Maggie Mooha’s writing journey began with a bold leap into the world of Star Trek. Her first novel, A Free Radical, caught the attention of an agent, but the franchise gatekeepers weren’t open to new voices at the time. Undeterred, Maggie shifted her focus to screenwriting. Under the mentorship of Madeline DiMaggio, she became a semi‑finalist in the Prime‑Time Television division of the Austin Film Festival’s Heart of Film Screenwriting Contest with her script X‑Files Mananangal. She also won a screenwriting competition sponsored by Square Magazine in New York. Though her screenplays and teleplays remain unproduced, they sharpened her craft and storytelling voice.

Determined to find her own path, Maggie turned to historical fiction. After years of persistence, she completed Elizabeth in the New World. The road to publication was long—filled with spreadsheets of rejections and polite “not for us” replies—but eventually, her perseverance paid off. That breakthrough launched her career as a historical novelist, a genre where her passion for history and storytelling meet.

Beyond the page, Maggie has lived a life rich with adventure. She has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, walked the Great Wall of China, visited Gustave Eiffel’s private office atop the Paris landmark, and stood with Solidarity in Warsaw as they ended a strike. These experiences, along with her love of cooking, playing piano, and time spent with her grown son and faithful old dog, continue to inspire her work.

At the heart of it all is a simple invitation: Can she write? Maggie leaves that answer to her readers—encouraging you to explore her stories and decide for yourself.

Climbed Kilimanjaro

Austin Film Festival Semi‑Finalist