Biography
Kihú hú:k mekureme:ĉhen
(All who come here are welcome)
Rena Aliston is the pen name of Native American author Anna M. Asbury, an enrolled member of the Saponi-Catawba Nation of the Ohio Valley. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, she currently resides in Kentucky.
She is the author of crime, thrillers and horror stories, as well as dark poetry. Her dark and twisted thrillers blend ancient spiritual practices with healing.
In addition to being a writer, Rena is a small business owner (Wayuką́ and Vexenwraith) and the founder of Owl-Raven Books.
When not being creative, she enjoys archery, spending time with her family, being a dog-mom to her Boxweiler Angrboda, and watching crime and horror movies. Rena’s new poetry collection, Conjure Volume 2: Dark Poetry, will be released June 16, 2025.
She is the author of crime, thrillers and horror stories, as well as dark poetry. Her dark and twisted thrillers blend ancient spiritual practices with healing.
In addition to being a writer, Rena is a small business owner (Wayuką́ and Vexenwraith) and the founder of Owl-Raven Books.
When not being creative, she enjoys archery, spending time with her family, being a dog-mom to her Boxweiler Angrboda, and watching crime and horror movies. Rena’s new poetry collection, Conjure Volume 2: Dark Poetry, will be released June 16, 2025.
Professional Affiliations
Frequently Asked Questions
I do have a degree, but not in writing. I have an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration.
I started writing when I was 22, while in the early stages of sobriety. Writing poetry became a way for me to express myself.
Yes. I write full-time. I also own my own businesses (Wayuką́ and Vexenwraith).
One of my therapist actually enjoyed reading my poetry and told me I should look more into it. I didn’t know anything about writing or publishing at that time but I love learning new things, so I started researching different poetry forms and joined a few writing sites. After I started posting my poetry and receiving feedback, that was when I began tinkering with the idea of becoming a writer.
I’m a discovery writer (pantser). When I get an idea for a story, it unfolds like a movie preview. I’ll get glimpses of the beginning and the end. The middle of the story unfolds as I write. I keep a strict writing and editing schedule. My daily word count goal is 2,000 words. When it comes to editing, I like to edit at least two chapters a day.
I taught myself archery during the pandemic and fell in love with it. I’d like to try my hand at a crossbow. I also do graphic design for my two businesses. My downtime includes reading, listening to music, and playing jewel quest.
Everywhere – movies, real life events, history, art. Sometimes things just pop into my head. Being a crime writer, I watch a lot of true crime channels on YouTube, which also helps to get the creative juices flowing.
My preferred time of day was between 8am and noon, but after adopting my dog, Angrboda, my schedule shifted. Now I write between 6am and 10am. That doesn’t mean I stick to only that time, as I’ve written in the evening and am known for waking up in the middle of the night to write.
Write, write, write. The more you do something, the better you get at it. Know who you are as a writer and be true to that. And most importantly read. Read everything, it doesn’t just have to be the genre you write in.