Five years away.

Five years of battles, winter camps and long roads.

And then, at last, the lights of home.

This week in Cumbria reminded me exactly why Greystone Vale became Evander’s home. I’ve written a new journal post about the real landscape that inspired it, together with an exclusive excerpt from The Beacon and the Raven.

Meet Evander Drake.

He began as a D&D paladin created for a summer campaign in Devon.

Now he is the heart of The Dawnshield Order.

Evander is a captain, a soldier and a man shaped by duty, but what defines him most is something quieter.

He notices people.

He remembers names.

He assumes the best in others.

He believes strength means protecting what is good, not simply defeating what is dangerous.

There are pieces of me in him, but also pieces of my husband, my dad, my grandads and the people who taught me what kindness, steadiness, courage and humility look like.

I’ve written more about the people behind Evander, why he smiles, and why he became the emotional centre of the series in my new journal article:

The Heart of The Dawnshield Order

Some of my favourite leaders in fantasy aren’t the loudest, strongest or most charismatic. They’re the ones who earn trust through quiet consistency. This article explores how that philosophy influenced the way I wrote Captain Evander Drake and the leaders of The Dawnshield Order.

How a tabletop roleplaying class unexpectedly shaped the heart of The Dawnshield Order. I explore why the modern D&D paladin, defined by conviction rather than blind obedience, inspired me to write a fantasy series about faith, duty and what happens when the institution you’ve devoted your life to no longer reflects the values you swore to uphold.