Author Spotlight: Fantasy & Sci-Fi Author D.F Reese

Writing Without a Map: How D.F. Reese Lets Characters Lead

Welcome aboard, this week’s spotlight begins with a flicker on the console, a distant hum of stardust, and a story waiting to be told beyond the stars. Whether you're traveling by starship or starlight, we invite you to settle in for a journey into the vivid imagination of D.F. Reese—where character’s come first, fantasy blends with feeling, and every story begins with a spark in the dark.

Writers chase stories. D.F. Reese waits for them under the moonlight. Reese carries the easy rhythm of home into every sentence—barefoot memories, childhood wonder, and the quiet pull of stories waiting to be told. Reese’s writing bridges the joy of middle grade with the depth of immersive fantasy. He writes from instinct—slipping into his character’s as if stepping into another life, letting each scene unfold by feel. With a thousand words a night and a view of the moon, Reese doesn’t just write stories—he becomes them. If you want to learn more about him, you can do so by checking out his website.

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D.F. Reese grew up in a small town in southern Alabama near the Gulf Coast but now resides in Atlanta. Not a day goes by without missing the tiny critters once plucked from the Gulf—crawfish, a delicacy in Reese’s hometown but hard to find in the city. Trading bare feet for a pair of clean Nikes, the move to Atlanta brought change, but the spirit of home remains ever present. With a laid-back, old-school persona that follows wherever life leads, Reese writes to craft imagination and bring stories to life.

D.F. Reese’s work as a writer spans many subjects, with a style that is fun, sincere, and wholesome. The journey began in elementary school and has continued ever since, fueled by an endless love for imagination. The ability to create beautiful worlds that offer an escape from the day-to-day grind is truly riveting.

Reese finds joy in bringing characters to life, watching their stories unfold, and seeing how they evolve. As the craft is honed, Reese remains deeply grateful to readers for taking this journey alongside him.

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In the Author’s Orbit

What is the writing process like for you?

My writing process begins when I first have an idea. I start by thinking of the characters I'd like to have in a story, what their motivations and conflicts are, and how the world I build around them affects their decisions. Then, I think of a scene and begin writing. I do little planning at first, which may get me in trouble, but as I write, where I want the story to go evolves based on how the characters interact with the world I've created. I typically write daily, aiming for at least 1,000 words a day. I even skip around at times—I may write the ending first, then the middle, then the beginning, and go back through to write the chapters in between. Truthfully, which section I land on depends on how I feel that day.

How do you get inside your characters' heads? 

I write best at night, on a black screen, occasionally looking out of an open window at the moon. For whatever reason, this brings me inside a character’s head. A cozy, dark atmosphere is like a gateway for me. I imagine myself as that character—the words they’d use, how they’d feel about a certain situation given their upbringing. I imagine how their voice would sound and emulate it aloud. I even act out scenes as they would. Doing this allows me to fully immerse myself in a character.

What does your relationship with "Writer's Block" look like?

I tend to not have issues with writer's block once I get started. Although sometimes what I write may not make sense, it gets me to an editable point in my manuscript. I do, however, have an issue with starting or procrastination, which could be a form of writer's block. To deal with this, I leave my home and go to a coffee shop or a park. This helps me get started, as my mentality shifts—if I'm going to spend the time driving somewhere, I might as well write. A change of scenery helps me get started, and once I do, it's all downhill from there, as I can get lost for hours in what I write.

When you're writing difficult or emotional scenes, how do you prop the mood?

If a scene is difficult—and by difficult, I mean it's not clear how I want it to go—I take a step back, skip it for now, and return to it later when the idea of how to proceed pops into my mind. For emotional scenes, I tend to write down the words I want the reader to feel and then ensure my prose closely aligns with those emotions as I write. For example, if I want a reader to feel sad about a character, I write down "sad" and then craft the scene to evoke that emotion. I also immerse myself in the setting. If it's dark or sad, I’ll go outside at night and write to evoke that emotion in myself. I even watch movies, like dramas, to set the mood. Any media I can consume to help, I do, and it works well.

Worlds Built From Memory and Magic

What drew you to your genre(s)?

