Autumn M. Birt Crafts Fantastical Worlds Filled with Magic, Adventure, and Grit
Mastering World-Building, Writing Across Genres, and Embracing a Nomadic Lifestyle
Autumn M. Birt discusses her journey from debuting Born of Water to creating immersive worlds, balancing genres, and offering advice for aspiring self-published authors navigating the writing world.
Autumn M. Birt, an award-winning and bestselling author, is renowned for her ability to craft immersive worlds, blending epic fantasy with rich world-building and unforgettable characters. With over 20 novels to her name, Birt captivates readers across multiple genres, including epic fantasy, dystopian thrillers, and real-world adventures. Her journey into writing began with her debut novel, Born of Water, and since then, she has become a recognized figure in the literary world, known for her complex narratives and vivid storytelling.
Autumn M. Birt’s storytelling mastery blends rich world-building and deep characters, creating immersive tales that captivate readers across multiple genres with grit, heart, and adventure.
In an exclusive interview with Reader’s House Magazine, Birt shares her inspirations, the challenges she faced in her early writing career, and the valuable lessons she’s learned through her travels.
When asked about the inspiration behind her world of Myrrah and its elemental magic system, Birt explains, “In the early 2000s, I had a story in my head about a professional woman—secretly a water elemental—who notices a girl with strange magic potential at a conference. But the idea stalled. Around the same time, I worked in an office with a Mediterranean painting—red cliffs, crashing waves, and endless skies. I realized it held all the elements, and that’s when I created Myrrah.”
Birt’s debut novel, Born of Water, was her first major challenge. Despite having a degree in English, she faced the difficult task of transitioning from an academic background to writing an engaging, full-length novel. “It was a process,” Birt admits. “I took adult education classes, rewrote the novel repeatedly, and printed it out to rearrange the chapters. But in the end, it paid off, as Born of Water became a favorite among readers and even won reader awards as recently as 2020.”
One of the most interesting aspects of Birt’s writing is her ability to seamlessly write across genres. She finds inspiration from her own eclectic reading habits, often switching between fantasy and gritty dystopian thrillers. “Genre is just the surface layer,” she says. “No matter what I write, my stories always focus on deep, complex characters and themes of friendship and love. Those are universal, no matter the genre.”
Birt’s nomadic lifestyle has also had a profound influence on her storytelling. Her travels have helped her bring an authentic sense of realism to the fantastical worlds she creates. “I think my love of discovering new places—being overwhelmed by scenery, smells, and tastes—bleeds into my writing,” she explains. “My worlds feel real because I write as if I’m standing in them myself.”
As for her favorite character, Birt points to Captain Jared Vries from Friends of My Enemy. “He’s the type of character who’s loyal, skilled enough to survive a futuristic wasteland, and has a sarcastic streak. He’s the sort of person you’d want as a best friend.”
World-building is another area where Birt excels. Drawing from her background in ecology, she approaches it scientifically. “To make a fantastical world feel real, you need to create ecosystems—understand how a culture would live there, their habits, beliefs, clothes, and homes,” she shares. “It’s not about dumping all that knowledge on the reader, but allowing them to explore through the eyes of the characters.”
Finally, for aspiring authors, Birt offers valuable advice for those navigating self-publishing and marketing. “Take the time to learn to write well, get feedback, and expect to rewrite your work,” she advises. “Don’t rush it. Embrace the learning process, make friends along the way, and you’ll end up with an amazing book and a passionate writing community.”
Autumn M. Birt’s work stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, creativity, and a love for storytelling. Her worlds, characters, and themes captivate readers and continue to inspire aspiring authors worldwide.
Originally published in Reader’s House Magazine.
