Behind the Curtain
Step behind the curtain and watch T. R. Truelove’s creative process unfold — from sketches and digital painting to storytelling secrets and world-building insights. Welcome to the blog.
Please Note: Spoilers ahead! Proceed at your risk.
My blog posts and podcasts may reveal character information and motivation that may spoil events for new fans. Definitely come back after you’ve checked out Blood & Oaths.
The NecroRunes: Creating the Ancient Relics Behind Legend of Nero
Every fantasy world has its legendary artifacts—objects whispered about in stories, feared by kings, and sought after by those hungry for power. In Legend of Nero, those relics are known as the NecroRunes.
Creating Natasha: Why the Best Fantasy Villains Are Characters First
Every memorable fantasy hero has an equally memorable villain—but I don’t believe villains become memorable because they’re powerful. They become memorable because they’re understandable. In this Creator Journal, I take a behind-the-scenes look at Natasha, the primary antagonist of Legend of Nero: Blood & Oaths, and explain why I approached her as a person first and a villain second. We’ll explore her motivations, design, inspirations, and the philosophy that shaped one of my favorite characters in the series.
Creator Journal #3 – Why I Abandoned My Graphic Novel
From Graphic Novel to Novel: The Story Behind Blood & Oaths
One of the questions I’ve been asked several times since releasing Blood & Oaths is, “Was this always planned as a novel?”
The short answer is no.
Creator Journal #2 – The Character I’ve Carried for 30 Years
Today I’d like to introduce you to Adrianna—the very first original character I ever created.
What started as a single pencil drawing when I was sixteen eventually became the heart of Legend of Nero: SAGA and the protagonist of my debut novel, Blood & Oaths.
Creator Journal #1 – Welcome to the Legend of Nero
Welcome to the first episode of the Legend of Nero Creative Journal!
In this series, I’m taking you behind the scenes of creating my debut fantasy novel, Blood & Oaths, the first book in the Legend of Nero: SAGA series.
Blood & Oaths Is Officially Available
After years of worldbuilding, redesigns, rewrites, character development, and more late nights than I can count, I’m incredibly excited (and honestly a little surreal feeling) to finally say that:
Legend of Nero: SAGA — Book I: Blood & Oaths is officially available.
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East Texas, USA
Legend of Nero
All characters and content copyright T. R. Truelove