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The Love For Truth
PHOENIXA: THE NEST is a story blending history and fantasy and follows a spirited girl growing up in turbulent time in China’s history. Where did the idea behind this novel come from?
I AM PHOENIXA. PHOENIXA: THE NEST is my personal, lived history, and a passionate initiation of dialogue between myself, my grandfather, and my ancestors—whose connection to me was, in essence, cut off by politics and by time. PHOENIXA: THE NEST can be viewed as a bioepic, in which a real-life story is elevated to mythic, historic and moral significance. I was born and raised in Beijing in Mao’s China, and with only a small dose of private education from my family- one that had been essentially torn apart – I was able to somehow survive the very sweet, sugar-coated terror of collectivism and brainwashing. I am eternally grateful to the motherland that has nurtured me. Yet there is something greater than the love for your motherland, that is the love for truth – truth that lies beyond familiar borders and comfort zones.
The idea behind this novel came from my midlife cry for roots. After leaving my job as a CCTV anchor/journalist in the late 1980s, and living an adventurous, self-exiled life in the United States for two decades, I grew increasingly restless, uncertain of who I was, or what—or where—home truly meant. After a willful search for Cheng family history – I stumbled upon my grandfather’s name – one that my father had hidden all his life, one that struck me like lightning: Cheng Zhenjun 程振鈞, a western-educated Chinese pioneer and leader who died on duty in 1932, advancing China’s modernization. In that moment, I trembled, shocked by the magnitude of family drama as well as the voice of history itself—muffled, suppressed, and long silenced. I felt betrayed, lied to by omission. Someone—or something larger—had cut off my roots, my very source of becoming.
I picked up my pen and my camera. What followed was more than a decade of research into the life of my grandfather and the forces that shaped him into a hero and a martyr, I have traversing not only the physical terrain of China, but also the inner fabric of Chinese civilization including Chinese mythology. Here you are, PHOENIXA: THE NEST, the first in PHOENIXA trilogy.
Looking back, I’ve come to realize that I paid a dear price to preserve my naïveté, my idealism, my conscience and, ultimately, my freedom as an individual human being. I am so thrilled today that I am now able to share “the pearl of life “with you – formed over the course of my entire life, but cultivated into shape in the solitude of the three-year COVID lockdown. I feel I have been metamorphosed through creating PHOENIXA and reinventing myself as an author and mythic thinker— and I hope my readers will be too, through reading and listening to this novel ( yes, as an audiobook, too), through pursuing something truly meaningful, something that allows each of us to make a contribution to this troubled yet beautiful world.
What is it that draws you to this period in history?
The dominant narrative throughline centers around PHOENIXA’s life inside CHENG COURTYARD during the onset of the Cultural Revolution in 1966 — echoes of which a careful reader will recognize not only in today’s China but also other parts of the world. It is the violent nature and its insidious chain of indoctrination that I defy, and from which we must break free; PEACE – world peace – must begin with inner peace. But how does one attain inner peace as an individual? Let the ancient wisdom of Chinese sages guide you. The novel detours into, and occasionally references, several sub‑timelines, each designed to illuminate the depth of Chinese culture, history, and philosophy, which runs at the core of Cheng values and education. Some explore the dynasties and the Enlightenment of the early twentieth‑century Republic of China; others drift into the timeless, fantastical realms of the Chinese Phoenix and other magical beings. My hope is to lift the spirits of readers, guiding them to navigate this troubled world. Glide with me, and soar on the wings of a child’s imagination!
What was your writing process to ensure you captured the essence of the characters?
As the Cheng family historian, I have devoted years to meticulous research on my grandfather’s life—his struggles, his achievements—and the tumultuous era he lived in: China at a crossroads in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, transforming from a wounded, fragile imperial dynasty into a young, hopeful, and vigorous Republic. I am fortunate to read both simplified and traditional Chinese, as well as classical Chinese. I have delved deep into the layers of centuries, savoring the flavor and absorbing the nutrients of Chinese antiquity. My research will continue across China, the United States, and soon, Europe, in preparation for the PHOENIXA Trilogy.
