Now it’s time to learn more about the authors we read. . .

What drew you to the genre you write?
With my math background, I love complex puzzles. I get to craft my own while writing mystery and sci-fi. And by writing series, I can make long, twisted story arcs that require a lot of variables to piece together. There’s nothing like reading the end of a series where every book matters to the larger story.

I also write and illustrate children’s books. I’ve been drawing since I was too young to remember, so art is just a part of who I’ve always been. As an only child, I spent a frightening amount of time with my nose in picture books. My mother never missed a night of reading me a bedtime story, even if it was late, and we could only get through half of one.

How did you come up with your pseudonym?
I usually write under my own name. But, for The Tapestry Tales series I co-author with my mother, we use the pen name Ann Belice. Ann is Mom’s middle name. Belice is mine.

Tell us how you got into writing?
I’ve always been a prolific reader, kept a diary, and dabbled. It was my mother who conned me into this lifestyle when she proposed an idea for an adult adventure book involving squirrel monkeys. I couldn’t resist! Seven years later, we had turned the story into science fiction for young adults and published FRAYED DREAMS the first book in The Tapestry Tales series.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
I briefly cleaned hotel rooms. That helped me get serious about doing well in college! After that, I worked tutoring and teaching math.

How many books do you have published?
Six! Five of them were published in 2025 which sounds crazy until you realize how many years I had been working on all of them. My first children’s book, THE APPLE OF MY EYE, probably took ten years altogether!

Where do you write?
Beneath one of my four tuxedo cats next to an aquarium full of fish in the family room. I don’t have an office.

What’s your favorite genre to read?
That’s not fair! I read everything from smutty shape-shifter romance to science textbooks cover to cover. And I’m a huge fan of classical literature.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
Even though I run ultra-marathons, I never get runner’s high. It’s somewhat torturous while I’m doing it, but I really enjoy it all after I’m done.

Who is an author you admire?
My mother, Catherine Dilts. She has this bizarre compulsion to write stuff, and she seems to have inflicted her curse on me and my daughters. And may I also give a shout out to my man, Dr. Seuss. I base my opinion on what I knew about him as a child. He made me think deeply about some of the most complex issues in life. Not many authors today give children credit for the ability to grasp big concepts.

Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?
You can do anything for money. No one but you can write your story. Cliche? How about this? I sometimes hate being alive, but the alternative holds no appeal either. I read to escape this nightmare called reality. Keep writing to give people like me something to live for. No pressure.

What is next for you?
GRANDA’S CELTIC CAPTIVITY, Book Three in The Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries is in the works and will be released sometime this year. Book Three of The Tapestry Tales is outlined. I will also have another illustrated children’s book out in October.

Where can we find you?
Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and YouTube @meridacreates and TikTok @merida.creates.

On YouTube, I upload videos of myself drawing, sped up so it’s not as boring. I’ve been working on a huge pencil and ink drawing of Pikes Peak for too long now, and I plan to get it finished this year. I’ve been filming the whole process since the 3×4 ft. sheet of paper was blank.

Now to have some fun . . .

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Lunch.

Fruits or vegetables
Neither. After thirty years of being a vegetarian/vegan, I can no longer digest fiber. I’m mortified to say I’m carnivore!

Sweet or salty snacks
Salty . . . The meat . . .

Ice cream or cake
Ice cream . . . No fiber!

Cooking or baking
Cooking, although I used to be an awesome baker back when my stomach still worked!

Dining in or dining out
Dining out if someone else is paying. I bet you haven’t heard that one before . . .

City life or country living
It doesn’t matter as long as I get to play video games.

Beach or mountain
Mountain. You can’t hide from other humans on the beach.

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall
Summer. It’s the most consistent season in Colorado, and I find that comforting.

Extrovert or introvert
Introvert who pretends to be an extrovert when socially required. Other humans honestly scare me.

And even more fun . . .

What is your favorite movie?
Being John Malkovich

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
A video game console, a cat, and . . . What else could one possibly need?

My bio:
Merida Bass, self-proclaimed masochist, almost wasn’t an artist. Avoiding criticism resulted in ten years teaching remedial algebra to unwilling college students, until the dream could no longer be denied. Merida threw herself into her artwork while homeschooling her kids. She vehemently believes the most valuable artform in the world is the illustrated children’s book. Merida has published two so far. She co-authors the hilarious Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries and the YA sci-fi Tapestry Tales with her mother, Catherine Dilts. For fun, Merida trains for extreme endurance events like 24 Hours of Palmer Lake, in her home state of Colorado.