About Kevin Arms
Kevin Arms is a writer, speaker, and academic leader who moves fluidly between imagination and insight. By day, he serves as the newly-minted Dean of Communications at Lake-Sumter State College, where he leads cross-campus initiatives in student support, digital innovation, and collaborative learning environments. His work in higher education centers on inclusive access, team development, and future-focused leadership.
By night (and most weekends), Kevin writes richly layered fiction that blends fantasy, Southern Gothic, and speculative storytelling with deeply human themes. His creative works include epic fantasy and dark academia (Shadows of the Lost series), and sardonic Southern drama (Moonshine Hollow), each rooted in immersive worldbuilding and character-driven mystery.
On this site, Kevin shares his dual passions—storytelling and academic leadership. Readers will find updates on his latest fiction, behind-the-scenes lore, and reflections on leadership in education, innovation, and the evolving role of libraries and learning spaces. He also writes about the intersection of artificial intelligence and academic practice, exploring how emerging tools can support critical thinking, creativity, and student success.
Whether you’re here for monsters, manuscripts, or models of change—welcome.
AI Use Disclosure
AI is a powerful tool that helps me bring my worlds to life. I use it to enhance—not replace—my creative process. The name of my blog, The Augmented Author, reflects this belief: I augment my storytelling with tools that support structure, organization, and planning, especially in areas where I want an extra edge. Long term series planning is a major undertaking, and AI allows me to reference my worldbuilding files in a quick, efficient manner so I can focus on the writing, not the structure.
All content on this site is my own. The writing, the worldbuilding, the characters—they all originate with me. The images you see were generated using AI based on prompts I wrote myself, drawn directly from my work. I regularly use two platforms: ChatGPT for developing narrative structure and acting as my own personal Lore of the Lost, and Sora for generating visual interpretations of scenes, characters, and environments.
AI doesn’t do the imagining—I do. But it helps me shape the vision I already carry.
Kevin Arms | Author & Educator 