We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stone Abdullah. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stone below.

Stone, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

Well, first, I’d like to thank you guys for inviting me to this interview. Second, if you’re in the business of being an artist, it should be no surprise that your work will be subject to misinterpretation and mischaracterization. People love to judge and proclaim their subjective opinion as gospel.

For example, a character of mine named Doctor Nataliya Artemis romantically pursues the main character, Commander Tsumisu. People chose to focus on her admittedly unorthodox means but never once asked, “Where is this behavior coming from?” Know what I mean? So Nataliya was written off as a “crazy lady” with “no moral boundaries.” But as the story progresses, you discover her underlying motivations and learn to admire her.

Another fantastic example is male readers being comically furious at how I wrote the main male character, Tsumisu. They expect him to be some “alpha male,” “know-it-all,” and “always takes the lead,” mainly because such powerful and life-experienced women surround him. And so, because that trope isn’t ingrained, male readers cherry-pick and send inflammatory emails or leave terrible reviews. Hahaha.

Over the years, I learned that you should never “play to the gallery,” and it’s impossible to control how people interpret your work. Therefore, be sincere with yourself as an artist, strive for meaning, and continue reaching people.

Stone, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I spent years in academia and research and even once worked as a government scientist. And before that, I was a regionally touring musician! The spirit of wanting to be an author remained and strengthened throughout those experiences. In fact, during my second year of graduate school, where I studied higher-order mathematics and programming languages and published peer-reviewed papers, I released my first novel, “Journey of the Shadow: Volume One!” Surprise! Yes, pursuing one passion and leveraging it to seek another is possible. And that summarizes who I am accurately.

My time in the music and science fields taught me the importance of communication. This experience made my transition into the publishing industry smoother, giving me the confidence to share my ideas and learn from others. Whether I’m at a comic convention, a book signing event at Barnes and Noble, or a coffee shop discussing “Journey of the Shadow,” it’s a reminder of the joy I felt in the classroom, helping others grasp complex topics and seeing that “lightbulb” moment in their eyes. Connecting with readers in this way is one of the most rewarding experiences life has to offer.

As a sci-fi romance author, I felt compelled to tell the story of a young supernatural ninja warrior’s quest to save humanity from an ancient evil necromancer’s resurrection as he struggles to understand himself. Along the way, you’ll meet powerful, intelligent alien women, goddesses, and galactic empires with a penchant for conquest. And, of course, there’s plenty of wholesome romance, meaningful relationships, adversities, laughs, and high-octane swordplay action. I’m thrilled that ‘Journey of the Shadow’ has resonated with readers worldwide, a success I never could have predicted! Hahaha.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

It starts with educating people on the importance of art as a species. Perhaps I’m wrong; however, at least in Western civilization, supporting and prioritizing the arts in our lives seems completely absent or frowned upon. Our public schools struggle to get funds to foster the natural creativity that exists in every child, and simultaneously, our children have their aspirations ripped out of them because they need to look their best for a corporation that cares absolutely nothing about them. You would say, “What about celebrities?” That’s the incorrect perspective. Art, whether it’s a painting that evokes deep emotions, a piece of music that stirs the soul, or a play that challenges our perceptions, is a mechanism to foster and cultivate the human soul, not a static business model, in hopes of getting rich and used as a tool by corporate record labels or film studios.

This distortion of art and creativity is further exacerbated by the digital age. The very concept of ‘creativity’ has been hijacked, redefined to include 8-second videos of people engaging in absurd and often harmful activities. But we have the power to redefine it, to reclaim it as the creation of something meaningful and constructive. If a musician wants to promote their song, they should not feel pressured to fit into the ‘instant gratification’ mold. Their art should be celebrated for its depth and meaning, not overlooked because it doesn’t conform to a fleeting trend.

We as a society must reiterate the importance of art by limiting corporate influence, improving funds and resource availability and accessibility from our local, state, and federal levels of government, and designing online platforms that prioritize artists over “going viral.” These platforms should be designed to make self-promotion genuine and not a function of being hostage to algorithms designed to force individuals to pay for advertising to achieve visibility. Instead, they should provide a space for artists to showcase their work, connect with their audience, and receive fair compensation for their efforts.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I’d say I’m on a mission to “redefine romance.” Over the years, I’ve seen too many overused tropes, the same generic characters, the same settings, the same smut, just commercialized conveyor belt literature shoved in people’s faces as they await the next remixed version of the same cookie-cutter concept. I’ve asked myself, “Where’s the connection? Where’s the meaning? Do something else!” I’ve made a conscious decision to avoid following this model. I’m not interested in consuming shows, movies, or books that incorporate these elements. Why? Because I’m committed to preserving the unique essence of “Journey of the Shadow.” I’m determined to ensure that what I’m creating is a genuine reflection of me, not a product of market trends or the demands of “the gallery.” This commitment to authenticity is the cornerstone of my work.

You might say, “Well, you’ll end up isolating yourself.” There’s merit to that. However, if it takes some degree of isolation to achieve the branch of communication I wish to establish with other people, then so be it. There’s a plethora of “noise” in our society surrounding relationships, such as the pressure to conform to societal norms, the emphasis on physical appearance over emotional connection, and the glorification of toxic behaviors as signs of passion. Part of my mission in “redefining romance” is cultivating the importance of trust, respect, empathy, forgiveness, patience, and intimacy within that framework instead of presenting romance as a vehicle purely for copulation or, worse, copulation as a commodity. “Journey of the Shadow” will not bend the knee towards ideological pressures or new social conformities to satiate fleeting inclinations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://journeyoftheshadow.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jots_store
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Kazatsuyo13
• Other: https://cara.app/journeyoftheshadow

Image Credits

All images credit of Stone Abdullah