By: James Halligan
For Jennifer Aitken, the journey into epic fantasy began not with a grand plan, but with a single story—one she rewrote several times until it revealed the heart of a much larger world. What began as a standalone novel gradually evolved into The Legends of Light & Shadows Saga, a young adult fantasy series that is now resonating with readers as each volume is released.
Aitken never intended to write a saga. “It took me some time to find the story I wanted to write, with characters that fit and worked well within the world I was starting to create,” she says. But once that world came into focus, ideas began to multiply. “I now have many ideas and can’t imagine it not being a saga.”
The Reluctant Hero
At the center of her story is Lucius Xavier—a complex, emotionally grounded protagonist who proved unexpectedly difficult to bring to life. “He was definitely the trickiest for me to pin down,” Aitken admits. “I wanted him to be relatable in his reaction to the new worlds he was discovering but also strong enough to evolve and adapt.” His emotional journey doesn’t just anchor the narrative; it helps shape its momentum.
Lucius wasn’t inspired by any single person in Aitken’s life. Instead, she says he grew from “little bits of everyone I come in contact with,” forming a mosaic of human traits that feel authentic in a world full of fantasy.
Building Twists Without Blueprints
Despite writing in a genre that often leans heavily on tightly plotted twists and foreshadowing, Aitken takes a more instinctive approach. “I am not what some describe as a plotter or planner,” she says. “I find that the story flows from my imagination without the need to plot each event or scene.”
That doesn’t mean she ignores structure altogether. Aitken usually knows where the big turns will be—but she lets the characters lead her to those moments naturally. “The characters help me foreshadow what’s to come without me having to methodically plant the seeds along the way.”
Writing for Resilience and Wonder
While magic and adventure give the saga its outward shine, it’s the deeper emotional themes that provide it with substance—particularly those around power and identity. “Not power as in control over others,” she clarifies, “but power as in self-confidence and strength. The kind of mental strength and fortitude required to endure hard situations and learn from them.”
That emphasis on inner resilience has resonated with many readers. But for Aitken, the ultimate goal is something more elusive: to restore a sense of wonder. “It’s a sense of childish wonder I write these stories with,” she says. “The kind of imagining we tend to lose in adulthood. If I can bring it back into someone’s life, even for a short time, I’ll feel accomplished.”
A Digital-Age Author’s Reality
Though Aitken grew up dreaming of a traditional author’s life, the digital age presented a very different—and unexpectedly empowering—path. As a self-published author, she’s had to become a one-woman publishing house. “Aside from writing the actual story, I am editing, marketing, finding graphic designers for covers, and formatting,” she explains. “It’s been a steep learning curve, but I am learning.”
Still, she sees the upside. The digital world allows writers like her to bypass traditional gatekeepers and connect with their audience directly. “It’s an amazing time, and the possibilities for creativity are vast,” she says. Books that might once have languished in a slush pile are now thriving on social media, buoyed by passionate readers and indie fans.
Looking Ahead
Now deep into the fourth book of her saga, Aitken shows no signs of slowing down. With more stories on the horizon, her focus remains steady: to help readers rediscover the magic in themselves and the world around them.
“Wonder,” she says simply. “That’s what I want them to take with them.”
Jennifer Aitken has been a storyteller for as long as she can remember. Before turning her talents to fantasy fiction, she worked for years as a freelance writer. It was the encouragement of her husband and close family that finally gave her the courage to pursue her author dreams. Today, she’s building an imaginative legacy, one book at a time, and inviting readers everywhere to lose—and find—themselves in her pages.
To explore the magic for yourself, check out Jennifer Aitken’s Legends of Light & Shadows Saga on Amazon. Start the journey today and see where wonder takes you.
