Sometimes, we embark on a journey, not knowing where it might lead or how long it might take. One such journey began 10 years ago. Back in July 2015, I made the first shy steps in my writing journey.

21.7.2015, to be precise. A hot summer day that could’ve been anything ordinary, if not for the previous evening and one pesky question.

Why don’t you try writing it?

A question asked by a fellow World of Warcraft player when I, during a break in our raid, mentioned to him that I had a story concept in my mind that I never really developed further. A story I have mentioned a couple of times, so I won’t repeat it in full.

I had no idea whether I would even manage to write a single chapter, let alone more. The first months were spent producing what I could, in all honesty, and the hindsight of a decade, call a literal word-vomit. The “quality” was so atrocious that I would now probably flinch reading it – and I’m nowhere near considering myself a skilled writer. But ignorance is bliss, and this helped me to get the first book, in a very rough first draft, finished.

And then, it was time to learn. To turn it into something more than a pile of ramblings. But I was still optimistic and maybe even naïve. I thought that the whole trilogy would be done in a decade.

Halfway through, it was clear that I was wrong. I didn’t mind, though, for time learning is never wasted. But life kept getting in the way. Especially once I started living on my own, and started feeling the trouble of an adult’s life much more. At the time when I would’ve expected to be nearing the finish line, I was stuck. I didn’t write at all for long 15 months between June 2023 and September 2024. And at this time, when I expected to be making the finishing touches to the project, I’m still not finished writing the second book.

The blissful ignorance is long gone, and in its place is a person who sees writing for the daunting task it can be, full of challenges that often feel harder than climbing a mountain. At this point, I dare to hope that maybe I’ll finish the second book in two more years. And maybe the full trilogy in another decade.

But, no matter how hard the challenges seem to be, I’m not giving up. This is a passion project – I never started writing in the hope of making money through writing. I just wanted to see the story brought to its end, and if just a handful of people like it, I’ll be glad for every single one.

So, now’s the time for an anniversary cake. And, with that, my thanks and gratitude to anyone who has offered even the smallest bit of advice or support on this journey.

Now, on to another decade, wherever it takes me and the story that started forming in my mind long before that one day back in July 2015.