Meet Asher D. Payne

Author of The Illumination, a dystopian fantasy in the collection.

Asher D. Payne has been writing for as long as she can remember, wanting nothing more than to put her imagination on paper for others to enjoy. She has a passion for storytelling that compels readers and makes them feel seen, heard, and understood while implementing every twist and turn along the way. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, she strives to bring relationships into her books that move beyond the stereotypes shown in other forms of media. Her step toward her writing career has been a big challenge in overcoming her neurodivergence and other traumas experienced through online bullying. She is determined to make her community safe, inclusive, and accepting of all because she believes everyone deserves a voice. When she isn't engrossed in writing, she enjoys reading from her endless TBR list, playing with her pit bull, hitting the gym, and refining her self-defense skills.