Kwyn Marie’s imagination takes her to vast shadowy settings that she loves to explore. Influenced by fantasy books and comics, she dove into writing and drawing at age eleven and never stopped. Dark/science fantasy with strong female leads is her passion, and her tales and artwork reflect that.

She has won several awards for worldbuilding articles written as extra content for readers.

She has bachelor’s degrees in English and Art History, and a master’s degree in Library and Information Science. She plays cello, tin whistle, recorder, and video games. At times a librarian and a gothic/industrial dance club DJ, she is now a full-time author and illustrator living in southern California.

Kwyn illustrates under the name Shanda Nelson.