About Nathan Rhys

I’m Nathan Rhys, author of The Verdant Chronicles. I write modern fantasy exploring themes like identity, growth through suffering, stewardship, hope, and the consequences of the ideas we adopt.

Just as those ideas have consequences, the stories that come from them shape how we perceive and respond to the world.

Those perceptions, whether we’re aware of it or not, play a large role in shaping our identity. Our identity then provides the shape that our actions take.

If you think of your actions as the natural outpouring of your identity, what you allow to shape yours matters exponentially more than anything else.

I hope my stories encourage you to anchor your identity wisely, because the things we build our lives upon shape every choice that follows.

A fantastic world can provide enough distance from our own that we're able to examine difficult questions without immediately becoming defensive. We can set aside our assumptions and allegiances long enough to see ourselves a little more clearly through a story.

And a good story outside the world we’re accustomed to can invite us to reflect on who we are, what we believe, and who we are becoming.

My process is so much more than putting words on a page. Each story starts with questions about the ideas I want to explore. From there, those ideas are refined through outlining, drafting, critique, and revision. I depend heavily on the invaluable feedback from my alpha readers, beta readers, and editors to make my story more lifelike.

I also believe readers deserve transparency.

You, as my audience, deserve to know where I do—and more importantly don’t—use technology in the creation process.

You can read more on my How I Work page.

I don’t expect every reader to agree with me. I don’t think every story should provide easy answers. My hope is far more simple.

I hope you'll come away with a character you remember or a different way of looking at the world.

If one of my stories encourages you to see the world—or yourself—a little differently, I will have accomplished what I set out to do.

Whether you agree with me or not, I hope these stories encourage you to live a little differently—to carefully consider where the ideas you hold are leading you.

After all, ideas have consequences.