By Mary Goldmeer
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For nearly 20 years, Natalie Wright built her life around courtrooms, clients and the rigorous structure of law. These days, she is more likely to be surrounded by dragons, magic and readers eagerly lining up to enter the fantastical worlds she creates.

“I’m an attorney by training,” Wright said. “I began writing as a passion, something I had done when I was younger and picked back up later in life. Now, somehow I do it full time.”

Wright writes epic fantasy and science fiction stories for both young adult and adult readers, along with poetry and short fiction. Her first book, “Emily’s House,” debuted on Wattpad, where it has been read more than 2 million times worldwide.

Today, Wright is best known for her “Dragos Primeri” series, stories built around what readers describe as powerful female protagonists and rich world-building that stands out in a traditionally male-dominated genre.

Leaving law behind

The leap from law to literature was not something Wright anticipated.

“After the birth of my son, I started writing again. It just felt right,” Wright said. “Law took a toll , emotionally and physically, and I realized I was missing something essential.”

That something became a new career, thanks in part to a moment of clarity from her husband, who often accompanied her to book events and signings.

“He saw how people responded to my work,” she said. “Readers,  sometimes years after reading “Emily’s House,” would come up and say how much it meant to them. One day, my husband looked at me and said, ‘I think you’re doing more good as a writer than you did as an attorney.’”

Wright said he was not downplaying her legal work, he was recognizing the power of storytelling.

“It made me stop and think, why am I still doing law?” she said. “I love writing. It’s helping people in a different, maybe deeper, way.”

Building a world with agency

At the core of Wright’s work is a desire to tell the kinds of stories she did not see growing up, ones where women do not just support the hero, they are the hero.

Wright said she admires writers like Ursula LeGuin and N.K. Jemisin fantasy and sci-fi, authors known for bringing psychological and emotional content to their genres. Wright aims to do the same for epic fantasy.

“I found my audience while promoting my H.A.L.F. series,” she said, recalling a whirlwind few years spent at book festivals and comic conventions. “I realized I was writing for women who grew up loving sci-fi and fantasy, but rarely saw themselves as the central figure in those stories.”

Many of her characters reflect that shift. Wright describes them as layered, complex and driven by their own goals, not as love interests, sidekicks or narrative afterthoughts.

“There’s always a core emotional truth I’m trying to reach,” she said. “A lot of it is inspired by my son. Every book I write is, in some way, a letter to his future self, even if I don’t fully understand how at the time.”

An independent path

Wright publishes her books independently, a decision she said comes with both challenges and freedom.

“I had an agent. I fired my agent,” she said. “Going indie gives me the flexibility to write what I want, title my books the way I want, and connect with my readers directly.”

That also means she wears many hats. Like many authors today, even traditionally published ones, she spends more time marketing her books than writing them.

“At best, it’s 25% writing and 75% promotion,” she said. “But I actually enjoy the business side. I love talking to readers and building a community.”

According to Wright, the payoff is complete creative control and a loyal fan base.

“I have no regrets,” she said. “I get to decide what I create and how I present it. I don’t need anyone else’s permission to do that.”

Thick skin, open heart

Years of practicing law  especially in emotionally charged areas like divorce  gave Wright perspective into writing conflict.

“ I spoke with thousands of people over the years about their relationships, and observed relationship dynamics. Though I don’t write about divorce or related issues, I think the practice influences how I write.”

Her time in law also allowed Wright to get comfortable receiving feedback.

“There’s a lot of vulnerability in putting your work out there,” she said. “But after so many (emotionally charged) days at court, random internet trolls don’t bother me.”

Wright said that does not mean criticism never stings, just that it does not derail her.

“When you put yourself out there, you have to learn not to take it personally,” she said. “The people your work is meant for will love it. The people who don’t get it? I wasn’t writing for them anyway.”

A creative life in the desert

Wright grew up in Ohio but moved to Arizona in 1994 the day after finishing law school  with her husband, a car full of cats and what she called 12% of a plan.

“We didn’t have jobs. We didn’t know anyone. But we had sunshine and mountains,” she said. “And that was enough to start.”

Tucson, with its dramatic landscape and vibrant arts scene, became home. It is where Wright raised her family and found her creative rhythm.

“My son is my muse, he always has been,” she said. “He’s also an artist, and he’s illustrating my next book.”

Beyond her family, Wright draws inspiration from the local art community through local murals, live theater, storytelling events and music.

“When I’m feeling creatively empty, I go out and see something live,” she said. “That always refills the tank.”

Wright said she still gets a thrill at every book signing, no matter how many she’s done.

“There’s always this nervous energy before an event,” she said. “But then people start lining up, and I get to talk with them, hear what they love about the story, and just connect. That’s the best part.”

She often prepares swag bags and small gifts for attendees, and takes time to personalize each signature.

“Every single time, I’m amazed that someone chose to spend their time in my world,” she said. “It’s not just about the sale, it’s about the trust. And I never take that for granted.”

Wright visited her West Valley audience, in September, hosting a signing at the Goodyear Barns & Noble where she quickly sold out of her most recent work “The Spring Dragon,” the second book in her “Dragos Primeri,” series. 

“I’ve sold thousands of books,” she said. “But every time someone picks one up, it still feels like a little miracle. That joy, it never goes away.”

Wright has several events on the calendar, including her first appearance at the Arizona Library Association Conference in October.

Wright will also be at the Mesa Book Festival in December, and is planning return visits to the Tucson Festival of Books and the L.A. Times Festival of Books in 2025.

In March, Wright will release “The Sigil 5 and Other Dragonesque Primary Stories,”  a short story collection set in the “Dragos Primeri,” universe. The book opens with a fantasy heist and offers readers a fun interlude between major installments in the series.

Visit nataliewrightauthor.com for more information or to keep up with Wright’s event schedule and upcoming releases.