About

My (pen) name is Julius Athens: indie creator of character-driven science fiction and fantasy literature. Welcome to my site! This is the page where I would love to tell you (i.e., brag) about all my illustrious accomplishments as a profoundly successful author, such as:

  • My seven-figure deal with some streaming service.
  • How many times I’ve hit the bestseller lists and which ones.
  • How many books I’ve sold.
  • All the praise I’ve received from fans to A-list celebrities like Erik Estrada.
  • My tricked-out Lambo with a neon aquarium under the hood–cuz damn I’m rich!

So . . . I don’t have any of that (der). But I’m not complaining.

No, I’m a writer for one reason–it’s the only thing I’m good at. Moreover, I love to storytell: to give substance to the feelings and ideas in my head so that I might connect with someone out there like me. Storytelling is global, timeless–who doesn’t love a good story? It’s part and parcel of the human experience. 

I’m often thinking of something fantastical (or really stupid) to escape from this reality. When I let my mind wander, sometimes that leads me down a path that’s worth exploring in greater depth. That’s what led me to the craft of writing to begin with. After being bombarded by many vague, restless ideas, one lodged in my imagination and wouldn’t die out with the others. It was a stubborn mule.

That idea eventually became my debut novel, Fall of Sin, which is the series opener in the God’s Crusade Timeline. Learn more about it here. But that’s a bit of a niche series. Should you prefer something in the vein of The Lord of The Rings, but with animals for humans and a more mature tone, then do check out An Unconventional Hero. Tap here to learn more and to snag a free chapter.

This website is my e-repository for every product I shall publish, mostly books, but perhaps some other quality item. A specialty kit of pork tacos . . . maybe? If not, know that this unassuming site on the inter Webz wasn’t built solely for me, but for you as well. So at any point you need to contact me, get in touch.

Ultimately, I hope you’re at my side every step of the way. Because no author can go it alone.

WHAT I WRITE

I love speculative fiction. The wonder of it. The humanity in it. What better genre is there to write in but fantasy and sci-fi? Without either, our world would be poorer for it. No Star Wars? No The Elder Scrolls? That’s not a world I would want to live in.

Fortunately, I don’t. And neither do you, dude!

I combine deep world-building and character-first narratives with companionship and relevant themes to build stories worth remembering. Great speculative fiction allows escape from the chores of our lives to explore another world and its wonders. Worlds are stories in themselves, and with each world I create, I set a goal to bring out its full potential through its history and the history of its inhabitants. This occurs over the course of a series, where the more you read, the more you learn. Just like the characters.

My plots are simple. That is intentional. My characters are complex. That too is intentional. After all, we ultimately read fiction to connect with people we might relate to; people like us. But I explore the idea of what will become of these characters when they’re dealt with adverse circumstances. I dig in to the depths of their subconscious minds.

I think every human being is defined by the circumstances which surround them. They reveal just what quality of person they are: the actions they would commit, the thoughts they would think, and the emotions they would feel.

Thus, that is what my stories hone in on. That is what I write.

CONNECTION

I’m on IG–yes, like every other human being and their dog. I’ve got a shiny profile set up. Should you care to check it out, tap through here.

I’ve also got a Goodreads profile. That’s right here if you want to come on over and say “how do ya do.” And, of course, I wouldn’t be a serious author without a Bookbub profile.

And that’s it! That’s the “holy trinity.” And although these three channels are fine avenues for connecting with me, the best way is via my newsletter the Battalion. But in order to join that exclusive club, you must first purchase one of my books. That way I know you’re serious about keeping up-to-date with the writin’ things I got going on.