About
Lincoln Shand
Lincoln is the author of the fantasy series The Mage’s Cradle and the science fiction and fantasy hybrid, The Root of Infinity. The Mage’s Cradle is complete in three books. His epic stories allow readers to immerse themselves in sprawling secondary-world fantasy. With a wide ensemble cast of complex characters, he weaves in love stories of all flavors across everything he writes—where queer characters and characters of color are simply a natural part of the worldcraft.
An avid reader of science fiction and fantasy since a young age, Lincoln came of age during the era of Octavia Butler, David and Leigh Eddings, and Mercedes Lackey. Today, he writes for readers who came up on Butler and Lackey and now read N.K. Jemisin, Brandon Sanderson, James Islington, and Tamsyn Muir.
Previously, Lincoln spent years in the performing arts as a professional dancer and choreographer. In his day job, he is an organizational strategic designer specializing in Human-AI interaction. He lives in Hamilton, Ontario, where he and his spouse bought a fixer-upper century home filled with charm — and discovered the joys, tears, and two near-death experiences of DIY renovations..
Human-Authored: A Commitment to Craft
The Philosophy of my Creative Process
In an era of generative AI, I believe that the most profound stories are found in the “messy middle”—the space where a human mind grapples with complex themes, contradictory emotions, and the slow evolution of a world.
My work as an organizational strategic designer explores how humans maintain their edge in an AI-driven world. For me, that edge is found in the narrative voice: the specific, unoptimized, and deeply personal way a human connects one thought to the next.
My Creative Boundaries
Transparency is the foundation of trust. To that end, I maintain a clear “line in the sand” regarding the production of The Root of Infinity and all my literary works:
- The Narrative: Every word of prose, every character arc, and every plot twist is 100% human-authored. I do not use Large Language Models (LLMs) to draft, “punch up,” or ideate my stories. The narrative voice you hear is mine alone.
- The World-Building: The systems of magic and technology—from quantum-influenced rune magic to the scientific minds of cyborgs—are built through the reading of my favorite authors, manual research, strategic foresight exploration, and classic imagination.
- The Visuals (A Hybrid Approach): Working in the AI field, I do see the benefits this could bring to a cost-conscious author. I believe in using technology as a tool for the hand, not a replacement for the eye. So, in full transparency, please note that my book covers and interior graphics often begin as original hand-drawn sketches. I then use advanced digital tools, including AI, to enhance depth and color and bring those human-led concepts to a professional finish.
Why This Matters
When you read a book in The Root of Infinity series, you are engaging with my creative imagination—a normal human consciousness. You are experiencing the result of thousands of hours of thought, revision, and artistic choices.
I am a proud member of the Authors Guild and maintain a “Human-Authored” certification:
Reg #: 2588415, https://authorsguild.org/human not as a rejection of progress, but as a celebration of the enduring power of the human spirit in the creative arts.
Reach out if you want to know more
Lincoln Shand