When readers discover a new fantasy author, they’re often looking for the spark, that unmistakable sense that the world they’re entering has depth, history, and purpose. For epic fantasy writer Viktor, that spark comes from a lifetime of imagination, sculpting, and storytelling discipline that started long before his debut novel hit the Amazon marketplace.
In this author feature, we delve into Viktor’s creative beginnings, the philosophical underpinnings of his world, and his ambitious plan to create a living, multi-format storytelling universe. His journey offers not only inspiration for writers but insight into how patient, multi-medium worldbuilding can shape the future of fantasy.
Who Is Viktor? A New Epic Fantasy Voice With a Monumental Vision
Viktor is the author of Shadow of Pyronax, the first installment in The Ninth Dragon, an epic fantasy universe designed to span ten full volumes. His debut novel, nearly 600 pages, introduces readers to Arian, a “wanderer between worlds,” caught between fading magic, unraveling reality, and the looming destruction of Orqualia.
His work sits squarely in the realm of high fantasy, blending world-hopping mythos, ancient magical systems, and emotionally charged character arcs. The Shadow of Pyronax cover alone signals a commitment to classical fantasy aesthetics: a lone hero, a vast horizon, and a looming dragon, a promise of scale and depth that Viktor fully intends to deliver.
But what makes Viktor especially fascinating is the story behind the story: how a sculptor became a novelist, how childhood imagination evolved into a multi-decade project, and how a single creative world grew into books, figurines, NFTs, and a long-term vision of artistic legacy.
How Viktor Became a Writer: A Journey Rooted in Childhood Creativity
When asked how his writing journey began, Viktor traced it back with remarkable clarity:
“I learned to read at the age of five, and by six I was already reading adult books. Science fiction fascinated me.”
By twelve, he began writing his first science-fiction novel, a story about humans helping another civilization survive a planetary disaster. He finished a third of it before getting overwhelmed by the complexity:
“I got lost in the characters and events. I lacked knowledge and simply had no idea how to fill those gaps.”
As he matured, his skills expanded through school essays, short stories, and participation in literary forums. Eventually, he realized he could build something larger than fragments, a complete world.
That realization changed everything.
Sculpture as Storytelling: How an Unexpected Art Form Shaped His Magic System
One of the most striking aspects of Viktor’s creative identity is the profound influence that sculpture has had on his writing. He explains:
“Working with clay taught me a valuable lesson: creation requires patience, precision, and understanding… You can destroy a sculpture in a moment, although bringing it to life requires vision and dedication.”
This philosophy directly inspired the core of the magic system in The Ninth Dragon:
“I made my main character a sculptor because individuals with this mindset carry a sense of creation inside them… the magic of creation and the magic of destruction.”
For Viktor, sculpting isn’t just an art; it’s a worldview. His characters don’t merely cast spells; they shape and reshape reality, with the same fragility and potential found in sculpture.
Why Viktor Writes: Creativity as Renewal
For many authors, writing is an escape. For Viktor, it is a renewal:
“Whether I am writing, sculpting, or creating images, I feel negative energy leaving me, giving way to a sense of creation and renewal.”
He admits that he is still “searching for [his] readers,” but the hope of connecting with them fuels him:
“The anticipation of meeting future readers brings excitement and purpose to my work.”
This honest vulnerability, the desire to create before the audience arrives, lies at the heart of many debut authors’ journeys. Viktor embodies this creative courage.
A Ten-Book Epic: Viktor’s Commitment to a Lifetime of Storytelling
While Viktor has only published one book so far, his vision is extraordinary in its scope. He has:
- 4 full drafts completed
- 6 more books planned
- an entire world already shaped mentally and artistically
As he described:
“Four are already living their lives, six more are still to come… I want someone in fifty or a hundred years to be able to pick up all ten books and follow the same path I took while creating this world.”
For him, the series is a life’s work, not a temporary project:
“Everything else is pleasant, but secondary layers… The books are his heart.”
This perspective sets Viktor apart from many debut authors. He isn’t testing a series; he is fulfilling a promise to himself.
