Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Reiser

Hi Katie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

Hi, I’m Katie, and my story started back in childhood.
When I was about six years old, I realized something was wrong. All my friends were reading effortlessly, breezing through the grade-level books our first-grade class provided. But I struggled. I couldn’t sound out half the letters correctly because, half the time, I wasn’t even seeing the right letters. Despite this, I managed to stay under the radar, figuring out that some letters worked together to form words while others didn’t. I relied heavily on pattern recognition, but I hated reading.

That dislike for books stayed with me for most of my life. As I got older, reading became more and more exhausting. Longer words were overwhelming, and the effort it took to get through even a single page left me drained.
I never felt smart. Honestly, I still don’t. I had to work harder than my friends, which was frustrating. While they partied, stayed out late, and skipped homework, I was studying until the last minute—barely scraping by. Teachers and family would tell me things like, “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it’ll feel stupid its entire life.” But instead of comfort, those words reinforced my sense of not belonging. I felt like a fish out of water.

Still, through all that struggle, I discovered something I was good at—telling stories. I became a favorite among the kids I babysat for my ability to spin magical bedtime tales. Stories of far-off places, daunting adversaries, hidden identities, and kids overcoming impossible odds had the kids begging me to babysit again. I loved storytelling, but I still hated reading.
By the time I was fifteen, story ideas were popping into my head almost daily, but I was too intimidated to write them down. Authors were smart. They were educated and great at English. I didn’t think I could ever belong in that world.

Then, in 2022, I discovered Sarah J. Maas. Her books drew me in like nothing else ever had. For the first time, I wanted to keep going—page by page, chapter by chapter—just to know what would happen next. That determination and the pride I felt when I finished her book sparked something in me.
That’s when I opened Microsoft Word and discovered dictation. Everything suddenly fell into place, and my first novel was born.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

There’ve definitely been a few hiccups along the way, but saying I’ve managed by myself would be a far-fetched lie. You know that old Beatles song, the one that goes, “I get by with a little help from my friends”? That perfectly describes how I’ve gotten to where I am today. Every time this journey has knocked me down, my friends have been there to pull me back up, dust me off, and remind me to keep going.
I’m not a successful independent author simply because I can string a story together. There’s so much more to it than that—typos, fatigue, and, honestly, days when I’ve wondered if this writing journey was more trouble than it’s worth. My struggles weren’t just about my dyslexia or aphantasia; sometimes, my biggest struggle was the little six-year-old version of me in my mind, crying because she didn’t understand why everyone else could read and write so easily.
But my friends, my team, have been the ones to remind me that my learning disability is actually my superpower. Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today. My brain works differently than others, but that doesn’t mean it’s broken.
My bumpy road has been smoothed over by a powerful group of women, and I’m so grateful for their unwavering support.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I’m a Fantasy Romance Author dedicated to bringing the genre to Latin America. As a Cuban American, I knew I had the opportunity to bring everything we love about fantasy to South America and the Caribbean. I’m passionate about weaving the culture I grew up with into the fabric of my stories. There’s so much folklore, history, and diversity within Latin America—our rich traditions and landscapes pair so beautifully with the fantasy genre.
I’m most proud of my upcoming novel Pamoja! It’s set in the fantasy land of Azaria, which draws heavily from the Amazon Rainforest. The story revolves around my main character, Elita Diaz, and her journey in this vibrant, magical world inspired by the very land and people I hold dear. I also borrowed jungle animals from the Congo Basin of Africa and decided to title the book Pamoja, which means “together” in Swahili. This is a nod of respect to forest elephants, as they play such a significant role in the story. Without them, this book wouldn’t be the same.

What does success mean to you?

For me, success isn’t about external validation like money, fame, or bestseller lists. I define success by the growth I see in myself as a writer. I’ve learned that comparing myself to others doesn’t help—what works for someone else doesn’t always work for me. Success is about consistently getting better, pushing myself further with each novel. My goal is to look back on my work and know that I’ve improved from where I was before. As long as I’m evolving and challenging myself to be better, I consider that a success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://authorkatiereiser.com
• Instagram: @AuthorKatieReiser