If you read our last article on Realm Raiders, you’ll know all about this exciting new project from the indie writer group known as The Creative Commune. A serialised web fiction, coming soon to Spotlight Indie, Realm Raiders will take readers on an adventure week-by-week as the characters explore new worlds and grapple with destiny. But who are the authors behind the project? This week, we’re introducing the Realm Raiders team. So, read on to find out more about them and their work.

Simon Kewin has over 100 short stories in the wild. He’s also the author of the Cloven Land fantasy trilogy, cyberpunk thriller The Genehunter, “steampunk Gormenghast” saga Engn, the Triple Stars sci/fi trilogy and the Office of the Witchfinder General books, published by Elsewhen Press. He lives deep in the Herefordshire countryside.

Renowned moron (his words, not ours!) Ed Crocker hails from Manchester and writes speculative fiction; the first book of his epic fantasy trilogy with vampires & werewolves, Lightfall, was published earlier this year in North America. By trade he’s a freelance book editor whose clients include award-winning indie authors, Sunday Times bestselling writers & acclaimed small presses. He reviews SFF & horror for Grimdark Magazine and FanFiAddict.

Patrick Samphire has worked as a teacher, an editor and publisher of physics journals, and a web designer. He has a PhD in theoretical physics, which is about as much use as you might expect. As well as writing, he works as a freelance editor and book cover designer. His first book for adults was Shadow of a Dead God.

A grimdark fantasy author from Liverpool, Frank Dorrian writes character-driven stories set in unforgiving worlds. A professional fighter, fitness fanatic, tech enthusiast, tattoo collector, and heavy metal fan, his work focuses on human nature, choice, consequence, and the greyer shades of morality.

Alex S. Bradshaw is a fantasy author of gritty, character-driven stories Windborn and Trollgrave. He loves epic tales with unforgettable characters and whenever he’s not writing you can probably find him reading, playing games, or daydreaming about dinosaurs (not necessarily in that order).

Rachel V Green is an author, wife and mother of two, living in Herefordshire in the UK (and running a successful healthcare business). Her books contain paranormal craziness, fantastic worlds and epic love stories. Her influences include the infamous Sarah J Maas, Rebecca Yarros of Fourth Wing fame, and Leigh Bardugo. She writes a mixture of Young Adult and Adult Fantasy, always with romance at the heart.

Damien Larkin is an Irish science fiction and fantasy author. His novels Big Red and Blood Red Sand have been longlisted for BSFA awards for Best Novel and an anthology he contributed to, Sky Breaker: Tales of the Wanderer, was shortlisted for a BFS award for Best Anthology (2023). His latest novel Lizard Skin and Sharpened Steel was a SBFBO 10 semi-finalist.

Phil Williams is an author of fantasy, horror and dystopian fiction, including the Blood Scouts epic military fantasies, the Ordshaw urban fantasy thrillers and the post-apocalyptic Estalia series. He also writes bestselling reference books to help foreign learners master English. Phil lives with his wife and impossibly fluffy dog by the coast in Sussex, UK.

Derk Power is the author of Filthy Henry, an ongoing fantasy-comedy series blending Irish mythology with a healthy dose of comedy while being set in the modern-day Ireland. There is also a Filthy Henry podcast, featuring never before published short stories. Derek has also dabbled with sci-fi noir in his stand-alone story Duplex Tempus, along with being involved in a few anthologies.