I already feel ridiculous in this getup—and if you want something even funnier, I’m now the proud owner of light-up glasses and a purple wizard hat, but I don’t own a black tie or a solid white shirt. Major oversight on my part. So I have no idea how well this Book 1 update is going to go, but I’ll do my best.
We’ve got three main things to cover today:
- A little backstory on where the idea for the book came from.
- Where Book 2 is headed.
- Q&A from the questions you awesome people submitted.
First, thank you so much for every comment. They’re genuinely a joy and keep me motivated. If you ever feel like commenting, go for it—even an occasional thumbs-up or emoji helps. (You’ll see me posting those a lot because I need to spend more time writing to get ahead!)
The original spark for Life is a Side Quest happened while I was working at Amazon. Everything was shutting down during the pandemic, and as a non-essential video producer, I picked up a quick warehouse job to pay the bills. It was monotonous, soul-sucking corporate work—but I’m grateful for every minute of it because it paid $17 an hour.
While pushing boxes on conveyor belts and secretly listening to audiobooks (thanks to a friend sending me funny ones), I started wondering: What if a wizard with supernatural powers was stuck in a dead-end corporate job like this? That’s where the first little ideas bubbled up—including the box mimic stealing lunches (inspired by the four fully stocked fridges and the very real lunch-thief problem at the facility).
It started as pure slice-of-life, but I’m a big One Punch fan (at least Season 1). I got bored when it felt like nothing deeper was happening, so I knew my story needed more. I thought: Who’s the exact opposite of a bored, disinterested wizard like Alexander? A rambunctious teenage girl. That’s where Ridley came from—the contrast felt perfect.
I was surprised by some of the early reactions to Ridley. Looking back, her parts were so easy and fun to write that I didn’t always pause to think, “How will this land with readers?” So in revisions (and moving forward), I plan to go back and show more of her good-natured side earlier—making it clearer she’s a victim of her impulses rather than just reckless and uncaring. The changes will be subtle, but I hope they’ll be appreciated.
Alexander, on the other hand, took more deliberate thought. Parts of him come from my own experiences growing up—having a weird sense of humor, not always reading social cues correctly, and assuming everyone was cool with me because I meant well. My best friend has literally had to explain to people, “No, he’s not a self-absorbed jerk—he genuinely wishes everyone well.” That confusion (“Why are people acting this way toward me?”) was easy to channel into Alexander’s black-and-white, rules-based view of the world. The key is making sure readers know he’s never trying to be an asshole—it’s just how the world functions for him.
Glad most of you seem to enjoy that aspect of him!
A lot of you have probably noticed I’m the eternal Dungeon Master for my D&D group—that’s where Harvey’s perspective came from. In Book 2, I’m bringing in a character my friends loved: an orc named Bruhaha who shows up very early, along with several ridiculous homebrew items that got big laughs at the table (think even more awkward than the purple wizard hat).
There are plenty of plot threads to tie up—some fully, some partially. Big ones include:
- How Harvey got his powers.
- Why everything went so wrong.
- Why the world adapted to the crazy changes so quickly… but Emily didn’t.
(I tried to make it clear Emily was in despair while everyone else accepted things fast. Harvey tweaked some “settings,” but those changes mysteriously didn’t affect Emily—that’s a major reveal coming in Book 2.)
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
You’ll get more Emily & Alexander focus, plus:
- Alexander’s brother Julius (that “Oracle of Earth” title prompt at the end of Chapter 51 gets explained—he’s a big part of Book 2).
- Brian the IRS agent (started as a gag—“taxation is theft”—but he has a sharp strategic mind, so he’ll balance Alexander when things stall).
- Ridley joining a band of misfits on side adventures (showing what Alexander misses while he’s busy with his main quest).
- Ben helping keep Alexander level-headed (and his drones will definitely come into play).
- The essential oil lady (poll feedback helped—she’s sticking around with a fun path ahead).
I’m aiming for Chapter 1 of Book 2 right after New Year’s once I’m comfortably ahead (life, kids, holidays, etc.).
