Trevor Jones's Blog
September 2, 2025
Why I write Dark
Why I write Dark
By Trevor Jones
Hello, Dear Readers,
Greetings from Kinthur and points beyond. Today, I tackle the question, Why do I write ‘Dark’? From my fantasy world of Kinthur to the tales I’ve written in the ‘real world’ and others, it has been noted that an underlying aspect of grim or dark characteristics is consistently prevalent. Why is that?
Like many authors, my style is something I’ve grown into and developed over the years, and seldom put into words or placed under a magnifying glass. The origins of these things are complex, but I shall endeavor to find their meaning, if not their source. I derive great enjoyment from writing about complex worlds and the characters that inhabit them. As a D&D Dungeon Master, I wove stories and tales that would have players facing challenges and obstacles of all sorts, but the ones I enjoyed the most were when they explored philosophical questions and moral ambiguities. It was often only after facing such brutal and emotional events that they, and I through them, would have a cathartic experience.
I always felt the genre of fantasy, much like sci-fi, provided a safe simulation of the world to have these sorts of ‘tests of faith and philosophy’. My fantasy world became a vast playground for me to depict the flawed characters facing harsh decisions, but always wrapped in compelling narratives.
In my writing, I think I seek the same. In this fiction, this fantastical lie I’ve woven, I wish to find some truths. By experiencing these trials in a fantasy world, my readers/ players and I are safe from the real-world consequences of the complex and disturbing themes. Fantasy characters have often been allegories to those issues we face in life.
So maybe I don’t write ‘Dark’ so much as I reflect the darkness of reality, and offer a safe place for you to face it.
Until next time, Keep Reading
Trevor Jones
By Trevor Jones
Hello, Dear Readers,
Greetings from Kinthur and points beyond. Today, I tackle the question, Why do I write ‘Dark’? From my fantasy world of Kinthur to the tales I’ve written in the ‘real world’ and others, it has been noted that an underlying aspect of grim or dark characteristics is consistently prevalent. Why is that?
Like many authors, my style is something I’ve grown into and developed over the years, and seldom put into words or placed under a magnifying glass. The origins of these things are complex, but I shall endeavor to find their meaning, if not their source. I derive great enjoyment from writing about complex worlds and the characters that inhabit them. As a D&D Dungeon Master, I wove stories and tales that would have players facing challenges and obstacles of all sorts, but the ones I enjoyed the most were when they explored philosophical questions and moral ambiguities. It was often only after facing such brutal and emotional events that they, and I through them, would have a cathartic experience.
I always felt the genre of fantasy, much like sci-fi, provided a safe simulation of the world to have these sorts of ‘tests of faith and philosophy’. My fantasy world became a vast playground for me to depict the flawed characters facing harsh decisions, but always wrapped in compelling narratives.
In my writing, I think I seek the same. In this fiction, this fantastical lie I’ve woven, I wish to find some truths. By experiencing these trials in a fantasy world, my readers/ players and I are safe from the real-world consequences of the complex and disturbing themes. Fantasy characters have often been allegories to those issues we face in life.
So maybe I don’t write ‘Dark’ so much as I reflect the darkness of reality, and offer a safe place for you to face it.
Until next time, Keep Reading
Trevor Jones
July 24, 2025
In the Beginning... or how Kinthur got its name.
In the beginning, a lone star shone upon a barren planetoid devoid of life, or so the story goes. Into this single-starred system came the first gods, three at that time, each with a purpose and design. Who, you may ask, were these beings?
The first was Krar, a mighty god of Law and Justice, bringing forth the turning that separated night from day. From his light, all darkness would flee.
The second to come forth was the goddess Intak, the Dancing One, who loved all the plants that grew in the light of Krar’s first day. When that first day ended and night came, it was Intak who hung the two moons in the sky to light her way as she danced among the willows and oaks.
The third to issue forth was the goddess, Tsar. From her heart came the love of the animals that wandered the world, swam in the oceans, and flew in the sky. They lived in a balanced cycle with the world and each other. Her favored animal was the cat, and Tsar would often take a feline form as she walked this new world.
Together, the gods of creation 1 took this tiny world and breathed life into it.
Nuntil came forth from the chaos of the Multi-verse, to leave their mark. A deity of immense....
read the rest on my patreon
https://www.patreon.com/posts/in-begi...
The first was Krar, a mighty god of Law and Justice, bringing forth the turning that separated night from day. From his light, all darkness would flee.
The second to come forth was the goddess Intak, the Dancing One, who loved all the plants that grew in the light of Krar’s first day. When that first day ended and night came, it was Intak who hung the two moons in the sky to light her way as she danced among the willows and oaks.
The third to issue forth was the goddess, Tsar. From her heart came the love of the animals that wandered the world, swam in the oceans, and flew in the sky. They lived in a balanced cycle with the world and each other. Her favored animal was the cat, and Tsar would often take a feline form as she walked this new world.
