Who’s this guy?
Hi! I’m Jared. I write urban fantasy about secret places, families chosen and unchosen, and workplace shenanigans, all set in Southeast Asia.
I’m the author of City of Others, coming March 2026 from Orbit Books. It stars Benjamin Toh, a civil servant who has to deal with an elderly father, a new boyfriend, and a team of bickering misfits, all while trying to manage the supernatural inhabitants of Singapore.
Totally not a real thing, I promise.
By training, I’m a philosopher—my Ph.D. focused on moral psychology and how ethical norms are shaped and transmitted. In my day job, I work with governments across the world on foresight, strategy, and public engagement. That part of my life is called Counter-Fictional, because sometimes the stories we don’t tell are the most powerful.
I also work with Team Project Lunch, a small indie game development studio. We have a demo of our new game out—wishlist us on Steam!
You can usually find me running workshops, playing games (not with your heart—never that), and chasing my two cats around.
Maddy Belton, from the Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency, is my literary agent and partner-in-crime. Please reach out to her with any questions I’m not smart enough to answer.
