James is a debut YA author with a passion for crafting character-driven stories that explore deep personal truths in not-so-distant cinematic worlds. 

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Growing up, James was shaped by a healthy dose — and, at times, perhaps an unhealthy dose — of dystopian novels, horror films, and an interest in exploring new worlds through prose. These influences fused to create the world of OBEDIENCE. Set in a post-apocalyptic New York City, OBEDIENCE blends urban dystopia with an apocalyptic landscape where nothing is quite as it seems.

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James grew up during a time when YA dystopian fiction was at its prime. Series like Veronica Roth's DIVERGENT, James Dashner's THE MAZE RUNNER, Lois Lowry's THE GIVER, and Marie Lu's LEGEND made up to the bulk of his TBR as a teen. Inspired by these stories, he set out to write a novel of similar caliber — a daunting goal that would take more than a decade to fulfill. He began the first draft of OBEDIENCE at age fourteen, spending much of that summer revising the manuscript. After revisions, he shared it with close friends and family for feedback. At fifteen, following several initial attempts at traditional publishing, James decided to set the story aside. With high school ramping up and college on the horizon, reality needed to take priority over fiction.

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Several years passed before James felt drawn back to the story. In 2020, after visiting New York City for the first time, he began to see OBEDIENCE in a whole new light and dreamed of all it could become. Between 2022 and 2024, he made several trips back to the city, and each visit helped shape the world he'd always envisioned for the story. Still, it wasn't until the fall of 2024 that James fully committed to completing a final draft. Then, on February 9, 2025, OBEDIENCE was finally complete — and the road to self-publishing officially began.

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As a dystopian thriller, OBEDIENCE features a fast-paced narrative, cinematic setting, and chilling sequences that hint at something sinister lurking beneath the towering skyscrapers of New York City. As a YA author, James is passionate about weaving personal themes into his stories, offering readers a glimpse at the hope, resilience, and redemption found only through faith in Christ.

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James struggled deeply with mental health between the ages of 16 and 19. He hopes that John Madoc's journey in OBEDIENCE will resonate with readers in that same age group, showing them that even when the world feels stacked against you, Christ is for you and will give you the strength to break free from the mental prison that holds you captive (Philippians 4:13).