As I prepared for the launch of Char & Ash, I reevaluated my author bio and contemplating the challenges of maintaining an audience in these polarizing times. It's a delicate balance to be both spiritually minded and a fan of hard science fiction. To be a mythophile and a futurist. My work is character-driven and emotionally charged, drawing inspiration from sometimes uncomfortable folklore (without staring too long at the abyss) while embracing action. I often wonder about the nature of subversion today compared to two decades ago. Who or what am I subverting? What do I hope to achieve with my novels? How can I challenge expectations while telling the stories of gods and heroes who have matured while others have not?

I recently sought the advice of a branding expert friend of mine, who didn't hesitate to respond, "It’s not that hard, dude. You're a punk."

Punks challenge societal norms, defy expectations, and blend subversion with aspects of conventionality they can tolerate. They speak their minds, fight against corporate dominance, and live life on their own terms. In my writing, I explore the realms of strange fiction withthought-provoking and emotional works. My stories involve intense battle sequences, compelling characters who display vulnerability, and a fusion of the absurd and the surreal. I also delve into themes of family, human fallibility, and the actions of avenging gods.

Realism is not my focus, except for the intricate connections between characters. My vivid and surreal characters include gods, heroes, and humans with mystical side pursuits. They resist when pushed, provoke when necessary, and comfort their children when they have nightmares. My stories encompass a wide range of elements, from the ordinary to the extraordinary, from the sound of cracking knuckles to the softness of lullabies. The cast of the Judge of Mystics Saga spans from warring gods to rebellious sons escaping their fathers' mead halls, to cleaning ladies who believe they know what's best for humanity.

I challenge societal norms by blending queerness and faith, envisioning a dystopian world on the verge of transformation and healing. By the end, I promise a series by Sapha Burnell will fulfill a reader, and bring peaceful closure. My strange fiction explores the realms of super soldiers, artificial intelligence, and mythological gods in the cyberpunk Lieben Cycle and the mythpunk Judge of Mystics Saga.

Challenging the current cultural norms and established orthodoxy is not without its fears. Particularly when I refuse to align myself with the "us versus them" mentality prevalent in the Western world. The radicalism of the early days of punk subculture may have evolved, but the underlying anger towards corrupt authority, the pursuit of experiential and emotional liberation, and the explosive creativity remain. Riot grrrl feminism and resistance against corporate influence in fashion and arts are still prevalent.

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Yet, fear lingers within me. I fear going too far or having a character mistakenly associated with my own beliefs. It's another aspect of myself that I must subvert and resist as I continue to create my strange, emotional, and turbulent works.

So, join me on this journey. I promise there will be heart-pounding moments and enough warmth to soothe the impact of the more intense scenes. Let's transgress boundaries, question the status quo, and witness the collapse of stagnant ideals.