By Emily Haerter

Sacramento has minted a new writer unleashing fantasy and criminal science fiction with a debut book called “The Knightstick Chronicles: Rough Justice.” It explores a realm where the darkest desires of human vices come alive – and where justice is a power to behold rather than a vengeful price to be paid. 

Jason Kimbrell is a 7th generation Sacramentan and his passion for the city’s historic nature comes through clearly his writing. He’s long described himself as having a “fascination for world mythology, philosophical dialogue, and timeless archetypes,” which also factors in to how he’s approached “The Knightstick Chronicles.”

Outside of his craft, Kimbrell savors the time spent with his wife and two daughters, often going camping with them in his free time spent away from his keyboard. He says he takes inspiration from the mundane day-to-day things, and his wild curiosity led him down a rabbit hole of storytelling that’s now resulted in being an author.

Speaking with SN&R, Kimbrell opened up about his love for archetypal modes and silently studying human psychology and behaviors throughout his 10 years working as a Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputy. Readers might assume Kimbrell’s time in law enforcement has been the main muse behind his crime fantasy writing, however he says that’s not the case.

“Oddly enough, it wasn’t being an officer that encouraged this, it just ended up providing me a lot of useful insights into human behavior once writing it,” Kimbrell recalls.

He went on to say that “The Knightstick Chronicles” was more influenced by his habit of journaling, a practice in mindfulness that he was able to “unravel into a sprawling world of gritty dark adventure”. 

“This is my coping mechanism to deal with an uncertain and challenging world,” Kimbrell notes.

While “The Knightstick Chronicles” may not be written with a law enforcement audience in mind, the book is still aesthetically infused with police elements, and the spirit of justice is embedded in the novel’s setting.

So far, readers are leaving reviews that highlight Kimbrell’s first go at storytelling as “a gritty masterpiece that redefines vigilante justice” and “raw chilling and unforgettable.”

“The Knightstick Chronicles” will take its audience on a voyage through Sacred River City, organically inspired by the origin of Sacramento’s name, “Santismo Sacramento,” or “River of Most Holy Sacrament,” as claimed by Gabriel Morgana in 1808. Kimbrell’s rich knowledge of local history has sewn its thread through his original story, depicting spots such as Old Town through his Noir-colored lenses. 

Like all things Noir, questions of Justice present an ongoing theme in Kimbrell’s book, with the protagonist, John, persistently fighting against his own inner demons to save those around him from theirs. As the novel progresses, it delves into thoughtful concepts from Kimbrell’s mindfulness practices.

“To watch a fictitious character go through that, and watch them dig themselves out, it’s meant to be motivational,” Kimbrell says.

He adds, “Justice itself is a restoration of balance, and that process isn’t always pleasant.”

Kimbrell’s novel also uses several metaphors for mental health struggles and overuse of inhibitors, portraying the latter issue in the form life-sucking parasites turning the protagonist’s world upside down.

“It was one thing to fight someone else’s monsters but quite another when being devoured by my own,” the story’s narrator admits.

In the tale, John is imbued with the power to see these parasitic monsters and the suffering of those around him through demonic imagery, only after receiving a hero-like medallion. A mentor-like companion, Leo, helps John acclimate to these newfound challenges.

Motifs around PTSD and trauma will make “The Knightsick Chronicles” a relatable novel to some, as John tries to find the ability to transcend into another person’s memories, and at times face quakes of anxiety or panic attacks because of it. 

“Working the career that I have has given me a lot of exposure in the world to psychological themes to inspire this book,” the Sheriff’s deputy acknowledges.  

Kimbrell’s editor and friend, Heather Heaton, was a hidden figure behind the descriptive realism in some of the novel’s core moments. As a previous teacher and now retired full-time mom and homeschool expert, Heaton did not quite expect to start editing a fantasy-crime book that was almost 300 pages long. However, she says she fell in love with its concept after Kimbrell first reached out. And the editing came naturally enough to Heaton once she got going.

“The editing experience with Jason helped these characters evolve from a simple introduction, to people a reader cares and eagerly turns the page for,” Heaton says, “as well as characters they’ll hate and tensely root for their demise.”

Heaton has been close with Kimbrell and his wife, Annie, for a while, describing them as the kind of people that a friend can always count on. She’s also noticed the upstart author’s obvious inkling towards depth in media, as well as his tendency to ask probing questions.

“Even Harry Potter will get turned into a deep conversation on grief and death,” Heaton muses. “Jason has been through a lot in his life, and I think with a brain like his, there was a need to turn his own grief and struggles into something where justice prevails, while still remaining extremely relatable and realistic to the difficulty of overcoming inner demons, rather than succumbing to darkness.”

Tina Aldama, another one of Kimbrell’s confidants, has been working with him for about five years now. Throughout that time, she’s watched his creativity and problem-solving expertise divert seamlessly into his writing endeavors. 

“His novel is an impressive reflection of that — it’s intelligent, layered and emotionally resonant,” Adlama offers. “The story combines the grit of crime fiction with the introspection of psychological study … There’s a depth and authenticity to how he writes about motive, trauma and personal growth that feels genuine rather than performative. It reads like a writer who truly understands how introspection can become transformative.”

As a former freelance journalist for several publications, Aldama appreciates the Sacramento literary scene and its unique sense of community. She still visits local bookstores to support independent writers, and celebrates the authorship of Sacramento storytellers like Kimbrell.

“Sacramento’s literary landscape has a way of nurturing voices like his — honest, thought-provoking and unafraid to explore the psychological depths of human experience,” Aldama’s says.  

With organizations like Sacramento Poetry Center, the California Writer’s Club and 916 Ink supporting the value of creative expression in the City of Tress, particularly for writers, there is no lack of an audience for literary experimenters like Kimbrell. Even so, he’s still more interested in his first book ending up in the hands of readers who need it most, rather than every potential reader in sight.

“The hope was that even if it’s one person who can see the story and glimpse at the inspiration when they are at their lowest, it would all be worth it,” he reflects.