Hi, I’m Maya Fisher — an award-winning independent author and the founder of One-Legged Woman Publishing LLC.

Over the past year, my debut novel, Reborn In Shadows: From The Ashes, has grown far beyond anything I anticipated. It has received multiple national awards, been selected for inclusion in the Library of Congress, and opened doors to major conventions and literary spaces I never expected to enter as an indie author.

I’m deeply grateful for that momentum — and I’m also confronting the reality behind it.

Independent publishing is a heavily front-loaded industry. Production, marketing, ISBN registration, travel, and outreach costs all accrue long before sales have time to catch up. While readership and recognition continue to grow, per-copy earnings through most retail and distribution channels remain modest. On average, I earn approximately $2 per book sold outside of direct sales — a standard margin in independent publishing, but one that requires time and volume to meaningfully offset upfront expenses.

At the same time, many of the professional opportunities now in front of me — particularly confirmed convention appearances — require travel and lodging arrangements to be made months in advance, long before related sales revenue can realistically accrue. This timing gap is the challenge I’m currently navigating.

As a disabled creator, my primary source of income is Social Security Disability benefits. While that provides essential stability, it does not allow for the kind of upfront investment that professional independent publishing now requires — particularly at the scale these opportunities demand.

This fundraiser exists to bridge that gap.

Support raised here will allow me to continue publishing responsibly, meeting professional obligations, and showing up for opportunities my work has already earned — without compromising long-term sustainability or personal safety.

Important Note

No raffles, giveaways, sweepstakes, or rewards are offered in exchange for donations.

This fundraiser is strictly mutual aid to support publishing and outreach expenses during a period of front-loaded costs. Those who wish to follow my work or future releases may do so through my website or newsletter.

How Your Support Will Be Used

Funds raised will directly support:

ISBN registration for upcoming titles

Cover art and production costs for Reborn In Shadows: Phoenix Rising (Book Three)

Travel and lodging for confirmed 2026 convention appearances, including:

The BookFest (Knoxville, TN)

Indy Lit Con (Indianapolis, IN)

RAWR (Columbus, GA)

These expenses are required well in advance of sales revenue. This fundraiser is intended to bridge that timing gap so production and outreach can continue without interruption.