From Courtroom to Fantasy: The Unlikely Journey of Sean Bobby Kerr
Sean Bobby Kerr stands apart in a literary landscape filled with authors who knew from childhood they were destined to write. Born into a family where writing runs through the bloodline, with a published grandfather, a writer mother, and a sister who pursued the family craft long before him, Kerr initially resisted the pull of storytelling. "I never wanted to be a writer. Far too obvious a profession given my family history," he reflects. Yet the Sydney-born former criminal defense lawyer now finds himself the author of the fantasy trilogy that begins with "A Journey Thrice Begun." Kerr’s transition from legal briefs to fantasy epics wasn't planned but emerged organically through characters who, as he describes it, "fell into his head" and refused to leave.
Resisting the Family Trade
Growing up surrounded by writers shaped Kerr's relationship with storytelling in unexpected ways. Rather than inspiring him to follow the family tradition, it initially pushed him in the opposite direction. He took "far too much pleasure in reading and saw no reason to put down the book to pick up the pen." This resistance persisted well into his twenties, even as he unconsciously began crafting stories.
The turning point came unexpectedly. "Without intending for it to happen, a set of characters fell into my head one day, and I started jotting down ideas for a plot they might be suited to," Kerr explains. "From then on these characters changed my perspective every day. I learnt, through the trials and errors of characterization, that you really can't write a story that suits your characters—because your characters will bend the plot around themselves, relentlessly, and so I'd just have to get comfortable sitting in the passenger seat as these figments of my imagination came to life and drove their own tale."
From Defending Clients to Creating Worlds
Before becoming an author, Kerr built a career in criminal defense law, eventually heading a criminal law department and working cases in the Supreme Court of NSW. His legal background inevitably influenced his writing. "I think that having spent hundreds of hours visiting clients in prison, and with prison being a place I am perhaps more comfortable working in than other writers, a custodial setting was inevitably going to appear in my story at some stage or other," he notes. "Something I appreciate was quite unfortunate for my characters."
The pivotal moment in Kerr's transformation from lawyer to author came when writing the first chapter of "A Journey Thrice Begun." As he describes it, "In a lot of ways the most pivotal moment for me in writing the first chapter was also the most pivotal moment for the protagonist Everett Dwyer: the moment Everett turned down an invite to a magical school. I knew, then, that this would be a different type of magical story; and that it would perhaps be a story the fantasy community hadn't seen before. For better or worse."
This moment of creative clarity resonated so deeply with Kerr that he references Mark Twain's famous quote: "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. The day I wrote that chapter was that second day."
Grounding Fantasy in Human Nature
Kerr's approach to fantasy writing reflects his legal training and understanding of human psychology. When discussing his research process and how he blends factual accuracy with magical elements, he emphasizes that the foundation of good fantasy comes from understanding people.
"I think the most important research you do for fantasy worldbuilding comes years, decades even, prior to writing. That being your learning of human nature," he explains. "This is where factual accuracy rears its ugly head. You might assume that if there are wizards chucking fireballs and dragons hoarding treasure and ants that can talk, that your reader might be willing to forego all realism—but you'd be wrong. If one of your characters acts in a way that factually does not accord with human nature, you're screwed."
This commitment to authentic character development sometimes creates challenges. Interestingly, Kerr admits that his protagonist proved particularly difficult to write: "Every writer has one character that they find most tricky to write and I got a little unlucky with mine. Because, very unfortunately, the character that I found most difficult to write happened to be my protagonist. Everett Dwyer was in every way the opposite of me. I've been waiting for my letter from Hogwarts since I was ten, whereas Everett turned down his invitation to a magic school in a matter of seconds, without a second thought, and for something as pesky as love."
Finding Voice and Future Directions
Despite his initial reluctance, Kerr now embraces his identity as a writer and encourages others struggling to find their literary voice. "Every writer has their own unique voice, so do you. You just need to keep writing," he advises. "It took Michelangelo three years to carve the Statue of David from a single block of marble. Your voice is in there somewhere. You'll find it."
His work has resonated with readers who appreciate his blend of magical elements with realistic human behavior. When asked about a favorite passage from his trilogy, Kerr shares a scene that showcases his talent for dialogue and character-driven humor:
"Near the water a severely balding man was yelling at a young woman close by, 'We can't finish the arches without more stone—and the stone's taking too long to get here! Your team ain't pulling their weight, woman!' The woman's hammer was about twice the size of the balding man's, and she shot back, 'My team? Who is this guy to talk about my team?' She looked around at all the workers nearby, pointing at the balding man. 'Seriously, does anyone know who this guy is? This one, right here, the one whose hairline starts in his back pocket!'"
For Kerr, the journey from reluctant writer to published author has come full circle. His passion for justice and equality, which once drove his legal career, now infuses his storytelling, creating fantasy worlds where authentic human nature meets magical circumstances. As he puts it, "I cherish every day I spend at my desk trying to bring you the best possible magical tales."
Follow Sean Bobby Kerr on his Website or on Instagram.
Fascinating interview! I think legal training makes for interesting writing - since you're taught how to make persuasive argument and use concise language; training that carries over well into writing fiction or non-fiction.