My kids are the reason I decided to publish fantasy novels.
Common wisdom says that grown-up realities like raising children stop us from pursuing our dreams. My life certainly got turned upside down when I had my child eleven years ago. Nothing quite prepares you for being responsible for another human being, and it is a massive time commitment.
I wrote very little during my daughters' early years. Between teaching at my local university part-time and being the children's primary caregiver, I choose extra sleep and sanity over productivity (a decision I do not regret to this day). But once they got older, I was faced with the choice between going back to work full-time or actually trying this "writing" dream I'd had rolling around in the back of my brain since college.
And yes, even in college I hiked for writing inspiration. A forest near Kellogg, Idaho, circa 2000.
If it had been solely up to me, I probably would picked the "responsible" job. I was a project manager in the video game industry before having kids, and I enjoyed the work well enough. My husband, though, knew how much I wanted to write my own stories, and his salary covered our bills. He urged me to take the risk. I remember him clearly telling me as I waffled between the two options, "You gave up a lot of time for the family. It's okay to take a chance on you."
So, with his support, I've been writing for the past several years instead of clocking in at a traditional 9-to-5 position. I've taken on a few writing gigs for video game projects, but mostly I've been typing away at my own books. I'm not making a bunch of money yet, but I'm not losing money either. And everytime I have a book launch, I'm lucky enough to find a few more fans who enjoy my words.
Releasing Mom of the Chosen One today feels like my journey is coming full circle as a writer and mother. I'm proud of this new release about a mother's love for her daughter, but I also appreciate how that love echoes back to me in various ways. Even though I am a teeny, tiny author in a huge publishing world, I'm grateful for everyone who immerses themselves in my characters' worlds.
Mom of the Chosen One is available today as an eBook, paperback, hardback, and in Kindle Unlimited. Join Melissa Hartley as she goes on a magical journey only a mother could take. For readers of Paranormal Women’s Fiction and urban fantasy who like strong female protagonists, witty banter, and a hint of romance.
I'm dying to know how you like the book! Email me at [email protected] with your feedback.
There's So Many Great Fantasy Books!
Oh, Come All Ye Dragons is a holiday special written by one of my favorite fantasy authors, Kim McDougall. No pest is too big or too small to ruin Christmas. When dragons nest on a valuable reclamation site, who do the scavengers call? Kyra Greene. Can she convince a stubborn dragon queen to move her nest before the scavengers bring in guns and still be home in time for her baby’s first Christmas? Grab this new holiday tale in the Valkyrie Beastiary series.
Glimmer of the Other is the first book of another great series I can't recommend enough. Private investigator Jinx can tell when a person is lying. Every. Single. Time. The only case she hasn't solved: who killed her parents. This series is chock-full of magical twists and turns that will keep you guessing until way past midnight.
Agent Zero is the punch-packed first book in the Region Two urban fantasy series. If you like kickass heroines, sizzling hot romance, and edge-of-your-seat action, then you’ll love Janet Walden-West’s banter-filled adventure.
The Other Magic is the first in an award-winning epic fantasy series, perfect for fans of Brandon Sanderson. In a realm where only clerics are permitted to practice magic, Kibure’s inexplicable use of power places him in grave danger. In a twist of fate, the rogue priestess hired to strip him of his power chooses instead to help him escape. Her reasons for doing so are her own, but something worse than death awaits if they are unable to evade the Empire's most potent wielders.
Until next time, happy adventuring!
-DM Fike
Books by DM Fike
Available in Ebook, Paperback, and Kindle Unlimited
Magical Midlife Mom Paranormal Women's Fiction Series
Single mom Melissa Hartley discovers that magic exists in the worst way possible: through her teenage daughter. Follow along as she navigates the world of the fae to protect her child from an ancient prophecy.
Magic of Nasci Nature Wizard Series
A secret society of wizards live in our national forests, protecting nature against supernatural threats. Ina may command the four elements at her fingertips, but she can’t stop the savage creature leaving corpses along the Oregon coast. Will summoning forbidden lightning defeat her enemy, or will the storm destroy Ina first?
Legends of Llenwald YA Portal Fantasy Trilogy
As Avalon gets pulled toward a secret world where others covet her legendary powers, she must decide whom to trust—an amnesiac fairy, a shapeshifting trickster, or even her former doctor—all of whom may only be exploiting her for their own gain.
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