Blog Archives
Invisible Tragedy
Driven follows a woman recovering from the brink of madness who discovers a man is searching for unammi survivors to experiment on, and humans are being kidnapped, leaving her determined to find a way to save them all. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Our own world is beset with social issues. I wanted to take these two—slavery and medical experimentation on living beings (humans and animals)—and kind of push them into the reader’s face, so that they couldn’t be ignored. Slavery, also known as “human trafficking” or “sex trafficking,” takes place every day, but for those of us who are insulated in privilege, it’s an invisible tragedy and easy to overlook.
It’s the same with the experimentation; though that’s a bit harder to see in contemporary civilization, it’s definitely there, hidden behind closed doors and shuttered windows. Because we don’t see these problems, it’s easy to pretend they don’t exist.
There are many ways to fight these issues, not all of which are as bold as Alira’s choices. But here’s the thing: if we don’t face them with unflinching outrage, they will never stop.
Regardless of the methods we choose with which to fight, no one person can solve all these problems. Not alone. Yet even though one person can’t save everyone, they can help a few. And that can start a larger movement.
Alira is that person, the one who saves those she can reach. She’s already gone through so much; she is the unflinching (okay, she does flinch on occasion, but it doesn’t stop her from moving forward) individual who says, “If not me, then who?”
Alira is a fascinating character. What scene was the most interesting to write for that character?
That’s a tough choice. Alira’s whole character arc is so tightly woven that choosing a single scene as “most interesting” is like trying to choose a single favorite thread in a completed tapestry. And Alira has her peak moments in each book in this trilogy.
For Driven, I lean toward one of Alira’s “rescue” scenes—either of Bika (which has two parts, the rescue and the aftermath), the ikanne harvesters, or the brothel slaves. Each of those times gave Alira’s spur-of-the-moment creative problem-solving skills room to shine.
I find that authors sometimes ask themselves questions and let their characters answer them. Do you think this is true for your characters?
Definitely. Sometimes, their answers surprise me.
But at least one major focus of my writing is to ask big questions, sometimes even the ones we don’t want to face. I think The Founder’s Seed trilogy manages to do that. I feel like Alira’s answers to those questions came from a courageous heart and a strong spirit.
Where do you see your characters after the book ends?
Oh, their story continues in the coming follow-up trilogy, tentatively titled Nexus. That trilogy will be told through the eyes of non-POV characters that were introduced in The Founder’s Seed, but Alira, Botha, and Galen/Thrace will all be there. We see the start of that at the end of Driven, in the new secret colony Alira and Kilbee have established.
Stay tuned.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | BlueSky | Website | Niveym Arts | Amazon
On Danua, acting Clan Admiral Knøfa experiments on his unammi prisoner. Except the squib isn’t healing any longer, and the medics aren’t working fast enough to save her. Knøfa starts searching for another unammi—maybe a male this time, so he can create all the test subjects he wants.
Stopping the Cartel is enough to keep Alira’s hands full. She doesn’t want to fight the Clan, too. Yet, when she learns Knøfa is searching for the unammi survivors, she races to warn them. As Knøfa’s ship approaches them on Earth, the council tries to force it to leave. But Alira knows that if the humans escape, the unammi are doomed. Knøfa’s “experiments” will escalate, and other humans will follow his example. To protect her people’s secrets, she must stop that ship. Her only hope is to attempt something no Founder’s Daughter has ever done.
A Broader Canvas
Broken centers around a shapeshifter plagued by the chaos of living as a human and enduring her own lost sense of self. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I have to admit that my own experience has partly led to Alira’s story. While I don’t have dozens of voices in my head (other than the characters in my stories, that is), I always felt like an outsider among those around me. It took me many years to find my tribe, and to reach a place in my life where I felt I could be myself and not struggle to fit in.
I’ve known many others like this, and it’s hard. For all of us. Struggling to be the kind of person you think others expect of you can be soul-draining. That’s what started Alira’s tale for me. From there, it took off on its own.
What is it that draws you to the science fiction genre?
I like science fiction because it allows me to stretch reality in ways that drive home the point of the story. I feel like The Founder’s Seed books could also be called science fantasy, since there are elements of it (the harvesting of souls, for one) that can’t be supported by science. But these genres expand the boundaries of what is possible or probable, and allow the reader a greater leeway for suspension of disbelief.