Writing, to me, is confessional and a deep act of soul-searching—therefore, an act of courage. You cannot lie; you must lay yourself bare in order to connect with, and perhaps even be rescued by, a higher power—be it your ancestors, a guardian angel, or God.
Can fans of PHOENIXA: THE NEST look forward to a follow-up soon? Where will it take readers?
Yes, I have created my life’s work and brand: PHOENIXA or P.H.O.E.N.I.X.A. Each acronym has its distinct meaning. please discover yours and share with me.
Here is the PHOENIXA Trilogy: THE NEST, THE FLIGHT, and THE RETURN.
From the enchanted childhood and coming-of-age in tumultuous China in PHOENIXA: THE NEST, to the evocative youth odyssey in America in PHOENIXA: THE FLIGHT, and onward to her middle-age return confronting the dark fate of Cheng Courtyard and enacting a Cheng ancestral resurrection, Cheng continues her bioepic fantasy storytelling deeply rooted in her intimate personal adventure and the unflinching history of China.
Author Website
A Mystical Quest for The Cheng Legacy
A novel
by J.J. Cheng
Phoenixa, rising from the ashes of her ancestors, the six-and-half-year-old kite-flying, Phoenix-riding, Chinese girl embarks on a mystical journey into China’s tumultuous past searching for her Renaissance Grandpa who read her Shan Hai Jing, The Lore of Mountains and Seas, seeking cures for human greed.
From the interior of a traditional Beijing courtyard to the tip top of a giant Wu Tong Tree, Phoenixa found her nest being moved from safety to danger. Fortunately, the enduring incandescent Feng Huang, the Phoenix, has kept her amused and protected as a secret guardian from a relentless hidden Red force ready to strip her home bare.
Written in the genre-defining style now called“mystical realism”, Cheng tapped into the subconsciousness and beyond in search of human goodness. Cheng’s debut novel is stunningly visual, fantastical, dreamlike yet achingly real, demystifying China, as it offers a luminous insider’s view on why and how the dragon roared.
Phoenixa: The Nest, A Mystical Quest for the Cheng Legacy, is a story of courage, of hope, of madness, of redemption, of humanity at the brink of self-destruction.
PHOENIXA: THE NEST, A Mystical Quest for the Cheng Legacy
J.J. Cheng’s Phoenixa: The Nest is an enchanting and emotionally rich journey through memory, heritage, and identity. It tells the story of Phoenixa, a spirited girl growing up in Beijing’s Cheng Courtyard during a turbulent time in China’s history. Blending myth with memory, Cheng ties the magical imagery of the Feng Huang, the Chinese phoenix, to the struggles and rebirth of her protagonist’s family. Through vivid storytelling, she bridges centuries of Chinese philosophy and Western narrative grace, crafting a novel that feels part myth, part memoir, and part historical reflection. It’s a lush, multi-layered story about roots, loss, and the unbreakable bond between generations.
Cheng’s writing is lyrical yet grounded, full of color and heart. The dialogue between Phoenixa and her grandfather glows with tenderness and wisdom, while the scenes of the Cultural Revolution sting with fear and sorrow. I found myself caught between awe and ache, drawn by the book’s rhythm like a song I didn’t want to end. Sometimes the prose wandered into philosophy, looping through abstract reflections, but even then, I stayed hooked. It wasn’t just about what happened, it was about what it meant. The ideas of reincarnation, ancestral duty, and peace after turmoil stayed with me long after I closed the last page.
There’s a personal courage in the way Cheng writes. You can feel the author wrestling with memory, with love for a homeland that both nurtured and wounded her. I admired how the author never rushed the emotions. It’s dense at times, poetic in a way that demands patience. But it rewards that patience with quiet beauty and truth. The illustrations throughout the book blend generational joy with cultural myth. The artist uses a loose, sketch-like style that is eye-catching.
