Darien Shockra & The Bermuda Triangle follows three friends living in Bermuda who are unaware of their destiny to become the protectors of the universe till their 21st birthday when their unique abilities emerge. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

One of the main inspirations for writing this story was living through a near-death experience when my appendix burst in 2011. I left it for 4 days before going to the hospital, which was a silly thing to do. Once I recovered and was well enough to leave the hospital, I was inspired to write a book, which I wanted to do for a long time.

I decided that while I was not working and in further recovery I would start to write a book that consisted of a cross between fiction and personal experiences that I wanted to share in a relatable way. My mother passed away from cancer when I was 21 years old, so I felt this was an age where I had to grow as a person in many aspects of my life. It was a time where I transitioned as a person to find my own unique abilities which emerged as I learned more about myself and my capabilities.

My near-death health ordeal occurred just after the final release of the last Harry Potter film. At the time, I was a senior support worker for mental health and special needs clients. One of those clients with Downs Syndrome was a huge Harry Potter fan, and I would take him to the cinema to watch all of the Harry Potter series. In turn, I appreciated J.K. Rowling’s creation, and the three friends were inspired by her concept.

After writing several chapters, and life “getting in the way,” I parked the book idea intending to return to it at some point. Then in 2020, I wanted to revisit the book and continue with the journey. I remembered that the reason I became a huge fan of fiction/fantasy/urban fantasy was due to my dear high school friend, Stefan, who introduced me to Dragonlance: The Chronicles, by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. I was hooked! I knew that Stefan also wrote, both of us mostly writing lyrics for songs and poetry, amongst others, but I felt that if we collaborated this story could go in a direction that was much greater than doing it alone. I am so glad that Stefan accepted because we have rekindled our age-long relationship and have been able to do what we love while sharing it with the world.

When Darien, Ecio, and Serenity wake up on their 21st birthday, they find out they are not who they thought they were, and they are destined to save the universe. What were the driving ideals behind the characters’ development throughout the story?

I think there is something amazing about being surprised when you receive a gift that is unexpected and special and that brings you a sense of purpose. I know that I would never be able to “save the universe,” however, writing to create characters that may do just that offers Stefan and me a sense of hope.

In fantasy novels, it’s easy to get carried away with the magical powers characters have. How did you balance the use of supernatural powers?

Although we have briefly touched on the supernatural powers of each character, we wanted to start off slowly by having our readers ease into

Can you tell us more about what’s in store for the three friends and the direction of the second book?

We can definitely let you know that we are building momentum so that part 2 maintains a compelling storyline with the introduction of some new characters that add to the journey.

It will not be easy for Darien, Ecio, and Serenity. In our story, we look to bake in life experiences that people can relate to or learn from. This will hold true for the three friends and the other supporting characters.

Without giving too much away, the three friends still need to understand and learn about their newfound powers, along with understanding themselves. They also need to learn how to work together as one collective. Each character is a unique individual with their own strengths and weaknesses, which will become apparent in part 2.

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