Behind the Pages of Totem Hunter: My Writing Process

Writing Totem Hunter has been one of the most soul-stretching experiences of my storytelling journey. Unlike my other books, this one sits firmly in the realm of true dark fantasy—not just in theme but in tone, pace, and the way the world grips you by the collar.

Book two? Whew. It was hard.

This isn’t my default style of writing, so every sentence has to earn its place. There’s grit and weight in every metaphor, and yet I still have to make sure the pace doesn’t lull. It’s like threading a needle with a storm raging outside—balancing tension and beauty while making sure you don’t bore your reader (or yourself). That’s no small task.

One of my biggest internal battles was how much world-building to reveal and when. Since Spirit Walker is the prelude to the series (and not officially Totem), I had to treat Totem Hunter as the first proper novel—meaning new readers should feel grounded without needing the prequel. But for those who have read Spirit Walker, I wanted to reward them with deeper lore, callbacks, and growth—especially for Kofi. He’s someone I’m truly excited to explore more in this book.

Stylistically, I took a page from Nalini Singh’s playbook. In one of her series, she opens each chapter with snippets—quotes, cultural notes, and letters that build the world layer by layer. I thought, yes! That’s it. A clever, poetic way to ground readers without slowing the narrative. So I experimented with that. It's still evolving, but it helped unlock a rhythm that felt both immersive and manageable.

If I’m honest, the first three chapters nearly broke me.

There’s that dreaded rule in publishing: If you don’t hook the reader in the first three chapters, it’s over. That pressure makes me write, rewrite, delete, rework, and—eventually—walk away just to come back fresh. Once I commit, the story flows easier. But it’s the editing, listening back, and learning when to pause that has made this book so layered.

This series asks a lot of me. And I think that’s why I love it.

Where other stories I’ve written lean into dark fantasy-light, Totem Hunter doesn’t flinch. It’s unapologetically bold. It’s a full dive into a world where every rule has weight, every choice has a consequence, and every character walks a path lined with shadows and legacy.

This one is for the readers who want to go deep—and for the writer in me who finally said, “Alright, let’s go there.”

Let me tell you a secret: Totem Hunter wasn’t supposed to be this big, but the deeper I fell into the story, the more I realised this world—Skelton City—has teeth.

It’s not just a setting. It’s an entire atmosphere. It’s hell on earth with a rhythm, a hunger, and a new world order that distorts everything you thought you knew about the Totem Guard.

We’re a few years past Spirit Walker now, and everyone’s a little more worn down. Relationships have frayed. History has left marks. And Kofi? Kofi is still reeling. The ghosts of the prelude haven’t left him—and it shows. There’s something clouded in him, something that clings no matter how hard he tries to move forward.

Tiffany and Kofi’s dynamic has shifted too. They’re older now. Sharper. Maybe more dangerous to each other than ever. Even Kofi’s relationship with himself is more fragile this time around. Identity, purpose, regret—it’s all tangled.

And yes… you might just catch a glimpse of Caleb. And maybe—just maybe—Nandile.

What I’m building with Totem Hunter is a layered world where you’re never quite sure who to trust, what’s real, or whether redemption is still on the table. Skelton City forces those questions. It unearths old loyalties. And it reminds every character that even the strongest totems crack under enough pressure.

It’s terrifying and thrilling and sometimes I stare at the draft and think—What have I gotten myself into?

But then I take a step back, breathe, and realise: this is the truest dark fantasy series I’ve ever written. My other books might flirt with the shadows, but this one lives in them. This book is going to explode. Not because it’s perfect. But because it’s true. Every word was fought for.

I’m still figuring out how to finish it. Still balancing grit and pace. Still trying not to make it 600 pages long. But I know this: Totem Hunter is something special. And if you’re brave enough to step into Skelton City with me?

You’re not going to come out the same.