Cadence follows an aging mercenary who, in an attempt to regain the power of his youth, binds himself through a tattoo to a deity with supernatural abilities that could either help him or kill him. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The story was inspired by a piece of fantasy art by Boris Vallejo, which showed a tattoo coming to life and biting into the muscular arm of its wearer. It was the basis for an idea which aimed to create conflict and tension between a maligned tattoo entity and the aging mercenary who had seen the inking as a necessity. I wanted Darius to be relatable and if not lovable, at least likable. To achieve this he had to be more than a one-dimensional killer, and his personality took elements from military/mercenary/criminal characters, blended with a hint of chivalry.

I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?

This setting aimed to steer away from the gleaming steel and wonderous technology of traditional sci-fi, while allowing room for the fantasy elements to shine through. Darius needed to move around in a world that was just as chaotic and brutal as his personality. Thankfully, there are elements in modern life and society that make this future plausible. I could also take some inspiration from dystopian futures, but without them being post-apocalyptic. The setting continued to develop as new characters emerged as it needed to be a believable catalyst for the outlooks and personalities that the characters took on. If nothing else, I wanted readers to be able to see how the maligned and twisted character personalities may have evolved as products of their environment.

What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?

Perhaps the most interesting point in human behaviour and conditioning is our individuality and the chaotic nature of our personal development. Close friends or siblings with similar interests and abilities can perceive events in very different ways and that can cause vastly different reactions on their beliefs or future expectations. That diversity of thought and behaviour opens an endless array of opportunities to build complex and believable personalities. Those differences in reactions and personality impacts can resonate with something in all of us.

Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?

Cadence is the first book of the Pathways series and felt like the perfect place to start the story of Darius Cade. The early concepts for the second book are already being explored, with the aim of delving deeper into Lisha’s murky past. She isn’t the only one of her kind, but we need to know more about how she has come about and the deeper purpose behind the tainting of the tattoos. In doing so, Darius will be forced to confront his dark past and excise some of his own internal demons… and enemies. If time allows, I hope to have the second book, Gait, released late in 2025.

Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon