Maya Fisher's Blog, page 4

Now Partnered with GLSEN — Help Us Support LGBTQ+ Students

I’m incredibly proud to share that One-Legged Woman Publishing is now an official partner with GLSEN (pronounced glisten) — a national organization that works tirelessly to ensure every student has the right to a safe, supportive, and LGBTQ+ inclusive education.

As of today, you can now make a donation to GLSEN at checkout on my site, or contribute directly by clicking the GLSEN logo at the bottom of the page. Every donation made at checkout — 100%, without exception — will be forwarded directly to GLSEN on a monthly basis.

💡 Why GLSEN?

GLSEN has been a leading voice for LGBTQ+ youth in education for over 30 years. They champion policies and programs that help schools become safer, more inclusive spaces — where students are not just tolerated, but seen, heard, and supported.

Their mission resonates deeply with me, both as an author and as a parent. Stories like Reborn In Shadows: From the Ashes wouldn’t exist without the power of representation — and the bravery of young people who are still fighting every day to live their truth in a world that doesn’t always welcome it.

🛒 How It Works

When shopping on authormayafisher.com, you’ll now find a “GLSEN Donation” option at checkout with multiple tiers to choose from. It’s simple, transparent, and entirely optional — but even a few dollars can help fund critical work in classrooms across the country.

Prefer to donate directly? Just scroll to the bottom of the page and click the GLSEN logo, or head here: 👉 https://www.glsen.org/donate

❤️ Why This Matters

This partnership is more than just a badge on my site — it’s a shared commitment to visibility, safety, and the power of truth. Books can open minds. Donations can open doors. And together, we can help build a future where no student has to fight alone just to be themselves.

Thank you for supporting Reborn In Shadows, for supporting this partnership, and for believing in the kind of world we can create — one story, one student, one donation at a time.

With love and fire,
Maya Fisher
Author, Reborn In Shadows: From the Ashes

Why Your Review Matters (More Than You Think)

If you’ve read Reborn in Shadows: From the Ashes — first, thank you. Thank you for picking up the book, for sitting with Miriam’s story, and for walking with her through pain, fire, love, and survival.

I’m writing today with a small request that carries big weight.

As an indie author, reviews aren’t just nice to have — they are critical. And right now, I’m working toward a key milestone: 50 reviews on Amazon.

Why is that number important?

Because once a book reaches 50 reviews — especially those rated 4 stars or higher — Amazon begins to:

✨ Boost its visibility in search results

📚 Recommend it in “Customers Also Bought” and “Recommended For You” sections

📬 Consider it for marketing exposure and broader promotional opportunities

In short: your review helps this book be discovered by new readers who may desperately need a story like this.

If Reborn in Shadows meant something to you — if it moved you, challenged you, gave you hope, or just stayed with you — I’d be incredibly grateful if you’d leave a quick review on Amazon. Even a sentence or two makes a difference. You don’t need to recap the plot — just share how it made you feel.

You can leave your review here:
👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DS6MN6QH

Every single review — every star, every word — matters. Not just to me as the author, but to the future readers who might stumble across it and decide to take the leap.

Thank you for walking with me.
Thank you for helping Miriam’s voice — and mine — be heard.

With love and resilience,
Maya Fisher
Author, Reborn in Shadows: From the Ashes

It’s My Birthday — Here’s How You Can Help Me Celebrate

Today is my birthday. And while I’m not one to usually make a big deal out of it, this year feels different.

Because this year… I’m here. I’m alive. I’m thriving. I’m creating. And I’m doing it all as my truest self.

I’m Maya Fisher — a transgender woman, a below-the-knee amputee, a parent, a partner, and a debut author who poured her soul into a novel called Reborn in Shadows: From the Ashes.

This book isn’t just a story. It’s a declaration. It’s the scream I never got to release, the hand I wish I’d had when I was at my lowest, and the mirror I hope others can look into and say, “That’s me. I matter too.”

So this year, instead of cake or candles, I’m asking for something more meaningful:
Support. Visibility. Belief.

Here’s how you can help me celebrate:

✨ Buy a copy of Reborn in Shadows: From the Ashes
📚 Available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook
🛒 Right here on my website: www.authormayafisher.com

✨ Leave a review
If you’ve already read it, your words matter more than you know. A few sentences on Goodreads or Amazon can open doors for indie authors like me.

