How Fantasy Stories Can Bridge Reality and Fiction

It is believed that a writer’s love for storytelling begins with reading, true in the case of C.J. Edmunds (許文榮). With this passion, he went on to author the Tale of the Dark District series, an urban fantasy infused with elements of Filipino mythology.

Before becoming a published author, his early formative years were filled with words and stories that captivated his heart, nurturing his curiosity for literature and steadily growing his collection of books, ultimately leading him to discover a love for fantasy storytelling in the tales of his youth.

Carrying this love into adulthood, he has become a writer who wields the power to influence people through his narration, a storyteller with the talent to touch the hearts of his readers. It is a full circle: from reader to full-fledged author.

With CHiNOY TV, we uncover how C.J. Edmunds, an alumni of Xavier School and whose real name is Casey Copengco (許文榮), came to a deeper understanding of the power of fantasy storytelling, tracing his journey from bookworm to writer.

The Influence of Stories

Every family has a story to tell. Some are shared, while others remain buried and never heard again. For Edmunds, stories from his parents played a significant role in his childhood.

He recalled, “For me it’s the life stories that I grew up listening to that unconsciously planted the seed and set the ball rolling for me. From experiences in family life, to the life my parents led during World War 2, the hardships, the cruelty of life and of people, those were the stories that I loved listening to.”

Indeed, his parents’ tales sparked creativity within him. Beyond that, books also shaped Edmunds’ love for words and narrative. They further fueled his passion for literature.

“The choice of picking up a book and being changed by it is a life-changing act, therefore a life changing experience in itself, when you think about it.  For me that was the choice of reading, ‘Interview With the Vampire’ by best selling author, Anne Rice. It was her style and words that brought me into a new world and taught me to be a more attentive reader. In doing so, she planted the seed for me to consider creating my own stories. And make sure I tell them well in order to leave a lasting impression on readers.”

As a bookworm, Edmunds immersed himself in the arts naturally. When I asked if his Chinoy background hindered his passion, he honestly replied:

“Because basic Chinoy upbringing really focuses more on what’s practical, it allowed me to fully ascertain and immerse myself in the arts because it was what I was drawn to. Oddly, knowing that what you like was not what others did sort of gave me permission to fully embrace what I was drawn to and in effect stand out, as if in declaration that these are what my pursuits are.”

His boldness in embracing his passion earned admiration from his father. Unusual for a Chinoy upbringing, where parents typically want their children to focus on more “practical” things, Edmunds’ father had a different perspective on his son’s hobby, later on becoming a thriving Chinoy author. 

He proudly told me, “In fact, during my grade school days, when I was writing a script for a drama with the characters of Robin Hood, Little John and the like, it was my father who called me a writer first. Looking back, I can still remember the tone of his voice. He was proud of what I was doing. Perhaps he knew something then that I did not know about myself, and have yet to discover for myself along the way.

Book Quote: “Finally, I was living and learning life and had a love that enriched me daily and to have my father equally be a witness to what I have done along these parameters is the greatest affirmation that I can ever ask for.” 

Edmunds’ self-discovery was far from easy, even with parental support. He struggled with self-doubt, which he called his “greatest pushback.” That did not discourage him; instead, he pushed harder to build confidence in his work and remain committed to his purpose.

“Most of the pushback I got was really from myself, from doubting myself and dreaming of writing a book to wondering if I would even finish what I started. But at the end of the day, I think all that self-doubt and questioning helped shape me to becoming the creative that I am today,” he shared.

That journey of self-discovery eventually led him to realize the power of fantasy stories.

PHOTO: C.J. Edmunds at the You Should Be Writing event in November 2023, organized by PaperKat Books as its first creative festival.

The Power of Fantasy Storytelling

Fantasy stories are not just for entertainment, but also about finding a home, a place where you can feel you truly belong.

True to this, Edmunds agreed, saying, “it makes you appreciate worlds that were created and the words used to describe and make these worlds seem real and one that you would love to go back into in the hope that there indeed was that kind of world in real life.”

Additionally, he believed that reading fantasy opens us to new worlds. These include new people, ways of living, languages, places, and even food, all connected to the world the fantasy writer wants to make real for the reader.

Reading fantasy is an immersive experience, but what more if you’re the one who’s writing it? Edmunds shared that fantasy storytelling allowed him to create a world where readers can truly connect.

He added, “when done right, it definitely inspires me as a reader and creative to think of my own world building and how it relates to my readers as I expand on it and build up on the ones that I already have created, or start one from scratch.”

Book Quote: “And the memory of it hit me again as my inner vision fired up and instantly, I remembered everything. This wasn’t someone else’s dream. This was my life.” 

