Writing in the Shadows

Finishing Shadow Empire felt like reaching the summit of a very steep, very unstable mountain. I typed the final words, did a small (and silent) fist pump — and then came the terrifying thought: Now what?

Because the truth no one tells you about finishing your first novel is this — the characters don’t stop talking. Not if they’re any good.

Jensen, Joseph, Ming-Yue, Guiying, Ezra… they didn’t ride off into the sunset. They loitered.

The Sequel Dilemma

Writing a sequel is not the same as writing a first novel. There’s expectation now. Structure. Continuity. People notice if you give someone a scar in Chapter 3 that mysteriously disappears by Chapter 18 .

I’m no longer just telling a story. I’m building a world. One where AI assistants deliver snark, governments turn a blind eye to the truth, and ex-spies have to make hard calls while navigating the greyest shades of morality.

And honestly? It’s addictive.

Same Tools, Different Stakes

I don’t have a perfect writing routine. I fit it in where I can — outside in the car, in five-minute bursts over coffee, or during gaps in the day that were probably meant for something else. It’s a bit haphazard, but somehow, the words keep coming.

But now I trust it a bit more.

The sequel (working title still under wraps) is set in Prague, with echoes of Cold War secrets and a mysterious list that people are willing to kill for and maybe a twist or two. It’s more layered, more personal, and yes — there’s more Ezra. Because apparently, sarcasm sells.

What Keeps Me Going

It’s not just caffeine and sheer bloody-mindedness.

It’s messages from readers. People who finished Shadow Empire and asked, “When’s the next one?”It’s my son, still asking me if a certain character might come back. It's the joy of seeing something that started as a “what if” become a world with rules, consequences, and the occasional high-speed car chase.

And maybe — just maybe — it’s knowing that somewhere out there is someone who thinks it’s too late to start their own story.

It’s not.

More soon.