In this intriguing interview, I chat with Justin Vaelorin, a network engineer by day and an unexpected universe creator by night.
J.Vaelorin is a gifted creative entrepreneur, and he has channelled his experience with depression into a dark fantasy narrative.

Justin has crafted an intricate, fictional world for his debut novel, titled "Shadow Sword." He calls this paracosm "VaelorinVerse" - which he developed because he wished for a world that made trauma feel 'normal'.

We explore how dark fantasy can serve as an effective 'container' for grief. And we delve into why immersing oneself in dark fantasy fiction can be an uplifting, perhaps even an empowering experience for some readers.

We explore the advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing. We also discover Justin's reasons for choosing a completely independent route into publishing and why he has rejected conventional storytelling methods.

Besides writing epic romantic fantasies, Hannah Baribeau, originally from Astoria, Oregon, but who grew up in Indonesia and now resides in Wisconsin, is a stay-at-home mom to four young boys. Gradiare is her first publication, with plans of many more titles to come, including a suspense thriller! Our conversation focused on techniques for crafting suspense in fantasy, such as cliffhangers and rising action, as well discussing the use of 'spice' in the genre. Additionally, we touched upon her love of George MacDonald fantasy books and her remarkable start as a writer… she began putting books together before she'd learned to read!

I chat with Rhode Island based author B. Marcus Walker. Brian is the author of Spirit of the Plain: The Unnamed - a fantasy about battles and magical discoveries that readers have described as a story of "action and intrigue".

We discuss how a writer can allow his characters some degree of free-will, developing a convincing system of magic, and how Brian's own experiences helped him develop his themes.