About Colby Dunn
More about me
Although I have a huge range of ideas spanning multiple genres, for now, I primarily write epic fantasy after the fashion of classics like the Lord of the Rings or The Wheel of Time, but I inject into my novels elements of my other passions like the pace and adventurous spirit of Japanese RPG video games, or the intricacies of combat derived from my study of the martial arts.
Speaking of martial arts, I started out with the Japanese sword in the styles of Iaido (the art of the draw), and Kendo/Kenjitsu (Japanese fencing). As much as I loved these, it’s not socially acceptable to carry a katana when running to get milk so I took up one of the oldest and purest styles in 2009: Shaolin Kung Fu. Over the years I trained hard and started teaching it as my understanding deepened.
Language also intrigues me and I sometimes struggle to keep two in my head! I learned Japanese shortly after high school when I took a two-year hiatus from life from 2004-2006 to preach Christianity in Sendai, Japan on a proselyting mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. There aren’t many opportunities to use Japanese in Midwestern USA, but I try and keep up with my skills by watching films and playing video games in Japanese.
Currently, I live in Salt Lake City, Utah with my wife, Lola who settled for me pretty hard. We were married in 2009 and since then have created three spawns- two girls and a boy, who bring us equal measures of joy and mania. We are all huge nerds and love going on adventures together!
On the note of being nerdy, I have been a big gamer my whole life. Like most, I started in the 80’s with the OGs like Super Mario and Tetris but my true passion is in story-driven RPGs, particularly in the medieval fantasy genre if you couldn’t guess. Games like Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, and the Legend of Zelda are really what planted the seeds of storytelling in my heart at a very early age.
Somehow along the way, card magic became a thing. It’s been fun to perform amongst family, friends, co-workers, and on the street. Most of all, I love the smiles it brings to people’s faces. It’s a fun and easy way to make someone’s day brighter.
Then there’s my art. Throughout my young life I was sure I wanted to to draw for a living but when I got my first gig illustrating a children’s book, I quickly realized I hated being told what to draw and stepped out of the arena, pocketing my art as simply a hobby instead.
As far as writing goes, I committed to start taking my ideas seriously around 2008. Taking training courses from the pros and attending workshops and conferences helped me learn the craft and after that…I just went for it! I wrote my first novel, Crimson Sun and ten long years later, here we are! The second two books, Tides of Chaos and The Crystal Door conclude the trilogy and now I know for certain that I will be writing until the day I die (hopefully in a duel on top of a mountain somewhere). There are too many characters and worlds in my head begging to get to the page. Hopefully you will join me on this journey so we can learn and enjoy this wonderful thing called life together!
