Brooks' journey into creative writing began with the roots of what would in time become Shardborne. At first, there was a simple bedtime story he would tell his daughter before she was even old enough to understand his words - his voice and gentle tone was enough to put her to sleep. In the story, there was a young girl who lived with her parents in a small cottage nestled in a beautiful forest glade. Brooks would add on a little each night, and the girl would venture further into the forest every day before returning home, meeting a variety of animals who could talk along the way, revealing more secrets of the forest with every new encounter.

 

As his daughter grew, her bedtime routine shifted to picture books and away from his story, but the story never left his mind. It grew and evolved into something much larger and for a more mature audience. In fact, Shardborne is an adventure consisting of five planned novels targeting the Young Adult audience, although those who have had an early peek say that Middle Grades and adult readers should enjoy the story as well.

 

Over the years, Brooks has spent many hours researching the inspiration for his fantasy world, including Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and Norse history and culture. He is especially interested in the folklore of the Orkney Islands, with its unique history of Celtic and Norse settlement and culture. When he is not writing, Brooks likes to spend time having fun with his wife and their two children, working on a home improvement project or three, or reading a good book while he enjoys some peaty Scotch whiskey and his pipe. 

 

Please consider joining Brooks on his literary journey. Sign up for his quarterly newsletter to stay updated on his progress and receive a free, exciting short story set in the world of Shardborne.