Meet Megan Haskell | Author and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Haskell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I didn’t start my career wanting to be an author. In fact, I have an undergraduate business degree from USC and was working at one of the major accounting firms when I first started writing fiction. It was simply a creative outlet during my Blue Line commute.

However, in 2012 a few key things changed: the development of Amazon Kindle (and the growing opportunity to easily self-publish books and make money doing it) and my desire to start a family.

I had already been writing for several years when my husband and I chose to start a family, and I wanted to build a life around my kids schedules, rather than trying to fit my life around work. Writing—and starting my own business as an indie author—seemed like the perfect fit. I could still use my business skills, exercise my creative brain, earn an income, and work around newborn sleep schedules and preschool drop offs. It was a perfect blend of the work-life balance I craved. I’ve never looked back!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I pen tales of myth, magic, and mayhem, featuring kick-ass heroines and monsters of every size. I’ve focused my creativity on taking myths and legends from multiple ancient cultures and pantheons, and asking the questions: “What if there was some truth to this story or creature? What if they really existed? How would these beings interact with and relate to humanity?” Then I build a story around those characters and creatures and the worlds they inhabit. I try not to re-tread old ground, but instead twist each element into something new that readers can still relate to given the vast library of the fantasy genre.

For example, when I began writing The Sanyare Chronicles, I had this idea for a twist on the pixie trope: Tinker Bell, but vicious. I wanted to incorporate all her snark and sass, with a heavy dose of mischief from the British myths, and toss in an extra dose of danger. So I created carnivorous pixies. They don’t just lead travelers astray, they hunt them. They travel in swarms, hoard treasure like tiny dragons, and they can fly, but in order to maximize their hunting capability and avoid larger predators, they also have the ability to camouflage themselves like chameleons.

Through the years, I’ve learned that readers want something familiar, but with a twist, and that’s what I try to provide.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are dozens, if not hundreds of individuals who have shaped my life and my career. The obvious one is my husband, who encouraged me to write before I even realized I wanted to be an author. And Greta Boris, my non-fiction writing and coaching partner, has been an incredibly influence over the years as we’ve shared our successes and commiserated over our failures. My sister, Kim Peticolas, is my editor and a fantastic resource for authors, both indie and traditional. But honestly, the indie author community as a whole is incredibly supportive, with individuals who regularly give back to the community by sharing information, organizing events, and lifting each other up. It’s been an honor and a privilege to be a part of and grow with this community over the last ten years.

Website: https://www.MeganHaskell.com

Instagram: @MeganHaskellAuthor

Facebook: @MeganHaskellAuthor

Other: BlueSky: @meganhaskellauthor.bsky.social

Image Credits

All photos are owned by Megan Haskell. Illustrator for The Last Descendant cover: Uwe Jarling. Cover designer for Aether Bound: MoorBooks Design. Illustrator for Forged in Shadow: Sam Kim, sword concept art by Emanuele Galletto, Cover Designed by Shawn King of STK Kreations.