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Written in the Wake: The Dragon Constellation by James Voorhees
WHTTR
August 02, 2025
Written in the Wake: The Dragon Constellation by James Voorhees
A sweeping sci-fi born from sleepless nights, frontline exhaustion, and one author’s refusal to let the darkness have the last word.
From the Frontlines to the Far Reaches of Imagination
Every hero’s story starts in chaos. Some are born on distant planets. Others in emergency rooms and sleepless nights.
This week on Indie Ink Spotlight, we step into The Dragon Constellation by James Voorhees—a sweeping sci-fi adventure born not in a writing retreat, but in the middle of a global pandemic. Written by a frontline worker in the haze of COVID-19 exhaustion and emotional fallout, this debut novel is the first installment in The Ambassador Chronicles trilogy—and it’s as human as sci-fi gets.
At first glance, The Dragon Constellation is about a group of unlikely heroes uniting to face a powerful threat. But underneath the intergalactic stakes is something deeper: a meditation on found family, identity, resilience, and how creative expression can become a survival strategy when the world is falling apart.
Voorhees didn’t just build a universe—he reclaimed his own.
First Lines
Every word in The Dragon Constellation carries weight—not just because of the story itself, but because of where it came from.
“I was inspired to write The Dragon Constellation largely due to my experiences as a frontline worker during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Voorhees shares. “The immense stress and sleepless nights led me to seek an outlet for escape from the pain and horrors I was witnessing.”
Like many indie writers, Voorhees didn’t start with a fully formed plot. He started with fragments—late-night thoughts, photos from old travels, and music that reminded him who he was before the world cracked open. Slowly, those pieces began to cohere. And what emerged wasn’t just a story—it was a kind of healing.
One scene that hits hardest for him is the attack on Dellai: “It’s the first time when the group comes together to save one of their own. The plan is not formalized—but the intention is.” That messy, beautiful intention is the heartbeat of the novel. These aren’t polished warriors—they’re people finding strength in each other. Just like James did with his colleagues, Katrina Tarich and Julia De Marziani, on the frontlines. |  Listen to the Podcast |
Between the Lines
James Voorhees writes like someone who’s had to fight for clarity. For peace. For the space to imagine something brighter.
What inspired this book—and why now? “I was inspired to write The Dragon Constellation largely due to my experiences as a frontline worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. The immense stress and sleepless nights led me to seek an outlet for escape from the pain and horrors that I was witnessing and working to ease. During those sleepless nights, I would listen to music and look through pictures from my travels, which sparked my creative flow. Initially, my writings were disconnected thoughts, but over time, they began to form a cohesive story. This creative process, born out of that need to cope with the pandemic’s challenges, eventually led to the development of The Dragon Constellation, which is the first book in The Ambassador Chronicles trilogy.” | What challenge nearly stopped this book from existing—and how did you get past it? “Nothing was going to stop me. However, it was delayed because I signed on with the wrong publisher. I had to wait out the timeline of the contract. But everything turned out so much better!” | What’s something about your writing life readers won’t find in your author bio? “That I am always watching [people] and finding inspiration in the laughs and hugs and nods hello. That every moment should be celebrated and that unexpected twists are the best things in life.” |
Margins & Meanings
“The most important thing about being an indie author is that I maintain complete creative control of my work. I’m fortunate to work closely with the Bonfire Books team, and they offer suggestions (which I often take, because each of them is smarter than me). But in the end, it is my vision that makes its way onto the pages and into the readers’ hands.” |  |
To Voorhees, being indie isn’t about rebellion—it’s about authorship in the truest sense of the word.
He’s not just talking about control over plot points or cover art. He’s talking about truth. About telling a story that might be messy, emotional, hopeful, and real.
At the heart of The Dragon Constellation is a message Voorhees carries with reverence:
“Everyone can be the hero.”
That conviction doesn’t come from fiction—it comes from watching his father, a firefighter. From working beside Katrina and Julia in a time when bravery meant exhaustion. From a life that taught him heroism doesn’t require superpowers—just solidarity.
He hopes readers walk away remembering that.
And to be featured on WHTTR?
“This is mind-blowing! I’m a fan. I listen regularly on Spotify. I’m honored to have one of my books in the company of so many others that I love.”
Shelf Life
The Last Page
The Dragon Constellation doesn’t just ask “What if you could save the world?”
It asks: “What if saving the world looks a lot like saving each other?”
James Voorhees turned pain into power. Exhaustion into creation. His novel might span galaxies, but it never forgets the humanity at its center. That’s the indie spirit. That’s why we read.
We’re proud to spotlight James this week. His voice is thoughtful, unshaken, and just getting started.
Every Saturday, WHTTR’s Indie Ink Spotlight brings you one story, one voice, and one reason to believe in beginnings again.
Because who has time to read?
We do. Together.
The WHTTR Team
✉ Share Your Story Next
Wrote your way out of something?
We want to hear it. Indie Ink Spotlight is for writers with scars, stories, and something honest to say.
To be considered for a future feature,
📬 email us at [email protected]
with the subject line: Community Exchange
Let’s tell the stories that don’t flinch.
Published by ONE Media
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