Diving Toward Inspiration

I’m off on a little adventure of my own this week: Scuba diving!

But I’m not alone. This trip I’m with my brother (yes, the same brother I’ve mentioned several times here and the one Guardian is dedicated to.) The timing of the trip almost coincides with that book’s release, although that wasn’t by design. It just happened to work out that way.

I’ve been a diver since 2016, but this is the first trip I’ve been on since COVID happened. We booked it back in March (on my brother’s birthday), and I’ve been looking forward to it ever since. I’ve missed the water something fierce.

Thinking back on my last dive trip, I realize now that I started querying Exile the week after we got back home. To see that book out in the world after years of work is pretty cool. And knowing the sequel is on its way very soon is doubly so. There were times when I was convinced I’d never see this series published, but I’m so glad I persevered. The last six months have been incredible, and I could not have done it with all the support from friends, family, other authors, and readers like you. So THANK YOU.

Also during that last trip, I came up with the concept of the Sevanni, the aquatic species that inhabits the world of The Caein Legacy. While you won’t see them at all in this series, and they’re only mentioned briefly, you will get at least one entire book featuring them in the related series, The Mage War Chronicles. I say at least because that one book is written…but I may revisit the same character later in the series. I haven’t decided for sure yet, but the possibility is there.

I’ve always been inspired by elements in nature, but there is something about diving, about being in the ocean swimming by the fish and coral, that seems to spark more creativity than a hike does. I don’t know if this trip will spark more inspiration for me, but I’ll let you know later if it does.