Morgan McShea is an author and poet living in the Pacific Northwest with her partner, Erik. Originally from Southern California, Morgan left her career in the fashion industry in Los Angeles to start a new life in Seattle. There, she fell in love with nature, changing the course of her life. She returned to college in her thirties to study sustainability; moved into a tiny house in the woods; and became an avid climber, skier, and mountaineer. She credits her relationship with the natural world for the deep healing she has experienced and aims to inspire others to foster similar relationships with the more-than-human world.
Q: What inspired the idea behind your book?
A: This book was inspired by a beautiful two-year period in my life where I lived in a tiny house in the woods. I moved there after some massive life transitions and was looking for rest and recovery. What I found in the forest was the support and wisdom of the natural world, which seemed to envelop me as soon as I opened myself to it.
This book is a compilation of things that I learned in my thirties. I hope to share them with others, as they have deeply transformed my life and the way that I move in the world.
Q: As an author, what tips would you give anyone who wants to get into writing?
A: Write! I carry a notebook with me everywhere. It reminds me that we are constantly full of creative ideas waiting to be captured. Do not hold yourself back looking for perfection or something beautifully polished. Incredible things started as scribbles on a sheet of paper or a napkin. Allow yourself to create and see where it takes you.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: It is hard to pick a favorite, but one book that was pivotal in connecting the dots between artistic expression and connecting to nature was Mirrors in the Earth by Asia Suler. It is a beautiful book that reads like poetry and reminds us how lucky we are to exist in a world with so much support around us.
Q: Was your main character modeled after anyone in your life?
A: I hope that everyone can relate to this story. While I mention some local plants and animals, my desire is that readers will be inspired to look at the natural world that they are a part of and find inspiration, connection, and wisdom.
Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
A: My favorite part of the writing process is the initial idea. I feel like certain words or phrases or sentences will flow to me. I will scrawl them quickly, not knowing what they will become. Each idea is like a seed, and it is exciting to consider what it might grow into.
Q: Do you believe that being a “good writer” is a developed skill or a natural talent?
A: I believe that we all have so much potential and the ability to do anything that we desire. If you have a desire to write, then to me, you should write! Some things require dedication and practice, of course, but I truly believe that we should do the things that we are drawn to. I don’t have a formal education in creative writing, but I love doing it, and now, I have a published book.
Q: Do you have a favorite book, poem, TV, or movie quote?
A: “Nothing I accept about myself can be used against me to diminish me.” —Audre Lorde
Q: Would you write another book (or are you already writing another book)?
A: I have written a memoir about my time in the tiny house. I also have a collection of ecopoetry that I continue to add to, which I will turn into a book soon. Finally, I am working on a collection of essays about the physical body and the plants and practices that have led to deep healing for myself personally.
Q: Is there an author you look up to, and why?
A: I enjoy the work of Michael Pollan and the ways that he is able to introduce topics to audiences from a place of authentic curiosity and learning.
Robin Wall Kimmerer is also an inspiration for me, as she beautifully weaves together scientific knowledge, indigenous wisdom, and genuine love for the world.
Finally, I loved the book Wild by Cheryl Strayed and take a lot of inspiration from her raw honesty and vulnerability.
Q: If there were an apocalypse and you could only take five books into your doomsday bunker, what would they be?
A: I struggle with these questions. I don’t think that I would choose to be in a bunker for the rest of time, even if I got to bring books.
Learn more about Morgan McShea and her new children's book, Nature, Show Us, here. Coming soon August 25, 2026!