Five Elements, Five Voices: The Heart Behind The Elemancer Chronicles
If you’d told my seventeen-year-old self that the story I started back then would one day grow into a seven-book series — and that each book would be inspired by one of my own kids — I probably would’ve laughed.
But here we are.
What began as a world of elemental magic has become a tapestry of five voices, each book quietly passing the story to the next. It’s a family of stories, and a story about family.
The Beginning I Didn’t Expect
When I first started this journey, I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. I’ve told this story many times, but the truth is that The Elemancer Chronicles started when I was seventeen years old.
Back then, I had a few characters, a half-drawn map, and a head full of ideas. I worked on it for a couple of years, but life caught up. I got a career, started a family, and, like so many creative dreams, it got tucked away. I thought maybe I’d return to it someday.
That someday didn’t come until nearly fifteen years later.
About five years ago, my wife and I were traveling around the country with our kids in a camper. Every night, after a long day on the road, we’d sit around the campfire. The kids would ask for stories, and one night, I started telling them about a world I’d once created — a place of elemental magic, ancient ruins, and hidden light. They were completely hooked.
They begged me to write it. They made it sound so simple — “Dad, just write it down!”
So I did.
That’s when I decided to finally get serious about finishing the story I’d started all those years ago. It’s hard to believe that was only five years ago. Since then, I’ve written nearly three full-length novels in the series. And it’s been one of the most challenging, humbling, and rewarding things I’ve ever done.
How the Story Has Evolved
What’s interesting about returning to a world you built as a teenager is that it changes with you.
The original version of The Elemancer Chronicles looked very different from what readers know now. The tone, the depth, even the themes — everything matured as I did. The story grew up.
When I started again, I realized that the heart of this series wasn’t just adventure or fantasy; it was about growth, redemption, and the fight to hold onto light in a dark world. The magic system — based on five elements: air, water, earth, fire, and light — became the foundation, but it was never really about power. It was about purpose.
And because I was in a different place in life — as a husband and father — the story began to take on new meaning. The characters started to feel like family… literally.
Five Elements, Five Children
I have five kids. Early on, I made a decision that completely changed how I wrote these books: each of the five main characters would be loosely inspired by one of them.
They’re not direct copies — more like reflections of their hearts, personalities, and quirks. Through them, I wanted to capture not just who my kids are, but who they’re becoming. Each character wrestles with something real, something that mirrors the growing pains of learning courage, leadership, empathy, honesty, and perseverance.
Finnean is adventurous and curious, with a sharp mind and a restless heart. But like my son Landon, he sometimes gets in his own way — too focused, too passionate, too wrapped up in the details to see the bigger picture. He’s clever and driven, but his true battle is with courage: doing the right thing even when it’s hard. Finnean’s journey is about moving past fear into conviction — showing that real bravery isn’t the absence of fear, but pressing forward in spite of it.
Aurora naturally wants to lead. She’s caring and protective, often the one trying to hold everyone together — but she can also be a little bossy when things go off course. Like Emmalyn, she carries that motherly instinct that wants to make everything right. Her growth comes through learning that true leadership isn’t about control, but about service — guiding with humility, listening as much as she speaks, and trusting others to rise beside her.
Seraphina is empathetic and gentle, with a deep love for nature and animals. She feels things intensely, like Addison, and often becomes the quiet center of calm amid chaos. But empathy can become a burden when you carry the pain of others too deeply. Seraphina’s story is about learning to balance compassion with strength — to care deeply without being consumed, and to let her gentleness become a source of quiet power.
Phoenix is bold, brilliant, and unfiltered. She says exactly what she thinks — sometimes before she should — and that’s part of her charm. Like Bailee, she’s sharp and fearless, with a spark that refuses to be dimmed. Her challenge is learning that truth without grace can wound as much as it heals. Phoenix’s journey teaches her to pair boldness with wisdom — to speak light, not just heat, into the world around her.
Rogue is playful, stubborn, and fiercely determined. She is who she is, no apologies. Like Brynlee, she brings laughter and fire wherever she goes. Her stubbornness, though, often leads her into trouble — she has to learn when determination becomes pride. Rogue’s arc is about channeling that fierce independence into perseverance and faith — choosing to keep going, not just because she’s strong, but because she believes.
Even their ages and sibling dynamics match my real family. That personal connection gave me a compass. Every choice — from dialogue to motivation — was filtered through that lens of love, growth, and grace. Writing them became a way to explore not only who my children are, but who they’re becoming — and how, through them, I’m still learning too.
Building the Story: A Passing of the Baton
Writing a series with five central siblings has been both exciting and incredibly challenging.
Each of the first five books centers around one of them and their element:
Windborne Fate — Finnean, Air
Changing Tides — Aurora, Water
Hollow Bloom — Seraphina, Earth
Book Four — Phoenix, Fire
Book Five — Rogue, Light
The sixth and seventh books will bring everything together — less about introducing new powers, and more about uniting what’s been learned.
But one of the hardest parts has been transitioning between main characters without losing continuity. I wanted it to feel like a natural flow — not like an anthology or disconnected sequel.
That’s why I use what I call a “baton handoff.” Each book naturally shifts focus toward the next protagonist.
For example, Windborne Fate begins firmly with Finn, but by the middle of Changing Tides, the story tilts toward Aurora’s perspective. Hollow Bloom follows Seraphina, but Phoenix begins to emerge more prominently, preparing readers for her turn.
If you pay close attention, you’ll notice that transition happening in the background — subtle, but intentional. The reader gets used to each sibling before the spotlight fully turns. It’s a balance between worldbuilding, theme, and emotional continuity — and it’s one of my favorite challenges as a writer.
Lessons the Story Has Taught Me
I’ve learned more through these books than I ever expected. Here are a few things that stand out:
Stories Mature with You.
The story I’m writing now could never have come from the seventeen-year-old version of me. That’s not a loss — it’s growth. The beauty of returning to an old idea is realizing how much you’ve changed, and letting that change make the story better.Writing Is About Discovery, Not Control.
I used to think outlining was everything — that I had to plan every turn. But these characters had other ideas. Some of the best moments came when I stopped forcing the plot and simply listened to them.Family Shapes Everything.
This series was born around a campfire with my kids. Their laughter, their curiosity, their encouragement — that’s the heart of it all. Writing has become a shared adventure, something that ties us together.Purpose Matters More Than Power.
The world of The Elemancer Chronicles revolves around elemental magic, but it’s never really about magic. It’s about what you do with what you’ve been given — and who you become because of it.
Looking Ahead
As I near the completion of the third book, I can see how each storm I’ve written through has shaped me. The characters have grown, the world has expanded, and I’ve grown right along with them.
There’s still a long journey ahead. Books four and five will test the boundaries of what the characters — and I — are capable of. The final two will bring everything full circle.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this process, it’s that stories are living things. They change as we do. And when you let them grow honestly, they start to teach you things you didn’t know you were missing.
So, five years, three books, and countless rewrites later, I’m still learning. And that’s the best part of all.