Hazel Dains’s writing journey began when she was just eight years old, crafting little stories in makeshift books she folded from notebook paper during school. By age twelve, she had filled several shoeboxes with her early works, and throughout her teenage years, her desire to write deepened. However, the process of developing longer works—learning plot structure and character arcs—eluded her, and though she envisioned chapter books, they often remained unfinished. After high school, she dreamed of becoming a journalist, but dissuaded by the belief that print journalism was declining, she set writing aside for nearly a decade.

Then, during the stillness of the pandemic, Hazel found the time to rekindle her passion. She learned to outline, finish books, and soon discovered a love for book editing. Her dedication to storytelling and editing grew as she worked tirelessly to sharpen her skills. Today, she’s the author of *Seven Hills One Light*, the first book in the *In the Shadow of Lions* series. Alongside writing book two in the series, slated for a mid-2025 release, Hazel is also working on cozy Christmas tales and editing a new science fiction series.