I’d recommend Phoenixa: The Nest to readers who love lyrical storytelling and mythic realism. It’s perfect for those drawn to family sagas, Eastern philosophy, or stories that blur the line between dream and reality. If you enjoy books that make you feel something deep and unexpected, this one will stay with you. It’s not just a story about a girl, it’s a story about belonging, transformation, and the quiet magic of remembering who you are.
Pages: 538 | ISBN : 978-1956427059
Let the Story Unfold
Forbidden Runes follows a girl stolen from her royal past and raised in hiding, who grows into a bold young woman using forbidden rune magic to save others, till she is faced with the man she both fears and loves. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My inspiration for this novel was a combination of a couple of TV shows that I was watching at the time, along with a few novels that I was reading or had read. Your review seemed to pick up a couple of those inspirational items, which surprised me. I did not believe that I was successful in adding those elements into the story, but I am happy to see that I did.
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?
I don’t want to give too much away, but the setting came from the thought of what happens to magical places when the magic starts dying out. I set this on a ‘small island’ in this world. The magic is dying, although the characters don’t know it. The thing I love about science fiction and fantasy is that I can make anything happen. I hope the changes that take place in the next book will surprise the readers.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I don’t write like other authors. Most authors begin with an outline, with themes, etc. When I write, I base my story on a character and how that character shows me events unfolding. In this book, I didn’t start with a main theme. I knew I wanted it to be on the love story for Anna and Ben, and I knew I wanted the Rune powers to be prevalent. After that, I let the story unfold as I wrote.
When will Book Two be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
I am working on book two now and hope to have it ready by September 2026 (if my day job doesn’t get too busy). Book Two will bring to light that the magic was slowly dying off and how they can bring it back to life. It will also expand the setting greatly. More information on the Rune powers will be brought to light along with a few new characters.
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Ben has been hoping that one day he will find his missing childhood love. He never dreamed that they would find her smuggling a caster child out of his kingdom. Now his struggle is to get her to remember her past, avoid a marriage to the new princess of the bordering kingdom, solve the blight issue with his crops, and reunite the two kingdoms. Can his love for Anna be enough to solve all these problems?
Beautiful Journey
Reigning Fire tells the story of a princess raised in a world built on Smokeveil magic, rigid hierarchy, and brutal expectations, whose Emberkin arrives too early and in a form that is forbidden. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Reigning Fire grew out of two long-standing fascinations: mythical creatures inspired by East Asian folklore, and the question of what it costs a person to exist in a world that often values conformity over authenticity.
As a late-identified neurodivergent writer, I’ve spent much of my life feeling out of sync with the rhythm everyone else seemed to follow. When I was younger, a head teacher once described me as “a square in a world of circles.” It took years to realize she was right, but also that I wasn’t a square at all. I was a triangle. And ultimately, the problem wasn’t my shape, but the assumption that everyone should be the same.
That realization shaped the world of Reigning Fire more than anything. The Emberkin system—smoke creatures that take the form of real-world animals and bond with Weavers—became a way to explore identity, hierarchy, and the rules we’re told to accept without question. Characters in this world are taught that the timing of the bond and the “acceptable” Emberkin forms dictate their social status. Through that lens, I could examine the tension between who we’re expected to be and who we actually are.
As children, many of us inherit a set of rules about “how the world works.” But as we grow, we start looking closer and asking: Who created these rules? Why do they exist? Who benefits from them?
Xun’s Emberkin arriving too early and in a forbidden form allowed me to explore what happens when someone’s identity refuses to fit the timeline—or the template—that society sets for them. It’s a fantasy world, but the emotional truth beneath it is very real: the quiet, painful, and sometimes beautiful journey of learning to take up space as you are.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Beyond the question of identity, Reigning Fire explores three main themes that felt important for me to write about: historical erasure, loyalty, and the politics of perception.
