Conversations with Natalie Rantala-Strach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Rantala-Strach

Hi Natalie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My siblings and I come from a family full of artists, so we were blessed with being incredibly creative from the beginning. We could draw, paint, write, design, build, etc. I started writing non-stop in middle school and went on to self-publish a horror story in high school called The Harvest Moon Creature of Lake Waynoka. I started a long distance relationship with my now husband, Skyler, who is an amazing story teller. We started writing and crafting stories together over the years. He is still conjuring these gripping stories and converting them into thrilling adventures and lore in Dungeons and Dragons as the Dungeon Master.
From there I went to Grand Valley State University to pursue writing, and that’s where I discovered my talent for design and editing. While going to school I worked at a Panera Bread where I met one of my best friends, Joshua Martin. He is an incredible writer and story teller, and I’m so happy that he asked me design a book cover for him years ago. While reading and designing the book cover for Violent Skies Volume 1, I begged him to let me edit it. Since then, I’ve edited Violent Skies Volume 2, The Silent Screams Eternal, The Beloved, Luck and Default and helped design covers for The Silent Screams Eternal and City of Secrets, all works done by Joshua Martin. I also did all of this while working a full time job. Now, I am currently editing a book written by my mother-in-law, Michelle Miller called My Schizophrenic Mother recounting her childhood growing up with a mother struggling with mental health.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Unfortunately for Joshua Martin, some of the editing projects got delayed, because I was struggling with my mental health due to a work from home job. After struggling with finances and finally deciding to leave the job that just wore me down, my husband and I moved to Traverse City where we both work at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Along with editing and design, I love to crochet! I have a small Etsy shop where I sell gaming related crochet items like play mats for Magic the Gathering and dragon scale dice bags. (My husband and I are very into Magic the Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons, and gaming in general.) Crochet is my therapy and I love to step away from patterns and make up my own things. I recently crocheted my wedding dress, and I absolutely loved making it and wearing it. Of course, it didn’t turn out the way that I had envisioned and started over many many times, but that’s okay. I am currently working on little pink baby outfits for our first baby on the way!

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I don’t know if I could pick just one! My family built a cabin in the middle of the woods outside of Traverse City, and we would spend the majority of the summer there. We built a huge treehouse on the property and would explore beaches and lakes. I loved to sit in the treehouse and write or paint on the walls. Sometimes while the family fished I would find a secluded spot along the river to focus on writing. The cabin and Northern Michigan is my happy place and now my husband, Skyler and I both live in the Traverse City area.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nat.lynn.1/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-rantala-strach-b11675161/
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrochetBunnet?ref=profile_header&fbclid=IwY2xjawJBLjNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHcWqGRhHWhirR-no32pzi0987BHabenDIrBVtewPGprT7ijrjm2aS__vXg_aem_D2F7RZ5RWu8MU2a64ImuSQ