RAPID CITY, S.D. – Monarch Books and Boutique is providing opportunities for Black Hills writers to connect with readers and share their stories with the community. On Saturday afternoon, local author Colleen Bsharah signed copies of her books at the Rapid City storefront.

By day, Bsharah works with students exploring careers in healthcare. Outside of work, she channels her creativity into writing fantasy fiction. Bsharah’s writing journey began with “The Door in the Closet,” a novel inspired by stories she told her younger sister while they were growing up.

After publishing her first book, she turned to her favorite genre, fantasy fiction, and began writing “The Ares Archives” trilogy. The series follows Mia Ares, a young woman who discovers a mythological treasure that awakens an ancient evil. As darkness spreads across the realm, Mia finds herself in a battle to save her world.

A busy mother of two, Bsharah finds joy in creating fictional worlds and has been thrilled to discover readers who connect with her work. With four books already published, she has no plans to stop writing. She is currently working on a new fantasy series and hopes to publish the first book in fall 2026.

Monarch Books and Boutique currently carries books by local authors, including “The Ares Archives” trilogy, at its Downtown Rapid City location at 631 Main St.