Creative Pathways: Stories, Poems, and Finding Your Voice

Creative Pathways: Stories, Poems, and Finding Your Voice

Creativity rarely travels in a straight line.

Sometimes it arrives through a story told chapter by chapter.
Sometimes through a quiet poem that gives us permission to speak.
Sometimes through discovering new voices—new worlds—at exactly the right moment.

This winter, I’m inviting readers and writers into several creative pathways that connect story, imagination, and courage.

---

Fridays on the Podcast: Dark Blade Forged (Fiction Readings)

Every Friday on the podcast, I’m sharing fiction readings from Dark Blade Forged—the opening novel of The Dark Blade Trilogy.

These readings are a chance to:

• Step into an epic fantasy world of faith, doubt, justice, and choice

• Experience the story in a slower, more reflective way

• Listen as scenes unfold aloud—sometimes revealing emotional layers that land differently in audio

Whether you’re already familiar with Dan Torren’s journey or discovering the Dark Blade for the first time, please come and join. 

---

January Release: To Speak — Poems of Inspired Courage

In January, I’m releasing a new poetry collection:
To Speak: Poems of Inspired Courage

This book grew out of seasons where my voice felt more like embers than flame—quiet, uncertain, but still alive.

To Speak explores:

• Creativity and calling

• Courage in imperfect expression

• Faith, doubt, and grace

• The slow reclaiming of voice

While Dark Blade Forged explores courage through story and action, To Speak approaches it through reflection and prayerful honesty. Different forms. The same heart.

---

🚀 Discover New Stories: Sci-Fi & Fantasy Short Reads (On Sale)

Alongside my own projects, I also love helping readers discover new speculative fiction voices—including revisiting shorter works that explore big ideas in compact form.

Right now, I’m part of a science fiction & fantasy short fiction sale—a curated collection of stories and novellas from multiple authors, available at a special price:

👉 Explore the collection here:
https://books.bookfunnel.com/scififanshorts/nmzn2pjhb0

This sale also includes my science fiction novella Liftoff, a story that explores:

• First contact and human resilience

• Fear, hope, and the cost of courage

• Ordinary people facing extraordinary choices

Short fiction and novellas are powerful creative pathways:

• Bite-sized worlds

• Focused emotional arcs

• Perfect for busy readers or creative refueling

If you enjoy sampling new authors—or stepping into a complete sci-fi story in one sitting—this collection is a wonderful place to explore.

---

🌱 One Creative Thread

At first glance, these might look like separate things:

• A fantasy novel read aloud

• A poetry collection releasing soon

• A sci-fi & fantasy short fiction sale

But at their core, they’re connected by the same invitation:

To step into creativity.
To listen.
To speak.
To imagine.

Whether you’re listening to a chapter on Friday, reading a poem in January, or discovering Liftoff or another new short story today, I hope these pathways encourage you—both as a reader and as a creative soul.

Thank you for walking them with me.

Writing, Community, and The Systems that Support Story: A Conversation with Jemi Fraser

Writing, Community, and the Systems That Support Story: A Conversation with Jemi Fraser

One of the things I appreciate most about talking with other writers is discovering how they actually do the work—the quiet systems, the slightly nerdy spreadsheets, the imperfect-but-effective methods that make creativity sustainable.

In this episode of The Truth About Storytelling, I sat down with Jemi Fraser—author, editor, and long-time community builder—for a conversation that blends heart, craft, and real-world process. Jemi and I have known each other for years through online writing spaces and accountability groups, and this conversation felt like catching up with a writing friend who truly understands the long game.

Story Bibles, Spreadsheets, and Staying Sane

We dig into how Jemi stays organized across multiple projects, including her use of spreadsheets for story bibles, timelines, and character tracking. Rather than rigid systems, her approach is flexible—tools that support the story without strangling it.

One of my favorite moments is when she talks about creating stick-figure maps and rough visual layouts. They’re not meant to be pretty; they’re meant to work. It’s a great reminder that story clarity often comes from simple, imperfect tools that help us see the whole picture.

Research That Lives With the Story

Jemi also shares how she handles research, especially for place-based storytelling. For each book or setting, she keeps a dedicated research file in Scrivener, allowing facts, notes, images, and inspiration to live alongside the draft itself.

This method keeps research from becoming a separate, overwhelming task—and helps ensure that setting details feel integrated rather than dropped in. It’s a practical approach many writers can adapt immediately.