My stories usually ask big questions; so far, science fiction and science fantasy have both offered a broader canvas for that work.
Do you have a favorite character in The Founder’s Seed series? One that his especially enjoyable to craft?
Of course, Alira is my favorite. She’s me in so many ways that count. She’s definitely the hardest to write, but also the most rewarding.
A very close second favorite is Botha; he’s a joy to write! Putting myself in his head, so that I can write him with authenticity, is always fun!
Where will the next book in the series take readers? When can we expect to see it released?
The next book, Driven, picks up where Broken left off; it gives a closer—and thoroughly raw—look at the new antagonist, Knøfa; follows Alira’s journey through her time with Botha, and what comes after (no spoilers!); settles Thrace/Galen in her/his role; and sets the threads for the follow-up trilogy that is already in the works.
Driven was released in late June and is now available for readers.
Author Links: GoodReads | BlueSky | Facebook | Website | Amazon
To make matters worse, the harvests of knowledge and memories she’s gathered from the dead aren’t adequate to fully understand her assumed role—unless she surrenders control to the one internal voice she thinks can make things right. But that harvest isn’t willing to share the space in her head, and soon Alira is no longer sure which voice is his, and which is her own.
Galen has vowed to help Alira succeed and follows her increasingly unbalanced directives, until he realizes that her harvests have corrupted her conscience, maybe even her sanity. Galen has never been a leader. But as the crisis screams toward them, he must make a choice: abandon their people to save Alira or sacrifice her to save them all.
Driven: The Founder’s Seed Book 3
Driven is the third installment in The Founder’s Seed series, continuing the riveting saga with even higher stakes and deeper revelations. The book pulls you straight into a galaxy alive with politics, betrayal, and fragile alliances. Admirals, traders, and hidden survivors of a nearly lost people clash in a world where loyalty is currency and compassion is weakness. At the heart of it all are Alira, still wrestling with her fractured self, Botha with his quiet wisdom, and Thrace carrying the burden of leadership under constant threat. The novel moves between brutal experimentation on the mysterious Iridosians, tense negotiations among rival factions, and deeply personal struggles for survival. It is a story of ambition, cruelty, resilience, and the thin thread of hope that refuses to snap.
Reading this book stirred a mix of awe and discomfort in me. The clinical coldness of Knøfa’s experiments made my stomach twist, yet I couldn’t look away. The writing is vivid, even when it’s painful, and that’s part of its power. I found myself admiring the author’s willingness to go dark, to show how curiosity can turn into obsession, and how power can warp good intentions. At the same time, the quieter moments between Alira and Botha gave me room to breathe, to feel the warmth of trust slowly taking root in frozen soil. Their scenes lingered with me, like a candlelight after the storm.
There are a lot of moving parts here. Political factions, shifting alliances, plots within plots, and it took me a while to sort through them all. But once I settled in, I found myself hooked. The author doesn’t coddle the reader. She trusts us to keep up, and I respect that. What I loved most was the emotional honesty tucked between the battles and schemes. Fear, hope, guilt, tenderness, it all feels raw and real, even in the middle of starships and alien physiology.
Driven left me both unsettled and uplifted. It’s a rewarding read. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy science fiction with grit and heart, to those who don’t shy away from moral grayness, and to anyone who loves stories that ask what survival truly costs. If you like your space operas full of high stakes but also deeply human at the core, this book will leave a mark.
Broken: The Founder’s Seed Book 2
When I opened Broken, I was immediately pulled into a world brimming with tension, betrayal, and the complicated weight of carrying other people’s lives inside your own head. Drema Deòraich’s story follows Alira, Galen, and Thrace as they navigate shifting identities, political intrigue, and the brutal cost of survival among human and unammi factions. The author builds a layered tale of power struggles, loyalty, and moral compromise, where every choice feels like a thread tugging at the larger web. The book is about what it means to stay whole when you are forced to fracture yourself for the sake of others.
The writing has a pace that rarely lets up, and the dialogue carries a sharpness that feels lived-in. The shifting perspectives, the sudden bursts of violence, and the moments of quiet reflection all come together to create a rhythm that feels alive. At times, the narrative voices inside Alira’s head became almost overwhelming to read, but I realized that was the point. It mirrored her chaos, her crowded sense of self. I found myself admiring how boldly Deòraich leaned into that confusion, refusing to make it easy for the reader, because life inside a fractured mind is never easy.
