From Dice to Dragons: How a D&D Game Became My First Novel

I still remember the moment the idea for More Than Me truly took root.

From D&D to paper

It didn’t happen in a quiet moment of reflection or in a burst of sudden inspiration. It happened around a table, with a group of friends, a set of dice, and a character sheet.

That character was Itsaphina Tealeaf—a halfling girl I made up for a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. She was small, scrappy, and deeply unsure of her place in the world. She was curious. Restless. A little bit angry at how small her life had been allowed to be. I didn’t know then that she would eventually become the heart of my first book.

Back then, I was just playing the game. But even during those early sessions, there was something about Itsy that stuck with me. I kept thinking about her outside the game—who she was, what she wanted, and what kind of world she lived in. The campaign eventually ended, like they all do, but I wasn’t done with her. Not even close.

The World Took Shape One Question at a Time

I didn’t sit down one day and decide to build a fantasy world. It happened slowly—over dozens of half-scribbled notebooks, long walks with music in my ears, and nights lying awake wondering “what if.”

What if dragons didn’t just exist—they bonded for life?What if an entire society revolved around who they chose… and who they didn’t?What happens to someone who’s told they’ll never be chosen… but is anyway?

Freymount, the Crystal Spire, the Order of Riders—all of it grew from those questions. I didn’t create this world all at once; I uncovered it a piece at a time, like an archaeologist digging up something old and half-forgotten.

Characters First, Always

For me, everything starts with characters. I need to know how someone thinks, what makes them flinch, what they hide from the world. I wanted every character in More Than Me to feel real, with their own pasts, loyalties, and wounds—especially the ones who never say them out loud.

Some, like Alric, came from the original game too. Others were brand new, arriving in that strange way characters do—half-formed and stubborn, demanding to be let in. Writing them was like chasing down shadows, learning who they were as I went. And sometimes arguing with them when they refused to do what I had planned. (Looking at you, Mara.)

The Hardest Thing I’ve Ever Finished

Writing this book has been equal parts joy and agony. I’ve scrapped whole drafts, rewritten chapters until I couldn’t see straight, and stared at blank pages convinced I didn’t know what I was doing.

But I kept going. Not because I always felt confident, but because I couldn’t stop thinking about this story. About Itsy. About what it means to grow into something the world never expected from you.

Because More Than Me isn’t just about dragons or chosen ones. It’s about belonging, self-worth, and choosing your own path, even when you’re scared. Especially when you’re scared.

What Comes Next

Right now, I’m querying agents and preparing to (hopefully) bring More Than Me to readers everywhere. It’s scary. It’s vulnerable. But it also feels right.

And if you’re here, reading this—thank you. Whether you’ve known me for years or just stumbled across this blog, I’m so grateful you’re part of this story.

I can’t wait to share more with you.