Lifestyle

J.D. Barker’s Approach to Creating Unforgettable Protagonists

Published

9 months ago

August 30, 2024

Michelle Langton

Photo courtesy of Ruth Ganev Photography

By Mj Toledo

When J.D. Barker sets out to craft a protagonist, he conjures literary legends that leap off the page and into readers’ imaginations. With a deft touch and a keen eye for detail, the bestselling author guarantees that each protagonist is unforgettable. After all, these characters are the stars that keep readers coming back for more.

The Importance of Detailed Backgrounds

According to the author, he invests time in developing comprehensive backstories for his characters, considering their past experiences, motivations, and personal quirks. This allows him to create seemingly real people, giving readers a look at the “hows” of their actions. “Fleshing out these backgrounds makes these characters integral to every story’s progression,” he shares.

Additionally, J.D. Barker’s work exhibits attention to detail. For instance, in his Fourth Monkey series, the killer is portrayed with a depth that makes him so relatable, making some readers empathize with him.

Character-Driven Plotting

J.D. Barker’s novels are often distinguished by their character-driven plots, which add more layers to the story. He describes himself as a “pantser,” preferring to let the story unfold naturally through the actions and decisions of his leads rather than adhering to a rigid outline. This allows for organic character development, often leading to twists that readers do not see coming.

For novels like “The Fourth Monkey,” one of his most critically acclaimed books, J.D. Barker employs a dual storyline format that juxtaposes different narratives, such as police procedural elements with diary entries. This structure maintains the reader’s interest while providing a fuller picture of the character’s inner workings, driving the plot forward naturally.

Barker’s personal experiences, including his diagnosis of autism, have influenced his work process. He credits his autism with enhancing his ability to create detailed narratives and complex plotlines, allowing him to keep intricate story elements straight in his mind.

His childhood experiences, such as being an avid reader from a young age, have also shaped his storytelling style, fueling his imagination and contributing to his ability to create immersive worlds through words.

Character Evolution and Growth

Fans have praised the author for creating protagonists that are not static. Instead, they undergo significant development throughout the story, experiencing personal growth and change due to their journeys.

One of J.D. Barker’s writing signatures is making the protagonists face moral dilemmas and personal struggles, which makes their stories more engaging. In “Behind a Closed Door,” Barker explores technology’s dark and cynical aspects and impact on human relationships. The journey of the leads through deceit and betrayal forces them to change, spotlighting the author’s skill in crafting thought-provoking character arcs.

J.D. Barker’s New Works

In addition to this project, Barker’s latest standalone novel, “Behind a Closed Door,” has received acclaim from critics worldwide.

With J.D. Barker’s work, readers are introduced to a type of story in which protagonists are not mere lenses through which the plot unfolds but are essential to the narrative’s progression. Barker’s ability to craft stories guarantees they remain in people’s minds long after the book is closed.

Lifestyle

Derik Fay: The Quiet Architect of Impact-First Entrepreneurship

Published

1 week ago

May 8, 2025

Michelle Langton

In an era where noise often overshadows results, Derik Fay is quietly shaping a different kind of legacy — one built not on showmanship, but on undeniable substance. For more than two decades, Fay has engineered the rise of over 30 companies across industries as diverse as real estate, technology, healthcare, and entertainment. Yet his name rarely leads headlines — not because he hasn’t earned it, but because he never needed it to validate his success.

Growing up in Rhode Island, Fay learned early that the world rarely hands out opportunity; it must be seized, created, and multiplied. While many of his peers pursued traditional paths, he took a risk that would define the rest of his life: at just 22, he founded 3F Management, a venture firm with an entirely different mission — to build companies that would outlast trends, outperform markets, and, most importantly, out-impact their competition.

Instead of obsessing over short-term wins, Fay approached entrepreneurship like a craftsman. Much like Henry Ford, who famously said, “A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business,” Fay built companies that weren’t just profitable — they were purposeful. Every venture was designed to create real, sustainable value, both for shareholders and for the communities they served.

Through his relentless focus on structure and leadership, Fay’s ecosystem of businesses now touches thousands of lives daily — from employees finding new opportunities to entrepreneurs gaining the mentorship they never had before. But unlike typical moguls who boast about headcounts, Fay views every job created as a ripple in a larger mission: empowering individuals to write better futures for themselves.

Where others have scaled fast and crashed harder, Fay’s model thrives on foundations few are patient enough to build anymore. His method is slower, smarter, and almost surgical: find what others overlook, fix what others fear, and grow what others abandoned too early. It’s this principle that led him to not just build companies — but to resurrect them, reimagine them, and sometimes even walk away if the mission no longer aligned with the impact he envisioned.

Fay’s philosophy extends far beyond boardrooms. Philanthropy isn’t a checkbox at the end of his success story — it’s embedded into the way he scales. His ventures are built with giving back written into their DNA, from local community initiatives to broader mentorship platforms that help emerging entrepreneurs get their first real shot at success. His life’s work is proof that wealth and generosity are not mutually exclusive — they are, in fact, essential partners.

Today, while newer generations of entrepreneurs hustle for likes and magazine covers, Fay’s name is whispered in rooms where real power moves. His reputation — built quietly but relentlessly — is that of a man who delivers, builds, and elevates without the need for public validation.

In a business world increasingly built on spectacle, Derik Fay reminds us that the most lasting legacies are forged not in the glare of the spotlight, but in the thousands of lives changed quietly along the way.

For more insights into Derik Fay’s ventures and philanthropic efforts, visit www.derikfay.com and follow him on Instagram @derikfay