An Interview with Desmond Knipe

I’m Desmond Knipe, author of the NAMUH Trilogy—metaphysical science fiction about awakening, choice, and what we might become when we grow kinder and braver. NAMUH Book 1: The Awakening launched on August 8 and blends big-idea sci-fi with spiritual curiosity. I’m building a connected reader world—books, audio, community, and more—at namuhtrilogy.com.

---

---

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

I never actually set out to be a writer. Over twenty years ago, I had what I can only describe as a spiritual download—a sudden flood of insight that felt bigger than me. I didn’t know what it meant at the time, only that I needed to write it down. So I began, without any plan, simply recording the information I was receiving and then slowly realising how deeply it connected to my own life.

For years, the writing felt like a form of note-taking rather than storytelling. But about six years ago, I felt a very clear nudge—almost like being guided—to take everything I’d gathered and turn it into a narrative. That guidance was unmistakable: the story I was about to create was the one I should have been writing from the beginning.

So my path to authorship hasn’t been a traditional ‘I always wanted to write’ story. It’s more like the story wanted me. NAMUH grew out of that guidance, blending the information I received with my own experiences and questions about humanity’s potential.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I’ve had quite a varied path, and I think that diversity of experience feeds into how I write. My first jobs as a teenager were simple but memorable—delivering newspapers and milk, working at a fish and chip shop, and even spending time at an ice-skating rink. They taught me early about responsibility and the small, human interactions that make up everyday life.

When I left school at fifteen, I started working in an automotive machinist workshop. I stayed there for three years before joining the army, which was a huge shift in structure and mindset. Since then, I’ve worked across several countries in sales and marketing, which opened my eyes to how differently people think and live around the world.

Over time, I also became involved in projects focused on environmental and social solutions—ways to make the world work a little more sustainably. These experiences shaped much of how I see humanity’s potential, which naturally influences the themes in NAMUH.

And today, I have a more grounded role: I drive a truck and install toilet and shower facilities for Australia’s event industry. It’s practical, physical work that keeps me connected to the real world, even while I spend much of my creative life exploring the metaphysical one.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

Like many authors, the title of my book changed a few times along the way—but probably not for the same reasons most people change theirs. My original working title was The Enlightened Ones. As the story developed and the scope of what I was writing grew, that shifted to The Enlightened Soldiers.

It wasn’t until I realised that the story wasn’t meant to be a single novel, but a trilogy, that I was guided—quite strongly—to change it again. That’s when NAMUH came through. The word arrived fully formed, like it had been waiting for me to notice it.

I remember telling my kids the name, and they looked at me like I’d lost it. “What does that even mean?” one of them asked. But to me, it made perfect sense. NAMUH isn’t just a title—it’s a concept, a mirror held up to humanity itself. It’s also the thread that ties all three books together: Book 1: The Awakening, Book 2: The Enlightening, and Book 3: The Remembering.

What part of publishing your book made it feel real for the first time?

For me, it was the day I received my first proof copy. Until that moment, NAMUH had lived entirely on a screen—lines of text, cover designs, and digital files. But when that first printed book arrived and I held it in my hands, everything changed.

Seeing the cover come to life, feeling the weight of the pages, even the faint scent of new ink—it all made the journey tangible. That was the moment it shifted from being a project to being real.

It’s hard to describe, but there’s something deeply grounding about holding a physical manifestation of an idea that once only existed in your mind. It’s as if the story takes its first breath in the world, and you finally realise, ‘I created this.’

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

That’s a tough one—but I love the question. The NAMUH soundtrack would definitely be an eclectic mix, because the story itself moves through so many emotional and energetic layers. There would absolutely be some classical pieces—something cinematic and timeless to carry the weight of the bigger themes.

Then I’d throw in some heavy rock—AC/DC, for sure—to capture the intensity, rebellion, and raw human drive that fuels certain moments. I’d mix in a few trippy, atmospheric tracks, something in the spirit of Pink Floyd, for those deeper, more introspective sequences where perception blurs and consciousness expands.

And of course, plenty of Enigma. Their music has that perfect blend of mystery, spirituality, and rhythm—it mirrors the tone of NAMUH beautifully.

There’d probably be a few wild cards too, the kind of ‘crazy’ experimental sounds that make you tilt your head and think, ‘What just happened?’ because that’s exactly how some parts of the story feel.

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

I hope readers come away with a deeper awareness of the choices they have—the choices we all have—not just in our own lives, but in shaping the world around us. NAMUH isn’t about preaching or predicting; it’s about awakening to the understanding that every thought, every action, and every decision contributes to the kind of future we create together.

The darker parts of the story aren’t there to weigh anyone down; they’re there to highlight contrast. Without darkness, it’s harder to truly appreciate the light. I want readers to see that even in chaos or confusion, there’s always beauty, always meaning, and always the chance to choose differently.

If the book helps even one person see their own power to influence the world with awareness and compassion, then it’s done exactly what it was meant to do. That’s what The Awakening is really about: remembering who we are, and the power we already hold.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

For me, the most rewarding part isn’t actually the publishing itself—it’s the writing. I love taking an idea, something small and abstract, and expanding it until it begins to breathe on its own. Watching a story come to life, layer by layer, is an incredibly satisfying process.

My favourite part is finding ways to connect the story emotionally to our own world. Even though NAMUH explores big metaphysical and cosmic ideas, it’s grounded in emotions and choices that we all understand—fear, hope, compassion, and responsibility. Creating that bridge between imagination and reality gives the story its anchor, something readers can truly relate to.

When someone tells me that a particular moment or concept made them stop and think about their own life, that’s the most meaningful reward I could ask for. It means the story reached beyond the page.

What creative projects are you currently working on?

I’m currently deep into NAMUH Book 2: The Enlightening, which I hope to have ready for release in April 2026. It continues the journey that began in The Awakening, expanding both the inner and outer worlds of the story as the characters—and humanity itself—step into a greater understanding of what enlightenment truly means. Book 3: The Remembering will follow, bringing the trilogy full circle.

Outside of NAMUH, I’ve written and developed several other stories over the years—projects that took shape during those moments when I needed to step back and recharge creatively. Writing has become such a central part of my life now that I can’t imagine not doing it.

As for those other stories…you’ll just have to wait and see. They’ll be worth it.

---

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.