First, I wanted to examine historical negationism—specifically, how societies can outlaw an aspect of human variation and then gradually erase all record of its existence. In the world of Reigning Fire, certain Emberkin forms are not only forbidden but deliberately removed from documented history and rewritten as “abnormal.” That dynamic mirrors the way real-world institutions sometimes control which narratives are preserved, which are buried, and which are reframed as taboo.
The second theme is loyalty, especially the form that exists between child and parent. I wanted to explore what happens when that bond is used as a tool—when a parent treats a child’s love and devotion not as something to nurture, but as a vessel for achieving their own agenda. It’s a painful tension: the longing to honor the people who raised you, and the slow, shattering realization that they may not always have acted in your best interests.
The third theme centers on power and perception. Throughout human history, the most enduring form of power hasn’t always come from weapons or armies—it has come from whoever controls the narrative. In Reigning Fire, characters constantly navigate a world where truth is malleable and obscure, and those in authority will go to extraordinary lengths to maintain their version of events. I wanted to explore the quiet, insidious ways people manipulate stories, memory, and even “facts” to protect their position.
All three themes—erasure, loyalty, and narrative control—shape the emotional core of the book. Even in a world of magic and mythical creatures, the human consequences of these forces are strikingly real.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
One of my biggest goals with Reigning Fire was to write a story that felt deeply human, even inside a world full of magic, myth, and political danger. To do that, I challenged myself not only to explore the emotional territory I naturally gravitate toward, but also to sit with characters who unsettled me. I would ask them, “Who are you underneath your facade? What drives you? And how exactly did you become this version of yourself?”
Writing from perspectives that diverged sharply from my own was unnerving at times. There were chapters where stepping into another character’s inner world genuinely messed with my head for a while. But those were also the moments I’m proudest of because they made the story richer and more honest.
Another goal was to portray human choices in all their moral complexity. I wanted to move away from clean categories of “good or evil,” “loving or cruel,” and instead explore how intentions, fear, loyalty, and survival instincts collide. In real life, choices rarely fall into neat boxes—even the most well-meaning intentions can sometimes cause harm. One question that guided a lot of my writing was: At what point do good intentions stop being able to justify the consequences they create?
If readers walk away from the book holding more questions than answers, then I’ve achieved what I set out to do. Complex questions aren’t meant to have simple resolutions—but it doesn’t make them any less important to ask.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’m currently working on the sequel to Reigning Fire, which will be released in late 2026. Without giving away any major spoilers, this next book explores how Xun—now going by Ling—ironically grows more in her years as a fugitive than she ever did as a princess. Stepping outside that gilded palace cage gives her the freedom to redefine who she is when no one is scrutinizing her every breath, even when her path is still fraught with danger.
Readers can expect to encounter more mythic Emberkin and new characters, as the world expands far beyond the political and cultural boundaries of the first book. Some familiar faces from Reigning Fire will return, while others may be absent… and I’ll leave it to readers to decide which disappearances should worry them.
One of the core themes of the sequel is reclamation—of identity, of history, and of personal power. That’s all I’ll say for now, but I’m excited for readers to see where the story leads next.
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In a realm where power is sealed through smoke and blood, Yan Xun was born to inherit a crown-or be destroyed by it.
When her Emberkin arrives far too early, and in a form the world has no place for, Xun becomes a danger to the very empire she was meant to serve. As she uncovers long-buried truths and navigates a court built on silence, loyalty, and control, her existence alone threatens to unravel everything.
Set in an ancient Chinese-inspired empire of myth and ash, Reigning Fire is a lyrical fantasy about forbidden power, political unrest, and the ghosts we carry. Through richly layered worldbuilding and emotional depth, this debut novel explores the complexities of trauma, neurodivergence, and what it means to survive when your truth has no place in the world.
