About Dan Hooper
Some stories begin at a desk. Others begin out in the world.
I'm a retired U.S. Navy veteran and a writer of All-Ages fantasy. My years of travel have taken me through different countries, cultures, landscapes—and more than a few adventures.
Those experiences helped shape my interest in stories about people from very different worlds learning to understand one another. That idea lies at the heart of the Kitaro Chronicles, where friendship, family, courage, and second chances matter as much as swords, martial arts, and adventure.
From Animation to the Written Page
Before turning my attention to fiction, I worked with animation and visual storytelling. That background still influences the way I write.
I tend to see a story before I write it: where the characters are standing, how they move, what expression crosses a face, when someone reacts, and where the imaginary camera would be.
Of course, my characters sometimes have other ideas. More than once, they've taken a carefully planned story somewhere I hadn't expected.
The Kitaro Chronicles actually began with animation in mind. As the world and its characters grew beyond the scope of the original project, I realized the story needed a different home. So I began writing it instead.
The Kitaro Chronicles
Beginning with Kitaro One-Ear and the Sword of Destiny, the series follows characters whose choices—and mistakes—continue to affect the generations that follow.
At the center of these stories are characters from different backgrounds learning that courage isn't simply the ability to fight, strength isn't always physical, and understanding someone different from yourself can sometimes be the greatest adventure of all.
I enjoy writing fantasy for readers of all ages, and I hope young adventurers' parents, grandparents, and other grown-up readers will enjoy these stories right alongside them.