What was the moment you realized worldbuilding was your true passion?
Since I was around four or five years old, I've always had an amazing imagination. I would escape into my room and would play make-believe to my heart's content. However, I didn't realize that worldbuilding was my true passion until I was much older. It was around the same time I started playing a TTRPG with my friend group. I was nominated to be the game master, causing me to have to improvise an entire world and story on the spot. Seeing the looks on my friends faces as they navigated the world I created was something I had never experienced before. I think that was the moment I realized what I wanted to do, what my true passion was: crafting worlds for others to explore.
How do your experiences growing up in a large family influence your creative work, especially in worldbuilding?
My brothers, sisters, and I are all completely different from each other. I believe that our differences helped me to focus on building my worlds through my characters' eyes. A person's beliefs and unique upbringing completely changes how they view the world, but it doesn't make their view any less authentic. A major point I try to make when worldbuilding is showing the world through these different perspectives.
Do you find that your love for music and songwriting intertwines with your writing? If so, how?
My love for music definitely intertwines with my writing. I think of my storylines like a well written song. First there's a good hook and the chorus. A good hook will draw readers into the world and the chorus will keep them coming back for more. Next there's the verses. These are the climactic moments that progress the overarching story. Some songs, or novels in this case, have more than one verse. However, all verses should lead back into the initial hook and chorus.
What role do tabletop RPGs play in your creative process today? Any favorite campaigns or characters that shaped your writing style?
Tabletop RPGs had a pivotal role in shaping my creative process. It taught me how to intertwine my characters' personal journeys with the journey of the world as a whole. Of course, plenty of moments and characters from my campaigns helped in this, but none of them can compete with my personal favorite. My brother's character was the leader of a band of knights in a small town. The town was attacked by a necromancer that turned himself into an undead dragon. My brother defeated it, but the malice spilling out of it caused the skeletons of the deceased to reanimate. This led to an epic standoff between my brother's band of knights and the skeleton army. They fought tooth and nail to give the civilians time to evacuate before they themselves had a chance to. The thing is, the necromancer has fled to the town after being hunted down by Elves. It just goes to show how even the smallest thing a character does (such as killing an undead dragon) can have rippling effects throughout the world (the deceased being reanimated).
Who are some of your biggest influences in both music and literature? How do they inspire your work?
That's a really difficult question for me. I have a ton of artist, both musically and in literature, that really inspired me. 6lack, Nancy Farmer, Kirk Franklin, Suzanne Collins, J.K Rowling, etc. All of these artists and writers had a profound impact on the way I shape my stories. There are many more as well, but it would be impossible to list them all. They taught me about compassion and bravery, about how both beautiful and cruel the world can be, and how magic can come from the most unexpected of places. I try to intertwine these lessons into everything I do, to the best of my abilities.
As a Pisces, do you feel that your zodiac sign influences your creative flow or worldview? If yes, how so?
My zodiac sign is an interesting topic. I'm technically an Aquarius cusp, so I pull traits from both the Pisces and Aquarius zodiac signs. I do think that it's fun to look at the different traits associated with each and relate them to myself, but I also think that's all there is to it. It's just good fun. My creative flow and worldview were shaped based on my experiences growing up, not some mystical categories like the Zodiacs.
What’s your favorite world you've created so far? Can you tell us a bit about it?
That's a great question, Mady. All the worlds I've created share a special place in my heart, and sadly some of them have been lost to time. If I had to choose a favorite, it would be have to be Gorana. Gorana was a world I began designing for a tabletop RPG campaign. We never had a chance to play, but it always stuck with me. The world is shaped by divine creation, ancient curses, and brutal wars between celestial beings and corrupted mortals. At the heart of the cosmos is Shora’ir, the all-powerful creator who formed the world through the divine flames of the Lirkaia, godlike spider-creatures who spun reality itself. Shora’ir’s chosen people, the immortal and magical Teni’ir, were the first to inhabit Gorana, but they were later cursed by their own corrupted brother, Adbaria—a fallen divine being who grew jealous and led humanity into darkness.
How do you balance the chaotic energy from your family life with the focus needed for your creative projects?
I try to write at least a chapter a day. As you mentioned in your question, that commitment requires an certain level of focus. Some days, things can get so chaotic that writing feels impossible. To make the most of my time, I have to escape to be be myself. Thankfully, my family respects my passion and they try their hardest not to interrupt me.
