A Glimpse Into the Soul of My Upcoming Book

Next month marks the official release of my debut novel, an experience both exhilarating and humbling. As the countdown continues, I’ve decided to spend the weeks leading up to publication sharing a few insights into the inspiration behind the book, without revealing the storyline itself (because where’s the fun in spoilers?).

The novel is laced with personal reflections, folklore, and stories that have lingered with me over the years, some shared over quiet dinners, others passed down like oral relics of a different time. They don’t just live in the background; they shape the emotional and philosophical framework of my characters. One such tale that made a subtle but powerful impression is the myth of Romulus and Remus.

It’s a story many have heard, but few truly absorb. According to Roman mythology, Romulus and Remus were twin brothers, sons of the war god Mars and the vestal virgin Rhea Silvia. Their birth was seen as a threat by King Amulius, who ordered them to be drowned in the Tiber River. But fate had other plans. The twins were rescued by a she-wolf who nursed them in a cave known as the Lupercal. As they grew older, they overthrew the tyrant king and set out to build a city. In a tragic turn, Romulus killed his brother Remus in a dispute over where the city should be founded, and thus, Rome was born, forged through ambition, rivalry, and sacrifice.

Though I only briefly mention the myth in the book, my characters find a particular fascination with it. In a quiet, tender nod to the legend, they name their two dogs Romulus and Remus. The story becomes more than ancient legend; it becomes a lens through which identity, loyalty, and destiny are questioned. That’s the kind of interplay I’ve enjoyed weaving throughout the narrative—where personal memory intersects with myth, and where imagination turns borrowed stories into something uniquely one’s own.

Throughout this month, I’ll be sharing more glimpses into the inspirations, themes, and symbols that helped shape the novel. Think of it as an invitation to walk beside me—before the pages are officially turned.

Stay tuned. The story begins soon.