Beyond the writing, I was moved by the book’s ideas. Questions about identity, about whether survival justifies the blood on your hands, and about how much of yourself you can give away before there’s nothing left. I was thinking about these ideas for a long time afterwards. I felt both sorrow and admiration for Alira. Her choices often frustrated me, yet I couldn’t help but ache for her struggle. The themes of slavery and exploitation, woven into the politics of the factions, hit me hard. They were ugly and uncomfortable, and that’s exactly why they mattered. Deòraich didn’t flinch from showing cruelty, and in that honesty, the book had teeth.
Reading Broken reminded me of Frank Herbert’s Dune in the way it blends political intrigue with questions of identity and survival, but it feels more intimate and raw, pulling me closer to the characters’ inner battles. I’d recommend Broken to readers who love science fiction that challenges them. If you like tales that balance heart with grit, that mix character-driven drama with political maneuvering, this book is more than worth your time.
Pages: 420 | ASIN : B0DLTLQMQP
Family Dynamics
Toriko Tales: Toriko vs. The Crowned Paw follows a brilliant and eccentric catgirl engineer as she tests her groundbreaking AI-powered battle armor, who ends up in an emotional and ethical conflict when the AI goes rogue. There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
The main characters—Toriko, Spark, Maro, Ujaku, Minea, Mini-T, Allia, and Ichini—originate from my main D’mok Revival series. They’ve long been among my favorites, so I was thrilled to dedicate an entire book (and side-series) to them. Even though I’ve “known” them for years, each revealed personal depths I hadn’t expected. As a mostly dedicated “pantser” in my writing approach, authenticity and consistency are the two most important factors for me. Beyond the usual character interviews I conduct to understand them, I also wrote numerous short pieces exploring their homeworlds, histories, families, and formative events—so I could portray how each character’s actions and choices would naturally unfold.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I’ve been evolving my writing from simply telling an entertaining story to sharing a perspective and sparking conversations. My background—both in formal education and a career focused on crafting technologies and driving innovation—has taken me to the edges of AI research. I’ve seen firsthand how our culture is responding to it, and I have both possibilities and warnings I want to share.
In Toriko Tales, those ideas found the perfect home. The characters, the moment in time within the D’mok literary universe, and the events unfolding in our real world all came together to make this the right story at the right time.
Beyond technology, there are many all-too-human themes: deep roots in family dynamics, sibling rivalry, and hidden secrets coming to light. These elements ground the high-tech story and offer readers something relatable amidst the adventure.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
This book is part of a much larger story arc within the D’mok Revival literary universe. It really showcases who Toriko and her family are, and helps shape the impact they’ll have in the future. Originally, I didn’t think there would be more—but this isn’t the first time an initial impression turned out to be wrong.
Based on how the story ends (no spoilers!), there are so many threads that could continue Toriko Tales—alongside the ongoing D’mok Revival series. I’m all about giving readers what they want, so I can’t wait to hear which topics and issues they’d love to see explored in a future Toriko Tales adventure.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Toriko Tales | Amazon
Man Against the Universe
The Call of Abaddon follows a gifted young scavenger on a crumbling, post-apocalyptic Earth who is attacked by an ancient alien obelisk, triggering a surge in his dormant psychic abilities. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Thanks for the interview and for the thoughtful questions. The genesis of The Call of Abaddon goes back many years, through countless drafts and title changes.
The initial spark was Jason himself. I had a dream when I was younger about a guy (someone like me) using the power of his mind to fight something dark and terrifying. Obvious inspirations would be Luke Skywalker, Neo, Beowulf, and others. That darkness took many forms as the story evolved—from extradimensional demons (like in Doom or Warhammer) to biological zombie plagues—but eventually coalesced into the Abaddon Beacon obelisk. I did get my “zombie plague” in the form of the Nanophage, but it’s far more complex than a simple virus and will continue to (literally) evolve in future books, as Abaddon seeks revenge for Jason’s unexpected, hail-Mary-level victory at the end of Book 1.
The rest of the cast and world grew over years of development, both visually and on the page. In other interviews, I’ve mentioned some external inspirations—like a friend who started writing and a student teacher who gave me a massive sci-fi reading list in eighth grade—but the true origin of the story was always Jason. He began life as a bit of a power fantasy for me, but over time, Jason matured into something far more complex and mythic. Honestly, I think all my characters grew up as I did, which is why I’m glad I waited this long to publish. Great works take time to cook, and this one was no exception.
