Biography – Monica Goertzen Hertlein, author of romantasy, science fiction, romantic fiction, and historical fiction
Monica’s Story
My Story
Introvert, cat lover, accountant, writer.
I always loved reading. I wanted to be a writer as far back as I remember, but never thought writing fiction was a real job. So I dabbled with pen and paper and on my Apple IIc (remember floppy disks that were floppy?) but took it no further.
In 2014, I began writing again. I shared several works online before finally putting into words stories I enjoyed in my head for decades (I still have an early handwritten chapter of my first novel circa 1993).
I was thrilled to receive Honourable Mention from the Writers and Illustrators of the Future for a short story in 2022Q1 and even more excited to receive a Silver Honourable Mention in 2023Q1. I am proud to have been invited twice to read from my work at a farewell event for a Saskatoon library Writer-in-Residence (this program is a wonderful gift to the local writing community). My short story entries in the Saskatoon Writers’ Club contests judged by published Saskatchewan authors have all won awards including three 1st place prose awards. I am pleased to have sold several short stories and flash fiction by meeting my goal of 100 rejections in a year!
Now I’m excited to share my debut novel “Star-Crossed Alliance” available wherever you buy ebooks and on Amazon.
Learn more about my writing journey and this novel in my interview with Dennis Rimmer on his Talking Books and Stuff podcast (link coming soon).
My thanks to fellow Saskatoon Writers’ Club members who meet every month to talk all things writing, so as not to bore the sane people in our lives.
Thanks also to the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild for their ongoing varied programming. I’m especially fortunate to have been accepted into their mentorship program, working on another romantic science fiction novel.
Look for my next novel “A Valley Girl Dilemma” to be released in March, 2026.
I don’t have a favourite author or book because there are so many I’ve enjoyed. A few of the big ones are classics like Silas Marner, Pride and Prejudice, and Jane Eyre, as well as more recent books such as The Martian and Legends and Lattes. I enjoy Becky Chambers, Barbra Hambly, Sharon Green, Mercedes Lackey, C.J. Cherryh, Valerie Sherwood, Johanna Lindsey, Margaret Laurence, and Lois McMaster Bujold. I really love Mary Stewart’s Merlin series and Melisa C. Michaels’s Skyrider series.
Thanks for being interested enough to read this! I use she/her pronouns if you want to get in touch.
~Monica
Wife. Mother. Runner. Lutheran. Fangirl. Reader. Sociologist.
Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild profile