Writing books takes a lot of work and time. The easiest way to get it done is just to dive into it. Instead of thinking about it, just do it. If you invest five minutes into typing out your story, you’ll easily be able to invest more. It becomes a habit. Creating books is about building good habits.

Avid readers can become great writers. Instead of consuming content, you must produce it. This is where things change. Writing is a form of escape for me. It’s a challenge being able to look at an empty screen or a piece of paper. Putting my thoughts into words. But it is also a lot of fun to see how things pan out. If something happens in real life, I can use that to inspire my writing.

Real-world inspiration and everyday atmosphere

Walking in the rain outside in the real world was an inspiration for me, especially when cop cars and an ambulance raced past me as I was going for a daily walk. This helped me envision my short story Soaked. While I love the fast pace of my stories, I’ve found that readers like my work more when there is atmosphere involved. Making it simply plot-driven is not enough because backstories are needed to help book lovers relate to characters in my stories.

Urban environments and grit in the GK Universe

I like to use urban environments in my stories, especially the GK universe, because I live in an urban environment in New York. There is so much that happens, and it helps that I live in an area that has a police station and fire department nearby. Sometimes, I think it’s the end of the world outside with all of the emergency vehicles zooming through with their sirens and lights on.

While worldbuilding and sci-fi are elements in my stories, I do prefer grit to be there. To increase the tension, the stakes, the thrill, to help readers connect with my characters, and to be able to root for Griffin. Now that’s a story. And it’s a lot of fun to create it. While Griffin does live in the future, I wanted realism to be included. This way, it can put a smile on a book lover’s face as they’re exploring the Griffin Knight universe.

Sensory details that shape my books’ worlds

If it’s cold, I like to include breathing in the story. If it’s raining, include puddles or a character getting soaked (see what I did there). Use the sirens that I see in real life and illustrate them in my books to make a believable setting. The spiderweb scene was an idea that I got in real life.

Internal atmosphere: What my characters feel

Sharing the thoughts of my characters is a great way to build my stories, and I’m sure readers like it too. Being able to read what Griffin or another character is thinking can elevate the atmosphere of the situation I’m making. But atmosphere isn’t just external – it can also be emotional and internal. If you’ve ever read The Nocturnal Devil, you’ll know what I mean. If you have not read that book, then what are you waiting for? That was one of the most fun books I’ve ever created.

Griffin likes to drink lemonade and eat pizza. He will drink black coffee, but the former is what he enjoys. This is how atmosphere is created, and readers can relate to that. What do you enjoy eating and drinking?

I’ve read a lot of books, and I’ll continue to read more. They help me push forward because I’m not alone in this business. There are so many books out there and so many people exploring this craft as I do. But I’ve found that I keep getting better. I learn from my mistakes, and I push forward.

Building Neonfall and the mood of a dystopian city

I recently read a short story called One Bitcoin for Life, and that book’s cover and story inspired me to create Neonfall. But it wasn’t only that short story; my deep interest in Shadowrun, fantasy, and real-world influence motivated me to do something about it and create my own. It’s a relief now that Neonfall is done, and I couldn’t be happier about it. If you haven’t already, consider checking it out.

I went with Neonfall-Seattle as the setting because of my interest in the Space Needle (which I have used in the Griffin Knight series), along with creating a futuristic counterpart to Seattle. This city resonates with me because of Shadowrun and because it’s where the mighty Colossus is located. Neonfall refers to the lights of Neonfall-Seattle, as well as the downfall of Seattle, to create a dystopian atmosphere. A believable setting, and with Bitcoin included, it creates an intrigue factor. Everyone hears about Bitcoin, but are they using it? What is the significance of it, and how will that play out with the story?

Read Neonfall to find out. It’s less than 40 pages.

And what would Neonfall be without my typical fast pace? Now, there are YouTube shorts, Instagram reels… videos are shorter and faster-paced. So why can’t I do this with fiction? I decided to try it out with the GK series, and it went well. But I am considering the future of the series.

Why atmosphere will always matter in the GK universe

Atmospheric thrillers have a place in my heart, especially when they take place around Halloween or Christmas. I feel like these seasonal stories work well. I want to do one with Valentine’s Day, or even the Fourth of July. Can you think of a movie or book that fits with one of these? I can.

This helps ground the Griffin Knight universe in reality. It makes it more believable, and even though there are supernatural elements in the Griffin Knight series, I want this to be grounded in reality more than my other works. But it’s fun to play around with “mad science.” I hope my readers enjoy my books. I’m sure they’re a great escape from the real world. I’ve read Do Nothing plenty of times, and I like it.

Atmosphere plays a part in my writing, even in the GK universe. Atmosphere can be external and emotional.

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