Stamped by Nyx

Dear Inkwalkers,

Since 2021, I have been working my debut dark fantasy novel Remember The Moon. What started as a mere pipe dream has grown into one of the most in-depth and rewarding projects I have had the pleasure of creating. As I have stated before, I know my writing is not perfect – and that is okay. Writing is not about perfection; it is about progress and growth. While perfectionism and writer’s block have been constant battles, I have pushed through, determined to bring this story to life. Today, I am excited to share a behind-the-scenes look at my book with my fellow Inkwalkers – along with a special sneak peek.

The Inspiration Behind The Story:

When I first started writing my book, Remember The Moon, I was around seventeen years old. During that time, I loved reading books like the Violet Eden Chapters by Jessica Shirvington, Penryn and the End of Days by Susan Ee, and Angel Fire by Courtney Allison Moulton – along with many others in the same vein. I would not call myself religious by any means, but I absolutely fell in love with the fallen angel/angel bad-boy trope these stories explored.

In addition to my love of The Mortal Instruments, Divergent, Maximum Ride, and The Hunger Games, I came up with what I thought was a brilliant book idea. However, Remember The Moon did not start out with that name. My original title was Faeries vs Angels, and while I knew that I would eventually change the name, I was not sure what it would change to. What I did know was that I wanted two popular mythical creatures at the heart of my story.

In my first draft, both my male and female protagonists were going to be half-Fae. Where exactly would the angels fit into the plot? I had no clue. I suppose I was still figuring that out when I decided to scrap most of it and start fresh.

What I did keep, however, were the faeries. They have always fascinated me, and their vast, intricate world gave me so much creative freedom. Their ability to exist between worlds and their connection to nature were elements I wanted to weave into my novel. Even just the concept of the Seelie and Unseelie Courts gave me room to expand and make something uniquely my own.

At its core, this story also explores themes of family, self-discovery, and just how one small journey can spark a life-changing transformation —in this case, discovering you must fight an evil force lurking in the shadows.

Crafting The World And Setting:

World-building is one of the most important aspects of novel writing. It shapes the atmosphere, the rules, and the very essence of the story. I have spent countless hours plotting, mapping, and trying to create the world my characters are part of. But one thing I have learned along the way, is that I am not great at following my own outlines.

 I am a pantser at heart. I fly by the seat of my pants and I let the story unfold as I write. While I do take notes (a habit I have had to force myself to develop), my world often expands and shifts as I write. I have to remind myself to keep track of things so that I do not contradict my own lore.

The novel begins in a quiet little town called Beauset, one of the few locations I actually planned in full detail. Its inspiration came from the small towns I have lived in, places where everyone knows everyone, and where it feels both comforting and confining.

Outside of Buckadosa, the world stretches into more mysterious places such as fantasy-like towns, ancient forests, and a lot of uncharted land. Many of these places were loosely inspired by state parks I used to hike in with my family. The almost mystical feeling of these places have a strong presence to me and it has made its way into my book.

 It was not until later in my writing process that I realized I needed a functioning money system. That is when Ranva was created – a coin-based currency that fits into the world. I had not planned for money to play a large role, so I kept the system as simple as possible. But even the small details like this help make fantasy worlds feel real and lived-in.

One of my favorite parts of creating the world of Remember The Moon is drawing inspiration from different cultures and myths. I wanted my world to be expansive – where faeries, elves, and satyrs interact with creatures from lesser-known folklore. Instead of forcing my world to fit rigid rules, I let it evolve, welcoming the stories and being that wanted to exist within it.

 Take pucks, for example. They are an existing part of mythology, so I worked with their already established lore, shaping my story around them rather than changing what makes them unique. But then there are creatures like the Lupree and Uzzath – creatures  that came entirely from my own imagination.

Uzzath is still one of my biggest mysteries for the book as it is a force unlike any other in the novel’s world. It has no physical form, yet it can be seen. It is neither real nor fake. It is an essence – an untamed, unknowable power that embodies fear, darkness, destruction, and something far beyond human comprehension. Even as the writer, I am still discovering what Uzzath truly is. And that is what excites me the most as I continue to expand and grow the universe.

The Main Characters And Their Development:

Besides learning that I am horrible at following my own outlines, I have also learned that my characters have a mind of their own. Carme started out as Maeve, a character who was supposed to be an angry, stubborn teenager. Instead, she turned into an anxiety-ridden introvert. In both characters, she was always meant to be strong and independent, but she became far more headstrong than I anticipated. Over the course of the story, Carme steps up to the occasion and grows a lot as a person.

