Creative Pathways: Stories, Poems, and Finding Your Voice
Creativity rarely travels in a straight line.
Sometimes it arrives through a story told chapter by chapter.
Sometimes through a quiet poem that gives us permission to speak.
Sometimes through discovering new voices—new worlds—at exactly the right moment.
This winter, I’m inviting readers and writers into several creative pathways that connect story, imagination, and courage.
📖 Fridays on the Podcast: Dark Blade Forged (Fiction Readings)
Every Friday on the podcast, I’m sharing fiction readings from Dark Blade Forged—the opening novel of The Dark Blade Trilogy.
These readings are a chance to:
- Step into an epic fantasy world of faith, doubt, justice, and choice
- Experience the story in a slower, more reflective way
- Listen as scenes unfold aloud—sometimes revealing emotional layers that land differently in audio
Whether you’re already familiar with Dan Torren’s journey or discovering the Dark Blade for the first time, these Friday episodes are meant to be an immersive pause in your week—a reminder of why stories matter.
If you enjoy epic fantasy with heart, light-versus-dark themes, and characters wrestling with responsibility and belief, I’d love for you to listen along.
✍️ January Release: To Speak — Poems of Inspired Courage
In January, I’m releasing a new poetry collection:
To Speak: Poems of Inspired Courage
This book grew out of seasons where my voice felt more like embers than flame—quiet, uncertain, but still alive.
To Speak explores:
- Creativity and calling
- Courage in imperfect expression
- Faith, doubt, and grace
- The slow reclaiming of voice
While Dark Blade Forged explores courage through story and action, To Speak approaches it through reflection and prayerful honesty. Different forms. The same heart.
🚀 Discover New Stories: Sci-Fi & Fantasy Short Reads (On Sale)
Alongside my own projects, I also love helping readers discover new speculative fiction voices.
Right now, I’m part of a science fiction & fantasy short fiction sale—a curated collection of stories from multiple authors, available at a special price:
👉 Explore the collection here:
https://books.bookfunnel.com/scififanshorts/nmzn2pjhb0
This sale also includes my science fiction novella Liftoff, a story that explores:
- First contact and human resilience
- Fear, hope, and the cost of courage
- Ordinary people facing extraordinary choices
Short fiction and novellas offer another powerful creative pathway:
- Bite-sized worlds
- Big ideas in small spaces
- Perfect for busy readers or creative refueling
If you enjoy sampling new authors or reading between longer books, this sale is a great way to explore fresh voices and imaginative concepts.
🌱 One Creative Thread
At first glance, these might look like separate things:
- A fantasy novel read aloud
- A poetry collection releasing soon
- A short fiction and novella sale
But at their core, they’re connected by the same invitation:
To step into creativity.
To listen.
To speak.
To imagine.
Whether you’re listening to a chapter on Friday, reading a poem in January, or discovering a new short story today, I hope these pathways encourage you—both as a reader and as a creative soul.
Thank you for walking them with me.