Who is Colleen M. Story?

Find my official bio (the short version) here. If you want the personal version, read on!

---

Did I always want to write?

No—but I’ve always written. One of my earliest memories is of writing a short story to enter into my elementary school writing contest. I was in 2nd grade, and I won 2nd place.

The idea of writing for a living didn’t occur to me until much later.

Music called to me first. When I was 5 years old, I begged my mom for a piano. Unsure as to how serious I was, she got me one of those toy pianos along with a few lessons.

Within a couple weeks I was playing tunes that exceeded the keys available, pretending to hit those keys mid-song as I extended my hand into the empty air beyond.

My mom told my dad the “bad” news—they were going to have to buy a real piano!

I continued with lessons and just before my 5th-grade year, took up the French horn as well. Thanks to the support of my parents, I studied music throughout my school years, and now play French horn in the local symphony and pit orchestras, as well as in other area groups, while teaching private music lessons on the side.

Music remains a huge part of my life and I find it complements writing well.

It wasn’t until after I graduated from college that the writing bug bit me. Finding myself with some welcome time on my hands, I felt compelled to write, so I purchased a Brother word processor for $300 and got to work.

Three years later, I had my first short story published—for which I earned a whopping $10. Soon after, I got a job as a copywriter, and a little over three years later, armed with a few clients and a lot of experience, I left the corporate world and went freelance while writing fiction on the side.

My freelance writing is focused mainly in the health and wellness arena. I had a knack for it early on, and continue to enjoy researching and investigating how we can all live healthier lives.

Considering this, I should be really healthy, right? I actually am so far (knock on wood). I’m disciplined about exercising regularly and avoid unhealthy foods, but much of the credit goes to my family’s genes and my country upbringing.

I grew up on a 10-acre ranch where I was fortunate enough to enjoy an outdoor-based, active young life. I raised horses and spent a lot of hours riding in the boonies out behind my parents’ property.

My Quarter horse mare, Darby, was my exploring pal until she passed away at the age of 23. Here, she was snatching a mouthful or two of grass while we took a break to enjoy the view of a wide open valley in Western Colorado.

Today, I live in Idaho on two acres of land—too small for a horse—but I do go beach riding on the Pacific Coast as often as I can.

I’ve also owned dogs most of my life. My black German shepherd, Morrigan, was featured in one of the magazines I write for a few years ago.

I lost her in 2016, but she remains a happy presence in my heart. (Read a blog I wrote about Morrigan here.)

I was happy to welcome a new German Shepherd into my life in 2021. Her name is Storm, and I rescued her at the estimated age of 1.5 years.

She’s super smart, athletic, and very sweet. Now that we’re friends, she’ll even give me her ball now after play time is over. (Trust me, that is a big deal for her!)

Here’s a picture of her ready to play in the rain. (No, the weather doesn’t matter. Ball play is serious business.)

And I can’t neglect to mention my writing pal, Rikki. I rescued her when I found her along the side of the road beat up and bloody. She’s the sweetest cat I’ve ever known and the easiest to get along with. Of course she loves to get into hiding places.

I return to my parents’ ranch often. They have an award-winning Boer goat herd that draws customers from all over the state.

My mom sells the babies to 4H students, who then show them at the summer fairs from Grand Junction to Gunnison to Delta to Eagle.

The experience of raising an animal is very beneficial for the kids, who learn a lot about responsibility, money management, and presenting themselves in public.

I’ve created a website for Mom’s herd at Swan View Ranch. Check out that link for more cute pictures like the one below.

Meanwhile, my heart is in my books, and I’m grateful for every reader who gives them a try.

I haven’t said much about my fiction, probably because it’s hard to describe the experience of creating a novel-length manuscript.

It’s magical, as any writer will tell you, and probably one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. My published novels all fit in the fantasy genre, though some have supernatural elements while others are more epic or adventurous. My newest novel, The Curse of King Midas, fits in the historical fantasy genre, as there really was a King Midas! (Read more about this book here.)

I enjoy the process of discovery as I write, desiring to go where we humans typically can’t go and examine the questions we may never be able to answer.

Thank you for stopping by, and feel free to drop me a line any time.