Ras Berry is a freelance writer born and raised in Maryland.  From the beginning, she enjoyed reading and, was very imaginative.  English quickly became her favorite subject, and she began reading stories at higher levels.    Her joy was taking what she read in school, and retelling it to members of her family.  Growing up, she found writing to be a fonder passion than reading.  She started writing short stories and poetry.   With an eclectic taste, she became interested in various subjects and genres, but her favorite has always been  fantasy.  As a young, black writer, she appreciated other authors' desire to write about what they knew but, decided instead, to write about what many had not thought of. After much insistence from her friends, Ras began working on her first novel.   With its completion, she began to think seriously about publishing.  Unable to bear the thought not only rejection of her work, but the possibility of having it chopped up, she felt her only real option was to self publish.  With her friend, she started Touche Publishing, in the hopes of giving authors the same freedom of expression, along with the opportunity to see their dreams become a reality.