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?
The setting changed a lot over time. Colossus Station, the orbital habitat referenced in Book 1 a few times, was originally supposed to be the primary setting. But as the lore and backstory deepened, I ended up pushing the journey to Colossus to future books. It’s kind of like going to Arrakis, stepping outside the Shire, or Odysseus leaving Troy—it marks the real beginning of the larger saga. That said, Book 1 is not a prologue or filler. New Toronto ended up becoming a much richer part of the story than I had expected, so the journey to Colossus had to wait.
Even New Toronto wasn’t originally envisioned as a sealed arcology. That came later, as the lore of the Confederacy and the Great War took shape. The idea of a dying Earth, ravaged by ecological collapse, ended up setting the perfect tone for readers—something like, “This world is old, broken, and a lot has happened here already… but you have no idea what horrors are coming next.”
Like any great SFF setting, the world grew, snowballed, got chopped down, and rebuilt several times. But once all the threads were tied together, it felt real. I think that’s what early readers and reviewers are responding to, regarding the setting in particular.
A lot of fictional worlds in SFF feel designed purely to serve the stories within them. A horror world, for instance, where things conveniently go wrong a little too easily. But I think that world of Abaddon strikes a stronger balance—it feels like it would still exist even if these characters weren’t in it. The events are wild, sure, but the world around them remains grounded. That’s something I worked hard to achieve.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
In other interviews, I’ve talked about the themes of memory, identity, and mental health—all of which are central to the book. Tyranny, environmentalism, freedom—those are in there too. But the core theme, the one that threads through everything, is the power of the creative human soul—and how that power transcends anything external.
The Abaddon Beacon hijacks human society, addicting us to its nanotech like a drug. But none of that comes from our own ingenuity—it replaces it. The real question becomes: what happens when someone has all that taken away? No nanotech, no psychic powers. Just a man against the universe and its horrors. What does he do?
In Jason’s case, he channels something deeper—something that lets him subvert Abaddon’s godlike influence and strike a blow that no one else has. But the question remains: is the power he wields a twisted form of what the obelisk gave him, or is it something else entirely? Only future books will reveal the truth.
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it heading in the future?
Great segue from the last question! As mentioned, future books will feature Colossus Station much more heavily. I won’t say how or why just yet—but the reason will probably shock readers.
The series is fully planned. Not down to line-by-line detail, but all the major arcs, twists, and character beats are mapped out—including the ending. Some things might shift along the way, but the key points are locked in. Readers are in for a saga with all the expected twists of epic sci-fi—but also some deeply personal character twists that I don’t think anyone will see coming.
Now that the world, characters, and conflict are in motion, readers get to grow with them, just like I did. I may be the creator, but I’m also part of the audience now, cheering them on… and hoping they all survive the hell I’m about to unleash.
Author Links: Goodreads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
New Toronto is a fractured city-arcology on a dying Earth, where hope is as scarce as clean air. For Jason, survival means scavenging the ruins beneath the city – where any day could be his last.
But everything changes when an ancient alien obelisk – the ABADDON BEACON – attacks Jason’s mind from afar, making his dormant psychic abilities spiral out of control. After barely surviving Abaddon’s psionic possession attempt, Jason and his companions are left with no choice but to find the obelisk before it consumes him.
Problem is, Abaddon has been sealed within a top-secret United Earth Federation research lab for over a century, silently worming its alien technologies into human society, presented as gifts with a far darker purpose. The Beacon doesn’t just speak; it infects, projecting its viral energies far beyond the walls of the lab.
And Jason isn’t the only one hearing Abaddon’s call. Across the Solar System, a ruthless Emperor will stop at nothing to seize the Beacon’s power for himself.
As the Imperial invasion of Earth looms, Jason’s quest to confront Abaddon will force him into a critical choice: master the strange power growing inside him … or succumb to the
Beacon’s godlike influence, ushering in mankind’s doom.
The Call of Abaddon is a gripping mythological tale of humanity’s struggle to overcome an unimaginable darkness, blending the political intrigue of Dune with the eldritch terror of Lovecraft, and the explosive world-building of The Expanse.
