C.M. O'Brien
Head Writer / Editor
She / They

Welcome to my world.

From the earliest years of my life, one thing has been undeniably clear: I spend more time in the worlds inside my head than I do in this one. Summers spent sailing away on pirate ships to dark, forbidding jungles, or fighting to protect my kingdom from armies of ogres and giants—all within the confines of my own backyard. Nights spent staring out my window at a dark blue sky, scattered with stars, wondering what was waiting for me over the horizon.

Eventually I learned how to put this particular personality trait of mine to good use, wielding nothing more than ink and paper in order to bring those worlds inside of my head to the outside, where they could breathe.

Nocturnal Mind is merely a small slice of my inner world, but it is a slice that I am willing to share—not only as a writer, but as an entrepreneur taking their first shaky steps into the “business” of living creatively. My hope is that we can all learn and grow together as I explore my art and delve deeper into the significance of stories and the many ways we tell them…while navigating all the plot-holes and twists in-between.

Publications / Awards / Events
  • “Meet the Author and Illustrator,” Lassen County Fine Arts Festival: February, 2025

  • “Do Bats Eat Spaghetti?” Nocturnal Mind: July, 2024 (as Caley O’Brien)

  • Interview, CanvasRebel Magazine: June, 2024

  • Interview, Bold Journey Magazine: February, 2024

  • “The Wishtalker,” Nocturnal Mind: September, 2023

  • “Don’t Bully Buster,” Nocturnal Mind: May, 2023 (as Caley O’Brien)

  • Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies, Creative Entrepreneurship – Southern Oregon University, June 2021
  • “From the Latin, Paganus,” The Spirit it Travels: July, 2019

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts, Creative Writing – Southern Oregon University, June 2018
  • Drunken Gods: May, 2016
  • “Taijitu,” Closely Lit Magazine: December, 2015

  • “Last Wave,” The Yellow Chair Review: October, 2015

  • Honorable Mention, Jack London Foundation Writing Contest: May, 2010