Beyond the Page: AUTHOR Q&A

James Odinson — Fri, 9 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

1. What inspired you to become a writer?

My first taste of writing was in my freshman year of college. I had a wonderful English Literature professor. She had us write a short story as an assignment, and she said I had a natural talent. She was so impressed that she had me read it to the class as an example. After that, I continued to write short stories, but never dreamed of actually becoming an author.

2. Where did the idea for Embers Unbound come from?

This is an easy one. I met the most wonderful woman. Scarlett literally stoked the embers that hid inside of me. I wrote a short story for her, and she recommended that I publish it. At the time, I was full of self-doubt, but she believed in me, and I learned to believe in myself along the way. From that spark, Embers Unbound ignited.

3. Which character was the easiest for you to write, and why?

I would LOVE to say James, but I’d be lying. Scarlett is the easiest to write. She has amazing inspiration, and it’s pretty easy to write about someone you love.

4. Which character surprised you the most as the story developed?

Kara, for sure! She started out as an extra for part three, but the personality just stuck with me. I HAD to write more of this character. It was only halfway through writing part ten that I realized I was writing a lot of myself into this character. That chaotic energy is the closest you will get to “James with a group of friends he is comfortable with.”

5. How much of your own personality or life experience makes its way into your characters?

All of it. I bled bare for Embers Unbound. I held back in the first nine parts, but when it finally clicked in story ten and I let go, it all spilled onto the page. In fact, when I finished story ten, I worked my way back, rewriting and republishing all nine stories the way they should be.

6. Do you outline your stories before writing, or do you discover them as you go?

Yes and no. For Embers Unbound, I made an outline for the majority of the stories, but for The Kara Chronicles, I had a vague direction I wanted to travel, and I am letting Kara’s chaos write.

7. What is the hardest part of writing a book for you?

Time. As of this Q&A, I have a day job, and that drastically interferes with the amount of time I get to dedicate to the story. Lots of caffeine and late nights.

8. What is your favorite part of the writing process?

My favorite part is the editing process. I KNOW. But I edit as I go, and when I am reading something back and it works, and it makes me laugh or makes me emotional, I know that will hit with the reader, and that is such a wonderful feeling.

9. Why did you decide to expand Kara into her own story with The Kara Chronicles?

Kara is one of those characters who deserves it. She reflects such a huge part of myself that stays dormant most of the time, and she was bursting to come out. By the end of story ten, I knew I had to continue her story.

10. What made you want to tell The Kara Chronicles as a comic?

It was almost a whim. My mind is very visual. I imagine every scene and play it out in my head until it feels right, and with Kara, her range of emotions demanded visual accompaniment.

11. How do you keep character personalities and continuity consistent across multiple stories?

I literally have multi-page dossiers, along with visual renderings, for each character, with highly detailed descriptions of their personalities, likes, dislikes, relationships, etc.

12. Is there a scene or moment you are especially proud of writing?

There is a scene in story ten when James is talking to a character named Matteo, without giving anything away, and I made a whole backstory for him while imagining and writing his scene. It became one of the most beautiful moments. I almost started a novel just for him.

13. Which character do you feel the most protective of as their creator?

Scarlett. I want her to be proud of her character, and I never want to disappoint her with her character’s direction or portrayal.

14. What do you hope readers feel after finishing one of your books?

I want readers to feel the same love and connection that Scarlett and I do when they read this. If my words and our stories portray even a glimmer of this, then I have done my job.

15. What do you think makes your writing style uniquely yours?

For one, I have never read contemporary romance or erotic literature. I normally read sci-fi, adventure, and classic literature. I think my lack of influence from the genre gives my writing a real, lived-in feeling that readers don’t see very often.

16. How has your writing changed since you started Embers Unbound?

I started Embers Unbound as an author who wasn’t sure of himself, and came out of story ten reborn. That is why I rewrote the other nine parts. I no longer hold back. I write what I feel, and readers can feel that on the page.

17. What have you learned about publishing that you wish you knew when you started?

Self-publishing as an indie author has been one of the most difficult ventures of my life. I had to learn the industry from the ground up, without a guide or direction. It takes dedication, perseverance, and a belief in yourself that you’ve never had before. But when that first person buys your book, or you get a fraction of a penny for someone reading on Kindle Unlimited, that is an indescribable feeling.

18. What is something readers might be surprised to learn about you as an author?

Continuity is so important to me. I will literally scour every word to make sure the details are consistent from the first page to the last. I can’t tell you how many hours I have spent reading and rereading pages to make sure that consistency is there from start to finish.

19. Are there characters or stories in the Embers Unbound universe that you still want to explore?

Absolutely. There are a couple of characters who really stood out to me and deserve their own future projects. Only time will tell.

20. What are you working on next?

Right now, I am working on The Kara Chronicles, both as a full-length novel and a graphic novel. The graphic novel is a new venture, but it has been a lot of fun so far. I am excited to see where the story goes. Also in the works is Embers Unbound Volume Two. This will take James and Scarlett to new and exciting places that NO ONE will expect.

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James Odinson | Updates

Beyond the Page: AUTHOR Q&A