Why I Wrote Fading Shadows

Stories are never just one-sided.

Fading Shadows gave me the chance to tell Ethan’s story—the other side of the love and loss we first met in Fleeting Fires. Where Amara’s journey was about reclaiming herself and finding the courage to trust again, Ethan’s journey is about understanding the weight of past choices, the patterns we carry, and the courage it takes to confront the shadows within us.

I wrote Fading Shadows to explore why people sometimes hurt those they love, even when they don’t want to, and how our past experiences shape our decisions in ways we don’t always recognize. Ethan’s story is about fleeting encounters, missed opportunities, and the quiet longing that comes from realizing what—or who—we’ve been running from.

This book is personal, too. In writing Ethan, I reflected on the moments in life where I’ve watched love slip away, where misunderstandings or timing left connections fractured, and where the heart longs for reconciliation even when fear tells it to retreat. His struggles and small victories echo the resilience we all must find to grow, forgive, and move forward.

The Emberlight Chronicles exists because I believe there are three sides to every story: mine, theirs, and the truth. Ethan’s voice gives readers a new perspective on events we first saw through Amara’s eyes. While inspired by personal reflection, his story—and the series overall—is not the entire story told.

It’s a way to explore how our past shapes us, and how we can choose to either dwell in it or embrace the present.

Ultimately, Fading Shadows is about recognizing the echoes of our past, facing the darkness we carry, and finding the courage to step into light, even when it’s terrifying.

It’s about learning that growth and healing are not linear—and that love, when we allow it, can teach us more about ourselves than we ever imagined.

Author’s Note:

Ethan’s story reminded me that understanding someone—or ourselves—often comes from confronting the shadows we carry.

Thank you for exploring his perspective with me.

For more thoughts on love, loss, and the echoes of the past, visit my blog post here: What Lingers After They’re Gone.

Unapologetically yours,

Kenya