My unofficial company has changed names three times. When I published my first book in 2018, I used Lieutenant for the Lord. (In case you're wondering, I don't sell that book online, because it needs a lot of revision and I lost the files.) The name came from an army-themed club one of my friends had started, in which I had been given the rank of lieutenant. Three years later, when I was ready to publish my second book (King of Hearts), I decided I wanted to go with a different name instead. I came up with Shieldmaiden Press, which sounded really cool and epic. I even drew up a logo for it. Unfortunately, I hadn't thought to check beforehand whether or not someone had already used that name . . . and sure enough, there was another Shieldmaiden Press in existence. So, back to Square 1! I knew I wanted something unique, that would fit with any genre I chose to write in. At the time, I was crazy about otters (it was inspired by the amazing Redwall series by Brian Jacques). In one of his books, Brian Jacques had a character that was a black otter, and I thought that was so different and interesting. I decided that Black Otter Books had a really nice ring to it . . . and no one was using it (I checked this time!) so it had to be.
My goal for Black Otter Books is to produce clean, exciting novels for today's generation. Many of the books I write are action-packed historical fiction, prayerfully crafted with spiritual messages in mind. I avoid using bad language, graphic violence, and other questionable content in my writing. I don't shy away from some violence in my stories, but I do try to keep it from becoming overly descriptive. Although I designate most of my books as Young Adult, they have been enjoyed by many different age ranges.
I'm a twenty-something wannabe elf currently living in the still-wild West. I was homeschooled K-12 by my amazing parents, and I still live at home with them and my brother. I've been extremely blessed over the years by a loving family, an awesome group of friends, and the sweetest cats ever (those babies are my best buddies).
In my spare time, I enjoy listening to music, goofing off with my family and friends, and building Legos© with my brother. My hobbies also include historical reenacting, making stop-motion movies, starting impossible crochet projects, warping pictures on Photoshop, and learning random useless facts about things like sea movies and the Roman Empire. I love reading (what writer doesn't?), and my two favorite authors are J.R.R. Tolkien and Brian Jacques . . . oh yes, and I've always liked Ben-Hur by General Lew Wallace.
I'm kind of a crazy person (scratch that; I'm quite crazy), but I try to be a good friend and sibling, and I do my best to follow the path that God has laid out for me. It hasn't been easy, and I can't count the number of times I've stumbled or been sidetracked, but He has been very good to me through it all. I have definitely grown in my relationship with Him and with others, and He is continually teaching me the lessons that I need to remember. He is the reason that I am writing these books today - to God be the glory!
Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. -Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV)
