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Location: United States

Member Since: Feb. 03, 2011

9 readers have added this author as a 'Favorite Author'.

Miranda Mayer

Biography

Miranda Mayer lives in the Mount Hood territory of Oregon. A polyglot, artist, avid historic costumer and lifelong equestrian; her interests are broad, and edge on geekery most of time. She is married, and is a new mother. Miranda's stories range from Science Fiction to Urban Fantasy to Fantasy. She writes from her heart, imbues her writing with her quirky humor, and tries very hard to make her characters as real and three-dimensional as possible. Her unpredictable and rather Attention-Deficit-Disordered nature guarantees that her stories will take readers to unexpected places.

Smashwords Interview

What is your writing process?

I use the 'skeleton book' process. Which means I dedicate one notebook for each novel. I set aside pages for character development, two or three pages per character; a section is set aside for timeline and location details so I can refer to them quickly rather than stall and scroll back, and then the rest of the journal has a page or two dedicated to chaptering. I start by writing out a sentence to describe what's happening in each chapter. Once I've done that from beginning to end, I begin 'fleshing out' the skeleton by writing forward. **Always** forward, never stopping to review or edit or to add things I might have forgotten along the way. I just make brackets and write [INSERT THIS LATER].

I do that from chapter one to the end. By this time, I have pretty much, a rough completed book. Then I go back to do rewrites. That's my favourite part, but it can also be tedious, depending on how much structural changes have occurred since the beginning of the book. And that happens a lot. Rewrites are when I go and write the pretty stuff, when insert the stuff I forgot to before, where I fix plot changes that might have happened, restructure things, fix inconsistencies and conflicts, add some flowery stuff, fix dialogues, refine characters, and turn the rough-cut into a real book.

After that, it's off to the editor for a full copy edit. When I get that back, I do my revisions as the editor notes, change anything major, polish up the manuscript, and then it's time for Beta readers. I do sometimes skip the beta reading stage, mostly because I give myself deadlines and often am right up against them by the time editing gets back to me.

Then it's formatting for print and ebooks, cover design (I usually start that a when the book's at the 75% mark in the fleshing stage. And that's it. I'm not super-fast like some of my other writerly friends, some of whom can crank out several titles a year. But if I follow my process, I can get one or two out each year.

Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?

Reading was a dominating facet of my childhood and a really great escape from what was a tumultuous family life. So it seems like it was only natural to become a writer for it. One of the most influential books I've read is from that time. It's a book called 'The Lottery Rose' by Irene Hunt. It has stuck with me from second grade on. It was read aloud to us over several weeks by my teacher, and I remember sitting there, with my head resting on the desk, and hiding my tears behind my arm. It's the story of a little boy who is terribly abused, and who is also obsessed with flowers, which were *his* escape from his terrible life. It's exceptionally powerful for a children's book, and it had a lasting impact on my life and on my choice to be an author. I highly recommend it. On my facebook page, I have posted videos of me reading this book aloud if you're curious, as the paperback is out of print.

Where to find Miranda Mayer online

Website: http://www.mirandamayer.com
Twitter: @MirandaMayer
Facebook: Facebook profile
Blog: http://mirandamayer.blogspot.com

Where to buy in print

http://www.amazon.com

Series

The Red Slipper Series by Miranda Mayer

Regency, with a twist! Each book in the Red Slipper Series is a standalone regency-style romance, but each one has a twist of the supernatural, paranormal or fantasy kind.

A Problem of Ghosts

Price: $2.99 USD.

The Beast With Silver Eyes

Price: $4.99 USD.

The Wizard King

Price: $4.99 USD.

The Red Witch of Tirdonne

Price: $4.99 USD.

The Seed of Winden

Price: $4.99 USD.

Trilogy of Tinna by Miranda Mayer

Tinna was raised amongst a violent matriarchal society; but as an impure misfit, she needs a place to belong. Her journey north brings her to a land where she feels at home; however instead of molding herself to shape the society she's in, she ends up shaping society to accept her. But the price of such means that she becomes burdened with responsibilities and tribulations that are world-changing. Follow Tinna's Journey from fighter to empress, in the Trilogy of Tinna.

Tinna's Promise

Price: $2.99 USD.

Tinna's Might

Price: $3.99 USD.

Tinna's Reign

Price: $2.99 USD.

Books

The Seed of Winden by Miranda Mayer

Series: The Red Slipper Series. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 94,240. Language: English. Published: April 8, 2019 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Paranormal, Fiction » Fantasy » General

Given the chance to live in the last remaining scrap of green land in her desert world, the young girl Nieve's future seems bright. She meets the bullish young man by the name of Tammin, and they enter the circle of stones on the hilltop at Winden together, Nieve's fate becomes entangled with his, and it might become their task to stop the sands from consuming everything she has come to holds dear

The Trilogy of Tinna by Miranda Mayer

Price: $8.99 USD. Words: 279,620. Language: English. Published: July 2, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General

Trilogy of Tinna is the tale of a lady assassin who wants only to belong somewhere, and to live a simple life. But Tinna's battle for normality is all uphill. What is in store for her are rebellious dragons, a war against her own people, a mother who is her enemy, and a destiny that seems designed to break her. Tinna's odyssey is a challenging one. Follow her journey today.