Writing by Hand: A Traditional Beginning With a Modern Workflow
One of the most charming aspects of Viktor’s process is how analog it began.
“The first three books in my series were written by hand in notebooks and later digitized.”
He enjoyed the intimacy of handwriting, the feeling that the characters were speaking directly to the page. Today, he works on a computer but still prefers minimalism:
“Technology supports the process, yet the heart of my work still comes from that early habit of writing by hand.”
Writers often debate tools endlessly, but Viktor’s approach is simple: imagination first, software second.
Publishing as a Self-Published Author: Viktor’s Experience With Amazon & Draft2Digital
Like many modern indie authors, Viktor chose a self-publishing path. He was encouraged by friends on X (formerly Twitter) and used Amazon KDP and Draft2Digital.
His experience was surprisingly smooth:
“The platform’s interface is very user-friendly: it’s easy to upload cover files, text, and author information.”
Self-publishing gave him complete control, from artwork to metadata to description. He recommends it to other writers.
Our team at WriteStats has previously explored how metadata influences discoverability—especially for indie authors—in our blog “Book Metadata Optimization: 7 Hidden Elements That Boost Discoverability by 55%.” Viktor’s clean, straightforward publishing setup aligns well with those findings.
Time: A Writer’s Greatest Obstacle
Even with decades of creative discipline, Viktor identifies one major challenge:
“The biggest challenge I’ve ever faced is a lack of free time.”
His solution? Structure.
“I have to create a work schedule, make every minute count, and then the challenge disappears.”
His honesty reinforces something we often highlight in our productivity insights: writing is less about inspiration and more about sustainable habits.
His Perspective on AI: A Tool, Not a Threat
One of the most intriguing sections of the interview was Viktor’s balanced, thoughtful take on AI in publishing.
“I deliberately don’t call them ‘artificial intelligence.’ For me, they’re a super-powerful virtual assistant or ‘intelligence amplifier.’”
He emphasizes that:
- AI cannot replace originality
- AI cannot create philosophical systems
- AI cannot write transformative books
- Human judgment remains essential
But he embraces AI as a productivity booster:
“It’s simply the best copywriter, editor, and idea generator in human history, but it still needs a good writer at the helm.”
His pragmatic view mirrors trends we’ve tracked in our own data; authors use AI to streamline, not to substitute.
A Legacy Built Across Mediums: Books, Figurines, NFTs, and More
Viktor’s vision for his saga extends beyond prose. He wants a multi-sensory world, preserved across formats:
- 3D figurines of characters
- NFT cards showing scenes and artifacts
- Sculpted figures at 1/6 and 1/12 scale
- A visual version of the saga composed of collectible images
He puts it poetically:
“The books are his heart, the figurines and figures are his body, and the NFTs are his nervous system.”
“Ultimately, all of this should come together to form one large, living world that outlives its author.”
For him, storytelling is not a single medium; it’s an ecosystem.
What’s Next for Viktor? A Massive Saga in Progress
Although he has only published the first book, Viktor is far from the starting line. With four volumes drafted, he is deep into revising Book 2, a process he describes with painstaking clarity:
“I’m picking it over, piece by piece: keeping the best parts of it back then and adding the depth and precision that have come to me now.”
He anticipates publishing Book 2 in 2026, then continuing with Book 3 (already drafted) and Book 5 simultaneously, a mix of revision and fresh creation, all moving toward completing the ten-book shelf he envisions.
Final Thoughts: Why Viktor’s Story Matters
What makes Viktor’s journey remarkable isn’t just his epic ambitions. It’s the devotion behind them:
- The six-year-old reading adult science fiction
- The sculptor learning patience and precision
- The author writing by hand for years
- The visionary building a ten-book legacy
- The creator shaping figurines, NFTs, and art to bring his world alive
- The writer who still believes, deeply, in his future readers
His journey is a testament to endurance, curiosity, and the quiet power of creating worlds one page at a time.
Writers can learn from his discipline. Readers can find inspiration in his passion. And at WriteStats, we’re excited to see where Viktor’s path leads because if his first book is any indication, The Ninth Dragon saga will be one of the most ambitious indie fantasy undertakings of the decade.
