I wanted to take a moment to chat about why I write the kind of fantasy stories I do. I’ve always been obsessed with creating women who feel real—complex, flawed, strong in ways that go beyond just swinging a sword or using magic. It drives me crazy when women in fantasy are reduced to stereotypes or get stuck in those “of course” moments—you know the ones:
Of course she’s only there to be rescued.
Of course her motivations revolve around the nearest brooding man.
Of course the only reason she can fight is because she had seven older brothers and no mother, and they taught her to be like them.
Not here.
And on the flip side, male characters deserve just as much attention. Too often, they’re trapped in stereotypes as well. Just like we’re expanding how we write women, men need space to be more than the clichés we’re used to.
Let them be more varied.
More vulnerable.
Have interests, quirks, and personalities beyond being the tall, brooding, dark-haired warrior who sulks in a corner, unalives people, and doesn’t talk.
Honestly, how many guys like that do you actually know? That character would be a meme in real life.
I want my characters—men and women—to feel relatable, raw, and reflective of the quiet, inner strength real people show every day. When I look at the women in my life, they’re nothing like the narrow tropes we see in stories.
Why shouldn’t fantasy worlds reflect that richness?
The Importance of Representation
Fantasy, with its endless possibilities, should be a place where everyone can see themselves. Yet too often, it’s not.
Growing up, I noticed the same thing again and again: all the girls in stories were blonde. Barbies were blonde. Every lead in school plays? Blonde. And... I wasn’t. It felt strange never seeing myself in the characters around me.
And I’m as white as anything—thankfully not translucently so. (I pride myself on managing a slight tan now that I live in Australia.) But still, it made me think about perspectives. After all, if I feel unseen, how does a person of colour feel?
People I know, people who were my friends and I went to school with would never have seen themselves unless a book or movie was trying to meet their quote of ‘that’ sole token character.
At least I only had to worry about hair.
And sickness. I was sick a lot as a kid, and they never showed us in books. And if they did they were weakly and pathetic and annoying characters with personality issues, and I never identified that way. I took great offense that they didn’t think we could have character. A personality beyond our sickness. We’re the fighters and the survivors, after all. Showing sick/disabled/allergy people as a certain way is annoying.
I wanted to scream at them.
It’s why I’m intentional about creating diverse characters in my stories. Because the world around us is colourful and full of variety—why shouldn’t magical worlds reflect that too?
It was game changing the day I heard a young teenager reading a snippet of my book and whispering to herself, ‘She looks like me!’
That’s what we do it for.
Big Questions in Fantasy Worlds
And it’s not just about creating characters. This is the perfect segue into why I love using fantasy as a lens to explore big questions—stuff like the human condition, societal issues, and the way life just is. Because as much as writing is about writing about the humans we see around us, it’s about writing about the situations we see too. And adding a commentary.
There’s something freeing about exploring these topics within a fantasy world, let’s say starvation or slavery or homelessness, because it lets us look at them in new, unexpected ways. Maybe sometimes less confrontational ways that allow you to look at it with a wider heart.
Want to explore power structures, the nature of good vs evil, or why we can stomp our authority over someone else?
Sure, but why not do it with dragons, magical creatures, or ancient, forgotten gods?
Words and situations that spark the imagination and bring out that perfect mix of light and dark. Because, let’s be real, light and dark aren’t just black-and-white. I’m fascinated by the way they intertwine—finding the spark of goodness in the villain or the shadows hiding behind the hero’s smile. (People are never that goody-two-shoes.
Life is messy, varied, multicultural, grey and colourful all at once, and my stories reflect that.
Join the Adventure
At the end of the day, it’s about creating places where we can see ourselves, reflect on life, and maybe—just maybe—believe in a little magic again.
If you love stories filled with messy, real characters, thrilling adventures, and immersive worlds where anything is possible, come along for the journey.
Let’s have some fun. The magic’s waiting. Will you join me?
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