A Writer of Worlds Beyond Reality

Well, that's what dad began calling me on the day I was born. I think he had read somewhere that Red Indians called their kids after the first thing they saw after the birth, and for dad, it was some unidentifiable, bacteria-infused liquid that was dripping onto the kitchen floor from a corner of a bin bag.

I wasn't christened Binjuice, of course; Mum would never allow that. I was Virginia, which became Ginny, which became Binny. No shortage of laughs in our house.

I didn't mind Binny so much....

It’s not as I remember it, but I know that it’s here. The trees in the distance are more towering still, and there are bushes where once there were none, but this is the place.

I had taken the old and dusty box from the shelf and opened it carefully, for there was where my most precious memories resided. I removed the contents one at a time, placing the shoes on the floor and the dress on a hanger. The hat, I was pleased to find, was in good order and required little attention.

My memory opened...

What is reality?

Is it the time of our life or an undernourished apocalyptic event devoid of the consciousness we feel defines our existence?

Is it the juxtaposition of the soul and physical self, existing on a plane far removed and yet exerting its influence in an overtly subtle way?

I have a mind that can soar to great heights and consider many things away from my physical self, unencumbered by mortal restrictions and physical laws. A mind that can create and discard in equal measure in a...

So, you want to write a fantasy novel. Excellent choice. Why write a sensible modern drama about divorce and parking permits when you could create dragons, cursed kings, suspicious forests, and a wizard who smells faintly of onions?

Writing fantasy from scratch may seem overwhelming, but fear not. Many great worlds began with nothing more than one strange idea and someone avoiding real work.

Step One: Start With a Brilliant “What If?”

Every fantasy novel begins with a question.

What if magic were...

I’ll be honest—when I first heard about AI muscling its way into the fantasy writing world, my gut reaction wasn’t exactly heroic. It was more… suspicious tavern patron in the corner, clutching a mug and muttering, “This won’t end well.”

Fantasy, to me, has always felt deeply human. Messy. Emotional. A little unhinged in the best way. The idea that a machine could wander into that space felt like inviting a golem to a poetry reading.

And yet, here I am, not only using AI but kind of enjoying...

The Spark of Inspiration

People always ask where ideas come from, and the honest answer is—I tend to find inspiration in the small, ordinary moments most of us walk past. A half-heard conversation in a café, the way the light hits a street at dusk, a quiet moment in nature—it all adds up. The world is full of stories; you just have to notice them.

That’s something I come back to often: pay attention to the mundane. It’s rarely as mundane as it looks. I keep a journal to catch those passing...