I am Mara Ismine. I write sci-fi, fantasy and romance stories of various lengths, mainly m/m. Occasionally I do write (or get around to finishing) a het story, but I have noticed that I now feel a greater need to post warnings for the het stories than the m/m! In 2009 my friends finally succeeded in convincing me to submit something to a publisher. I am still trying to get my head around the mind-boggling idea of being a published author and getting paid for my writing. The ‘wow’ factor of that still has me staring into the distance with a rather silly smile on my face at unexpected moments.

I live in the UK and write in UK English, which I now convert to US English for my US publisher. Much head banging and teeth-grinding ensues on both sides of the pond! When I’m not being edited, like now, you get UK English, my default setting. Reading has always been a big part of my life, I don’t remember not being able to read. Writing took a while longer to get to grips with. I like computers, although the feeling is not always mutual. I can be lured away from reading, writing or swearing at fiddling with a computer by chocolate or trips to the beach—chocolate ice cream on the beach is a guaranteed winner.

• Read Pretty and He Shall Go to the Ball by Mara Ismine in the Fairytales Slashed: Volume 3 anthology.