-Official Website-
Embrace the night... give in to the temptation
Bio
Maria Christine is a writer of fantasy, historic, and speculative romance, as well as romantic affirmations, poetry, essays, and other creative expressions of love. She has been a Vivian, Golden Heart, and Diamond Heart Awards judge for the Romance Writers of America (RWA), and maintains an advice column, On Love, at Medium.com. She is passionate about intimacy, sensuality, sex positivity, and the intricacies of human nature and connections.
Maria studied quantum mechanics and history at the University of Southern New Hampshire and graduated with honors from Kaplan University, Davenport, where she studied crime analysis, ethics, and forensic psychology. She is a lifetime member, by exclusive invitation, of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and holds a certificate in Family Counselling, Marriage and Couples Therapy. She is the founder of Nocturna Media and managing editor of Un-X Magazine. She is also proprietor of Witches' Glen, a metaphysical conglomerate, and its subsidiaries, including Love Spell, which carries romantic and uplifting tees and art, much of which she has personally designed. In May 2025, she launched HavenwoodHouse.org, which is a directory of inclusive mental health, crisis, and wellness organizations for people who need immediate comfort or other emotional support. Devoted to a life of continuous learning, she is currently studying neuropsychology and somatic sex awareness and intimacy, guided by a deep commitment to fostering inclusivity and honoring the natural diversity of human identities and expressions.
Maria is dedicated to the study of her family history; and proudly traces much of her rich heritage to Northern, Western, and Southern Europe as well as Northern and Western Africa. She is a family historian and volunteer scribe for Washington and Missouri State Archives. Her intent is to always be an advocate for awareness, learning, mindfulness, understanding, and love; to lift voices, and to help create more safe spaces in this beautifully-diverse world.
She likes to read medieval fantasy and historic romance and enjoys writing about ominous anti-heroes and passionate love. Some of her favorite things are forests, dark castles, thunderstorms, and muscle cars. Favorite pastimes include (but are never limited-to!) researching, stargazing, and archery.
A Letter to You
Hello Everyone. Welcome to my humble domain. I love to write because it is utterly freeing. Always there are characters in my mind waiting for their stories to be told. Some harangue me until I (at last) put pen to paper. Others wait ever patiently, but they are always there... sipping tea by the fire, pacing the palace floors in top hats and tailcoats, or gazing through a spyglass over the balcony to a distant sea... all of them occupying what would otherwise be neglected, unsown corners of my mind. This they could never allow, and it does give me comfort.
Who and what I like to read
All writers are artists, and I truly appreciate unique ideas and a love of storytelling, but I do have some faves and I covet them. When it comes to non-fiction, I enjoy archaeology and human history and learning about the migration of peoples. As for fiction, I love a good romance or an epic fantasy. For me, it doesn't get any better than Evelyn Rogers' Devil in the Dark, Desert Heat, or The Ghost of Carnal Cove; and J.R.R. Tolkien's timeless tales of Middle Earth. When I find a good story, I usually can’t stop reading for hours—either until the end or until I fall involuntarily to sleep! My favorite time to read is before bed, so this happens a lot.
My advice to new writers
I ran a fiction and discussion forum from 2000-2020. Some of the best times I’ve had were there, reading unpolished, informal stories by writers who are just starting out and witnessing all of us become better writers over time. I've learned a lot from other creatives and continue to do so. There is something special about writers who do it for fun. They aren’t paid for their work; they write from the heart and for their own pleasure, and therein, magic can be found. Our stories are personal works of art—self-expression in one of its most beautiful forms. If it’s a peaceful part of you, then nurture it. Take note of suggestions, read a lot, and allow yourself to grow. As time goes on, I continue to learn from seasoned writers how to hone my skills, but it's often the beginners who remind me to enjoy myself.