✨ Share it with someone who needs it
Know someone who loves thrillers, LGBTQ+ stories, or books about survival and identity? Point them my way.

✨ Follow me, cheer me on, or just say hey
Sometimes the biggest gift is simply feeling seen. If you’re here reading this, thank you. You’re part of this journey now.

Birthdays can be complicated when you’ve lived through trauma and rejection. But this one? This one feels like a quiet victory. And I’m claiming it.

Thanks for being here. Thanks for reading. And if you choose to celebrate with me by supporting my work — from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

With fire and love,
Maya Fisher
Author of Reborn in Shadows: From the Ashes

This Is Not For You Anymore

My mother hasn’t spoken to me since December 25th, 2022. She hasn’t seen me in person since September 18th, 2020 — the day I stepped into myself fully, the day I stopped pretending for everyone else’s comfort. She lives ten miles away. Ten miles. She has stood on my porch, stared at the door, and turned away. She calls to talk to Misty. She loves to spend time with Madison. But she does not ask for me. She does not acknowledge me. She does not ask how I’m doing, what I’m writing, if I’m even okay. She makes her presence known like a ghost, a quick haunting that vanishes before she has to see me — the real me — standing in my own home, in my own skin, unashamed.

My siblings ghosted me on Christmas Day. Not a word. Not a typo, not a delay — a decision. A collective silence. And my father — who I cut off over sixteen years ago for reasons I will never again justify — used to send me a birthday message every year. One line, a single digital breadcrumb, a barely-there gesture that said, I know you’re alive. Until I transitioned. Then nothing. It wasn’t that he forgot. It was that he finally decided I wasn’t worth remembering anymore. That’s what transition cost me: the illusion that maybe, somewhere in them, there was love.

No one in my immediate family has spoken a word about my book. Not just a book — a novel selected for inclusion in the Library of Congress. That is history. That is permanence. That is my name, my words, my story etched into the literary record of this country — among the voices deemed worth preserving. And to them, it meant nothing. No congratulations. No pride. No surprise. No curiosity. No “you did it.” No “we were wrong.” I created something with my pain and my joy and my survival — and they ignored it like it didn’t happen. Like I didn’t happen.

They voted for people who would rather see me erased than alive. They cast ballots for politicians who frame people like me as threats, as jokes, as monsters. They sided with those who would strip away my rights, my dignity, my safety. And by doing that, they showed me what I’m worth to them — and that worth is zero. They still deadname me. They still misgender me. They lie to others about who I am. They say I’m mentally ill. That I’m doing this for attention. As if anyone would choose this level of rejection. As if anyone would want to walk through life this exposed. To be this hated. This misunderstood.

I am not a mother — Misty gave birth to Madison. But I am a parent. I am Madison’s parent. I helped create her, but I am not a father. I am not a man. I am not the person they quietly invent when explaining me to their friends or excusing me in whispers. I am Maya. I am real. I exist. And I am in Madison’s life every day. Whether they acknowledge me or not, I am here. I matter. And every time they engage with Misty or Madison while pretending I’m not even in the room, they don’t just erase me — they confirm how intentional that erasure really is.

But I will not go quietly. I will not shrink to fit their comfort. I will not be the shadow they wish I would become. This post is not for reconciliation. It is not a plea. It is rage and defiance and absolute clarity. I wrote a book. I built a business. I survived what they probably hoped I wouldn’t. I am still standing, still thriving — without their approval, without their love, and without their permission.

If you can pretend to love my family and still pretend I don’t exist, you’re not welcome in my life. If you vote against my right to live freely, you’ve made your choice — and it isn’t me. If the only version of me you can tolerate is the one you made up to avoid facing the truth, then I am closing the door you refused to walk through — and I’m locking it behind you.

This was never for you. It was never about your comfort. This is for me. For the woman you refused to see. For the legacy you never acknowledged. For my daughter, my partner, and the survivor you buried under your silence.

You don’t get to say my name.
But I do.
And I will never let it be forgotten.

I am Maya Dawn Fisher. And I’m still here. Thriving in the house you refused to enter.

Indie April: What It Means to Me — And How You Can Help Support My Journey

Hey y’all,

Did you know April is Indie Author Month?