Perfect for readers who love introspective characters, slow-burn rebellion, and myth-infused storytelling, Reigning Fire blends co
The Adventure of Writing
The Beast Keepers follows a young veterinarian who takes a job in rural Ohio and discovers that his new patients include mythological creatures hiding in plain sight. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Several years ago, while my flat-coated retriever, Mr. Bingley, and I waited at the holistic vet for a chiropractic adjustment, I studied the poster showing the acupuncture points for dogs. I wondered if animals such as turtles, frogs, snakes, porcupines, etc., had acupuncture points as well.
While the vet worked on Bingley, I asked him whether he learned acupuncture for animals besides dogs, cats, horses, etc. He replied that there were classes for “other” animals. Though I think he probably meant animals such as goats or sheep, there was something about the way he said “other” that caused me to think:
“You meant Gryphons? Centaurs? Fauns?” Showing a modicum of restraint, I did not ask that aloud. I did, however, spend the remainder of the day contemplating how you would treat medical issues in mythological animals. If a Gryphon had a lung infection, would you be treating bird lungs or mammalian lungs? Can centaurs get gout, and if so, how would it manifest? Can unicorns get laminitis?
Thus was born the idea of The Beast Keepers, an adult literary novel with a twist.
I enjoyed the depth of the main character, Jonathan, who is flawed and relatable, making him likable. What was your process to bring that character to life?
The first thing that helped me to get an idea of who Jonathan would be was getting his name right. I tried a lot of different names, especially for his first name, but Jonathan seemed to have the right sound, feel and be appropriate for his age. His last name is particularly dear to me. St. Roch is the patron saint of dogs (St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals, hence Jonathan’s middle name), and a favorite of mine since visiting a church in France where his story was carved into the staircase for the lectern. Being a dog trainer for almost 20 years, it seemed a fitting way to honor the many wonderful dogs and clients I had over the years.
Next, I fleshed out his character. The book Story Genius, by Lisa Cron, was really helpful in that process. I created a backstory and wrote about critical events and people in his life up to where the book started. Knowing him as a full person (with doubts, strengths, fears, longings, etc) helped me to shape his reactions, dialogue, and ultimately how he would respond to the challenges of the people, and events that he encountered.
I had a lot more of his background story in the first draft of the book, but my developmental editor helped me to trim it back so that it was suggested and you could see how it had shaped him, but it didn’t overshadow or interfere with the story being told.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
One important theme is: What is the quality of mercy that we owe our enemies? And, how do we implement that mercy? Other themes include: How do we find balance in our lives? The importance of integrity in our actions and in our relationships, and how does one manage mistakes or difficult situations?
Will this novel be the start of a series, or are you working on a different story?
I have been asked to do a sequel (or a prequel explaining how the mythological animals got there), but I don’t have plans for either at the moment. Right now, I am working on a novel I’ve tentatively titled The Boy Who Danced For The Moon. I was about 2/3 of the way through it when I decided it needed to be revamped, so I am in the process of starting over. I have some parts I can save, but the adventure of writing a book is partly the process of finding your way to the story. Once I have the story, the writing tends to flow.
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The Concept of a Living World
Claw & Ember follows a young rider bound to her saber-tooth black panther companion as she navigates treacherous politics, tangled loyalties, and a power simmering under her skin that could remake the world. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Fantasy has always been a genre that appealed to me. As I grew older – and some, not many, would say wiser – I also noticed that a lot of it was quite naive, typically written for a very child-like audience, with very morally black and white characters and situations that are not very “sticky.” I decided that I wanted to tell this story in a Romantasy genre, where you still get the elements from fantasy, but scaled up for adults. That was the first part. The second part flowed from there. I could’ve written a whole series on Nyra’s time at the Academy and have it as a Harry Potter quasi-clone, but I was more interested in discovering and exploring the world, not has a teen in a school setup, but rather as a young adult discovering that the world is not simple and that outside of the walls of the Academy there are situations and people that are not as clean cut as one might think.
