In this intriguing interview, I chat  with Justin Vaelorin, a network engineer by day and an unexpected universe creator by night.
J.Vaelorin is a gifted creative entrepreneur, and he has channelled his experience with depression into a dark fantasy narrative.

Justin has crafted an intricate, fictional world for his debut novel, titled "Shadow Sword." He calls this paracosm "VaelorinVerse" - which he developed because he wished for a world that made trauma feel 'normal'.

We explore how dark fantasy can serve as an effective 'container' for grief. And we delve into why immersing oneself in dark fantasy fiction can be an uplifting, perhaps even an empowering experience for some readers.

We explore the advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing. We also discover Justin's reasons for choosing a completely independent route into publishing and why he has rejected conventional storytelling methods.