Like Carme, Alessandro originally went by a different name – Mateo. He has always carried a quiet intensity and vast knowledge base, which is quite fun to explore. After reading my original draft for the first time since 2021/2022, I was surprised to see that I had portrayed Alessandro (Mateo) as a bit of a player, while in Remember The Moon he now is a peaceful sweetheart. Though, he still has his smooth-talking moments from time to time.

Their bond, even after being apart for years, became the emotional core of the story. The way that Carme and Alessandro interact – how they fight, protect, and sometimes misunderstand each other – was something I really wanted to focus on, especially considering how much time they spend together.

And then there are side characters – the ones who seemed minor but snuck into the narrative and refused to leave. (Yes, I am looking at you, mysterious being with a past that I still have yet to fully uncover.)

Writing The Story: Challenges And Triumphs:

Writing Remember The Moon has been a journey of its own. I am still in the process of editing it, but I can say that it is my final round. There have been moments where words flowed effortlessly and moments where I questioned everything. Some scenes surprised me even though I was the one writing them, while others took days and multiple rewrites to feel just right. As a writer, I will always want my writing to be perfect, but if I were to wait until it is perfect, it will never be published.

Besides writing and editing (if you know, you know), my biggest challenge has been overcoming my fear of putting myself out there and sharing one of my biggest creations. There is a bit of myself in between every line and page. The more I write, the more of myself I leave behind. My characters are inspired by people I know, even briefly, and the places are based off of where I have been and where I hope to be.

Finishing my first draft was an incredible moment as I had finally seen something through to the end. As I continue Carme and Alessandro’s story, there are even adventures ahead. Now that I am nearing its completion, I cannot wait to finally share this story with the world and with those who are willing to read it.

Sneak Peak Of Remember The Moon ~ Chapter 1: The Beginning:

“My eyes roamed over the bookshelf-lined wall as I sat in bed. The meticulously placed pictures between books stared back, taunting my sleeplessness. With a sigh, I crawled from under the blankets to push open the window. Cool air rushed in as I closed my eyes, letting the breeze caress my face and fill my room.

A familiar hint of sweetness lingered in the air, filling me with peace as I stood beneath the bright glow of the full moon. It was a quiet comfort, always there to listen to me, despite being millions of miles away. She has heard my quiet musings and retellings of strange dreams that I could not tell anyone else.

Glancing from the moon to the fence that had been built when I was a kid, I thought back to the reason why it was built in the first place. Alessandro and I were six, and when our ball rolled to the tree line, we wanted to be big kids and get it ourselves. We did not realize the tree line kept shifting further and further away from where it was until there was no tree line. There was nothing but trees and brush with no house in sight. Our parents eventually found us a few feet deep in the woods, and ever since then, I was not allowed back in them and the tall, wooden fence was put up.

Since then, every birthday, without fail, Dad would give me a speech on how the woods were dangerous and how I should never go in them or near them. That there were things in the trees that would snatch me and take me away, never to be seen again. But every time I look at those trees, something tugs at invisible strings, beckoning me to take a step into the overgrown grass and disappear behind its thick foliage.

A faint melody danced through the window with a strong breeze, pulling me from my memories. It was a familiar sound; one I had grown fond of as it would drift in almost every night. A smile spread across my face as I swayed to the rhythm.

As though my rare dreams had come to life, enchantment flooded my senses, wrapping me in its embrace. Each time I opened my eyes, reality seemed so far away – like I was not real at all. I spun and spun until my room faded away, replaced by a grand hall bathed in the warm glow of hundreds of lanterns. Tables and chairs were pushed to the side, lining the deep, brown walls. Human and animal-like creatures danced fluidly with me, as though I had always belonged among them.

Joy overrode the pain that radiated from the balls of my feet. As time passed, the cool air from my open window grew stronger, sweeping over my bare arms and keeping me cool. Hands and arms grasped mine, pulling me from one partner to the next in an endless dance.

And in an instant, the exhilarating music, the strong breeze, and the intoxicating sweetness vanished. Leaving only silence and stillness.

Time stood depressingly still as I stood in the middle of my room. The moon had long since set, leaving the sun to cast shadows against the shelves and walls. Tears burned my eyes, and my lungs struggled for air. The comfort, the familiarity, the happiness…it was all gone, and it made my heart ache for something that would never be real.”