There are no rules to constructing a zine; nothing to hold you back from expressing who you are, what the world means to you, and where you want to go, taking your readers along for the ride. It's the perfect medium for exploring new ways of free-form expressionism.

I've always believed that Indie authors bring a special magic to the world of book publishing, especially when it comes to writing niche, unfiltered, authentic stories that shed light and truth about our humanity and the world we live in.

Recently, I grabbed hold of a graphic novel depicting the life of Vincent Van Gogh that deeply explored his life and death, his emotional turmoil, his madness. I couldn't help but feel a strong desire to pay tribute. I ended up writing a short poem of a love lost---a brilliant warmth faded until it no longer exists.

For me, storytelling is about shining a bright light on characters reflective of our humanity, life's challenges, and the decisions we're forced to make to survive brutal circumstances. Born of Dirt & Dust is a genre-bending mix of sci-fi, dark fantasy, and urban horror, with a desire for genuine love at its core.

When we join together and encourage one another, not only do we create a beneficial and embracing community, we also build a creative force that propels us forward together, infinitely. There is always space to showcase your work and always your community to appreciate all that you do.

Live events can be a surprisingly powerful lever for indie authors—not just for selling books, but for building a sustainable career.

Although the short stories in the book tend to lean towards genre-bending horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and urban tales, I want the best for my characters. I want their burning souls to rise up from the ashes of their smothering circumstances and know their existence matters.

In writing the stories for Born of Dirt & Dust, I wanted to open a lens for readers to fully experience the characters' world, how trapped they felt, how they chose to move forward, and the ripple effect of those choices.

Writing speculative fiction enables Renee Coloman to uncloak fringe characters, to remove their invisibility in our culture, our world, and shining a spotlight on their uniqueness. Their situation and characteristics that drive them to engage in choices that accepted society would label as unacceptable.

The Literary Titan Book Award bestowed upon Born of Dirt & Dust tells me that, yes --- writing these stories to widen the lens for readers to fully experience the world in which these characters, as portrayed in the book, felt trapped, how they chose to move forward, and how the ripple effect of those choices touches each of us --- there is always room in our hearts for empathy, acknowledgement, compassion and friendship.

To see my book listed in the March 2026 edition of Kirkus Reviews is an absolute thrill.

Yesterday, I met Jason Reynolds at an author event hosted by the OC Library. Yes! It was an absolute pleasure. I took notes, listening as Jason spoke about words and rhythm and the power of sound; layers of subtext as meaningful ideas that don't have to be shouted in the dialogue or paragraphs of his stories; and his passion for the heartbeat of language, his love of Shakespeare, and his fascination with all creatures living on the land or oceans of our earth.

Author Renee Coloman reads an excerpt from Emergency Exit, a short story from her book, Born of Dirt & Dust. The story is quite meaningful to Renee, as the premise is based on an article she read in a digital newspaper; a factual event about young lives taken for granted in our real world ... all in the hope of finding someone to love them; whereas, in this reality, that unusual someone isn't the kind of person who knows how to love.

I don't know why she says what she says but I know she's crazy and that's why she keeps a locked chain across the refrigerator door ...

"A dark bouquet of narratives that often focus on women pushed to emotional extremes." -- Kirkus Review

Author Renee Coloman is inviting new friends to follow me / follow you on Instagram where we can share inspiring insights about books, writing, and the magic of storytelling.

Get ready for a visceral ride, as I share a few of my favorite story titles & character situations from Born of Dirt & Dust by Renee Coloman.

Love to receive a book with a personalized message signed by the author? You've come to the right place!

I read and I write and I read throughout the days and nights, because books and their authors have a special way of revealing truths about our humanity, our potential, our weaknesses, our vulnerabilities, yet our courage and resilience to survive. These are the reasons why I won’t let go. Why I have to keep going. It’s my writing journey, and there is no end.

It's a heartbeat away. Only a few more days until the release of Born of Dirt & Dust---a hybrid collection of 23 short stories spread across 200+ pages; the kind of intense narratives that dip and swirl within worlds of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. Stories that feature diverse characters and settings, offering thoughtful insights into life's hardships and the strength of the human spirit. An experience that will move you, provoke thought, and stay with you long after the last