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, a Gainesville, Florida fantasy author, 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 novel, Cross Blade Chronicles—a dark fantasy adventure book—is born out of a long-held passion for storytelling. It’s more than just a creative outlet. It’s a testament to how deeply interconnected discipline and imagination can be. A true fantasy novel with a hero’s journey, it blends sword and sorcery action with emotional depth.
As the 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 fantasy saga book by a ‘first-time’ author, don’t be surprised if their day job involves stethoscopes and surgeries. The sword and the scalpel aren’t so different after all.
Buy Cross Blade Chronicles book online or on Amazon now—an exciting new entry in the classic fantasy adventure realm by one of the best new fantasy authors of 2025.