A Magical and Vast Universe
Beast of Phe’lak follows a woman trapped on an alien planet, under the control of a powerful beast who spots a delegation on the beach that triggers century-old memories, and a chance to regain her freedom. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration began in Queen of Highwings, the first book in my Chronicles of Phe’lak Trilogy—of which Beast is the third book. Phe’laki General George muses about the beast with regard to the palace’s understructure, which once served as another dragon’s lair. He thinks that the underpass was sealed to prevent attracting the Beast of Phe’lak to such a luxurious dwelling because, unlike the original resident, the Dragon of Yand, the beast is not benevolent. I received many questions, including: ‘What happened to the beast?’ and ‘Is it related to the beloved Yandar dragon?’ The character Hele’ne lived in my head for a long time. I always knew who she was and how she ended up on the alien planet. I naturally wove her in.
Hele’ne is a fascinating character. What scene was the most interesting to write for that character?
I must say, I love all her scenes. My top favorites include her introduction scene, her interaction with the beast and then with Wolfpack at the beginning of the story. I also love her exchanges with Rel and Drace, as well as her final scene in the last chapter. This last scene is very powerful.
For readers who have not yet read the rest of the Worldmaker® series, what do you want them to know about the world you have created?
It is a magical and vast universe, spanning galaxies and constellations. Each new world—whether a star system, planet, or moon—comes to life in vivid detail. The people who populate these worlds, whether they are queens and kings, scientists, military archers, or regular people, are just as authentic and lifelike. There are four humanoid species introduced so far: the empathic, winged Yandar; their slightly smaller telepathic cousins, the non-winged Yendai; the benevolent, non-meta giants known as the Phe’laki; and the malevolent K’tul. The main characters are complex and richly developed, and their extensive dialogues throughout the stories enhances the immersive quality. The illustrations are glorious. If you purchase the PDF, please read in full-screen, two-page format to get the full benefit of the artwork.
The primary genre is Sci-Fi/Fantasy, but with elements of the paranormal, a touch of horror, and unconventional romance, always with a hint of humor. LGBTQ+ and polyamorous marriages are part of the norm alongside exclusive and binary ones.
The storylines follow the saga of Worldmaker Yanara’s family, whose children have evocative names: Snowfox, Hawklord, Asimia, Dragonlord, Wolfpack, Sunstorm. Can you guess the kings among them? The Worldmaker and Dragoon? The Pathfinder?
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?
I received requests to write more about the Dragon of Yand and his wife, Yira, and also of Drace and his husband, Rel. I can’t stop writing about these two. I could serialize their adventures. However, I meant to write the third trilogy in my series, the one that brings the war to the K’tul homeworld. We’ll see. For the next couple of months, I’ll be taking a breather and focusing on earning a few accolades for Beast to adorn its cover, just like my other books. It has already received a few awards, the most prominent among them being the No. 1 Book/Manuscript on Coverfly’s Red List this month (out of 57,000 scripts).
Author Links: Website | X | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok
Beast of Phe’lak
This book throws you headfirst into a world of magic, pain, and tangled emotions. Hele’ne has spent centuries trapped on an alien planet, isolated and broken, under the control of a powerful beast who both saved her life and stole her freedom. When a group of new arrivals shows up on the beach near her prison, something stirs—faint memories, a flicker of purpose, a chance at freedom. What follows is a story that twists through identity, power, and survival, where every choice carries a cost, and every shadow hides something sharp.
What I loved most was how deeply personal it all felt. Beneath the dragons and battles and cosmic stakes, this is a story about trauma, real, raw, and relentless. Hele’ne’s connection to the beast is terrifying in how familiar it feels. It’s a portrait of control disguised as care, and it chilled me. And yet, there are soft moments too, brief flickers of tenderness, humor, even love, that make the heavy parts hit even harder. Elia dives into the darker emotions, showing what it means to fight for your own mind, your own body, your own name.
The writing is lush and dreamlike. The lore runs deep, the world is massive, and if you haven’t read the other books, you’ll probably spend a few pages catching up. But there’s something wild and beautiful about that, too. It feels alive. The characters are vivid, passionate, and impossible to ignore. Some are haunted, some are healing, all are trying to hold onto something in the chaos.
In the end, Beast of Phe’lak is for readers who want their fantasy to cut deep. It’s messy and magical, yes, but it’s also full of heart. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt lost, controlled, or broken and dared to imagine something more. If you want to be shaken, moved, and maybe even changed a little, give this one a shot.
Pages: 309 | ASIN : B0F7FD49NL
LITERARY TITAN 