T.L. Hicks

Tracie Hicks from Taylorville, IL. She's the youngest sibling in her family. She's on her second marriage, which came to be on Halloween of 2004. She currently lives in Princeton, IL with her husband Bruce, a martial artist, and her three fur babies (cats), Patches, Lynx, and Spooky.

Tracie has worked with the public since she was 15 years old. She has worked at fast food restaurants, grocery stores, video rental stores, video games stores, customer service, and factory work. She even managed rental properties. Having these type of jobs allowed her to study people, thus creating realistic characters.

Tracie formed a paranormal investigation group called the Christian County Ghost Hunters Society. She and her team investigated and helped those who suffered from paranormal activity. To this day she still collects and researches paranormal sightings in Christian County, and now Bureau County Illinois. Her research into the paranormal has given her insight into the world of horror and science fiction.

Tracie is a physically challenged person. She suffers from social anxiety, PTSD, maladaptive daydreaming and chronic depression. She was in an abusive relationship that left emotional and physical pain. Having these types of illnesses helps her to create characters that show a struggle of internal and external conflict.

Tracie took it upon herself to return to school. She received a certificate from Stratford Career Institute in Environmental Sciences. She started at the University of Phoenix in 2012 where she received her AA in Communications in June of 2014. In August of 2014, she began school at Southern New Hampshire University to get her BA in Creative Writing with a double major on fiction and screenwriting. She completed her degree in December of 2016. She returned to Southern New Hampshire University to get her Master's in Creative Writing. Her goal is to be a freelance writer, author, entertainment journalist, and screenwriter.

Why did Tracie choose creative writing? When she was younger, she won writing contests, but there was no one to urge her on. Now, her body will not allow her to work like she once did, her mind still has creative thoughts geared towards the horror, science fiction, and fantasy realms. She has had these thoughts since she was a child but did nothing with them. Now, she is turning those daydreams into stories.

To Tracie, this is her second chance to make something of herself, to show her true colors, and maybe help those, like her, on her way. She wants to live the American dream and turn her daydreams into stories for the world to read and enjoy.