Phantasia

The Story

Phantasia is a serial and always has been a serial since its inception in 2005 (2001 if you count the original idea!). This isn’t a novel (nor am I doing this because I failed to find a publisher – I never tried! I know this wouldn’t sell to them). There are no ‘books’, no ‘trilogies’, just ‘volumes’ (and when I get around to publishing hard copies, ‘collected volumes’).

If you’re wondering, Phantasia was inspired by a dream I had a long, long time ago. I almost turned it into a webserial in 2002, but those plans were shelved until three years later. Then, after four year’s work, I started bringing what I’d developed to THE INTERNET…

The Author

Darien Meredith is a 28-year-old British eccentric. He spends much of his free time on various creative endeavours. Those around him look to him as a source shenanigans and hijinks, and he has a habit of gatecrashing house parties with random hilarity.  He would tell you more about his life, but that would require a novel of its own.

Darien started writing when he was 8, when he filled a school notebook with a 30-chapter Ghostbusters “novel”. Since then he has worked on a variety of stories, including a webserial published from 2000-2002 that was stupidly long, and even stupidlier awful. Darien also likes making up new words, like snaggleruffle. Which he made up just then.

He has studied Creative Writing with the Open University (which was fun) and as a degree at Derby University (which wasn’t fun). He did get to perform a serious university presentation while dressed as a pirate, however. Rumours he is infamous pirate ‘Captain Black Spade’ are not commented upon.

Contributors and Thanks

~ Dr Goat is an Irish gypsy girl Celtic mongrel who has helped the author in a variety of ways, from design work for symbols and tattoos, to mythical research, proof-reading and general (in)sanity-keeping. You can see her design work here.

~ Chris “Mogofski” Byford is another English writer and co-author of the Fusion series of fantasy novels. Over the past few years he’s kept the author inspired and motivated with his reassurance that, no, it’s not all a big waste of time. He also runs a writing blog over here.

- THANKS to my various degree BUDDIES, such as viking warrior ‘Alice’, Desperate Dan, Old Man Dan, little emo Kirsty AND ALL THE OTHERS who may have been forced to endure my bollocks over the years. When you guys have ‘websites’, I’ll plug them for you :p

- ALSO THANKS to anyone who may have inspired my characters in any way. There are too many of you to name, and you’ll probably never even realise who you’ve influenced and how (and if you think you know, you’re probably WRONG!)