Nick Shepley is the author of The Blood of Tharta, the first volume in A Fire in the Heart of Knowing, an epic, dark fantasy series blending psychological realism with mythic intensity. A former history teacher of fifteen years, Nick brings a deep understanding of historical trauma, political collapse, and human transformation to his fiction. His writing draws on a wide spectrum of influences, from literary fantasy to philosophical horror, and explores the ways individuals seek meaning, redemption, and power in broken worlds.
Now working as a therapist in substance misuse and mental health services, Nick’s fiction is shaped by his professional experience of human suffering, resilience, and recovery. His characters are often haunted, fractured, and yearning — not for triumph, but for wholeness. He is particularly interested in how fantasy can hold space for trauma without simplifying it, and how the genre can evolve to meet readers at their most complex.
In addition to his work as a novelist and therapist, Nick is the creator of the long-running Explaining History podcast, which has been downloaded over a million times and explores the intersections of power, ideology, and empire in the modern world. He also writes RPG adventures and teaches online, weaving together storytelling, education, and cultural analysis across different formats.
He lives in a small house beneath Caerphilly Mountain with his wife, son, and two unusually clever cats. When not writing, teaching, or working in therapy, he is usually reading, plotting his next fantasy epic, or playing guitar badly and enthusiastically.