Nyra is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
I wanted a strong female. That was important. Someone who takes no bullshit from anyone. She’s her own person. I also wanted someone who had a very strict – but good – upbringing; someone who knew that hard work and sweat were important, even though the easy path is sometimes easier. I also wanted someone who was not ashamed of herself or her thoughts. Someone who would process them and not necessarily assign a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ epithet to them, but rather “these thoughts are me; they are part of me, let’s see where they go.”
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Uniqueness. Friendship. Desire. Politics. Sexuality. Each by itself and intertwined with the others (especially in the subsequent books). There’s also the concept of a living world. Not everything that’s important happens to – or when – Nyra is there. Some events that change the story happen in the background, even though they have a major impact on Nyra.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Flame & Veil. It is currently on pre-order on Amazon and will launch November 28th, 2025. Then in 2026, we will have Ash & Oath and Crown & Covenant. There are many strings that will lead us to many more stories in this world in the future. We’ve seen this world through the eyes of Nyra from the Felinar Empire which is centered around big cats, but there’s The Voruun around canines, the Glyptan Kingdom around bears and armored Glyptodons, the Keshari Dominion with its woolly mammoths and woolly rhinos, and the Skyborne on their birds, there are other segments as well, mages, nobles, etc. Expect many more stories.
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Riders are made to obey. To patrol the line. To bleed without question.
Nyra’s done her part, bonded to her panther, trained to serve, and hardened to survive.
But when a strange heat stirs beneath her collarbone, it isn’t duty calling. It’s desire, and it answers to Kaedric, the silver-eyed Voruun rider with a voice like a blade and a dire wolf at his side.
One glance, and something ancient wakes.
Forbidden magic. Dangerous hunger. Power that shouldn’t exist in her blood.
If the Towers find out, she’ll be caged… or worse, claimed.
And with war looming, secrets won’t stay buried for long.
For fans of slow-burn tension, shadow-bound magic, and fierce heroines who refuse to kneel. Perfect for readers of Rebecca Yarros, Sarah J. Maas, and Carissa Broadbent. This is your next obsession.
Defenseless Sea Life
The Tralls of Colum follows two siblings from the Tralldom of Colum, who face challenges tied to environmental changes, friendship, courage, and discovery. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was a primary school teacher for many years, and on rainy days, I’d tell my class stories of the tralls and their battles to protect their environment.
I noticed that after a storytelling session, my young audience would become more conscious of their effect on the surroundings and more interested in the local flora and fauna.
So, when I retired from teaching, I decided to publish the stories in the hope of reaching a wider audience
and making more children aware of the ways they could protect their own environments.
What were some ideas that were important for you to personify in your characters?
The Tralls of Colum was written for two of my grandchildren, and the main characters Jai and Emi were fashioned on them. They are often complimented on their co-operation, resourcefulness, perseverance, and tolerance, and I wanted to focus on those characteristics in the hope they would resonate with, and influence, my young readers.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
I live near the coast, so I often see the deleterious effect that plastic waste is having on our beautiful oceans and our defenseless sea life. I wrote The Tralls of Colum to highlight those problems and make our younger citizens aware of the problems that we will face in the future if we don’t act to rid all our waterways of this dangerous material.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
The Trall Series consists of five published books, and each one revolves around a different environmental problem.
The Tralls of Nindarry – displacement of people due to mining.
The Tralls of Mundi – watercourses, aquifers, lakes, and rivers being diverted or polluted due to mining.
The Tralls of Maruchus – the dangerous effects of fracking on the environment.
The Tralls of Colum – the danger our oceans and sea-life face due to plastic waste.
The Tralls of Nosa – the danger faced by native flora and fauna when invasive species are introduced.
