Guest post written by A Dance of Lies author Brittney Arena
Brittney Arena is a passionate storyteller, crafting emotional and immersive fantasy for all kinds of readers. With a background in both brand and visual design, she has always found solace in art. However, after a challenging health journey, she turned to writing, and what began as a coping mechanism evolved into a journey of exploration, allowing her to traverse new worlds from wherever she might be. When she’s not penning tales, Arena spends her time binging K-dramas, playing with her camera, and waging war against ungodly amounts of pet hair. She currently resides in North Carolina with her husband and two pups, and she is always ready for the next adventure, whether it be on the page or in real life.
A Dance of Lies (out June 10th 2025) is a debut fantasy romance filled with hope after heartbreak, secrets, and betrayal, as a dancer-turned-spy must decide how far she will go to secure her freedom
I wish I could say that I grew up reading and writing, and that I dreamed of being an author since I was little. I didn’t.
I was, however, the older sister who dreamed up large, imaginary worlds for my siblings and told them tales late into the night. I’d make up new endings to our favorite Disney movies or invent a plot for a sequel that didn’t exist. I’d sketch out invisible settings in our living room and bring it to life with blankets, cardboard, and crayons. My childhood was difficult, yet imagination was my healing grace.
But I never thought I had it in me to write. I wasn’t a very good student. Grammar scared the daylights out of me. In fact, I never really thought I had anything important to say.
All that changed in my mid-twenties, when a major health flare forced me on a new and devastating journey that cost me my friends, my job, and so much more. Everything I had worked for vanished seemingly overnight, and aside from my devoted husband, and I found myself not just lonely, but silenced.
My husband, desperate to spark some joy, bought me my first kindle. I think that saved my life.
I soon found myself lost in the types of fantastical, courageous stories I never knew I needed. I discovered more than an escape; I found a passion I never thought I’d feel again. While I had always been artistic to some degree, I’d forgotten the power of art.
Then I began to wonder what it would feel like to create again. What if I went back to my childhood comforts and dared imagine something new? I’ve always had bottled up stories within me, but I never knew what to do with them. What if I dared set pen to paper? More so, what if I gave myself permission to stretch my love of fantasy and romance into a story that centered a chronically ill main character who had lived and lost as much as I had?
Deep down, I wrote A Dance of Lies to give myself a voice, but it became something more. Within its pages, I not only found a path to accepting my limitations but being proud of who I have become because of them. I found a very different kind of healing.
This book is my own little miracle. And henceforth, I have dedicated it to everyone who feels unseen, unloved, or pained on any level. There is healing power in art. Stories can shape and redefine who we are. I dearly hope mine reminds you of how incredible you are, no matter what you have been through, or what your limitations might be.