Ondroid: How do magic points (MP) work with spells—are costs fixed or variable? What’s the difference between sorcerer, wizard, and the essential oil healer?
Most casters have fairly rigid, fixed costs. Alexander, however, has quickly become far more flexible—he can tweak spells for higher or lower cost. Other spellcasters will notice this in Book 2 and wonder what the heck is going on. Alexander will, of course, play dumb and keep hiding that he’s a wizard (despite the hat).
The essential oil lady has fixed costs but is even more oblivious than Alexander. I pictured her as a midlife-crisis, crazy-cat-lady type who’s latched onto essential oils as her new passion. (I’ve gently poked fun at essential-oil friends before—one oil cures everything… so I made it literal.)
Dan_Who: Glad Ridley is getting her mind back—looking forward to how she changes her fighting approach or if powers stay locked.
She starts Book 2 feeling helpless and will actively pursue better mental control in combat. Some powers are locked because she cut herself off from the path—her main arc is figuring out her power, redeeming herself, and becoming useful to the team again.
Asp: Why is the demon invading in body parts? Can’t he get through whole? Also, why no full societal breakdown? And why is the government so quick to accept supers without spiriting them away?
The demon (warlock from the Place of Waiting) snuck a finger out with Alexander, temporarily controlled Harvey, and tweaked settings to loosen safety locks on portals. That let him force an arm through at the end of Book 1 (which affects Chapter 1 of Book 2).
No Armageddon keeps the humor and slice-of-life tone. Harvey spent points to dampen panic and keep people calm—he now has both more and less power than he realizes.
Government acceptance: they got quietly bribed via personal quests from Harvey. Also, the system will gradually open up to more of the populace (ideas for what to call non-classed vs. classed people welcome in comments!).
Can we get an Emily POV to see what she thinks of her neighbor and the situation?
Yes—but not a relaxed day-to-day one. You’ll get a sidelong view first, then an Emily POV during a mild crisis. Casual Emily chapters are tough with so many puzzle pieces to fit.
Does Flick not count as a familiar? What would he summon?
Flick is a mutation, not a familiar or summoned creature. Daryl the Platypus (super-genius—I loved writing him) will explain the differences: manifestations (spiritual summons), imports (beings pulled from elsewhere), and mutations (existing Earth creatures altered). Flick became a unique dragon species through a mix of wordplay, magical resources, and happy accident—which is why Master Wizard Gruffel was so interested.
Gexgecko (electrical engineer in drones): Ben is obviously top-tier—thanks for the chapter.
That’s awesome you work in drones! I might pick your brain later. Ben continues strong, and his drones will definitely play a role.
Eryus7: Want Alexander to get a clue about Emily. Also—dark world something even Gruffel didn’t know? And was the voice that gave Harvey his class the original game master?
Alexander & Emily have major developments coming. Gruffel understands the magic but not what’s happening on Earth—no one does except one person you’ll meet. And yes—the voice was the original game master who knew what he was doing. That whole handover, rules, and restrictions get explained mid-to-late Book 2 (hoping it lands as satisfyingly as it feels in my head).
If you made it this far, you’re probably a big fan—thank you! A quick request for any five-star ratings/reviews you feel it deserves would mean the world.
I’m humbled by hitting Rising Stars and reaching 650 followers (I thought 200 would be amazing). Goal is at least three full books before pursuing traditional publishing, so root for me!
Quick teaser: I’ve written 12 chapters of a side story about the used bookstore that vanished (the one Alexander loved). It got teleported with one human still inside, who gains bookstore-owner powers in a system-limited world. If enough people are interested, I might polish and release it (maybe as a short story or future series).
Thanks again to everyone who reads, comments, or just quietly enjoys. The overwhelming positivity (and gentle “fix Ridley” notes) keeps me going.
Chapter 1 of Book 2 drops around New Year’s. Let me know if you want more video updates.
Talk soon—and thank you!
Should I clean up and release the side story of the missing book store?