Air Force veteran turned poet creates innovative literary form to spotlight female heroism in ancient tales
The fluorescent lights hummed overhead in the small base library as Technical Sergeant Peter Gunn sat surrounded by dusty volumes of classical literature. It was 2010, and he had just become a father to a daughter. As he flipped through page after page of epic poems and heroic tales, a troubling pattern emerged: where were the women? Where were the female heroes embarking on transformative journeys, facing impossible odds, and emerging victorious? That moment of realization would spark a creative revolution that continues to reshape how women see themselves in literature.
Today, Gunn stands as both poet and advocate, having spent over a decade crafting “The Amazons”, an epic poem that places women at the center of the hero’s journey while pioneering a completely new form of poetry he calls Linked-Lyrical-Poetry (LLP).
From Military Service to Literary Mission
Gunn’s path to poetry began long before his military career. At seven years old, he experienced a near-death experience during a bout of heat stroke, where he recalls an angel telling him his “job wasn’t done.” This early encounter with mortality would later influence his spiritual and creative pursuits. By twelve, he was serving as an altar boy while simultaneously battling childhood obesity and witnessing what he describes as “failings within the Roman Catholic church.”
These formative experiences shaped a young man who would go on to serve honorably in the U.S. Air Force for twenty years, developing discipline and perspective that would prove invaluable in his later literary endeavors.
“When my daughter was born in 2010, I wanted to share my love of classic poetry with her,” Gunn explains. “But as I revisited these timeless works, I realized how the feminine perspective had been systematically excluded from the hero’s journey narrative. That’s when I knew I had to create something different.”
Innovating Ancient Art Forms
Rather than simply writing another book featuring female protagonists, Gunn decided to revolutionize the medium itself. He developed Linked-Lyrical-Poetry, a unique form that bridges classical epic poetry with contemporary storytelling techniques. This innovation allows “The Amazons” to maintain the gravitas and scope of ancient epics while remaining accessible to modern readers.
The book follows the archetypal hero’s journey structure but centers entirely on female warriors, creating what Gunn describes as a necessary corrective to centuries of male-dominated epic literature. Each Amazon warrior faces trials that mirror those found in classical epics, but their journeys explore themes of sisterhood, intuitive wisdom, and collaborative strength, elements often overlooked in traditional heroic narratives.
Beyond Literature: A Multimedia Creative Force
Gunn’s creative ambitions extend far beyond poetry. Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic had “awakened” him to how many people remain disconnected from deeper truths, he began developing the Sigma Squad graphic novel series. Based on ancient Gnostic Gospels, these visual narratives aim to reach audiences who might not gravitate toward dense literary texts.
“I realized that not everyone is going to pick up a large book without pictures,” Gunn notes. “But the same profound messages can be conveyed through different mediums.”
His multimedia approach gained another dimension in early 2025 when German musicians invited him to form a band called The Angellics. Their debut album, “Hazing Hades,” released on August 17, 2025, represents yet another avenue for Gunn to explore themes of spiritual awakening and resistance against societal complacency.
Building a Movement Through Social Media
Gunn has strategically leveraged social media platforms to build awareness for his literary work. His TikTok presence showcases both his poetry and his passion for reintroducing epic literature to contemporary audiences. His promotional video for “The Amazons” has helped introduce the book to readers who might never have encountered epic poetry otherwise.
This digital-first approach reflects Gunn’s understanding that reaching modern audiences, particularly women who have historically been underserved by epic literature, requires meeting them where they already engage with content.
Critical Recognition and Reader Response
“The Amazons” has found its audience among readers seeking literature that celebrates female strength and wisdom. Available through Amazon, the book represents more than entertainment, it’s a cultural statement about the need for more inclusive heroic narratives.
Readers have responded particularly strongly to Gunn’s ability to honor classical poetic traditions while creating space for voices that have been historically marginalized. His LLP format allows for both the sweeping scope of epic poetry and the intimate character development that contemporary readers expect.
The Broader Cultural Impact
Gunn’s work arrives at a crucial cultural moment when discussions about representation and inclusion dominate literary conversations. By creating “The Amazons,” he offers more than criticism of existing canons, he provides a constructive alternative that enriches rather than diminishes the epic poetry tradition.
His approach demonstrates how classical art forms can evolve to serve contemporary needs without losing their essential power. The hero’s journey remains compelling precisely because it can accommodate diverse perspectives and experiences while maintaining its archetypal resonance.
As Gunn continues developing his multimedia creative empire, from poetry to graphic novels to music, he remains focused on his core mission: ensuring that epic literature reflects the full spectrum of human heroism. In a literary landscape often dominated by either purely traditional or completely iconoclastic approaches, Gunn offers a third path that honors the past while actively creating a more inclusive future.
For readers seeking literature that celebrates female strength within classical frameworks, “The Amazons” represents both a return to epic poetry’s roots and a bold step toward its future. Gunn’s unique combination of military discipline, spiritual insight, and creative innovation has produced a work that doesn’t just entertain, it transforms how we understand heroism itself.
