Page 61 - Novelist Post – J.D. Barker and more

mental juggling act. Second, the writing itself. I’m not a fast writer, and I don’t have the luxury of writing full-time. I aim to finish one novel—or two novellas—a year, which can be tough with my schedule. I’ve got so many stories
I want to tell before my time runs out, and the pressure to get them all out is very real.
How did working on the Awakened comic book series impact your storytelling in Zebulon?
It taught me the power of storyboarding. Working with Josh Skidmore on Awakened helped me understand pacing, scene planning, and how to visually structure a story—even when writing a novel instead of drawing panels. Now, I outline every story with key events and interactions, and that visual planning makes my writing much more focused and intentional.
What excites you most about the upcoming Zebulon Tabletop RPG?
I’m thrilled that the story is expanding beyond the page. Publis- hing a book is great, but creating something interactive—where players can build their own stories using my world—is on another level. It means people care enough about what I’ve made to dive into it themselves. I’m also working on audiobooks with sound effects to enhance the experience further and draw people even deeper into the world of Zebulon.
If you could collaborate with any author or artist, who would it be and why?
As cliché as it sounds, Tolkien. His influence on my writing is undeniable—The Lord of the
Rings and The Hobbit sparked my imagination as a kid. I’d also love to work with Neil Gaiman for his masterful blend of mythology and storytelling. Artistically, I admire Jakub Rozalski for his eerie, atmospheric style, and I’ve been lucky enough to work with @little. normal.iris, a fantastic fantasy artist whose work fits perfectly with the Zebulon universe.
What advice would you give aspiring authors building immersive fantasy worlds?
Research and write. Dive into his- tory, mythology, culture—anything that can help build a believable world. Use real-world references to ground your fantasy in something familiar. Most importantly, just start writing. Don’t wait to be per- fect. Editors can clean up grammar and structure, but they can’t fix a story that was never written.
PHOTO: Stephen Hecker, multi-award-winning author and artist, brings his expansive imagination to life through novels, tattoos, and immersive fantasy worlds.
Time is my most valuable resource.
— Stephen Hecker
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