I didn’t always see myself here—author, publisher, promoter, businesswoman, dreamer with ink-stained fingers, a coffee addiction to rival every Starbucks, and a nicotine habit that could probably fund a small tobacco farm. But here I am, standing proudly (on one leg and a titanium one), an indie author who took the leap and put her heart on the page. Reborn in Shadows: From the Ashes isn’t just a book—it’s a piece of my soul stitched together with grief, hope, rage, and resilience.

Being an indie author means I’m the one behind everything you see:
💻 The writing, editing, and formatting (I had help with editing and formatting)
📚 The marketing, outreach, and networking
📦 The packaging and shipping of signed books and bundles
📣 The voice shouting into the void, hoping to be heard

It’s a lot. It’s beautiful. And it’s absolutely worth it.

But I can’t do it alone. Indie April is about more than recognizing authors like me—it’s about lifting us up and saying, “I see you.” So if you’ve been cheering me on or wondering how to show some love, here are some powerful, easy ways to support my work:

🖊️ 1. Leave a review

Even one or two sentences on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble helps more than you know. Reviews are lifeblood for indie books!

📢 2. Share on social media

A post. A story. A TikTok. A selfie with the book. Anything that gets Reborn in Shadows in front of new eyes makes a difference.

💬 3. Talk it up

Tell your friends, your favorite bookstore, your librarian, your cousin who reads thrillers. Word-of-mouth is golden.

🎁 4. Gift a copy

Whether you purchase it as a birthday gift or “just because,” giving the book to someone else spreads the love and the story.

🛍️ 5. Buy direct from me

Shopping from my website supports me directly—and I’ll sign your copy, toss in a bookmark, and maybe cry a little happy tear.

❤️ 6. Cheer louder

Your encouragement fuels me. Every comment, every message, every “I loved this” gives me strength to keep going.

This April, let’s celebrate the power of indie stories. Stories that don’t come from massive marketing machines but from people like me—people who’ve walked through fire and come out with something worth saying.

Thank you for being a part of this journey. I’m so glad you’re here.

With gratitude and grit,
Maya Fisher

#IndieApril #IndieAuthor #IndieAuthorSupport #ReadIndie #SupportIndieAuthors #AmReading #BookRecommendation #TransAuthor #WomenWriters #IndieBooks #ThrillerBooks #LGBTQIAReads #OwnVoices #SelfPublishedAuthor #QueerFiction #BookishLove #Bookstagram #BookTok #BookBloggers #GoodreadsReads #SupportSmallPress #BooksThatMatter #StrongFemaleLead #SurvivorStory #MayaFisher #RebornInShadows #AmWriting #BookLoversUnite #SupportIndies #BookwormLife

REBORN IN SHADOWS IS HERE!

After months of anticipation, the day has finally arrived—REBORN IN SHADOWS: FROM THE ASHES is officially released and available for order!

This journey has been nothing short of incredible. From writing the first words of Miriam Ryder’s story to seeing it take shape in hardcover, paperback, and digital formats, every step has been fueled by passion, persistence, and a deep love for storytelling. And now, I get to share it with you.

Why This Release Matters

Today is March 31st—Transgender Day of Visibility, a day dedicated to uplifting trans voices and stories. Reborn in Shadows is a novel about resilience, survival, and second chances, all told through the lens of a protagonist who refuses to be erased. It’s a thriller with heart, an action-packed story of finding hope in the darkest places. And now, it’s out in the world.

Where You Can Order

You can now purchase Reborn in Shadows in ebook, paperback, and hardcover from:
📚 Amazon
📚 Barnes & Noble
📚 Books-A-Million
📚 Here

And more!

How You Can Support

If you’re excited about this release, here are a few ways to help get Reborn in Shadows into more hands:
✔ Order your copy today!
✔ Leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads—every review helps visibility.
✔ Share on social media using #RebornInShadows and tag me!

This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to hear what you think. Miriam’s story is now in your hands—thank you for being part of this moment.

💙 Order your copy today and step into the shadows.

#RebornInShadows #BookRelease #NewBook #TransDayOfVisibility #TDOV #TransBooks #LGBTQBooks #QueerReads #ThrillerBooks #OwnVoices #ReadTransAuthors

The Weight of March 31st – A Full-Circle Moment

I just had a realization that sent chills down my spine.