When I asked him how his personal life affected his fantasy storytelling, he told me that it subconsciously integrated facets of it into the stories he was writing.

“I feel that all aspects of an author’s life, personal and professional, certainly bleeds into their work and writing, whether they are aware of it or not. Things that we know, eat, wear and learn in the real world will evolve in some form into the world that we create or at least inspire us to create something new or akin to it,” he continued.

With all of this, Edmunds has come to the conclusion that fantasy is a way to write stories on what could have been. It is a freedom where we control the narration and make things right. For this reason, he started writing Sojourn, a prequel to the Dark District series.

The Journey Behind Writing Sojourn

Edmunds wrote Sojourn as a short story entry for an anthology collection spearheaded by Fully Booked. He submitted it, and although it did not make the cut, the feedback he received was both invaluable and affirming to him as a writer at that time.

He added, “It told me what I needed to make the story grow and evolve into what it is today. The feedback also told me what I was doing right and what I can do to make it better. Writing the story as a short story then and then having it evolve into a novella allowed me to contain the events into a form that neatly wrapped the events into a short read but with the promise of more.”

Growing into a more well-rounded writer, Edmunds learned how to tackle topics such as the afterlife with a great balance of creativity, profound insight, and his own dealings with grief. With this, Sojourn follows David Lansing, a half-Filipino call center trainer, whose normal life takes a surreal turn when he begins receiving visions and encounters a spirit guide.

Book Quote: “ But I think deep down, we never retire from what we claim to have turned our backs on. In spite of not directly participating in it, we opt to observe what we have abandoned from a respectful distance.”

When I asked him why he chose the name David, he explained that it means simplicity, knowledge or the quest for it, the need to see things through, and someone who does not put on airs and can be relatable to others. The main goal of this is to make it resonate with a lot of readers.

“And because we write what we know, a little bit of my own desire to see things manifest and reach some form of resolution in my own life bled into the work, as all writers do when they write. So in giving life to what I wanted to happen in my own life I gave David his,” he finally concluded.

Seeing himself in David’s shoes, he realized that “creating a fantasy world reflects our desire to create a better world; to live in a better world. A world where every soul is equally giving and takes what it can for nourishment or sharing and then gives back to the community. Doing this repeats the generous cycle of giving and taking.”

With the intention of making our world a better place through fantasy storytelling, Edmunds will continue to use his talent to bring our desires closer to the realities we want to see in the world.

Of course, writing the book is also an ode to his father. He said, “by continuing to do that with Sojourn and with each and every book that I publish, it is my way of both thanking my father for the life that he gave me and honoring him as well, because he went out of his way to give me what he felt I needed, so that I can do this for life. My tribute to him will continue for as long as I am an author and publish one book after another.”

There’s more in the Dark District series, and surely, Edmunds has much more to share with his other books, including Take Me Now, Take My Hand, and Dark District Primer.

Embrace and Trust Your Creative Process

There’s truth in how writers make more impactful stories when they embrace their creative process and stay committed to their artistry. As a result, Edmunds showed how valuing your own style can bring change to the literary landscape.

In support of this, he shared, “I would love to see more creatives writing their own urban fantasy and speculative fiction stories by either incorporating elements of our own Philippine folklore or make it an amalgam of folklore from our other Asian neighboring countries.”

As he found confidence in finishing Sojourn, Edmunds believed that you have to be brave when publishing your story, not because you can’t take other people’s opinions, but because there is a story that needs to be told.

He firmly lived by this idea and said, “every writer will have their own process and just because my process may differ from others, I learned to accept that it doesn’t make theirs better or mine less than. It’s just that every creative process is different. Whatever works for you works for you.”

In order to fully embrace your literary style, Edmunds also advised writers – whether a Filipino or Chinoy author – to read more. He encouraged, “read what interests you and be open to reading in other genres that you are curious about. Reading is a form of research. It fuels our imagination, puts fuel in our creative gas tank, until we are ready to rev up and go.”

With this in heart, Edmunds was nominated  last year as one of the Most Promising Author of the Year for Sojourn, for the Parangal ng Gintong Pluma award. was awarded the Literary Titan Silver Book Award for his latest release, the Dark District Primer because of its innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. 

More than this, he is also writing the next installment of the Tales from the Dark District series, entitled Take My Heart, as well as a new series with a female heroine in the same universe.

As our Universe continues to be discovered and expands with each discovery, it certainly mirrors Edmunds’ own writing journey, as he continues to create new worlds to explore and inhabit, not just for himself, but for his ever-growing readership. 

Reach out to him to learn more about his expanding universe! 

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