Together, the gods of creation 1 took this tiny world and breathed life into it.
Nuntil came forth from the chaos of the Multi-verse, to leave their mark. A deity of immense....
read the rest on my patreon
https://www.patreon.com/posts/in-begi...
July 17, 2025
Countdown to book launch, T minus 6 days.
July 17, 2025
Am I nervous? Yes, a bit. Each launch has been as different as each book. Partially because I learn something new each time, and partially because I keep trying different things. This time, I’m living in Costa Rica (semi-retired), so the launch is entirely virtual.
In the month preceding the official launch, book 1 of the Penta Ka Wa series has gone on sale for 99¢ in the hopes of gaining new readers.
Book 3 of the Penta Ka Wa series, entitled Lord of the Undead, sees Penta answer a call to the City. Being the first of its kind, the City is Kinthur’s experiment in a multi-cultural government, with representative ruling bodies.
As many of you know, my books are based in the world I created for my Dungeons and Dragons games. I started playing while in college, and each of my classes was chosen for how they would help my world-building process. I took three years of economics and two of government, just so I could better develop the countries that populate the world. All that aside, I’m proud of the next installment in the dark fantasy epic that Penta Ka Wa has developed into.
I’m equally proud of the collaborative series, Knights of Airygon, that my wife and partner, April Nia Rain started. She is hard at work on the rough draft of book 3 in that series, and we are projecting fall of 2025 for completing that. Both books will have audio version available soon as well.
None of this would be possible without readers. Those of you who have enjoyed the books and keep reading, and especially those who leave reviews for them. Reviews let authors, the all-important algorithm, and other readers know what you thought of our works. So if you haven’t already, please leave a review.
Am I nervous? Yes, a bit. Each launch has been as different as each book. Partially because I learn something new each time, and partially because I keep trying different things. This time, I’m living in Costa Rica (semi-retired), so the launch is entirely virtual.
In the month preceding the official launch, book 1 of the Penta Ka Wa series has gone on sale for 99¢ in the hopes of gaining new readers.
Book 3 of the Penta Ka Wa series, entitled Lord of the Undead, sees Penta answer a call to the City. Being the first of its kind, the City is Kinthur’s experiment in a multi-cultural government, with representative ruling bodies.
As many of you know, my books are based in the world I created for my Dungeons and Dragons games. I started playing while in college, and each of my classes was chosen for how they would help my world-building process. I took three years of economics and two of government, just so I could better develop the countries that populate the world. All that aside, I’m proud of the next installment in the dark fantasy epic that Penta Ka Wa has developed into.
I’m equally proud of the collaborative series, Knights of Airygon, that my wife and partner, April Nia Rain started. She is hard at work on the rough draft of book 3 in that series, and we are projecting fall of 2025 for completing that. Both books will have audio version available soon as well.
None of this would be possible without readers. Those of you who have enjoyed the books and keep reading, and especially those who leave reviews for them. Reviews let authors, the all-important algorithm, and other readers know what you thought of our works. So if you haven’t already, please leave a review.
June 26, 2025
It’s GO time!
This month marked a special and scary moment for me as an author. The funny thing about self-publishing is that you must wear all the hats. From conception to finished book is hard enough, but as an indie author, marketing, advertising, and the whole kettle of mutant fish is on your plate too!
Thankfully, my lovely wife will join the fray, and we can tackle all this together. This month, though, we hired a PR person to help us with a push towards increasing our online presence and getting our name out there. With Lord of the Undead expected to launch on July 23rd, we are excited and anxious going forward. We hope those of you who have followed along will be as excited to read the finished work as we are to bring it to you.
Thankfully, my lovely wife will join the fray, and we can tackle all this together. This month, though, we hired a PR person to help us with a push towards increasing our online presence and getting our name out there. With Lord of the Undead expected to launch on July 23rd, we are excited and anxious going forward. We hope those of you who have followed along will be as excited to read the finished work as we are to bring it to you.
June 12, 2025
Long Learning Curve
So...
I'm an indie author, which means everything from writing the book to publishing, to marketing & advertising, and everything else falls on my shoulders. Thankfully, I have a wife who is a co-author and a great partner.
We've seen that we have been neglecting Goodreads, both as a community of readers and a platform to help promote and share our works.
I hope this will the the first of many more blog posts to help increase engagement and get the word out.
Let me know if you have advice, words of wisdom, or warnings I need to pay heed to.
Thank you, dear readers.
~Trevor
I'm an indie author, which means everything from writing the book to publishing, to marketing & advertising, and everything else falls on my shoulders. Thankfully, I have a wife who is a co-author and a great partner.
We've seen that we have been neglecting Goodreads, both as a community of readers and a platform to help promote and share our works.
I hope this will the the first of many more blog posts to help increase engagement and get the word out.
Let me know if you have advice, words of wisdom, or warnings I need to pay heed to.
Thank you, dear readers.
~Trevor
