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What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Fort'ess Lost: Book 1 of the Spiral Flame Saga?

The origin of Fort’ess Lost traces back to a character I created for a Dungeons & Dragons campaign—Elrich. As I developed his backstory, it began to grow into something much larger: a world shaped by memory, betrayal, and ancient power. One symbol kept reappearing in my notes and research—the spiral. It fascinated me, not just for its visual simplicity, but because spirals appear in nearly every ancient culture. They're found carved into stone, painted on sacred walls, and woven into the fabric of myth. The spiral became a metaphor for memory, for cycles of betrayal and redemption, and for the idea that history doesn’t just repeat—it remembers.

That tied naturally to another ancient force: fire. In many traditions, fire wasn’t just a tool or a weapon—it was alive. A keeper of stories. A sacred part of nature believed to hold echoes of the past. That connection between flame, memory, and the repeating spiral inspired the core of this story, and the Spiral Flame saga was born.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Fort'ess Lost: Book 1 of the Spiral Flame Saga, what would they be?

Elrich Song: “Way Down We Go” – Kaleo
Why: A slow-burning anthem of burden and inevitability. Elrich carries his father’s legacy and the valley’s hope—but fears what it will cost.

Malana Song: “Castle” – Halsey
Why: Fiercely powerful, strategic, and aware of the glass walls around her, Malana plays politics like war. This track reflects her role as a mother, leader, and would-be unifier.

Varek Song: “The Sound of Silence” – Disturbed (cover)
Why: Varek’s arc is one of slow erosion—loyalty chipped away by doubt and silence. The haunting tones mirror his isolation and inner storm.

Seyra Song: “Dynasty” – MIIA
Why: Regal, resentful, and aching with ambition, Seyra views herself as the overlooked foundation of power. This theme echoes her manipulation and buried vulnerability.

Kaelarion Song: “Breathe Me” – Sia
Why: A seer lost in the patterns he’s sworn to read. There’s fragility in Kaelarion beneath the mystic persona—and a growing fear that no one’s listening in time.

Ghost Song: “Saturn” – Sleeping at Last
Why: Ethereal and ancient-feeling, Ghost’s Spiral connection is mystical and intimate. The song’s themes of memory, wonder, and identity fit his awakening perfectly.

Korran Song: “Brothers in Arms” – Dire Straits
Why: The last of the old guard. Korran’s loyalty to the valley is unwavering, but it aches with the knowledge of what’s being lost. His code is forged in battles long past.

Alyas Song: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” – Lorde (cover)
Why: A strategist surrounded by false alliances and quiet ambition. Alyas sees the game clearly, but risks losing herself in its edges.

Kaenah Song: “Running With the Wolves” – AURORA
Why: Wild, half-silent, and touched by prophecy, Kaenah embodies the untamed wisdom the Spiral hides in children. Her visions echo through every choice yet to come.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Historical, Mythology.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The very first scene—the emergence of Elrich’s world—was my favorite to write. That was where everything began to breathe. It was the moment when the mist, the mountains, and the fractured valley took shape around him. Writing that scene felt like stepping through a threshold—not just for Elrich, but for me as a creator. The tone, the mystery, the quiet weight of history pressing down on him… it was the spark that lit the Spiral Flame. From that point on, I knew this wasn’t just a backstory—it was a world that demanded to be explored.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Lucky coffee mug. Oh, and my dog.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

He who opens a door to the past must be ready for what still walks through it.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

That memory matters—even when it hurts. Fort’ess Lost is a story about what we choose to remember, what we try to forget, and how those choices shape who we become. I want readers to walk away understanding that history isn’t just written in stone or scrolls—it lives in people, in oaths, in fire. And sometimes, to move forward, we have to face what’s buried beneath the ashes.

Daniel James is the author of the new book Fort'ess Lost: Book 1 of the Spiral Flame Saga

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What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Sancta Femina?

An interview on NPR about the real-life gene-editing technology CRISPR inspired the beginnings of my novel, Sancta Femina. Later, I encountered Plutarch's thought experiment, "The Ship of Theseus," which explores themes of identity and change. Plutarch poses the question: If an object has all its components replaced, does it remain fundamentally the same object it was to begin with? In other words, if we were to replicate a ship, or even a living organism, does it retain its identity, or is the result something entirely new? These two concepts ultimately led me to the speculative question that became the crux of my series: What if future scientists were to clone someone of ancient significance, an individual important to the history of our civilization? To take it a step further, what if this person were not only significant but also sacred and highly revered, someone holy? . . . And thus, we have Sancta Femina.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Sancta Femina, what would they be?

I would select ‘I Choose Me’ by Amanati & Roniit for my protagonist. The song speaks to Hella’s journey of self-discovery, as she finds fortitude, endurance, and character through her many trials by fire, learning to rely on herself rather than depending on others.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I started reading sci-fi as a kid after discovering Star Trek: The Next Generation, devouring every STNG novel I could find. In my teens, I read literature and philosophy in school, which included sci-fi classics like George Orwell's 1984 and Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game. I became obsessed with historical fiction, particularly anything related to Egypt and Cleopatra, in my twenties. In my thirties, I read mostly fantasy after falling in love with George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. I enjoy reading and writing sci-fi and fantasy equally. However, I haven’t yet tackled writing pure historical fiction, which I’d love to try!

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton and Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

It's tough to choose, but there's a dramatic, gothic dream sequence in Part One that was incredibly fun to write. In this scene, the villain has just undergone a fresh head transplant and tells my protagonist, “You stab me, and you are stabbing the body of your lover!”

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I enjoy writing with a Labrador at my feet and a cup of Earl Grey.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Because I almost didn't discover my passion for writing—not finding it until my thirties—something late poet and novelist Charles Bukowski said resonated with me deeply: "If something burns your soul with purpose and desire, it's your duty to be reduced to ashes by it. Any other form of existence will be yet another dull book in the library of life."

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Question everything and never follow anything blindly.

Kathryn Combs is the author of the new book Sancta Femina

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What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Lost Dragonrider of Lamar?

A conversation I had with a friend sparked the first ideas for this story. We were talking about the complexities and political motivations in a fantasy world built around a 'hero-for-hire' economy. I imagined a kingdom where dragonriders, magi, and elves were treated with an exaggerated awe and envy that we reserve for professional athletes and celebrities today. That idea, of turning magical heroes into a capitalist industry, became the seed for this world. It was that conversation that lit the spark, and from there, the story bloomed into something I had so much fun writing.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I love epic fantasy, specifically anything with dragons and dragonriders. Yes, this is the same genre that I write, but it's what I enjoy most about fictional stories.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I've just finished reading The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, by Shannon Chakraborty and will be starting The Will of the Many, by James Islington next. I have Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman in my TBR after that.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The big reveal at the climax of the book was my favorite to write. After laying the groundwork for it throughout the whole story, typing that scene was the most satisfying for me.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

My most quirky writing habit is, I guess, what I listen to while I write. I have created a playlist that is mostly movie scores from sci-fi and fantasy movies. I find the music sets the stage and allow me to get completly lost in what I'm imagining.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

I have two! The first is: Modivate to Dominate. That was a phrase my freind Sam and I created in college to encourage ourselves to get outside and go on an adventure. The second is: Do what makes you comfortable. A freind told me that once and it stuck.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

That I'm just getting started! I'm relatively young for an author and have many, many years left of creative writing and no plan of slowing down anything soon.

A J Walker is the author of the new book The Lost Dragonrider of Lamar

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