The Art (and Joy) of Naming

We also talk about one of my favorite craft topics: names. Jemi explains how she chooses names that feel grounded in a story’s world—like the unforgettable Phail—and how sound, cultural resonance, and tone all factor into her decisions.

Naming isn’t random or rushed; it’s part of how she builds immersion and emotional connection. Whether you’re naming a character, a town, or a fictional landmark, her process offers a thoughtful framework.

Pop Culture, Personality, and Making Stories Feel Lived-In

One extra thing I love about Jemi’s work—and something longtime readers will recognize immediately—is how she weaves in pop-culture touchstones that make her stories feel both fun and real for today’s readers.

From Star Trek and Star Wars references to nods toward music, media, and especially Canadian singers and cultural figures, these details never feel gimmicky. Instead, they reveal character. They give us small windows into who a person is, what they love, and how they move through the world.

Those references act like shorthand—establishing tone, grounding scenes in a shared cultural language, and adding warmth and humor without pulling readers out of the story. It’s one of the ways Jemi balances depth with accessibility, and it’s a craft choice that quietly does a lot of work.

This episode is for writers who:

• Love practical, adaptable craft systems

• Want to stay organized without over-engineering

• Care about names, settings, and story coherence

• Enjoy stories that feel contemporary, textured, and alive

You can find more about Jemi Fraser and her work here:

• Website for Jemi Fraser

If you’ve ever wondered how small, thoughtful details—from spreadsheets to pop-culture references—help stories feel whole, this conversation is for you.

Find The Truth About Storytelling Episode With Jemi Fraser HERE

IWSG - Best Writing Gifts

 

Thank you, IWSG and all those who are helping this month!

One of the things I love most about IWSG is how generous all the writers are with their time and energy.

For me, the best gifts I've received as a writer haven’t always been physical—though I do love books—but relational and creative.

One of the greatest gifts has been conversation. Recently, I’ve had the joy of hosting thoughtful  conversations with fellow writers on my podcast, including recent interviews with Sean McLachlan, Tara Tyler, and Sherry Ellis. Each episode reminded me that writing isn’t meant to be done in isolation. Hearing how other authors approach craft, worldbuilding, and perseverance has been encouraging and fun.

👉 Link to the RSS Feeds podcast page. The Truth About Storytelling can also be found on Spotify and other platforms.

Another meaningful gift has been time to read purely for pleasure and inspiration. Last year, I received (and collected) a wonderful stack of books—some fiction, some nonfiction, all inspiring. 

These books were an invitation to slow down, to delight in story again, and to remember that feeding the creative well is part of the work.

Ultimately, the best gifts I receive as a writer are the ones that reconnect me to stories, to fellow creators, and to the simple joy of imagining something new.

I’m thankful for this community and for the reminder that none of us write alone.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Podcast Notes: Travel, Myth, and Middle Grade Adventure with Sherry Ellis

 

In today’s podcast episode, I’m joined by Sherry Ellis, an award-winning author of children’s and middle-grade fiction whose stories blend real-world travel, cultural history, folklore, and fast-paced adventure. Our conversation explores how authentic places and sensory detail can bring young readers deeper into a story—and why curiosity and joy matter so much in the creative process.

Sherry shares how her background as a musician and scuba diving instructor informs her writing, especially when crafting believable settings inspired by real locations around the world. We talk about her Bubba and Squirt series, which follows sibling characters through international, time-compressed adventures—each story unfolding within a 12-hour span in a different country. Sherry explains how she balances historical accuracy with imaginative mythology, often weaving in local legends, folklore, and cultural touchstones to enrich each book.

We also dive into Sherry’s writing process, including her use of sensory storytelling, research methods, and distinctive writing rituals. From incorporating authentic sounds and textures to adding classroom-friendly extras like recipes, language notes, and historical context, Sherry designs her stories to be engaging for both readers and educators. She also shares insights she’s gained from critique partners—particularly the importance of geography and realism when working with real-world settings.

Toward the end of the episode, Sherry talks about her upcoming children’s book, Happy Birthday to Us, slated for release in time for America’s 250th anniversary. It’s a delightful concept centered on a child whose birthday falls on the Fourth of July and is currently in the illustration phase.

This was a thoughtful and inspiring discussion about writing for young readers, honoring culture and history, and finding joy in the creative process. I think you’ll really enjoy it.

Find Sherry Ellis at her Website HERE

Find the podcast episode HERE