Stories are my compass.
Imagination, my map.
Books, my voyage.

Growing up in Canada, my fascination with the universe and technology began early, shaped by Star Trek and the rise of personal computers. These influences ignited my imagination about what technology could achieve in the future. That passion led me to pursue bachelor’s degrees in Physics and Computer Science, seamlessly blending both fields throughout my career.

Throughout my life, I’ve been an avid reader of Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Michael Moorcock, Sarah J. Maas, J. K. Rowling, J. R. R. Tolkien, George R. R. Martin, Robert Jordan, and Andrzej Sapkowski, among many others. I’ve long wished to write my own stories but always lacked the confidence—until now. I want my writing to reach readers who seek brief escapes from our tumultuous world.

FAQ about Joe Sarkic

I first started writing during my university studies many years ago, but I had no success getting my stories into popular magazines. After finishing my studies, my career took over, replacing storytelling with business-driven technical writing.

 

I am a big fan of science fiction and fantasy, and I have long dreamed of creating my own worlds, characters, and plots, then sharing them with others who share the same passion for the genre.

 

I started writing again around 2021 when I made a life-changing decision to pursue my dream of sharing my stories and becoming a published author.

 

My feelings about my debut book Veil of Dawn’s Promise were surreal the first time I held it in print. Then the reviews began to arrive—thoughtful, generous, and deeply affirming—and with each one, along with the awards that followed, the quiet sense of accomplishment grew into something fuller, steadier, and undeniably real.

 

My characters are purely fictional and developed as the story evolved. As a pantser, I start with a premise and a rough idea of how the story might end. Then I let each chapter unfold, allowing each character to come to life based on the vision I have in the moment. Originally, I didn’t know if my protagonist would be male or female, young or old. I simply let my imagination flow, filling in the blanks one sentence, one paragraph, one chapter at a time.

 

I’m finding that writing is very time-consuming, publishing is easy, and making people aware that the story exists is the most annoying and challenging part.

 

For me, the most effective way to get over “writer’s block” is to step away from writing. Do something else: go for a walk, hit the gym, or go out with family—anything that helps clear the mind. The block eventually melts away.

 

Most important lesson is not to give up. Although I did at an early age, I never forgot. The most important reader you need to satisfy is yourself. If you are happy with the end result, you will find ways to share it with others.

 

If you are failing, don’t give up. Understand why you are failing. Adjust and try again. If you fail again, then repeat the process and keep going until success finally finds you. It can be a long, frustrating journey, but the voyage may well be worth it.

 

I read all of my reviews, and I do not get demoralized by bad ones. Each review is either an acknowledgment of where I have succeeded or where I have missed the mark and need to improve.

 

Good reviews make me feel very good and are always welcome.

I try to keep my personal life out of my stories, although it may influence them, as it did with Veil of Dawn’s Promise. This novel was inspired by my curiosity about where AI may take us as it becomes embedded in digital devices and learns from and absorbs all human knowledge. How does this end? When does it end? What if it is controlled by bad actors?

The book cover should reflect the story. Veil of Dawn’s Promise has two women against a dystopian background. The two women on the cover are one and the same, since the protagonist discovers parts of herself she did not know existed. The question is, why did she not know?

The feeling is awesome, especially when I receive unexpected award recognition, as has happened with Veil of Dawn’s Promise, which has received seven awards since publication.

Without doubt, J.R.R. Tolkien. During my pre-teen and teenage years, I did not enjoy reading. The only books I was exposed to were the ones my school required me to read. One of my closest friends gave me a book one day and told me I had to read it—it was the thick trilogy The Lord of the Rings. After much delay and hesitation, I finally started reading it. It opened my eyes to fantasy, which eventually led to science fiction. These were new worlds to me, and I wanted to read more—eventually I read one to two books per week.

I have no desire to be as big as someone else. I just want to be myself and see how far I can go.

One day, I would love to enhance Veil of Dawn’s Promise. There is so much more I would like to add, as ideas kept flowing well after publication.

Thank you for sharing my journey and for the wonderful reviews.

I live in Canada, am married to a wonderful lady, and have two teenage children.

I currently work full-time as a Senior Software Engineer. This was a transition a few years ago from a Senior Systems Engineer role, where I spent half of my career.

In my free time, I like to go to the gym to both loosen up and strengthen my muscles. This becomes increasingly important with age, especially with a full-time job that involves sitting for most of the day, as well as time spent sitting while writing. I also like to travel to exotic places and relax on sandy beaches.

Absolutely. In hindsight, that was an easy life.

I’ve always wanted to write, but I was demotivated when publishers turned me down. What changed was learning that you can self-publish with little to no cost. This reinvigorated my desire to write and publish it myself. This would have satisfied at least the one reader I needed—myself.

I think schools need to introduce children to different book genres, like fantasy or science fiction, in ways that are appropriate to their grade level. Children should be exposed to more than just the classics that have been taught for decades. I won’t mention any specific titles, as I do not want to diminish the work of any author. All of them should be celebrated in one way or another. In summary, reading should be enjoyable.

I love rock and roll. I cannot pick one favorite when you have bands like AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, U2, Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe, Van Halen, and the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, just to name a few.

Not many people know that I am a certified personal fitness trainer. As part of my certification, I earned additional qualifications in bodybuilding, corrective exercise, nutrition coaching, strength and conditioning, and tactical conditioning. The end result is that I am a certified Master Trainer with the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA).

Gabby Talks at BookCAMP 2026

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