Meredith Rae Lyons

award-winning author of Paranormal, sci-fi, & fantasy

I started writing at a young age and always loved stories that I got lost in and characters who became my friends. I wrote my first novel at thirteen, in pencil, on that gray, recycled paper they had in the ‘90s. I still have the pages. All 636 of them. In high school and college, I also pursued passions in theatre, painting, and piano, and my writing took on a more practical bent. I became a yearbook section editor, which lead to a second degree in Mass Communication. (My first was in Theatre, of course.) I wrote for online publications like CBS Local and Examiner.com before finally starting my first blog. I got serious about fiction writing in 2018 and since then have written seven novels, all with a fantasy or speculative bent.

My debut novel Ghost Tamer was released on September 19, 2023, is an Amazon Editors’ Pick, an IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Gold Winner for Best SciFi Fantasy, an IPPY Award Gold Winner for Best First Book, and a Silver Falcion Award Winner for Best Supernatural and Best Book of 2023. It’s available in Hardcover, Large Print Paperback, eBook, and audiobook wherever books are sold. A Dagger of Lightning is a fantasy (with a spaceship on top and a slow burn romance tucked inside) and will be released April 1st, 2025. Both titles are traditionally published with CamCat Books.

actor and narrator

Since relocating to Nashville, my creative compass has pulled me more toward writing, however, I did scratch my acting itch by narrating a few short stories with Onyx Publications. If you like my voice, you can also find me on my husband’s much less formal podcast, Opening Stage VGH. Stop by if you’re at all interested in video games, or in learning how much I do not know about video games.

Most of my official book-related interviews and podcast appearances can be found on my media page.

The picture to the right is of my college DJing days, I was the first female Chief Announcer at 91.1 KLSU. Geaux Tigers!

Fun past lives (A little about me)

Before settling down to write, I made a living as a full time NASM Certified personal trainer and AFAA certified Group Fitness instructor. For almost a decade I enjoyed teaching various yoga modalities and cardio kickboxing. Prior to that, I was heavily competitive in martial arts. I got to visit Paris twice as the 2008/2010 National Savate Champion. I even fought in Disney World! I became the 2011 Savate Gold Medalist, Chinese Sparring Gold Medalist, Sanda Bronze Medalist. And what Chicago experience would be complete without a Chicago Golden Gloves Finalist trophy or two?

While active in the Chicago Storefront theatre scene, I was a company member of The Side Project Theatre. Some of my favorite outside roles were with The Factory Theatre, InFusion Theatre, Babes with Blades, and The House Theatre of Chicago. Represented by Shirley Hamilton Talent Agency until relocating to Nashville, my most memorable commercial experiences include Cheetos with Onion Labs, Webb Auto (my brother-in-law texts me whenever it reappears in Peoria) Office Depot, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

I grew up on the water, know my way around a horse, was a DJ in college (free concert tickets!), and can shoot a bow and arrow. I have four swords and know how to use them. I also enjoy knitting and gardening. One of the reasons I moved to from Chicago to Nashville was so that I could have a yard with a garden. (And also to not be cold.)

social media

You’ll find evidence of my past—and present!—lives on my social media. It is a business tool, but I like to keep my business fun and I do enjoy connecting with other people in the writing industry. You’ll find sunrises and kitten pictures mixed in with writing inspo reels and blog posts. I’m most active on Instagram, but I like to make sassy comments on Threads occasionally too. I have a personal and a professional page on Facebook, but the personal is mostly for family and friends.