Author's Sanctum

August 23rd 2021

06:36PM

Hello everyone, I just wanted to make a small blog about The Fin Series and share the inspiration behind it while I’m currently working on the fifth book.  I started The Fin series back in 2015 on an overnight security guard job that I had.  Truth be told I always wanted to write a book ever since I was in middle school.  I imagined writing fantasy tales involving dragons and elements bounded to them when I was little.  I used to draw on those tiny little hotel notepads that were available while traveling.  Do they even have those anymore?  While working this job I finally told myself I was going to do it.  I always imagined this series and couldn’t stop thinking about it.  After watching a bunch of slasher films with co-workers during the down time on the job, I decided from here on out that this was something I was going to do.  I wanted to make the first story as simple as possible, no subplots, just one perspective of a young individual who had come to a crossroad in their life.  I was at multiple crossroads during that point in my life.  Though mine were very different; I felt I could relate to this character to some extent, and feel her excitement of change and looking forward to something different.  I feel even though there was an age gap, we never truly can outgrow the hands that are delt to us in life.  Writing the first book was a complete ride.  I’ll be completely honest; I didn’t have the slightest clue what I was doing.  I basically made a crazy deadline, ensuring that I would finish this project on time no matter what.  Though they were unreasonable deadlines and the original edition could have used waaaaay more proof reading than it got, I did finish it.  I had to learn the hard way though, and as expected, got criticized for lack of proofreading.   I do read comments and reviews, using the feedback to help improve myself and grow.

Once book one was complete, I instantly starting working on book two nearly right after.  The Fin started off as a simple survival horror thriller and now it was time for the series to grow.  I added two-character perspectives revolving around the events of the first book.  Each book revolves around a theme regarding fate, something we have minor control over even if we wished we had more.  The first book’s theme was tragedy and the next book was about redemption and the madness that leads to things that can’t be truly fixed.  Small fantasy elements are introduced within the book, playing off of a characters psyche.  Like the first book, I wanted to keep it raw and real as possible, only hinting at things to come.

Discovery was the next theme after some time had passed for these characters.  After a life altering event, time needs to pass for one to recover to some extent.  Once something is broken it can never truly be fixed, the cracks will remain, yet with some work, it can still be functional.  Book three was a real blast to write, inserting more fantasy elements and not holding back.  I was working on this book while writing my second series, Always Yell Fire.  The original plan was to end The Fin Series and re-start the series with a new name, Full Moon Knights, which would revolve around the characters from The Fin Series.  I was told re-naming the series might be too confusing for readers, so I decided to keep the original name of the series instead.  I’ve always been a huge fan of Jaws, if that wasn’t obvious, and now could start introducing the characters to another famous monster, retold with a different back ground.  I always felt that a monstrous shark that acted out of its nature belonged in world filled with monsters just like it.  Though the first two books are completely different, they do connect and have major impacts on all of the sequels to come.  It’s like life, everything that we do impacts our future, whether we realize it or not.

The fourth book in The Fin Series, Angels of Proxy is now out.  During the time of its development, I was writing the third book Full Moon Knights.  I was also writing Always Scream Fire and the newest book I am currently working on in The Fin series.  I told myself while writing Always Scream Fire that I’d be working on just those books.  I always tried to make that a rule, working on one project at a time.  But that’s just not possible, at least for me.  I’m always taking notes on my books every day.  I am even working on a new standalone series at the moment.  I told myself I needed to dedicate my time to The Fin series and finish it before starting a new project which I intend to do.  Anyway, I hope you’re all enjoying the series as of now.  I am currently working on the fifth book and hope to have it to you next year.