lost a shining butterfly: Dolly Parton, a guiding force behind so many of my stories. Her influence lives on in these worlds and the people who inhabit them.
I often come back to Dolly’s advice to find out who you are and do it on purpose. There’s no shortage of that in the world of Ophelia Ravenwood.
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