Hello there!
I am a self-published author with a passion for environmental conservation and high fantasy. With a background in biological sciences, I am a trained lifeguard, diver, animal handler and keeper, an experienced public speaker, showman, and teacher. Influenced by Star Wars, rpg’s, fantasy-nonfiction, and historical and social fiction and nonfiction, I created the Heroes of Reighja series which melds together the best of classic and contemporary storytelling. The next few pages will give you an insight into my literary background, favorite novels, and some fun pictures and storytelling about three of my life-changing passions.
"I'm going on an adventure!" -Bilbo Baggins
From Mos Eisley to the Shire, Hogwarts to Hyrule Castle, the Hidden Leaf Village to the realm of Narnia, I’ve always loved stories that pull me into their own worlds, let me see through another’s eyes, and provide perspectives and lessons that I can transpose onto my own experiences. When I was a kid, I traveled time and space through the Magic Treehouse. As I grew older, I took up the sword and embarked on epic quests through Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” in addition to Jim Butcher's “The Dresden Files” and Piers Anthony’s Xanth novels. I’ve traveled to a galaxy far, far away by authors including Timothy Zahn, Karen Traviss, and Michael Stackpole.
My fascination with good stories has never been limited to the fictional realms I adore. I have fond memories of my high school literature class reading and interpreting stories such as “Picture of Dorian Gray,” “1984,” "The Things They Carried", and “Poisonwood Bible.” More recent works I’ve enjoyed are “The Last Mughal,” and “Killing Keiko.” Everywhere I go I see a story worth telling; people whose lives should be shared and celebrated, and differences in culture and perspective that have broadened my own horizons.
While I’ve always dabbled in short stories and headcanon, I was never serious about a writing career until the good ole year of 2020 during some sort of global pandemic or something? Who knows what really happened (sarcasm). I had been working on a fantasy story for the last two years that had been cobbled together just for fun and the experience of writing. While quarantined in my apartment in San Diego, a brother of mine, Jordan Hampton, who was already working on his own novel (at https://www.authorjordanhampton.com), convinced me to really use this opportunity to take my shambled story and turn it into something amazing.
I had always wanted to try my hand at writing and literally had nothing better to do, so I sat down and cranked out the first manuscript of my first novel which was an exhilarating escape from my cage of an apartment. I had countless materials to study and a strong understanding of science and fantasy to draw inspiration from my own experiences and create compelling and fun characters and narratives. With an emphasis on the importance of empathy, perspective, and environmental stewardship, I created the rolling hills, towering mountains, and scorching deserts of the mystical and awe-inspiring continent of Reighja. I am thankful for the ability to share my stories with you and hope they help you to grow into the person your younger self would be proud of and needed.