https://dbohica.com/Army veteran D. Bohica writes the Kelmarin Saga: orc rebellion, dragon war and slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance. Read the first five chapters of Breach of Balance free.enhttps://dbohica.com/stories/the-return-ticket/https://dbohica.com/stories/the-return-ticket/Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000Mark Twain, deceased, holds the bets when Hemingway and Poe square off on the deck of a riverboat full of the dead. The strangest passenger is the living one.https://dbohica.com/blog/memory-sacrifice-in-fantasy-my-sisters-dementia-and-combat-memories/https://dbohica.com/blog/memory-sacrifice-in-fantasy-my-sisters-dementia-and-combat-memories/Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000I posted a discussion about memory loss in fantasy novels while avoiding my manuscript edits, and 47,000 people showed up. Then 23 strangers in the comments taught me what I'd actually written.https://dbohica.com/stories/the-night-before-ruby-came/https://dbohica.com/stories/the-night-before-ruby-came/Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000A beloved kobold warrior recounts the terrifying night before the dragon Ruby attacked, teaching young warriors to trust their instincts. A humorous yet haunting tale told in the style of 'The Night Before Christmas.'https://dbohica.com/stories/crystal-promenade-politics/https://dbohica.com/stories/crystal-promenade-politics/Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000Ambassador Elara climbs Windhaven’s Crystal Promenade, seeking rare Celestial Sage. Her meeting with Lady Miriel Starweaver reveals veiled truths, shared struggles, and questions of trust and courage.https://dbohica.com/stories/the-ambassadors-arrival/https://dbohica.com/stories/the-ambassadors-arrival/Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000Step into The Ambassador's Arrival, where Tiefling diplomat Elara faces prejudice, hidden traps, and dangerous secrets at Windhaven’s gates. Can she outwit her foes and protect her mission?https://dbohica.com/blog/fantasy-world-building-secrets-from-wedding-expos-tips-for-romantasy-a/https://dbohica.com/blog/fantasy-world-building-secrets-from-wedding-expos-tips-for-romantasy-a/Sun, 28 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000What do wedding expos and fantasy novels have in common? More than you'd think! Discover how real-life planning inspires immersive world-building, from crafting magic systems to creating emotional moments. Learn how to make your fantasy worlds feel as real as walking down the aisle.https://dbohica.com/blog/i-used-my-ptsd-flashback-to-write-this-fantasy-scene/https://dbohica.com/blog/i-used-my-ptsd-flashback-to-write-this-fantasy-scene/Sun, 21 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000A real PTSD flashback on I‑95 became the backbone of a fantasy scene—how sensory memory, time distortion, and body-first reactions create authentic trauma on the page.https://dbohica.com/blog/from-gardens-to-gothic-thrones-finding-fantasy-in-the-real-world/https://dbohica.com/blog/from-gardens-to-gothic-thrones-finding-fantasy-in-the-real-world/Sat, 20 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000At Longwood Gardens, a beautiful fountain show revealed a darker truth: beauty can be a mask for power. Here’s how real spaces inspire gothic fantasy—plus a challenge to become a Gothic Location Scout.https://dbohica.com/blog/what-a-billy-idol-joan-jett-concert-taught-me-about-fantasy-writing/https://dbohica.com/blog/what-a-billy-idol-joan-jett-concert-taught-me-about-fantasy-writing/Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000Sometimes, defying expectations, like a guitar riff that arrives earlier or louder than anticipated, is what makes a story truly unforgettable.https://dbohica.com/blog/how-mma-taught-me-to-write-gladiator-fights-that-actually-hit/https://dbohica.com/blog/how-mma-taught-me-to-write-gladiator-fights-that-actually-hit/Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000I used to write terrible fight scenes with lines like 'Roar'Z fought fiercely.' Then I started studying UFC fights frame by frame, and everything changed. Here's what watching hundreds of hours of MMA taught me about writing gladiator fights that readers can feel in their bones.https://dbohica.com/blog/where-are-the-orc-protagonists-breaking-the-mold-fantasy-needs-them-no/https://dbohica.com/blog/where-are-the-orc-protagonists-breaking-the-mold-fantasy-needs-them-no/Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000Fantasy has come a long way from portraying orcs as mindless, evil monsters. But are we just trading one limiting box for another? It's time to explore morally complex orc protagonists and magic systems with real consequences.