![ER Munley: Writer, Teacher, Reader. [Picture of author with glasses]](https://storage.mlcdn.com/account_image/230028/MtzLuuUeq7qBx8IooxrmNJPWY1Tjyxe7xuiJ7Axn.png)
E.R. Munley has been crafting stories since she was able to tell them. An avid reader and advocate, she has been working for over a decade to build young readers as a high school English teacher in Wild and Wonderful West Virginia. All things considered, becoming a published author herself was almost inevitable.
Having grown up in the Baltimore Metro Area, she is an avid fan of the Orioles and Ravens, no matter the number of heart attacks or heartbreaks. When she isn't writing, she enjoys traveling with her husband (though she is a devoted indoor cat) or snuggling up with her dogs.
I've been writing stories since I was young, but The Statera Cycle was my first major undertaking and publication attempt. My co-author, Ruth Sanger, and I starting writing that series in 2015 while she was living in Wuhan, China, as a fun activity between friends. One fun writing activity turned into 3 full novels!
I'm a high school English teacher! I absolutely love my job and (aside from writing) couldn't even imagine myself doing anything else.
So far, my current publications are all urban fantasy: The Statera Cycle and The New Ancients Duet.
When Ruth and I were deciding to publish, time commitments on both of our parts were the biggest factor. We're both public school teachers (in different states), so our schedules can be pretty rigid and hectic. We knew that the query process was slow and onerous and that we just wouldn't have the time or energy to commit to the traditional publishing route. Because of this we are currently independently publishing through Amazon (Kindle Direct Publishing).
Honestly, at the moment, the only ways to procure a signed copy of one of my books are to win a giveaway, happen upon a signed copy at an indie bookstore (there aren't many that carry my books #indieprobs), or meet me in person at a signing or festival.
Just write the thing! You can't revise and polish something that doesn't exist. It's a big, scary undertaking to write something knew. Just start doing it. Build an outline and characters, or just dive right in! Your first draft isn't going to be good. Don't let that stop you from writing it though! Just start writing. Worry about the rest later.