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When Emi overhears her grandfather and two of his chars making plans for them to leave their ancestral lands she is devastated but the next morning a huge island of fresh green kelp and thousands of plump jellyfish miraculously appear off-shore, and she quickly realizes this precious gift from Mother Ocean will change everything.
Emi and Jai are determined to collect as much of the unexpected bounty as they can before the sea creatures devour it all but unfortunately, their dugout is overturned by a mysterious creature. Emi is almost drowned and Jai is lost at sea, and sadly, their exploits were in vain because the kelp and jellyfish are not what they seem. They are an unknown substance that is inedible and very dangerous for all living things.
Eventually, the tralls are forced to leave their beloved tralldom and begin their trek south in search of a new home.
Could this signal the end of the Tralldom of Colum?
The Tralls of Colum is the fourth book in The Trall Series – a collection of environmentally-themed portal fantasies that are set in the Sunshine Coast region of Australia. Each book in the series can be read individually but when read in sequence, they introduce the reader to an enchanting world full of unforgettable characters and locations..
The series is suitable for competent middle-grade readers.
Psychoactive-Aided Divination
Darkness and Blight follows a shaman as she claws for survival in a collapsing world of carrion ghouls, fractured tribes, and cruel magic, where every act of endurance blurs the line between humanity and despair. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Defying Expectations and Dragon Pedicures
My goal as a writer is to subvert expectations, a role I may sometimes take too much to heart, occasionally progressing even to the sentence level. Like many readers of fantasy, I grew tired of the medieval European settings, omnipotent gods, brave knights, and damsels in distress. Lydarc may be in almost constant distress, but she’s no damsel, not by a long bow shot, mister!
I also wanted to set the story in my own backyard, the forests of the Siletz Valley, where I hunt and explore. The Valley of the Giants, a real old-growth preserve, formed the idea for the blastforms. Valsetz, at the end of the book, is a real abandoned town in this rugged coastal forest.
But from there reality takes a severe hit. I always wanted to incorporate shamanism in a story. The spirit journey, spirit animals, and psychoactive-aided divination are all a very real part of that ethos. What seems like a crazy dream to us is the natural state in a shamanic worldview. Who’s to say that our reality is the most correct version?
Lydarc’s voice is so distinct. How did you develop her perspective without softening the harshness of her world?
To me, Lydarc epitomizes the human experience. Through the endless pain and struggle, all she really desires is someone who cares about her, a home, and maybe a tiny measure of peace in the end. It’s no grand victory. Life is not guaranteed to be easy or even rewarding. It just is. Deal with it.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Strength through adversity and over time. The incredible—and sometimes neglected—value of found family. The evolution of romantic love into something even truer. The deep-seated desire for dragons everywhere to just make it to their pedicures on time.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Originally, I intended for Darkness and Blight to be a standalone novel. How can anyone write fifteen sequels? Then a thought kept nagging at me: what if Achus, the head witch from hell, actually survived and followed Lydarc and her companions back to the human realm? The second book—the working title is The Drunken Corpse—is currently writing itself and should be available in early 2026.
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In the broken wastes of post-apocalyptic Oregon, reality has split into three realms: the scarred human world, the damned underlands, and the Overs—godlike beings hungry to invade.
Lydarc, pierced with a cursed shard of an Over, suffers endless pain, berserker rages, and visions of a blood-soaked future. When her tribe is slaughtered and their souls trapped in the underlands, she leads a desperate band into hell itself—through battles with mythical monsters, betrayal, and a hellgate that demands death as the price of entry.
Among her allies are a cryptic mentor, a spirit-bound apprentice, a dragon who hoards books instead of gold, and an ex-lover begging her to save his lost daughter. But one of them hides a devastating lie. And awakening the shamanic power inside her could destroy what’s left of humanity.
Darkness and Blight is a brutal grimdark fantasy odyssey where myth collides with quantum horror, and one fractured soul must face traitors, monsters, and her own guilt to save her people—or shatter the last remnants of reality.
LITERARY TITAN 