About Renaye

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." — Walter Winchell

Renaye Rutherford is a fantasy, sci-fi, and romance author whose stories are built around immersive worlds, emotional journeys, and the belief that hope can still exist even in life's darkest moments. Born in San Angelo, Texas, and raised primarily in Corpus Christi, Renaye discovered early that books could become both refuge and freedom. At just eight years old, after winning a writing contest in the third grade, she realized storytelling was more than a hobby—it was a lifeline. Now, at 45 years old, she continues to create stories that invite readers into richly imagined worlds while exploring the deeply human emotions hidden inside them. As a child and teenager, Renaye found comfort in books such as Fear Street Sagas, The Baby-Sitters Club, Go Ask Alice, and Of Mice and Men. As an adult, authors like Sherrilyn Kenyon and Piers Anthony helped shape her love for expansive storytelling, layered characters, and emotionally driven fantasy. Most influential of all was the magical world of Harry Potter, which showed her the power fantasy worlds can have for readers searching for comfort, belonging, and escape. Films such as Schindler's List, The Lovely Bones, and The Secret Garden also left a lasting impact on the emotional depth she brings into her own storytelling. Today, Renaye is currently working on the first book in her Crystal Chronicles series, a fantasy adventure inspired in part by the imaginative wonder of Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Through worldbuilding and emotional arcs, she hopes readers feel as though they truly know the places, histories, and characters within her stories. Alongside Crystal Chronicles, she is also developing her Spirit Warrior books for readers ages 8–12, stories centered around mental health, hope, and finding the courage to ask for help. Having grown up without stories that reflected her own struggles, Renaye hopes these books become the kind of comfort and encouragement she once needed herself. Her upcoming autobiographical work, Like a Phoenix, I Rise, explores survival, healing, and perseverance through trauma and recovery. Renaye also speaks proudly about her recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder after fifteen years of therapy. Through her writing, she hopes others struggling with mental health challenges can see that healing is possible, strength can be rebuilt, and life can continue forward even after unimaginable pain. Faith, warmth, and resilience are woven deeply into both Renaye's life and her stories. As a Christian, she believes hope and healing matter, especially for people who feel forgotten or broken. Writing has given her a safe place to express herself freely, transforming pain into creativity and emotion into connection. Whether she is creating magical kingdoms, emotionally layered heroes, or stories about survival, her goal is always the same: to make readers feel seen, understood, and less alone. Outside of writing, Renaye finds peace in quiet moments spent with her husband Jason, whom she will celebrate 25 years of marriage with this August. While her novels are entirely her own creations, she enjoys collaborating with Jason on the storytelling and worldbuilding elements behind his Dungeons & Dragons 5E campaigns. Together, they often shape narratives, lore, and emotional arcs that bring imaginary worlds to life around the gaming table. Her home is also filled with the animals she loves deeply: Blossom the Golden Greek Tortoise, Lilly Bell the Rhodesian Ridgeback, Melody Mae the Staffordshire Pit, Mare Imbrium the tortoiseshell cat, Hunny Bee the orange-and-white longhaired cat, and several fish. Her pets provide comfort during anxious or difficult moments and often help inspire the calm, cozy atmosphere she loves while writing. For Renaye, the perfect writing day involves a warm blanket, soft music, and a beloved pet nearby while she disappears into another world entirely. Above all, Renaye Rutherford hopes her readers walk away from her stories feeling strength, warmth, and hope. Whether through fantasy adventures, stories about mental health, or deeply personal memoir writing, she wants her work to remind people that survival matters, healing is real, and even after life's hardest chapters… somehow, we keep going. And so she goes on.