Introduction

Hello! I am an upcoming author working on my first novel: The Fifth Mark Series. Over the past two years, I have been developing my complex world with dynamic characters in hopes of bringing my fantasy story to life.

Writing this epic, dark fantasy has become a significant part of my personal world. From writing in my car due to inspiration or at my desk. To finding new friends and groups to assist me through the process. Starting with zero words on a page to over 1200 pages, I step back and admire the hard work put into this story.

Writing has become a center piece in my life and I embrace the challenges of creation. It seems silly, but writing my world has become therapeutic. Though, when writer's imposter syndrome hits and I feel that my world isn't good enough to be on self makes the process challenging. Thank goodness for self care routines! Having a routine to practice self care helped me overcome the feeling that my story won't stand with others.

I am excited to be wrapping up book 1 as the year ends and half way done with book 2. My writing goal for 2025 is to publish Book 1: Summons of the Void in the fall.

The Inspiration Behind the World

How did I create the Fifth Mark Series?

I have been daydreaming of a fantasy world known as the Realm of Kenós, to escape too since I was little. A world filled with magick, adventure, creates of imagination, and dragon souls, no matter what happens, will always be with me.

Major inspirations came from Lord of the Rings, of course. Other movies and shows threatened in the earlier 2000s. Such as The 13th Warrior, Gladiator, and Kingdom of Heaven.

And...books!

I love to read any fantasy book with dragons. My deep fascination and love for the beast came from my father who often played Dungeons and Dragons at our house. I would be playing with my toys while listening to their epic journey of role playing.

Music

All my chapters have theme songs from various genre of music. After a day in the real world, I would turn on my headphones and escape into my playlist. Each song resonates with a certain character. Like a diver into a pool, I dive into my fantasy realm. Listening for hours, creating in my mind in a 3-D movie for each section or chapter. Music is the water for the seeds of my imagination.

Designing the Landscape

Fifth Mark's landscape created its own features.

The characters in the book showed me the landscapes and significant geographic features. With exception to a forest called: The Death Weaver's Forest. This is a major woodland terrain in my story.

Using my gift that I call, author's sight, the characters and world showed me in a movie like picture in my head what their world appear as. From towering mountains to dark forest, the characters dedicated the landscape around them and I was there to watch.

After the draft is written on paper, I start to iron out the worldbuilding. I created a complex excel spread sheet to capture kingdoms, cities, culture and social importance and they landscape. Any trade challenges or religions impacts. I refer to this spread sheet as My Master Worldbuilding Sheet. Constantly referencing or updating the sheet to maintain a solid knowledge bank I can whip out any time.

Inhabiting the Realm of Kenós

Main inhabitants in my fantasy realm are two races: human, Dérkomai, and Drakos. Both cohabiting the eight Houses of the Imperium.

The realm focuses on the Dérkomai. A race who were once human until they agree to soul bound to ancient spirit; the Drakos. Drakos were once great draconic beast who ruled the realm of Kenós. They were hunted to extinction by their greater ancient enemy. Now whispering spirits. Wishing to live once again. What if they could?

They forge a soul contract with the humans. Reliving the world through their human while the human experiences the Drakos’s power. Together, creating the Realm of Kenós. Forging allies and enemies. But will their chosen human succumb to their Drakos's ambitions? Or will the serpent-beasts return to dust?

Magick and Mysticism

All the magick in the Realm of Kenós is created by an energy called ether. The Dérkomai use their Drakos's ether to control the elements, plants, and animals. In order for the human body to sustain the large pool of Drakos ether, their body adapted to create an additional organ. The Kardi.

The Kardi is the heart of the Drakos. Located above the stomach, the Drakos heart pumps ether into the human blood to the human heart, where it is distributed throughout the body. The blood circulates back to the Kardi where the human blood is mixed with the Drakos's ether.

There are some humans who can tap into the natural ether of the realm; becoming witches or wizards. However, their power is nothing compared to the Dérkomai's.

Snice the Dérkomai are the dominate race in magickal power, they have established themselves as Gods and Goddess. Worshiped, loved and fear by the common people. The religion of the realm is based on powerful Dérkomai bonded to celestial Drakos.

All ruled by the Divine Emperor. A Dérkomai bound the first Drakos bond by the family bloodline. The Dérkomai bond by both their owe Drakos and the Divine Drakos, is the ruler of all Dérkomai and the underworld. Over the ages, the Divine Emperors created a kingdom; the Imperium to rule over both Dérkomai and human. Without the Emperor's connection to the Divine Drakos, there would be no Dérkomai.

Plot Development

Central conflicts in the Realm of Kenós form from the Dérkomai houses. Two houses: the Imperium and the False House, have been at their throats for nearly forty years. No one knows why, only that the False seeks to end the Divine Emperor and his family. Their tension lead to betrayal, sorrow, heroism, and discovering lost secrets of the Lost Era.

A kingdom in the far north eastern part of the world; Kingdom of Estovia declared freedom from Dérkomai rule. Establishing a human only kingdom on the bones of the Dérkomai lost cavillations vanished over thousand years ago. Known as the Lost Era. Their secrets wait to be rediscovered.

Challenges Faced in World Building

Reflecting on the difficulties I encountered while creating my fantasy world is the depth of the plot tied to religion and spiritual journeys the characters experience. I would describe my writing of a section as an onion; adding layer after layer of content within the section. To assist me in keeping track information, I create various master spread sheet as references and ensuing I am consistent in the realm's rules and religious ties to ancient civilizations.

Personal growth and skills gained through overcoming obstacles of research and finding a term I notated somewhere in the sea of pages. Gaining skill in creating my own templates in excel to write down information has tremendous value for me. I can open a character tracker or glossary and locate what I am searching for as I am writing a section or chapter.

Lessons Learned

Importance of patience and perseverance in creative endeavors are main lesson in my personal journey with Fifth Mark. Finding a balance between capturing the creative and finding real terms or beliefs in our ancient cavitations. Adding layers to the already complex world of Kenós.

I value feedback from close friends in both my personal and author groups. Seasoned authors guided me through the writing process, the ups and downs to creating a massive world. Both on paper and my mental blocks. I never gave up on showing my fantasy story to readers. New writers will often hear 'trust the process,' and they should. Writing a process, a skill learned over time not a quick dot down and call it art.

Writing is an art and the more you write the better the content. Don't give up on your dream of writing. A mentor once said to me: 'The characters picked you to tell the world their story, its but to you to decide if you do or not.'

I abide by those words every time I am in a slump. My characters handpicked me to write their complex world cause they knew I can handle it. Remember that when you hit a road block. Only you can write that story.

Conclusion

Taking over two years to develop my complex world with dynamic characters seems appropriate. Ensuing the reader experience is achieve through my expectations of a solid edited book, relatable characters, and easy to follow ancient terms or beliefs.

I take my time to ensure every sentence is correct. Every chapter has meaning and not a scene thrown into the book. Complex layered not just in the section, but also outside through the chapter number meaning in numerology, ensuing the title is stated in the section, creating footnotes of ancient terms. Once published, I also wish to add maps to chapters where characters travel to so the reader doesn't leave the page to find the map.

With all these expectations on top of writing the 1200 page book, two years seem fast in comparison. Creatively is not time redistricted, only your boundaries keep your imagination from taking root and growing into something incredible.

Keep writing my fellow authors.