There’s a special kind of heartbreak that comes from deleting thousands of words you’ve poured your soul into. But there’s also a quiet kind of triumph. A freedom. And sometimes—if you’re lucky—a better book is waiting on the other side. I want to talk about what it means to start over and why I decidedContinue reading “Starting Over: What I Learned Scrapping 94 Pages”
Category Archives: Writing journey
Preorder Now Available: Duke Rhime of the Spire
After a long journey through drafts, submissions, and soul-searching, I’m thrilled to announce that Duke Rhime of the Spire is now available for preorder, a Lucardian chronicle of power, sorcery, and sacrifice. This book marks a journey back to the early, darker days of Lucardia, set 310 years before the events of the Absolution ofContinue reading “Preorder Now Available: Duke Rhime of the Spire”
Mapping Lucardia: Three Eras, One Fractured Realm
As Koen: Quills from the Raven’s Nest slowly but surely inches toward publication, Grendel Press requested a map. The fantasy world loves maps, so this was no easy ask. I have many versions of a Lucardia map; the one I sent to Grendell is specifically for Koen, but Lucardia has undergone many changes over theContinue reading “Mapping Lucardia: Three Eras, One Fractured Realm”
The Silence Between Pages: On Loneliness in My Books
I’ve always been comfortable being alone. Not in a performative, monk-on-a-mountain sort of way—but in the quiet, backyard-on-a-summer-evening kind of way. I’m an introvert by nature. Growing up, there were stretches when there were other kids in the neighborhood and stretches when there weren’t. During the quiet times, I turned inward. I imagined stories, builtContinue reading “The Silence Between Pages: On Loneliness in My Books”
What my fictional fathers teach me about my own
I have a great father. The kind of man who showed up—quietly, steadily-the kind you could build a world around. He never raised his hand. He rarely raised his voice. He wasn’t afraid to show his love. I remember my friends envying me for that. Some of them lived in homes ruled by silence or,Continue reading “What my fictional fathers teach me about my own”
Defining my world
Recently, I undertook a major project for my website. I’ve always wanted to produce a glossary for my Lucardian world, primarily for my readers but also for myself. Currently, I have completed eight books set in Lucardia (five published and three yet to be published). On top of that, I have about 25-30 other projectsContinue reading “Defining my world”
Introducing My New Newsletter: A New Chapter Begins
I’m thrilled to announce the launch of my brand-new newsletter — a place where creativity, insight, and connection come together. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to engage with an incredible community of thinkers, creators, and readers. Now, I’m excited to take that conversation to the next level with something more personal and direct.Continue reading “Introducing My New Newsletter: A New Chapter Begins”
How Ruins Shape My Imagination
A few weeks ago, standing amid the remains of the Herculaneum in Naples, I was reminded why ruins have such a hold on my imagination. A decade ago, I visited Pompeii — vast, sprawling, monumental in its decay. Pompeii overwhelms with its scale, but it also distracts with its size. The Herculaneum, smaller and moreContinue reading “How Ruins Shape My Imagination”
Stone by Stone, Word by Word
When I sit down to work on my fiction, the words still come. Maybe not always easily, maybe not always gracefully, but they come. The stories are alive. The characters still whisper. The world still opens its doors to me. There is still so much more I want to say. But when I sit downContinue reading “Stone by Stone, Word by Word”
I Don’t Write Heroes—And Here’s Why
I didn’t set out to avoid heroes. But every time I tried to create one—the kind who stands tall, speaks clearly, and always knows right from wrong—I felt like I was lying. The stories I needed to tell weren’t about saviors. They were about survivors. About what happens after the battle, after the prophecy, afterContinue reading “I Don’t Write Heroes—And Here’s Why”
