The Journey to The Princess and Her Owl

Finding Courage and Creativity Through Setbacks and Second Chances

When I first tried to write The Princess and Her Owl in 2016, I felt as though the story was locked away, sitting just out of reach. I had the idea, but the words refused to come. Life got busy, and I set the project aside. It wasn’t until last February, during a period of recuperation, that the story found its way to the page.

After a brief illness, I was instructed not to exert myself for a few days—no strenuous activities, just rest. With nothing but my phone to occupy the time, I decided to give writing another try. I used the notes app on my phone, typing out what would eventually become The Princess and Her Owl. It was exciting but nerve-wracking.

At one point, I lost a whole chapter due to a technical glitch, and my stomach dropped. Thankfully, I had backed up parts of the story in my emails, a practice I now use religiously.

Though not everything was saved, I didn’t let that loss stop me. I found the resolve to keep writing, and I pushed on until I reached the finish line.

Editing, however, is not my favorite part of the writing process. After rounds of edits and sore eyes, I released The Princess and Her Owl, but I quickly realized there were still some mistakes.

My husband reminded me that even the best authors—Tony Hillerman included—have errors in their work. Nonetheless, I’ve been working hard on a second edition, with corrections to bring the book closer to my vision.

Now, with more experience and a fantastic editor who has become a friend, I’m looking forward to releasing The Princess and Her Owl again. I’m also excited to announce a coloring book companion, soon to be available on Amazon, so fans can dive deeper into the world of Barinash. If you haven’t yet, you can find The Princess and Her Owl on Amazon, along with my second book, Hannah. Thank you for joining me on this journey—I can’t wait to share what’s next.