What does a surgeon have in common with a swordsman? More than you’d think—especially when the surgeon trades the scalpel for a pen.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a rise in authors who once thrived in highly technical professions—medicine, engineering, law—step into the imaginative world of fantasy fiction.
John Austin Snook is one such name. A medical professional turned author, his journey into epic fantasy writing reminds us that storytelling isn’t limited by career paths.
There’s a precision in medicine that translates surprisingly well into world-building. Anatomy becomes magic systems. Diagnostics evolve into character development. Structured thinking helps craft complex plotlines.
His debut fantasy novel, born out of a long-held passion for storytelling, is more than just a creative outlet. It’s a testament to how deeply interconnected discipline and imagination can be.
As the fantasy genre expands, it welcomes these cross-profession perspectives. And as readers, we get the best of both worlds—emotionally resonant writing, and intellectual depth.
So the next time you pick up a book by a ‘first-time’ fantasy author, don’t be surprised if their day job involves stethoscopes and surgeries. The sword and the scalpel aren’t so different after all.