A nostalgic look at the popular fantasy tropes that define the genre and why they still seize our imagination. You ever hear a story and think, I’ve seen this before? The farm boy who turns out to be the lost prince. The scrappy orphan who, surprise, is the key to…
Transformation is often imagined as something poetic, something endowed with purpose. But what of the changes that bring only ruin? What about the slow unraveling, the spaces left behind, and the silence that settles like dust? For a recent humanities course, I was assigned to write a passage from The…
There comes a time in every writer’s journey when the story we imagined—the one we poured our blood, sweat, and sleepless nights into—meets the cold scrutiny of an editor’s eye. And in that moment, we see it for what it truly is. Not a failure, not a mess, but something…
“The unicorn lived in a lilac wood, and she lived all alone. She was very old, though she did not know it, and she was no longer the careless color of sea foam but rather the color of snow falling on a moonlit night. But her eyes were still clear…
There are creatures of legend, and then there are dragons. The beasts of fire and sky, the lords of ancient hoards and prophecy. To speak their names is to summon something old, something primal, a force woven into the marrow of our collective mythos. I have always loved dragons, though…
I typically focus on fantasy themes. However, today’s post veers in a slightly different direction. While it’s not my usual topic, I’ve included this piece as part of my portfolio to present the range of subjects I can tackle. I hope you enjoy this exploration of this wonderful book. The…
The Lord of the Rings has held a special place in my heart for many years. I’d like to share a few of my favorite quotes from the masterpiece. This quote reminds me that even in the midst of darkness, there is still beauty and goodness to be found. It speaks…
The road is quiet, as if the world is holding its breath. Tendrils of mist linger in the air, veiling the path ahead in a ghostly haze. Every shadow seems to stretch and shift, twisting into phantom figures—half-formed silhouettes that dissolve as quickly as they appear. And in that stillness,…
You don’t always go looking for a story. Sometimes, the story finds you. A Story That Beckons The Secrets of Whispering Pines wasn’t something I planned, not at first. It wasn’t the result of years of outlining, of carefully constructed plot points and deliberate world-building. No, it started the way…
There are stories, and then there are the stories behind them. A tale well-told lingers long after the last word is read, but a tale wrapped in uncertainty and deception—now, that is a story that lives on. Washington Irving knew this well. He did not simply write “Rip Van Winkle”…