ABOUT MICKI BARE
Early Years
The first stories I wrote were letters to my cousin. We were preschool pen pals. My first "journal" was filled with made up stories and pictures. At the age of 7, I received my most cherished gift—a thesaurus. I used my "free time" in school to write fictional stories inspired by some of my favorite childhood books: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig and the entire Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. In high school and college I wrote for school newspapers.
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Career
After 16 years as an early childhood executive and six years in advertising as a writer, editor, and web content manager, I temporarily resigned from the workforce to focus on family needs. I began working part time in 2014 as an associate editor for a parenting magazine. After more than four years serving as a marketing director for an early childhood nonprofit organization, I began teaching middle school and earned a Master's degree in teaching. With three years of teaching under my belt, I transitioned back to marketing as the senior marketing director for a community college.
Writing Life
In addition to the publication of my three Thurston T. Turtle children’s books, I was a columnist for 18 years, had articles published in regional and state publications, and had short stories published in two anthologies. My first middle grade novel, Society of the Sentinelia, was published May 27, 2022 by Level Elevate, an imprint of Level Best Books. It is the first of five books in the Zahra of the Uwharries series set in the Birkhead Wilderness of the Uwharrie Mountains in central North Carolina. Society of the Sentinelia was awarded the 2022 AAUW NC Young People's Literature Award. Book two, Blind Fairy, which was awarded the 2023 AAUW NC Young People's Literature Award, was published on May 18, 2023. Book three, Omega Crag, which was a 2024 Golden Wizard Book Prize recipient, was published on May 14, 2024. Book 4, Kimimila Returns, was published on May 13, 2025. Kimimila Returns was awarded a 2025 Golden Wizard Book Prize. The final book in the series, CRIMSON EAGLE, is scheduled to be released in July 2026.
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ARTIST STATEMENT
Through writing, I endeavor to develop and nurture a love for reading and writing. With wholesome, relatable early reader chapter books and challenging middle grade low-fantasy novels, I hope to inspire children to be better, more compassionate, and more tolerant than the generations that came before them. I want to inspire young readers to unlock their own creativity and follow their dreams.