This might be divisive, but because of how much I really disliked and could not finish Twilight, Fifty Shades, and A Court of Thorns and Roses.

I’ve been reading since I was four, but I’d never really considered the idea of being an author. That was a title that could only ever be held by someone who was as prestigious and brilliant as Tamora Pierce, Neil Gaiman, Diana Wynne Jones, Terry Pratchett, Ann Rice, Erin Morgenstern, Douglas Adams, V.E. Schwab, Alan Moore, Samantha Shannon, C. S. Lewis, or Liana Taylor. Being an author was a coveted career, not just some hobby.

But then these not so beautifully written, in my opinion, books started to be taken seriously and it seemed like anyone could call themselves an author. Not to mention, I read the Sleeping Beauty series when I was in High School, so I couldn’t fathom how people thought some of these books were risqué. Which really was none of my business and I shouldn’t have been triggered by it, but I completely and inanely was!

If it’s not obvious, I’m in NO WAY talking about any of the works or authors I’ve recommended! Also, please understand, I am not trying to drag anyone who has been brave enough to write and share their stories with the world. I can absolutely see how it might come across that way, but that is not my intent. I promise this is about me having to confront my own unconscious biases and need for perfectionism holding me back in life.

So, after a lot of reflection, I figured why the hell not give it a go myself. Maybe my writing would suck, but it also might not. I started writing, found I was a terribly harsh critic of my own work, and decided to do some ‘research’.

Somehow, I can’t even recall how, I stumbled into the paranormal, why choose, and dark romance genres. I was immediately hooked and completely unable to write. I probably read a book a day and was forced to purchase Kindle Unlimited.

When I ran out of new content by published authors, I fell into the Dramione fanfiction blackhole that defined my life for about eight months. I read and read and read everything I could get my hands on, even though I swore I would never read books on my phone. Hermione and Draco were the epitome of yum for me.

Then I ran out of things to read again and realized I needed to start writing again. I started writing a fanfiction that I loved and decided to peel it out of the fanfiction world into one entirely of its own. Which is how Their Maze came to be.

Honestly, not much! I’m just getting into the author game, but I intend on putting my very first rough drafts up on AO3 (Talia_Quinn) if you ever want to check out what I’m currently working on and give me some feedback.