A Story Years in the Making: The Journey Behind The Staff of Beckoning
To be completely honest, I was never into fantasy or science fiction. My exposure to epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana during my younger years seemed to have satisfied my thirst for intricate mythological worlds. But I couldn’t have been more wrong!
It all started when my wife picked up the first season of Game of Thrones on Blu-ray. The opening scene itself took my breath away, which compelled me to stop watching the show and pick up the books. If a director’s interpretation of these books could have such an effect on me, I had to employ my own imagination and see where these stories took me.
So, from 2012 to 2016, I was hooked. Beginning with A Song of Ice and Fire, I made my way through Tolkien’s realms and the futuristic visions of Asimov. Contemporary page-turners from authors like Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, and Patrick Rothfuss displayed the evolution and immensity of the genres. There were many more authors and series, of course, all of which gave me a profound appreciation for these works.
One day, in the midst of another saga, I casually mentioned to my wife, “You know, I think I’d like to write one of my own.”
“Then do it!” she replied encouragingly.
Those three words set the wheels in motion for what would become The Staff of Beckoning. Before writing Book 1, I began by mapping out the entire series, carefully planning out the existence, characters, plot points, and themes that would build A Symphony of Spheres. Next came writing the manuscript during a time when I was balancing a busy engineering job, working as a flight instructor, and adjusting to life as a new parent. But I soldiered on with writing whenever I could and finished the manuscript in 2018, complete with editing and proofreading.
Despite reaching that milestone, life pushed me in a different direction. Between work, raising our daughter, and COVID, the project had to be put on hold. After a couple of cross-country moves, we finally settled into our homesteading lifestyle in Vermont, embracing a quiet, serene life while staying engaged in our community.
Then, something remarkable happened. I was on a trip to India to visit my family, found some time on my hands in between events, and unearthed the manuscript. Maybe it was being back in my previous homeland or the free time, but I felt a strong draw towards the imagined existence I had put down so long ago. And now, here we are.
The Staff of Beckoning is the first book in A Symphony of Spheres series. It merely begins the larger narrative that explores the delicate balance between fantasy and reality and the timeless questions of identity, purpose and destiny. Stay tuned for more updates, sneak peeks, and the official trailer launch. Exciting things are on the way, and I can’t wait for you to join me on this adventure.