I think what first drew me to middle grade was the enriching stories I read as a child. You know, the ones you were required to read for grade school? That was the time I fell in love with reading, and the majority of what I was reading at the time was middle grade. Now, speaking of fantasy, I was surprisingly drawn to it through video games like Final Fantasy—all parts—and Zelda. I loved playing these so much, and their fantasy elements led me to love the genre.

Is there anyone who's inspired you to write your books? Can be other authors, or friends and people in your life.

My father encouraged me to write instead of playing football. He was one of the few people who, despite my size and build being perfect for the sport, saw something different in me. His belief in my writing led me to believe that he knew I could accomplish something special with it.

Without spoiling your books, is there a character you've written you relate to most? How has it evolved your writing?

Yes, there is—Lunn Townsley in Wiley Kroom: The Wild One. He is a side character who is often seen as timid and shy but is actually very smart and cunning. He's misunderstood and wants nothing more than to be a great adventurer, but how can he if he's timid? I think having someone I can relate to shows that I am writing realistic characters. It has also helped evolve my writing, as I can recognize different character traits and learn how to mesh them together without making them all too similar.

Stardust & Setbacks

What is a piece of advice you've received which has helped propelled your writing forward?

"Plant the seed and find the conflict." Basically, this illustrates the need to develop a character and their motivation while adding an obstacle that prevents them from getting what they want. This is the foundation of every story and has helped me structure mine, as it gives me a clear purpose for writing each scene. It also helps me edit out parts that have no bearing on the conflict. This helped me shorten my novel greatly and ensure I wrote relevant scenes where they were pushing the story forward.

What was the most difficult part of getting a book published or self-published?

I'm self-publishing my debut novel, and the hardest part is the many hats you have to wear—especially if you care about putting out a good product. I take pride in my work, so I went through countless edits, illustrations, revisions, and formatting adjustments until I felt it was a near-perfect product. Self-published books often get unfair criticism for not being "up to standards" or being "low quality," but like many other indie authors, I refuse to subscribe to putting out anything less than high-quality work.

How do you process and handle receiving negative reviews or comments?

I haven't published yet—Wiley Kroom: The Wild One doesn't come out until March 20th—but I hope to get some reviews! I imagine I'll try not to take negative reviews personally, as they aren't an attack on me, but rather an opportunity to improve my writing. Writing is an art, and it's subjective—not everyone will like my work. But I write for the audience who will, and for those who may not have ever heard a voice like mine.

Signal Boost

Do you have any book recommendations?

Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams, The Pariah by Anthony Ryan, Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma, Demon in White by Christopher Ruocchio, Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide, and God Killer by Hannah Kaner. These books are what I've read recently, currently reading and plan on picking up soon and all have stellar reviews! And of course Wiley Kroom: The Wild One by D.F. Reese!

Newest Release: Wiley Kroom: The Wild One

Wiley Kroom had an ominous start to life. While all pixies emerge from the blooms of
the Birthing Garden, Wiley’s life unfolded in forest shadows. Despite the Elders’ struggle to civilize the wild pixie boy and conceal his origins, nothing can subdue Wiley’s buoyant nature. And when Wiley catches the attention of Fayland’s chieftess, she metes out a terrible fate: banishment to the world of humans. Driven by an unwavering desire to return home, Wiley faces challenges from chasing a moondust collector to combating rock monsters…while finding friendship and discovering his own magical abilities. But he must tread carefully—nightmarish creatures lurk in the dark, seeking to rip him from
existence.

Will he find his way back to the world he loves and solve the mystery of his own
creation…or will the magic of Fayland remain out of reach?

Final Transmission

A closing thought, a voice from the stars!

“I'm extremely passionate about writing. It is a gateway to happiness and freedom as you're able to visit and create worlds far away from reality. In a world as troubled as the one we live in, it does the body well to escape from time to time.”

End of Transmission

Thank you, dear travelers, for tuning into this week’s transmission. We hope your journey through the imagination of D.F. Reese brought you stardust, wonder, and a few glowing insights into the craft of storytelling.

A special thanks to D.F. Reese for opening the hatch and letting us explore the galaxies behind the pages. It’s an honor to spotlight your voice among the stars. If you want to learn more about him, you can do so by checking out his website.

If you enjoyed this author spotlight, consider subscribing to catch future transmissions—featuring short story gems, poetic pulses, and even more incredible creators lighting up the literary cosmos.

Until next time, keep your pens charged and your imagination orbiting!