A Small-Town Girl with a Big Imagination

Maegwen Salley-Massie is the author of The Emerald Queen Series, a planned seven-book fantasy series. Raised in the small town of Possum Fork, South Carolina, Maegwen spent her childhood outdoors—riding horses, building forts, and playing volleyball. Her love for storytelling began with Treasure Island, the first book she chose to read on her own, which sparked a lifelong passion for adventure and imagination.

Though her professional life led her to become a woven polypropylene specialist, Maegwen turned to writing during the pandemic as a form of therapy. What started as a personal outlet quickly evolved into a full-fledged fantasy world. A former college volleyball player and math major with a video editing minor, she brings both creativity and structure to her writing process.

Maegwen’s stories aim to strike a balance between originality and reader expectations. While the first book in the The Emerald Queen Series focuses on character development and world-building, the follow-up books include more action and deeper exploration of the fantasy realm she’s created. Each book is designed to stand on its own while contributing to a larger, interconnected narrative.

Now living in Myrtle Beach with her husband, Kyle, their cat, Khaleesi, and their dog, Pogue, Maegwen continues to write while dreaming of splitting her time between South Carolina and Inverness, Scotland. She’s a sushi enthusiast, a generous gift-giver, and a firm believer that even small-town girls can build epic worlds.

Join me as we delve deeper into Meagwen's creative process, inspirations, and more in an exclusive Q&A session.

Q&A:

Can you explain your journey of being a self-published author? Are there any tips you would give an aspiring writer who wants to self-publish?
The journey? Honestly, it is ever-changing. I started writing my series during the pandemic to escape reality. I wanted to create a world where that disease didn’t exist, so I did. It was therapy for me, so I worked on my craft and thought I would share it with the world in hopes of helping others who might need a little escape from reality too.
Tips? Keep writing even on the days you don’t feel your best. Don’t do the author life alone; connect with other authors and bookstagrammers. Set realistic goals.
How do you handle writer’s block or periods of low creativity? Are there any specific strategies you use to get back on track? eative?
Writer’s block just means you need to “zap” your mind clear; trigger the creativity part of the brain. I like to go experience something new—something a little more on the adventurous side. I’ve traveled the world, and some of those experiences are added to the series with some fantasy flare, but it doesn’t have to be extravagant—I went to an escape room with family and wrote that into the books—again, with fantasy magic. Reading other books, watching movies, exercising, and having in-person conversations—these all can prompt a response from the creative side of the brain.
Could you share some insights into your writing process? Do you have any rituals or habits that help you stay productive and creative?
I’m a pantser, so I don’t do as much outlining as some do. I like the characters to take me on their journey, but I set the tone with music in the background for what scene I’m writing.
How do you create complex and relatable characters in your novels? Are there any specific techniques or inspirations you draw from when developing their personalities, motivations, and arcs?
To make characters as real as possible, I draw inspiration from people in my life. Why not be inspired by those around us or by those who have been a part of our lives at one time? Maybe it was an elementary school teacher or the barista at Starbucks who left an impression. It’s great to gather characters from real-life people to make them believable. This tactic enables me to hear their voices as I type, observe their mannerisms, and understand what motivates them.
Could you share your process for world-building? How do you balance creating unique settings while ensuring they resonate with readers?
World-building is epically fun! In my world, each kingdom is uniquely geared toward the curse placed upon it. With those details in mind, I’m able to create Pinterest aesthetic pages to help me stay focused on that particular world.
For example, Book 4’s focus will paint everything purple—purple foods, purple plants, purple animals, etc. So creating that has very Willy Wonka meets Alice in Wonderland vibes.
It’s a tough balance with descriptions because you don’t want to overtell, so I strive to provide an experience while journeying through each unique kingdom.
What have been the most rewarding moments in your writing journey? Conversely, what challenges have you faced, and how did you overcome them?
I know I’m supposed to say just seeing my book in my hands or seeing them on bookshelves, but honestly, it was when three women fought over the last copy of Book 1 at Barnes and Noble LOL!
Frankly, the biggest challenge I face is every day: time. I’m a specialist in woven polypropylene during the day, a content writer and COO of 963 FilmGroup. Additionally, I’m the owner of The Well Ventures LLC, a creative and event studio launching in 2026. Therefore, finding the time to write and deliver books on time for their release dates is my greatest challenge.

