I wanna talk about the behind the scenes of the Fire Breath scene. If you’ve read Beast of Zarall, you know exactly what I mean. But if you haven’t read it yet, don’t worry nothing here can spoil that scene.

Fire Breath is one of the most breathtaking, tension-filled moments in the book—and based on the feedback I’ve received, readers are feeling it too. I’ve had people message me saying they had to put the book down for a second. And I think there’s a reason the scene hit that hard.

Back in March, when I was writing that sequence, South East Queensland—where I live—received a cyclone warning. Cyclone Alfred. I’d never experienced one before. The lead-up was a mix of chaos and nervous energy. News headlines were everywhere. People were emptying shelves. Schools and workplaces were shutting down. And yes, in true Aussie fashion, there were jokes about stocking up on toilet paper (we’ve been traumatised before, long story).

In the days leading up to the cyclone’s arrival, I was writing the chapters right before the Fire Breath. And I was also preparing my house—dragging in outdoor furniture, flipping the trampoline upside down and dumping weight bags on it, checking torches and batteries, preparing things to entertain a toddler without electricity and internet. The atmosphere was thick with anxiety and uncertainty. Waiting for something big to hit.

At the exact same time, Beast was preparing for his storm. The tension I was feeling—the adrenaline, the tightness in my chest—bled into the pages. I didn’t need to imagine that feeling. I was living it. My emotions were perfectly synced with Beast’s (and Valnar’s).

And then the cyclone hit.

We were locked down. Roads closed. Wind howling and torrential rain hammering against the windows. And imagine me, sitting at my desk and writing furiously. Barricaded inside the house, with nothing else to do. I was like completely possessed by this fight and I broke my own word count records. Like everything I’d been holding inside came pouring out onto the page.

That’s why the Fire Breath scene hits as hard as it does. For a few intense days, I was right there with Beast.

P.S: Don’t worry, me and family were safe, no damage, just lots of rain and floods.