The Red Witch of Tirdonne by Miranda Mayer

Series: The Red Slipper Series. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 95,340. Language: English. Published: July 2, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General

After the death of her husband, Evvie returns home embittered by her bad marriage. She is determined to cut herself off from everyone. But when a rugged Bask warrior darkens her doorway and saves her life, Evvie’s world is turned upside down. A new life, new country, and newly minted a witch by her new family; she could not predict that this new identity would also bring a new enemy too.

The Talisman Killer by Miranda Mayer & Shéa MacLeod

Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 42,880. Language: English. Published: January 30, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Urban

Before the Rift, Veronica Wolffe and Verity Bane struggled to eke out a living as paranormal investigators. But when the rift between dimensions ripped open and the world was overwhelmed with demons, their powers are suddenly in high demand. Their job takes a grisly turn when a local logger has been killed by a vengeful Rift beast bent on punishing environmental criminals.

The Beast With Silver Eyes by Miranda Mayer

Series: The Red Slipper Series. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 97,820. Language: English. Published: January 6, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Paranormal

Forced to accompany a bully on a journey to the seaside, Keela never expects to find romance on the way. A n'er-do-well crownless King a mission of his own, entrusted with the care of a rare creature, Edrick could never predict he would fall in love in the middle of it all. He is faced with a difficult predicament; follow orders, or follow the girl. Both of which will inevitably lead to trouble.

A Problem of Ghosts by Miranda Mayer

Series: The Red Slipper Series. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 63,080. Language: English. Published: January 7, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Paranormal

Parents arrested for unexplained reasons; the Evlan sisters are packed up and sent to live with a great aunt in her heavily haunted house. One ghost in particular seems intent on harming the eldest girl, Dae. In an effort to remove the threatening ghost, she summons the assistance of a Ghoster. Neither of them could predict the web of lies and entanglements hunting the angry ghost would uncover.

Tinna's Reign by Miranda Mayer

Series: Trilogy of Tinna, Book Three. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 75,280. Language: English. Published: February 11, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General

There is cause for celebration in Thamatoc. Avria is getting married, Tinna has new baby and she is looking forward to snowy winter cozily tucked away from all the expectations and responsibilities that await her—at least for a little while longer. But Tinna has a destiny; a plan carefully laid out by the mysterious Keepers, and they are putting their plan into action with or without her consent.

The Wizard King by Miranda Mayer

Series: The Red Slipper Series. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 91,580. Language: English. Published: December 31, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Romance » Fantasy, Fiction » Romance » Regency

Quiet, sweet Ynith never expected to find herself the object of affection of a Crown Prince. Moreover, she could never prepare herself for the cost of being loved by a man who is by all rights, evil. A budding Wizard, Ynith's beau is about to turn the world upside down, and Ynith will have to learn to stand on her own to face the perils brought on by the love of an evil King.

Tinna's Might by Miranda Mayer

Series: Trilogy of Tinna, Book Two. Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 101,630. Language: English. Published: March 1, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General

Twenty years have passed since the fateful journey in Tinna's Promise, and things don't seem to be getting easier. A woman who has stood against dragons, wars and murders without batting an eyelash, knows she truly has something to fear in her newest, most ruthless enemy ... her mother.

The Belletrist by Miranda Mayer

Price: Free! Words: 14,680. Language: English. Published: August 1, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Literature » Plays & Screenplays

An eclectic collection of ten short stories and Micro-stories by author Miranda Mayer. They range from real life to fantasy and paranormal. A quick and easy read!

Blackroot by Miranda Mayer

Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 63,910. Language: English. Published: February 24, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General, Fiction » Thriller & suspense » General

(3.50 from 2 reviews)

The Blackroot Murderer is the only criminal ever to elude Renath. Six years of dogged hunting has cost Renath his marriage and any semblance of normalcy in his life. The years of being immersed in the Blackroot crimes have twisted his perception of her. When Renath's relentless search leads him into the murderer’s disturbing past, he finds himself closer to her than he was ever prepared to be.

Tinna's Promise by Miranda Mayer

Series: Trilogy of Tinna, Book One. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 108,270. Language: English. Published: February 4, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General

(5.00 from 1 review)

For Tinna, fitting in means overcoming the fact that she is a foreigner in a land where her people are unwelcome. In spite of this, Tinna manages to find a place for herself in a remote village in the endless forests of Oromoii. There, she discovers the potential for love and belonging; but little could she know that a casual promise could tear her away from everything she worked so hard to find.

Miranda Mayer's tag cloud

abuse adventure alternate world changeling child abuse dark fantasy dark romance death demons dragon dragon war dragons dragons betrayal obsession mothers evil mother war horses horse mage wizard magic woman shero women dying evolution fae fae fantasy fae folk fantasy fantasy adventure fantasy romance fantasy thriller fear ghosts loyalty magic magic abilities magic and fantasy magic and love magic and romance magic wizards monsters motivations murder murderer paranormal plague promise promise kept rape regency regency 1800s regency fantasy regency gothic regency romance regencyesque regencylike revenants romance shapeshifter shero short stories strength strong woman strong women supernatural urban fantasy vampire violence war werewolf werewolves witch witchcraft witchery witches woman adventure