How do you connect with your readers? Do you have any memorable interactions or experiences with fans that stand out to you?
I love connecting with readers! At in-person events, I tell each one to reach out to me on IG. I encourage them to give me feedback and to come to other events I participate in.
It’s hard to narrow down just a few memorable interactions because I’ve had so many. From readers saying this is their favorite series to readers dressing up as characters from my books, they’ve all been really wonderful.
What advice would you give to new writers?
Just start. Sounds simple, but that’s one of the hardest parts to do. Start writing your ideas down, start creating characters, start organizing Pinterest boards, and before long, you’ll have a book mapped out.
What are some of your all-time favorite books, and why do they resonate with you? Are there any lesser-known gems you'd recommend to fellow readers?
Come on! This is so hard! There are so many incredible books out there. Let’s start with my work. It’s greatly influenced by the Harry Potter, LOTR, and The Last Kingdom books. I think you can say that The Chronicles of Narnia and anything written by Stephanie Garber also influenced me as well.
The Cruel Prince showed me that there are no rules in writing. Cities of Smoke and Starlight demonstrated the elegance of incorporating small details. The Fable series illustrated the art of delivering amazing descriptions that draw readers into your world. I could go on and on, but all of these books are incredibly fantastic.

What do you wish people/readers knew about you?
Hmmm, that’s a tough question and comes with a weirdly vulnerable answer. Being an author can be very lonely and emotionally challenging, so what I wish people understood is how much I would love to have more connections in the book world and feel a part of it. The comparison game weighs heavily on an author. We work extremely hard to bring stories to life, so I sometimes crawl into a hole and distance myself from the book world simply because I’m scared to be vulnerable—to ask an author for his/her opinion, to ask a bookstagrammer to work with me, or primarily, to ask for friendship. Saying that out loud sounds so strange, but I’m just trying to be as open as I can. This is what I would want people to know.
What future projects or ideas are you excited about? Can you give us a sneak peek into what you’re working on next?
I’m super excited about the future! Book 4, The Honeyed Tongue Deceives, releases this September and will be on KU, Audible, Paperback, and Hardcover. My series will total 7 books.
I’m a part of a new multi-author fantasy series in which my book will feature a Vampire Regency theme.
I’m also working on redoing the inside of my book 1, The Emerald Queen Rises. It will have character art, updated map, creature library, and more! I’m hoping to launch it soon and showcase a special edition with sprayed edges.
There’s another standalone book I’m working on, very pirate-like, but it’s at the very beginning stages and I’m already in love with the first line.
What kind of research do you do for your books, and how do you integrate real-world knowledge into your fantasy settings?
I research life in medieval times—what technologies were available, what cups were used in taverns, what weapons, etc. Then I spend time formulating my magic system. If you’re going to have magic, you have to have that mapped out—a method to the madness. I also research plants and their medicinal properties for potions, spells, and even mythical creatures. I focus extensively on Viking lifestyles and Scottish battle strategies.
Real-world knowledge? I do use literal health and wellness with the plants for healing teas and other healing aspects, but regarding life lessons, each book offers advice and wisdom for overcoming jealousy, pride, laziness, lust, greed, gluttony, and anger, as well as other situations we face. For example: racism. The ethnicities in my books are not determined by your skin color but by your eye color, and each eye color represents the kingdom you’re from, which correlates to the curse you have. The curses are based on your heart condition—the point. It’s not a person’s skin color that matters; it’s about their heart condition that matters. All the books will contain inspiring wisdom to help make the world a better place.

Can you tell us about a scene or character that was particularly challenging to write? How did you overcome those challenges?
So far, the most challenging scenes and characters have been the viewpoint of Young Jace. In Book 4, readers are privy to go back in time to witness how Jace, the MMC, grew up as an outcast. The torturous treatment he faced and witnessed was painful to write. As an author, you mentally see what’s happening in your mind. You put yourself there and go through that trial, that loss, that battle. You have to force yourself to see the pain and gore, then explain it. It’s hard to read and re-read those parts. It’s like you almost traumatize yourself to give the reader a full experience.