We’re excited to have “Hunter, Hunter” in Lightspeed! How did this story come into being and what are some of the inspirations behind it?

I wanted to write a story set in space or on a spaceship. My main focus is fantasy so whenever I write science fiction or horror, it is always a bit more challenging. This story was inspired by all the human migration stories and movies I’ve encountered but I wanted to add a twist—what if something went wrong midway?

In so many ways, Kari’s world breaks apart as her potential future is stitched together, and the story ends right at the precipice for change. When crafting plots that open up to new possibility like this, how far do you look into a character’s future and how do you decide where a given story should end? If you were to write about Kari’s next chapter in life, would her journey lead towards hope or towards despair?

Most times, I have an idea of where a story is going but how it gets there is up to it. For this story, I knew the general direction but because I don’t do too much plotting, I just followed the characters and cut out whatever didn’t fit. I always knew Kari’s story might seem incomplete, but it just felt right to end on that note, letting the readers imagine the future.

This story contains so much worldbuilding and backstory from the mutants deep in Fourth Quadrant to the last bastion of humanity flying into the unknown. Were there aspects of the worldbuilding or backstory that arrived particularly early or particularly late in the creation process?

The earliest concept was the nature of the spaceship. The possibility of splitting it into two was integral to the progress and conclusion, so that is what the rest of the story was built upon. I always knew Kari would be a hunter, so I just had to think about what she hunts and how this would help her character grow.

When drafting, which elements fall into place for you easily, and which take more intention to develop? When revising, which elements are most likely to change, and which take the most time and care to get just right?

I have found that the most difficult part of a story to write is the middle. Beginnings are easy and I always have an idea of how the story will end but linking those two usually takes some work. Sometimes, the roles of characters change entirely, and sometimes new motivations have to be introduced to make the MC’s journey more interesting. Basically, no two stories are the same and I am not the same writer every time. I do whatever the story requires.

What have you been working on lately? Are there any particular themes you’re exploring? Is there any exciting news you’d like to share?

My most recent story is “A Librarian’s Resolution in the Land of Demons” which was published by Beneath Ceaseless Skies in October 2025 (bit.ly/4pBj9aA). I am currently trying to finish my first book while querying for my fantasy novella that features Eshu, a recurring character in several Lightspeed stories. There is also an unfinished draft focused on the aftermath of this story, but that might require more time to be fully formed.