Discover how a military veteran crafts worlds filled with metaphysical wonders
Sean Paquet discusses his transition from military life to writing, exploring themes of metaphysics, ancient aliens, and personal growth through his novels and collaborations with other authors.
In the ever-evolving landscape of speculative fiction, few authors manage to weave the threads of reality and imagination as seamlessly as Sean Paquet. A former military veteran and private defense contractor, Paquet’s journey from the structured world of defense to the boundless realms of metaphysics and the occult is as fascinating as the stories he crafts. His works, including the thought-provoking “A Game of Gods,” the intricately layered “The Jarl’s Shadow,” and the deeply introspective “Conversations With My Demons,” showcase his ability to explore complex themes such as ancient aliens, lost civilisations, and the depths of human psychology. Paquet’s collaboration with renowned Australian occultist Angela Kable further highlights his commitment to delving into the profound and often uncharted territories of the human experience. His unique background and diverse interests make him a compelling figure in contemporary literature.
We at Reader’s House Magazine were eager to talk with Sean Paquet to delve into the mind of an author who defies conventional boundaries. His ability to blend his real-world experiences with the mystical and metaphysical themes in his books offers readers a unique perspective on the world around us. Through this interview, we aim to uncover the inspirations behind his captivating narratives and explore how his personal journey has shaped his writing. Join us as we embark on a conversation that promises to be as enlightening as it is intriguing.
Your background as a military veteran and private defense contractor is quite different from the mystical and metaphysical themes in your books. How did your experiences in the military and in the Middle East shape or inspire your interest in metaphysics, heathenism, and the occult?
I would say my time in the military and then as a private defense contractor was pivotal in shaping how I saw the world and reality. When one travels the world and sees strange new places and things, it cultivates an interest about what’s out there beyond what our five senses perceive. It was also pivotal to my doomed Earth backstory that is a minor running theme in A Game of Gods and The Jarl’s Shadow.
In A Game of Gods, you explore themes of ancient aliens, lost civilizations, and cosmic mysteries. What sparked your fascination with these subjects, and how do you weave real-world conspiracies and metaphysical concepts into your fictional world?
I have been interested in ancient aliens and such ever since I read Erich Von Daniken’s Chariots of the Gods back when I was 8 years old. As far as world building, it made sense for me to work with what was already available instead of formulating something entirely new. Conspiracy theories always make for good reading and I think there is truth to some of it, when you start digging under all the hype and media frenzy.
Your novel The Jarl’s Shadow explores not only alien forces and lost civilizations but also personality disorders. How do you balance such deep psychological concepts with science fiction and fantasy elements?
In my first book, the main character was somewhat larger than life, and I wanted to try something different with The Jarl’s Shadow. I wanted someone who was flawed and damaged who overcame herself and won back her humanity. It was good exercise to show that the world and the backstory can be anything as long as the main character is very real.
Conversations With My Demons deals with addiction, trauma, and spiritual awakening alongside occult themes. What was it like collaborating with Angela Kable on this project, and how did your personal experiences with these issues influence the story?
To this day Angela and I are friends, and she is an accomplished occult practitioner. I learned a lot from her and she was a guide for a long time. I would say my personal experiences go into whatever I write, but Conversations With my Demons was a platform where I could really bare my soul and just let the feelings flow. Much of what I do even now in my practice stems from that book.
You mention that writing A Game of Gods was a journey of self-awareness for you. How did the process of creating this world help you reflect on your own life choices, and what was the most challenging aspect of that introspection?
I wrote A Game of Gods as a story about second chances, for people, for humanity and all sentient conscious beings. I led a pretty hard life before I started writing and when I wrote that book I was going through a Long Dark Night of the Soul. A spiritual awakening is something that makes you see yourself for who you truly are and that caused me to reflect deeply on my life choices and how to become a better person. I suppose the hardest part of reflecting is seeing memory after memory go through my mind of all the people I hurt and disappointed in my life. Something about creating this world spoke to something within me. For me, it was almost like it was a real place. A world where anything I wanted to believe was real, and I wanted to believe in myself.
In Living Supernatural, you recount your personal journey through the occult, magick, and paranormal experiences. What was the most pivotal supernatural event that shaped your path as a practicing magickian, and how do you think these experiences have changed your worldview?
For the record, Living Supernatural is not my book. It was written by Xander Jensen Rabel. I was the chief editor for his project and I consider his book one of my crowning achievements as an editor. I can say honestly that I learned a great deal from Living Supernatural and being able to mold Xander’s work into a published book was an enlightening experience. It is one the best paranormal books I have had my hands on and in many ways, it changed my practice.
