About the Chief
Meet Dr. Fowler, the storyteller behind Chief of the Ink. Explore his journey from fireground command to crafting immersive worlds filled with unforgettable characters and lasting reflections.
From Rescue to Realms
Doc Fowler is a writer, educator, and lifelong student of both fire and folklore. He holds a Doctorate of Education and serves as the Assistant Director of the Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute at the University of Kansas, where leadership and training meet real-world impact. With a foundation in technical rescue and fire ground command, Doc has authored several textbooks and contributed extensively to industry journals. But his passion for storytelling reaches far beyond the fire line.
Adventures await
His fiction debut, The Orbs of Lysandor, launched the sweeping Adventures of Legendary Knight Firestarr Series — a ten-book epic where ancient magic clashes with futuristic weaponry, and themes of redemption, honor, and legacy unfold across kingdoms. Rooted in magical realism, the series blends high fantasy with emotional depth.
Tales from the hills
Doc also brings humor and heart from the hills with Tall Tales of Appalachia, a collection of short stories told through the voice of Uncle Amos — a hillbilly philosopher with a knack for wit, exaggeration, and porch-born wisdom. These tales celebrate Appalachian culture while delivering moral lessons wrapped in laughter.
"Where truth meets tale — across fire lines, folklore, and forgotten legends."
Chief of the Ink
Shadows of the '30s
Most recently, Doc is working on a new series where he will introduce readers to Nathan Hawthorne, a gritty private investigator navigating the shadows of 1930s America. In the Nathan Hawthorne Mysteries, this Army veteran and ex-NYPD detective takes on cases no one else will — mysteries steeped in historical legend, folklore, and forgotten truths. Each case is more than a whodunit; it’s a journey into the myths that shape us and the justice that still matters.
Leave something that matters
Whether writing about rescue operations, royal intrigue, or mountain mischief, Doc’s work is united by one thing: a storyteller’s spirit that invites readers into immersive worlds, unforgettable characters, and reflections that linger long after the last page.
I want people to remember that I’m a storyteller who moves between worlds — from fireground command to folklore, from technical rescue to magical realism — always driven by a deep respect for truth, legacy, and the power of a well-told tale. Whether I’m writing about real-life heroes or mythical ones, my goal is the same: to leave readers with something that lingers, something that matters.