Hi, I’m R.A. Lorensen, a writer and artist from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I grew up in the wide woods of the UP, which inspires so many of my stories.

I am the author of the epic fantasy series, A Century of Iron and Gold, and the cozy fantasy series, Marchwood, several other books, and countless stories and articles.

Marchwood was discovered when my daughter fell in love with Bilbo Baggins and his friends. I wanted to write new stories that were wholesome, family-friendly, and adventuresome, while still being exciting and interesting. From that dream of sharing fantastic, beautiful, and meaningful stories with my children, Marchwood was born.

When I write, I think about universal and developmental themes and archetypes—wise wizards, magical objects, and universal narrative tropes and rhetorical devices—to breathe life and interest into every story, while always remembering to write in a calm, positive, and mindful way to comfort and relax my readers.

I have my BA in English from Northern Michigan University and PhD in Rhetoric & Technical Communication from Michigan Technological University, and I’ve been teaching writing at the university level for about a decade. So, whenever you read my stories, you can know that someone with years and years of experience as a writer, teacher, scholar, and researcher has carefully put down those words with the utmost meaning and intention.

I hope you enjoy these stories, whether you’re reading them tucked happily into bed at night after a long day, sitting in your favorite chair on the front porch in a rainstorm, relaxing by the light of a fire, or sitting in your rocking chair sharing them with your children.

“May your paws be warm and your fires be steady.” -R. A. Lorensen