Brandon Lee, the star of The Crow, my favorite movie of all time (and my favorite comic ever), passed away on March 31, 1993. I was 17 years old at the time. Now, exactly 31 years later, on March 31st, 2025, Reborn In Shadows—my debut novel, a story of survival, identity, and second chances—will be released into the world.

But March 31st holds even more significance than I ever realized.

It is now recognized as International Transgender Day of Visibility—a day that celebrates trans lives, our struggles, our triumphs, and our right to exist boldly and unapologetically. For my debut novel, written by a trans woman, featuring a fierce, resilient trans protagonist, to be released on this day? That is something truly powerful.

Brandon Lee’s tombstone bears a quote from The Sheltering Sky:

"Because we don’t know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. Yet everything happens a certain number of times, and a very small number, really... How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems limitless."

That quote has always stuck with me, but now, as I stand on the edge of releasing my book—something I never thought I’d be able to do—the weight of it is hitting differently.

The Crow was a story of love, vengeance, and rebirth. Reborn In Shadows is a story of survival, resilience, and transformation. Both carry the theme of rising from tragedy, of stepping out of the darkness and into something new.

And on March 31st, I get to celebrate not just my book release, but my visibility, my existence, and the journey that led me here.

Maybe it’s coincidence. Maybe it’s fate. Either way, March 31st has never meant more to me than it does right now.

💀 Reborn In Shadows arrives March 31st. Brandon, this one’s for you. To every trans person fighting to be seen, this is for you too. 🖤

#RebornInShadows #TheCrow #BrandonLee #ItCantRainAllTheTime #TransDayOfVisibility #TDOV #QueerThriller #OwnVoices #SurvivalAndRebirth #LiveOnYourOwnTerms #BookLaunch #Symbolism #LGBTQBooks #IndieAuthor #TransStoriesMatter #TransJoy #ThisIsOurs

The One-Legged Woman’s Emporium Is LIVE!

🚀 The One-Legged Woman’s Emporium Is LIVE! 🚀

It’s official—my webstore is now open! 🎉

I’m beyond excited to launch the One-Legged Woman’s Emporium, the official home for exclusive Reborn In Shadows merch, signed books, and more. This has been a long time coming, and I’m thrilled to finally share it with you all!

What’s Available Now?

🖤 Two Unique Button Designs – Represent resilience, storytelling, and unapologetic living.
🖼 A Stunning Art Print – Directly inspired by a key scene from Reborn In Shadows.
📖 Signed Physical Copies of Reborn In Shadows – Preorder now and receive an author-signed edition! (Note: Signed books won’t ship before release, but you can reserve yours today!)

What’s Coming Soon?

🔥 March 31st, Midnight: Unsigned paperback, hardcover, and digital editions will officially go live!

This is still the early stage of the store, so there may be a few bugs here and there. If you run into any issues, please reach out—I’ll make sure everything gets sorted. Your support means everything, and I can’t wait to grow this shop into something even bigger!

Thank you all for being part of this journey. Now, go check out the store and grab something awesome! 🛒

💀 Shop now: https://www.authormayafisher.com/empo... 🚀

The Power of Representation: Why Reborn In Shadows Matters

When I set out to write Reborn In Shadows, I didn’t just want to tell a story—I wanted to tell my story. Not just mine personally, but the kind of story that rarely gets told in places like my hometown.

Growing up in a town where 98.52% of the population was White, with a median household income of $22,663, and where traditional family structures dominated, I never expected to see characters like me in the books at my local library. LGBTQIA+ people existed, but not openly. Conversations about gender identity and sexuality weren’t just taboo—they were nearly non-existent.

But that didn’t mean we weren’t there.

Growing Up in the Shadows

I grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, in an isolated mountain town, before the internet connected people like me to a world where we weren’t alone. I didn’t know I was trans—that term wasn’t used where I lived, at least not in any way that was accessible to me. But I knew, deep down, that I was supposed to be a girl.

And yet, that truth was something I had to carry in complete isolation.

Only one friend knew. Just one person in my entire life had any idea what I was feeling, and even then, I lived in constant terror that someone else would find out. Being different—especially in a place where everyone seemed to fit neatly into their expected roles—felt like a threat to my very existence. I had no words to describe what I was going through, no role models, no books or movies that reflected my reality.

