The Thrill of Crafting a Love That Defies Death – Writing Phantom Bond

I’ve always believed that the best stories aren’t just written—they unfold. They take on a life of their own, twisting in ways you never expected, forcing you to follow the characters down paths you never planned. That’s exactly what happened with Phantom Bond. What started as a paranormal mystery about a necromancer and the ghost he accidentally binds himself to became something much deeper, much more intimate—a story about love that defies the laws of both magic and mortality.

I knew from the start that Grayson and Ash would be drawn to each other, but what I didn’t expect was how organic their connection would feel as I wrote. Their relationship wasn’t about fate forcing them together—it was about two men thrown into a situation neither of them wanted, learning to trust each other, fight for each other, and eventually, choose each other. That’s what makes their romance so compelling to me. It’s not just about attraction; it’s about the way love can sneak up on you when you least expect it, the way it can reshape your entire world before you even realize what’s happening.

And let’s be real—writing the tension between them was delicious.

Grayson is guarded, practical, and constantly toeing the line between control and chaos, while Ash is reckless, sarcastic, and refuses to be anyone’s unfinished business. Their banter? An absolute dream to write. Every scene between them carried this undercurrent of frustration, longing, and unspoken desire—and I had so much fun pushing them to the edge of something more before letting them pull away, only to crash back together even harder.

But Phantom Bond isn’t just about two men finding each other. It’s about identity, about what makes us who we are. Ash spends most of the story trying to piece together who he used to be, but in the end, what matters isn’t his past—it’s the person he’s become. That hit me harder than I expected while writing. As queer people, we don’t always get the luxury of a simple past, and sometimes, choosing who we are now is the most powerful thing we can do.

Writing this book was an emotional, exhilarating ride, and I can honestly say I fell in love right alongside these characters. Their story is full of magic, danger, and ghosts that refuse to stay buried, but at its heart, it’s about two men finding something real in a world built on illusions.

And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Would love to hear what moments hit you hardest—drop a comment and let’s talk Phantom Bond!

– Ryder