Why I write

People often ask me, “Why do you write dark fantasy?” And the honest answer is: Because the real world isn’t always kind. But stories? Stories fight back.

I write because growing up, the monsters didn’t wait for nightfall. They looked like silence when you needed comfort. Like shame handed down in polite conversation. Like systems that made some of us feel invisible unless we became something louder, brighter, or broken enough to be noticed.

So, I created my own monsters. But I also gave them heart, humor, and history. I made sure my girls didn’t die in the first chapter.

Why I Write Dark Fantasy

Folklore and My Roots

I come from the shadows of Seattle’s grey skies and the storytelling bones of southern Africa. Here, spirits don’t just haunt; they teach. Ancestors whisper in the wind, reminding us that danger doesn't always come with fangs. Sometimes, it wears love, tradition, or even your own name.

When I sat down to write Tokoloshe, I didn’t want a villain. I wanted a mirror. What happens when something feared for generations is just… misunderstood? What if power lives inside the very girl who is told she is ordinary? This exploration of character and culture is vital to the emotional depth of my stories.

The Need for Connection

I write because I know what it means to feel alone. Fantasy gave me a place to put my grief, my rage, and my hope. It provided the freedom to ask dangerous questions, letting magic answer in ways the world couldn’t. It allowed me to imagine homes I’d never seen and to create families I had always been curious about.

The characters in my stories? They’re flawed. Messy. Sometimes cruel. Often hilarious. But they are always fighting — for love, for truth, and for something better than what they were handed. And that’s who I write for: the ones who’ve had to become their own heroes.

The Importance of New Myths

We need new myths. Myths that come from us, not just borrowed and translated from someone else’s world. I envision worlds where sangomas battle memory loss. Where lion bloodlines hold political power. Where women fall in love with dangerous men yet still choose themselves in the end. In these worlds, magic doesn’t save you — it tests you.

We often overlook the magic in everyday life. It's not always defined by spells or supernatural beings. Sometimes, it can be found in the lives of characters who overcome obstacles, revealing the strength that was already within them. That’s why I push myself to write these stories — they're reflections of our human experience.

The Power of Storytelling

So why do I write? Because I have to. The stories won’t leave me alone. They linger in my mind, waiting to be told. If even one reader finds themselves among the pages — messy, powerful, grieving, laughing—then it’s worth it.

It is often said that stories have a unique power to heal. They allow us to confront our fears and embrace our vulnerabilities. Through narratives, we can explore the darkest corners of our minds while also discovering light. I believe this is particularly true in dark fantasy. It serves as a canvas where complicated emotions and experiences can coexist.

A Shared Journey

Thanks for being part of this world with me. With every word, I invite you to journey alongside me. Each character, each plot twist, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Together, we can explore the complexity of ourselves through the tales of monsters and heroes.

With ink-stained love,

LN Bokete