I was alone.

That kind of isolation leaves scars. It shapes the way you move through the world, the way you measure every word and action to avoid giving yourself away. It teaches you how to make yourself invisible.

Finding Shadows in the Gaps

For those of us who grew up queer in overwhelmingly straight, conservative spaces, our stories often went untold. We existed in the margins—whispered about, speculated on, or forced into silence altogether. The books I read as a kid and young adult reflected the world around me, which meant they didn’t reflect me at all.

So when I created Miriam Ryder, a chain-smoking, one-legged, fiercely independent trans woman rebuilding her life in a small town, I wanted her to feel real. I wanted her experiences—the microaggressions, the outright hostility, the moments of unexpected kindness—to resonate with those who have ever felt like outsiders in their own communities.

The Importance of Rural LGBTQIA+ Stories

So much of mainstream LGBTQIA+ representation focuses on big cities. It’s always about moving away—to New York, to LA, to somewhere with rainbow crosswalks and thriving queer neighborhoods. But what about those of us who stay? What about those who have no choice?

Rural LGBTQIA+ stories matter because they reflect a different kind of resilience. They show the reality of being the only openly queer person at your job, your church, or your neighborhood bar. They highlight the unique struggles of finding community in places where people still hesitate to say “gay” out loud.

And yet, they also highlight something else: hope.

In Reborn In Shadows, Miriam doesn’t just survive—she thrives. She builds connections, finds love, and refuses to be erased. Her story isn’t just about trauma; it’s about fighting for joy in a place that wasn’t designed for her to have it.

From Living in Fear to Living Openly

If I could go back and tell my younger self anything, it would be this: one day, you’ll live openly. One day, you’ll thrive.

Because today, I don’t just survive—I live proudly, boldly, and without apology. The fear that once dictated every aspect of my life no longer controls me. I found my truth, my community, and my voice. And now, I write stories that would have made younger me feel seen.

Representation That Feels Real

I’ve had readers tell me how much Reborn In Shadows meant to them—not just because it was a gripping thriller, but because they saw themselves, maybe for the first time, in a book like this.

That’s why representation matters. Not just the big, flashy Hollywood kind, but the kind that reflects the real, messy, complicated lives of people who live in places like mine.

And if my book makes just one person feel a little less alone? Then every hour I spent writing it was worth it.

#LGBTQBooks #TransStoriesMatter #QueerRepresentation #RuralLGBTQ #OwnVoices #TransVisibility #LGBTQAuthors #QueerThriller #QueerRomance #IndieAuthor #IndieBooks #RepresentationMatters #DiversityInBooks #RebornInShadows #BookCommunity #BookLover #MustRead #IndiePublishing #SmallTownStories #ThrillerBooks #AmWriting #AuthorLife #TransRights #QueerFiction #BookRecommendation

"Reborn in Shadows" Named Book of the Week by Bookshelfie!

I’m beyond thrilled to share that Reborn in Shadows has been chosen as Bookshelfie’s Book of the Week! Their review dives deep into the heart of my debut novel, highlighting the raw emotional power, vivid Appalachian setting, and the complexity of Miriam Ryder’s journey.

A Story That Resonates

Bookshelfie praises the novel’s layered exploration of identity, trauma, and resilience, stating:

📝 Fisher’s unflinching approach to difficult subjects—transphobia, violence, disability, and isolation—is balanced by moments of unexpected beauty and connection.

They also highlight the depth of Miriam’s character beyond her transgender identity, calling attention to the intersectionality at play:

📝 “What distinguishes ‘Reborn in Shadows’ is its nuanced portrayal of intersecting identities. Miriam’s transgender experience isn’t treated as a singular defining characteristic but as one facet of a complex individual who is also navigating physical disability, trauma recovery, and forced reinvention.”

As an author, it means the world to see Reborn in Shadows recognized for its depth and authenticity. I set out to tell a story that was more than just survival—it’s about rebuilding, reclaiming identity, and pushing forward even when the past refuses to let go.

Read the Full Review

You can check out the full Bookshelfie review here, and if you haven’t yet, you can enter my Goodreads giveaway for a chance to win a signed hardcover!

📚 Giveaway Info: Enter

💬 Let’s chat in the comments—what books have moved you the way this story has moved me?