Discover Don Peter’s author journey from Borneo travel writer to historical thriller novelist. From facing honest critiques in the BlueInk Review for The Eurasians to publishing global religious thrillers like DOGMA and God’s Viceroys, explore sweeping family sagas, ancient history, and real-world lore across Don Peter’s Collection.
From Borneo to the World: My 10-Year Journey Reliving the Author’s Dream
Revisiting an old draft feels like stepping into a time machine. When I look back at my very first blog posts from 2020, I see the early roots of a journey that actually began in 2016. Reading those early words is like studying a faded photograph of the moment I first drafted The Eurasians. The person in the picture has grown, but the underlying passion remains exactly the same.
As a teenager, I carried a secret desire to become a film director. Years later, I realized I had misunderstood the role. Holding the pen was always more important to me than holding the camera. That early dream of scriptwriting eventually led me to my true calling as a historical fiction author.
The Island and the Gatekeepers
Living in Borneo, the world of traditional publishing once felt like a distant fortress. Stories about industry gatekeepers reached me even on the island. Literary agents and strict publishing house editors seemed to hold all the keys to success. Thousands of manuscripts passed across their desks every single day.
Soon, I learned a daunting new industry term: the “slush pile.” This massive stack of unsolicited manuscripts often goes completely unread by major houses. If aspiring authors living in major Western cities struggled to pass those guards, my own chances from Borneo felt slim. As a local researcher, I was thousands of miles away from traditional publishing centers.
Then, the digital landscape shifted. The expansion of the internet and social media allowed writers to bypass the old guards. Traditional gatekeepers could no longer control the floodgates. When an indie publishing service reached out, I saw my opening. The era of the self-published author had finally arrived.
The Years of Learning
In the writing trade, wisdom rarely comes easy. I made plenty of mistakes early on. Like many beginners, I held a naive belief: I assumed anyone who liked reading would automatically want to read my book.
I knew very little about book genres, audience niches, or marketing strategies. I couldn’t comprehend why seasoned authors gave away digital copies for free. Concepts like pre-order campaigns and launch buzz were complete mysteries. It took years of trial, error, and study to understand how independent publishing actually works.
When I wrote The Eurasians, I couldn’t even classify its exact category. Over time, I realized it was a historical-romance-thriller. The historical thriller elements form the true backbone of the narrative.
Finding My Voice Through Travel
Industry veterans often advise new writers to start a blog. At first, I hesitated. I eventually launched a travel blog titled Travel, Leisure in Borneo on Google Blogspot. Even after setting up my main website, finding my unique writer’s voice took time.
Eventually, my core passion became clear: the high-stakes world of historical fiction. While The Eurasians carries an emotional romantic thread, history is the heartbeat of the book. The narrative spans from the tense Indonesian Confrontation in 1964 to the Asian Financial Crisis in 1998.
The Blueink Review
Facing Professional Critics
In March 2017, The Eurasians received an official critique from BlueInk Review. The reviewer offered a mix of sharp criticism and genuine encouragement. At first, the negative notes felt heavy. Over time, I came to view that feedback as essential guidance for my future novels.
The reviewer pointed out that the novel lacked a single, linear plot structure and a traditional narrative arc. They noted that the story shifts frequently between characters and locations, following a sprawling format. While they felt this unpredictable style might challenge some readers, their detailed breakdown revealed something fascinating about the book’s pacing.
According to the review, the story opens in 1964 with British soldier Aaron Johnson fighting in Borneo during the Indonesian Confrontation. Meanwhile, a woman named Mei Ling renames herself Elaine and enters the nightlife scene in Sandakan. Aaron marries Elaine, but her gambling habits and neglect create deep family rifts.
As decades pass, their children Devin and Raymond drift into shady activities, while Raymond’s friend William Stewart becomes a lawyer harboring an unrequited love for Raymond’s sister, Theresa.
Unlocking the “Page-Turner” Momentum
Reading between the lines of that critique changed my perspective. The reviewer explicitly noted that “betrayals, deception, and corruption drive The Eurasians.” They highlighted how the “sprawling story shifts often from action scene to action scene” with shifting chapter viewpoints.
Far from being a flat story, those elements describe an action-packed page-turner! While the opening chapters establish a quiet foundation, the shifting viewpoints and constant movement create immense narrative speed. Once the setup completes, the story delivers continuous dramatic fireworks. The rapid shift between character perspectives gives the book its distinct, unpredictable energy.
The reviewer also praised specific atmospheric details, noting moments where the sea breeze blowing through tropical Casuarina trees made a “beautiful rhythm.” Those small compliments proved that my descriptive eye for Borneo’s natural environment was landing with readers.
A Sprawling Saga of Two Families
The Eurasians stands as a unique romance-thriller set in Borneo across several turbulent decades. It follows two interconnected Eurasian families navigating personal betrayal against a backdrop of sweeping political change.
The story weaves together contrast and conflict: Aaron’s honorable service versus Elaine’s destructive habits; William Stewart’s legal career versus the corrupt enterprises around him. While some readers find multi-character sagas complex, many others thrive on the rich, layered storytelling.
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Preserving Borneo’s Ancient Rainforests Before They Vanish
While historical suspense fuels the engine of The Eurasians, environmental decay forms its beating heart. Throughout the narrative, systemic corruption and corporate greed relentlessly threaten Borneo’s ancient ecosystems. These primary rainforests represent some of the oldest biodiversity hotspots on Earth.
Tragically, illegal logging and reckless exploitation continue to strip away these natural wonders. This tragic reality inspired my early work as a travel writer. I wanted to capture and document the island’s magnificent landscapes, hidden rivers, and pristine wilderness before human indifference destroys them forever.
Expanding Beyond Borneo: The Ancient Levant and Don Peter’s Collection
My deep fascination with historical truth could never stay confined to a single island. Beyond the modern history of Southeast Asia lies the vast, enigmatic world of ancient civilizations, first-century theological mysteries, and forgotten trade routes.
That intense passion for deep research naturally pushed my writing onto a global stage. Consequently, I authored two major historical-religious thrillers: DOGMA and God’s Viceroys. Together with The Eurasians, these works form Don Peter’s Collection—a unified library blending real-world history, high-stakes suspense, and dramatic human ambition across centuries.
Living the Author’s Life
At its core, The Eurasians expands far beyond a standard mystery. It operates as a sweeping family saga that captures the social, environmental, and political evolution of Malaysia from 1964 through the late 1990s.
Revisiting those early 2016 drafts highlights every milestone along this long creative path. Constructive critiques, hard-won industry knowledge, and continuous practice directly shaped my modern publishing workflow. Today, I no longer dream about drafting epic stories—I actively live the author’s life.
The Journey Continues
The silent stones of the ancient world continue to speak across the millennia. They urge us to study their structural triumphs and failures before our own modern empires face a similar decline.
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