What was the inspiration for this game and why did you want to write an action story?

I wanted to write in a futuristic/sci-fi setting after finishing ITFO, but more than that, I wanted to write a story with completely different pacing. ITFO and its sequel, I, the Unbroken One, take place over months. I need, for the sake of the plot, a great deal of time to pass. The characters are marching or riding vast distances; medieval war involves a lot of waiting and boredom. This doesn’t make for a good story, so time needs to be skipped. The great danger of this style of story is that it can sometimes feel like a series of vignettes; if I keep skipping time and just jumping between major scenes, there won’t be any connective tissue.

Whiskey-Four is all connective tissue. The game takes place over four days, and each scene leads immediately into the next. The movement of time is kept in check by the use of a clock which tells the reader what time it is after every minor time skip. This style of pacing is best suited to action/adventure stories, I believe.

What is one thing you're really proud of that you've written? Do you have any favourite character or scene you've written?

I think writing Ulysses/Ulyssa, the primary love interest from Whiskey-Four, was the best creative decision I have made in writing. I believe they are singlehandedly responsible for a full half of Whiskey-Four’s popularity. In the grand scheme of love interests, they don’t even have a lot of time with the protagonist, and yet they’re still so well-liked, which I think is a testament to how compelling they turned out.

How has your identity, heritage/background, or personal experiences influenced your storytelling or writing process?

I’ve dealt with mental health troubles in the past which really colored the prose and, for lack of a better term, the vibe of I, the Forgotten One. It’s a vibe I can’t really recapture, now that I’m in a better place. 

For folks who have enjoyed your IF, what other book/music/movie should they check out for the same 'vibe'?

I discovered the song “Infinite Skin” by Blaqk Audio when writing Whiskey-Four, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song better encapsulate something I wrote. The entire album, “Only Things We Love,” fits the cyberpunk aesthetic of Whiskey-Four so well.

What are you excited to tackle/implement/work on next?