My story begins within the walls of a library — fitting for a girl whose life mostly revolved around other worlds, a culmination of magic, adventure, and whimsical characters that taught me everything I needed to know about life, love, loss, and its in-betweens.

What enchanted me weren’t the books themselves — I fell for the realities they inhibited. The insights. The secrets. And of course, the lyrical prose and brilliant minds behind it all.

Stories opened my eyes and my heart to experiences I would otherwise have never known. They encouraged me to dream. They taught me to be brave.

Naturally, I turned to writing as a way to express myself, and it liberated me as nothing else could have. But it was important to me that I never, ever allow myself to reach the top without lifting up others along with me.

On the cusp of my 20th year, I made a decision that would not only change the trajectory of my career, but my life. Seeing a gaping space for marginalized storytellers in the industry, a platform dedicated to filling it was born: Reclamation Magazine.

Today, I am working to ensure stories continue to be told, especially ones that deserve to be told. This can mean wearing several hats, all at once — but as some tales go, the princess can wear her tiara and still slay dragons in high heels.