Abigail Ortiz

Author, Daydreamer, DIY’er

40`something
Wife & Mom
Former Social Worker
Licensed Minister
Operations Generalist & Team Morale Specialist
Pursuer of Health, Growth & Change

Welcome, friend! I’m grateful you’re here.

My name’s Abigail Ortiz, but you may certainly call me Abby.

I was born and raised on rolling hills along the pristine waters of Northern California, and fondly remember the San Francisco Bay Area as the perfect balance of comfortable sweatshirts and the sweet scent of grassfires.

I consider myself blended between Generation X and Millennials, as I spent entire summers carving forts out of overgrown bushes, and winters etching permanent dents in my thumbs playing NES. I am the youngest of six children, and was raised with strong convictions that were constantly challenged by peers and a rapidly changing society.

Today, my family and I reside just south of Nashville, TN. (Yes, it’s a dramatic shift.) My husband and I spent the first five years of our marriage in Boston, MA. (Yet another culture shock of a surprisingly similar kind.)

As a child I struggled with reading.

That drove an awkward wedge between me and my early talent for storytelling.

For a middle-school assignment, I stole my brother’s copy of “The Oath” by Frank E. Peretti, and experienced my first ever literary binge, devouring the mystery, the drama, suspense and fantasy etched by ink on every page.

That middle school assignment was a catalyst, igniting my passion for texts and reawakening my desire to write. Some of my favorite authors include Sarah J. Maas, Pierce Brown, JRR Tolken, Maya Angelou, and CS Lewis.

After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from a (now closed) private university in the Santa Cruz mountains, I became a Social Worker, Minister, SAHM, School Bus Driver, and Freelance Web Designer & Social Media Consultant. Presently, I work in online Operations & Branding. Every person I’ve ever worked with refers to me as a “Generalist,” and I think that sums me up nicely.

I promised myself I’d publish my first book in my 40th year — and I did it!

(I’m looking at you, J.K. Rowlings!)

Zo’s Quest is like the spiritual journey allegory of The Pilgrim’s Progress, mashed up with the fantastic new world, friends and foes of The Wizard of Oz.

The first two installments in the Zo’s Quest Series are available now.