(coming soon!) I’m experimenting with a new way to get my novels converted into audiobook format, which I plan to release for free on YouTube, Spotify and maybe a few other places. The voices sound amazing and I’m focused on getting the best quality audiobooks I can provide. Although there are already some great (free) fantasy audiobooks available, in case you’re looking for something new and thrilling and haven’t read my books yet, these are passion projects I wrote with devotion that haven’t become as commercially popular as my main series – while I do plan to finish them all, they currently ..read more

It’s not uncommon to find lists of the best “book boyfriends” – but not as much attention has been paid to the opposite; the book girlfriend, or “waifu” to steal a pop culture reference for fictional characters to crush on. Crafting a list of the best waifus in fantasy novels involves delving into a rich world of characters that have captured the hearts and imaginations of readers worldwide. These characters are not just admired for their physical attributes but also for their strength, courage, complexity, and emotional depth. Here’s a curated list celebrating some of the most beloved waifus ..read more

Just in case it’s useful, here are some romantic ideas to build the heat level in your story. For fiction, where imagination knows no bounds and the depth of emotion can be explored in unique ways, here are some creative, meaningful, and personal romantic gestures: Time Capsule of Love: The characters create a time capsule filled with letters to each other, small gifts, and memories. They bury it in a special location, agreeing to open it together after a decade. Constellation Creation: One character arranges with an astronomer to have a small, obscure constellation unofficially named after t ..read more

I started this site, Urban Epics, when I began writing fiction in about 2016. I’d already worked as a book editor and book cover designer, plus I had a PhD in Literature, not that it helped when I started writing. I kept getting stuck in the middle, revisions were agonizing, and my stories were bigger and more complex than my skills or experience. Still, I self-published a handful of “book 1’s” to see whether or not anybody wanted to read them, and then did my best to build an audience and promote them. The nice thing about self-publishing is that you can control all the elements, test everyth ..read more

There’s something deliciously rebellious about Prometheus, a Titan who took on the mighty gods of Olympus for the sake of humanity. This character has been a cornerstone of Greek mythology and has journeyed through time, inspiring countless modern retellings and interpretations. But who exactly was Prometheus, and why did he risk the wrath of Zeus? Who is Prometheus? Prometheus, whose name means “forethought”, was one of the Titans, a group of ancient deities that predated the Olympian gods. While most Titans had a beef with the younger gods (and vice versa), Prometheus was unique. His loyalt ..read more

One of the most captivating and enchanting myths of Celtic and specifically, Scottish and Irish folklore, is the tale of the Selkies. These are not your average sea creatures. Selkies are beings who live as seals in the sea but have the ability to shed their skin and become human on land. The Dual Life of a Selkie: Selkies are often visualized basking on the rocky shores, particularly during the moonlit nights. Their lives are a delicate balance between their true seal form and the human guise they can assume. While in their human form, if a Selkie’s seal skin is hidden or stolen, they are bo ..read more

Japan’s mythological tapestry is woven with tales that date back to the very beginnings of time. With a pantheon of gods and goddesses, its myths are rooted in the ancient Kojiki and Nihon Shoki texts, which offer insights into the creation of the islands of Japan and the celestial beings that watched over them. Japanese mythology and the Shinto religion feature a pantheon of kami (gods and spirits) who are significant in various legends, myths, and religious practices. Japanese gods Izanagi: Title/Role: God of creation and life. Description: Together with his wife, Izanami, they birthed the ..read more

Celtic mythology is a rich tapestry of heroes, gods, magical creatures, and tales of honor, courage, love, and betrayal. Emerging from the British Isles’ ancient Celtic tribes, these myths were orally passed down over generations before finally being penned in various manuscripts. The Celts, comprising tribes with a shared language, culture, and religion, spread across Europe from their homeland in Central Europe to modern-day Spain, UK, and Ireland. These myths and legends serve as a spiritual compass for the Celts, providing not only entertainment but moral guidance, historical accounts, and ..read more

Introduction: Roman mythology, with its powerful deities and riveting tales, has been a lynchpin of Western civilization’s cultural fabric. While it borrowed heavily from its Greek predecessors, Roman myths were distinct in character, reflecting the ethos and values of the burgeoning Roman Empire. The gods and myths of Rome have not merely been forgotten tales; they have significantly influenced art, literature, and even political discourse over millennia. Major Gods of the Roman Pantheon Jupiter, King of the Gods Jupiter, or Jove, was the chief deity of the Roman pantheon. Analogous to the Gr ..read more

Introduction: The Tragic Backdrop Antigone is one of my favorite stories from Greek mythology and inspired my PhD Thesis: it’s about one young woman’s rebellion against arbitrary tyranny, and all the drama and pathos that ensues (ending up with her buried alive as a bride of death…) Antigone is the third play in a trilogy written by Sophocles, coming after “Oedipus Rex” and “Oedipus at Colonus.” It delves into the conflicts of individual duty versus law and personal moral code versus the dictates of society. The Prelude to Tragedy Following the deaths of her brothers Eteocles and Polynices, w ..read more