Welcome
Hopeful Speculative Fiction
Speculative fiction stretches the world we know, exaggerating elements that terrify us and lure us in. But rather than a way to escape reality, I view it as an act of defiance against a dark future, a way to build resiliency for the real world around us. With just a little imagination and the occasional bit of magic, my stories help us move through the darkness into the light. No matter how dire the dystopia, humans will always find a way to embrace hope.
New Update: The Imperial Saga is Expanding!
Book Three of the Imperial Saga
Now Available!
Ari has always relied on friends and family to guide him, but now the world is in chaos, Tahirah is trapped on a different continent, and his parents might be dead. With new friends and unfamiliar family, he has to forge a way forward even as the Empire’s power comes closer and closer to finding him.
Learn more about the Imperial Saga!
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Rise of the Phoenix is a fantasy novel about a young woman who survived the execution of her family at the end of the war and now lives in an occupied continent. She’s always pretended to be obedient, but she has a secret: she’s created a phoenix egg.
The people of Tamarud remember the brutality of the dragon knights long after the war ended. When Jana accidentally becomes a dragon knight, she must deal with the hatred of her father and her people even while fighting to defend her home.
Blogs, Publications, and Presentations
“Heart of the Guardian” was published at Amazon on August 15, 2023!
“Knight of the Dragon” was published at Amazon on December 15, 2022!
“Rise of the Phoenix” was published at Amazon on August 15, 2022!
“Dystopian Galaxies: Visions of the Future” was published at Amazon on June 5, 2018!
“The Last War” was published at Amazon on May 21, 2018!
“The Moon of Lycca” was published at Amazon on March 23, 2013!
“Chapter 19: Storytelling in Video Games” was published in Teaching the Game, a peer-reviewed book of collected video game syllabi.
“Video Games as a New Form of Interactive Literature” was published in Syllabus Journal, a peer-reviewed online journal! The issue went live on January 30th, 2015.
“Not Pregnant at Mercy Hospital” was a finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association 2014 Writing Contest in the Adult Short Topic category.
“The Creatives” was published at The Story Shack on September 23rd, 2013!
“Worldbuilding & Writing 105: Propaganda” was published on Vivian Sayan’s blog, Stellima, on 23 Jun 2024.
“Writing 202: Writing Human Senses” was published on Vivian Sayan’s blog, Stellima, on 16 Jun 2024.
“Character 104: Defining Your Character” was published on Vivian Sayan’s blog, Stellima, on 9 Jun 2024.
“Practicum: Fictoscience in Fantasy” was published on Vivian Sayan’s blog, Stellima, on 19 May 2024.
“Writing 201: Humour” was published on Vivian Sayan’s blog, Stellima, on 5 May 2024.
“Writing 202: Savior Stories” was published on Vivian Sayan’s blog, Stellima, on 21 Apr 2024.
“Worldbuilding and Writing 202: Bigotry” was published on Vivian Sayan’s blog, Stellima, on 14 Apr 2024.
“Writing 105: Genre” was published on Vivian Sayan’s blog, Stellima, on 17 Mar 2024.
“Character 103: Trauma and Edumucation” was published on Vivian Sayan’s blog, Stellima, on 25 Feb 2024.
“Writing 101: The 10 Rules of Writing, Part 2” was published on Vivian Sayan’s blog, Stellima, on 11 Feb 2024.
“Writing 101: The 10 Rules of Writing, Part 1” was published on Vivian Sayan’s blog, Stellima, on 4 Feb 2024.
“Helping Students Engage in Discussions in the Fully Online Classroom” was presented at the Southwest Popular and American Culture Association in February 2021.
“YouTube in the Classroom: Late Night Comedians and English Composition” was presented at the Southwest Popular and American Culture Association in February 2018.
“K-Pop and Visual Literacy: Engaging Students by Interpreting Korean Music Videos” was presented at the National Popular Culture Association/ American Culture Association in March 2016 in Seattle, WA.
“Female or Male: A Not So Simple Choice” was presented at the Southwest Popular and American Culture Association in February 2016 in Albuquerque, NM.
“Female Representation and Sexualization in Tabletop Gaming” was presented at the Southwest Popular and American Culture Association in February 2015 in Albuquerque, NM.
“Mental Disorders in Video Games: Stereotypes and Savants” was presented at the Women and Gender Research Collaboration focusing on mental health at Texas State University in March 2014.
Current Favorites
