About the Author
At twelve years old, Zoey Saunders never expected a summer camp afternoon to change everything. Sitting by the lake, she hesitated as a cabinmate encouraged her to write again. Watching the water lap gently against the shore, an idea came to her — people who could control water. That was what her story should be about.
That spark became By the Dolphins, born on July 16, 2023. What started as one small story quickly grew into a fantasy world she never imagined would turn into a full series.
A lifelong homeschooler and now a high school sophomore, Zoey has loved storytelling for as long as she can remember. Her first story — about two best friends named Kylie and Riley — wasn’t exactly a masterpiece, but it was hers. And that was enough to set her on this path.
For a while, dance became her main focus, filling nearly every hour of her day. Writing faded into the background, especially after moving from California back to Texas. But years later, after another move — this time to the Northeast — she rediscovered her love for words. Since then, she’s been building the world of Thaumaturgy, one story at a time.
When she’s not writing (or doing homework), Zoey can often be found drawing — usually for her novels. There’s a theme there: her stories are her world. A place where she can escape from chores, stress, or the people who have ever made her feel small.
Though she’s never attended a traditional school, Zoey has found community through her swim team — her favorite sport and second home. She’s proud of her accomplishments in the pool, including one solo team record and another shared in a rare three-way tie, something that’s never happened before in her team’s history. Each year, she travels to North Carolina to compete in her team’s biggest meet, an honor earned by only a few swimmers.
Her closest friends are her teammates — the ones who’ve encouraged her to stand tall, speak up, and defend others when needed. They’ve helped her grow into the confident, determined young woman she is today.
And in case you’re wondering: no, Zoey doesn’t have social media — and she’s proud of it. Maybe one day she’ll get it to share pictures of her future kids with family and friends… or maybe she’ll just keep ghosting everyone. Messages are a thing, after all.
In the end, By the Dolphins wouldn’t exist without the people, places, and challenges that shaped her. Every word she writes carries a little piece of her heart — and that’s what makes her proud to call herself the creator of the Thaumaturgy series.