Maya Kurita is a second‑generation Japanese American (Nisei) whose childhood was shaped by the folklore, ghosts, and heroes of Japan. As an adult, her fascination with the culture she was distanced from led to a love of Japanese history, where she found both belonging and inspiration. Today, she blends her Japanese roots with her Western heritage to create fantasy worlds that make history feel vivid, accessible, and alive.
Outside of writing, Maya is a lifelong martial artist who has competed in MMA, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Boxing. She continues to train with professional fighters, and her love of gritty, realistic combat fuels the visceral fight scenes in her work. Her academic background in Biomechanics, Molecular Biology, and Genetics shapes her fascination with well‑researched sci‑fi and hard magic systems.
When she’s not fighting or writing, she’s chasing her beautiful children or working with neurological and spinal cord injury patients—real‑world experiences that deepen the human aspect of the characters in her work.