When it comes to worldbuilding, do you start with the geography, the characters, or the plot? Or does it vary depending on the story?
It depends on the story, but I typically try to start with the geography. I believe this allows me to build the world in the most natural way possible. It also helps with making the world believable. Depending on where on a continent something is located, the natural resources and wildlife can change dramatically.
What’s the most difficult part of building a fictional world, and how do you overcome it?
The biggest challenge in building a fictional world to me is creating a believable flaw. All worlds have a major flaw, and that flaw is typically what sparks the characters' journeys. It's easy to make a world have a generic flaw, such as an evil wizard or a continent-wide drought. However, it's a real challenge to come up with a unique flaw that is also believable. I try to overcome this by creating a flaw that not only connects with the geography and political landscape of the world, but also by connecting it to each of the character's personal ambitions. For example: That evil dragon, it used to be a benevolent dragon that warded off demons from our hero's homeland. Our hero has always wanted a reason to travel the world. When the dragon is struck with a sickness that corrupts it, the demons began to invade. This causes our hero to go on a journey to find a cure for dragon and restore peace.
How do you approach creating characters that feel real and multi-dimensional in the worlds you build?
I always start by exploring what happened in the character's childhood. I believe that each character's unique upbringing is what causes them to have the goals and personality that we come to know and love. From there, I think about how their upbringing forged their perspective. Did they almost drown when they were a kind? If they did, the character will have some kind of trauma around water. By stacking these childhood experiences and viewpoints, I can begin to flesh out other things about the character. My next step is usually to develop the character's personality. It start with their likes and dislikes, then move on to their strengths, weaknesses, and unique personally quirks. For example, if the character almost drowned as a child, it's possible that they would actively try to avoid water, not just be afraid of it. If they were isolated as a child, they may have a difficult time communicating with others. This might lead to social anxiety in large group settings. Lastly, I try to leave room for the character to grow. That's the key. No matter how well developed a character is, if they don't change throughout the story readers will not connect with them.
Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what kind of tunes fuel your imagination?
Any sort of noise distracts me while I'm trying to write, but every now and then I like to put together a playlist of songs my characters would like listening too. The genre varies depending on the character, but listening to the playlist helps me get into my characters thought process. For example, when writing from Renald's perspective, I have a playlist filled with a mix of heavy metal and dark classical.
Can you share a time when a specific piece of music sparked an idea for a world or character in your stories?
Rather than inspiring specific characters or story concepts, music tends to influence my emotional state, which then shapes how I approach writing. Certain songs help me tap into particular moods—grief, tension, wonder, defiance—and that emotional tone guides the way I write a scene or inhabit a character’s mindset. For example, if I’m writing a moment of quiet despair or internal conflict, I might put on something minimalist or haunting to ground myself in that headspace. It’s less about a song giving me a literal idea and more about it opening a doorway into the emotional landscape I need to explore in the story. Music becomes a kind of emotional compass.
If you had the chance to live in one of the worlds you’ve created, which one would it be and why?
If I had to pick, it would be the one that takes place in the year 3050. It was just a concept, but in that world, people pilot mech suits using a wireless full-dive system—basically like stepping into a video game. The United Earth Company built an entire planet called Eden, turning it into a massive battle arena where mech fights are streamed live across the universe. Every ten years, there’s a Selection Tournament, and the winner gets a 5,000,000 plex contract to become a live streamer. It’s definitely not the safest world I’ve created, but something about it feels exciting. The idea of getting to pilot a mech, not just as a soldier, but as a form of entertainment and competition, really appeals to me. There’s something inspiring about a place where anyone—regardless of background—can rise through skill, determination, and strategy. Plus, being immersed in a virtual battlefield like that sounds like the kind of escape I’d actually want to live in for a while.
What has your AllAuthor experience been like so far? What are some highlights?
My experience with AllAuthor has been smooth and supportive so far. It’s given me a space where I can present my work in a professional way without needing to figure everything out on my own. One of the biggest highlights for me has been the exposure—getting to showcase my books to new readers I may not have reached otherwise. I also really appreciate the promotional tools, especially the banner and teaser creator. Those little features go a long way when you’re trying to market your book while juggling everything else as a writer.
