Dragon Soul Press had the opportunity to interview Desirae Gracyn, an author featured in DSP’s Splash, Holiday Spirit, Poisons & Potions, Terror Reigns, Spells & Fangs, Dragon Flight, and Infernal Delights anthologies.

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1. Introduce yourself.
   Hello, my name is Desirae J. Gracyn. I work as a pediatric nurse and, in my free time, write stories with neurodivergent characters. I feel it’s important to include this in today’s literature, especially fantasy. Fairies go to therapy, too.
   Most of my writing is for the upper end of young adult and branches into the new adult territory. As of right now, I write short stories and flash fiction. My works have appeared in Houston Writers Guild Anthology, Dragon Soul Press, Wild Ink Publishing, and Micro Romance Magazine. These stories range from simple women’s fiction to horror to even sci-fi. My favorite to write in is fantasy, though, and I love to include games in every story.
   Currently, I’m working on a New Adult fantasy adventure novel.
   When I’m not writing, working, or reading, I spend my time growing in my relationships, faith, and myself. My greatest desire in all the world is to be as loving as I can be. For without love, I am nothing.
2. What prompted you to begin writing?
   The ability to slip inside another world prompted me to begin writing, but I can take it a step further. With being autistic, OCD, major depressive, and many more things on the neurodivergent list, my mind isn’t always the place I want to be in. I found reading stories a great way to escape the troubles in my mind. Reading also helped me enjoy life. Then, after some dramatic events happened in my life, I couldn’t read anymore. Nothing could help me escape reality until my mom said to vent about it by writing. I told her my head was too dark for that and I didn’t want anyone to have to go through what I did, so she said to write it into fiction, into fantasy even, change some things up but keep the emotion there. Keep it raw. I did just that. My mind suddenly cleared. Writing took me out of the dark spiral I headed down. So, I started writing to escape and deal with my trauma. It was extremely therapeutic. I haven’t stopped ever since then. Some great stories have come from this place. I think also being neurodivergent makes me extremly creative. So, I have this energy bubble of creativity trying to burst through me at any moment. Writing is a way to entertain that bubble and myself.
3. Where do you draw inspiration from?
   The world, my surroundings, anything and everything really. Anthologies prompt me a lot and I write a story for it. But usually, when I’m trying to come up with a short story or flash fiction piece, I end up having great ideas for a novel. So I write that novel, too. I also just write from my heart and mind and whatever it’s telling me to do.
4. Do you have a favorite story or poem you’ve written? What’s it about?
   My favorite story is my novel. It’s the best thing I’ve ever written. Every time I reread it, I fall in love all over again.
5. How many projects do you have planned over the next few years? Tell us about one.
   The series for my novel. And it’s a NA/YA fantasy adventure.
   I also plan to write a YA paranormal romance! 🙂
6. What is your writing process like?
   I am a pantser through and through. I’ve written two stories through plotting, and they are great stories, my editors and beta’s love them, but the stories I pantsed they adore.
   So I write, immerse, reduce, reread, then send to betas and editors. Once I get my feedback, I change, reduce, and reread. So, in total, I usually read my story at least seven times before I think it’s good enough.
7. Who is your favorite author / what is your favorite book?
   Favorite author – Jim Butcher
   Favorite book – House of Night series
8. What is one goal you have for your writing future?
   To never give up on it.
9. What do you hope readers enjoy most from your work?
   I hope readers enjoy seeing neurodivergent characters in my work.
10. Where can readers learn more about you?
    Website: https://www.desirae-gracyn.com/
    Twitter: https://x.com/desiraejgracyn
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desiraejgracyn/
    Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/desiraegracyn