Good afternoon, everyone.
Welcome back to Bookmarked, the blog for readers and author alike. I hope everyone is staying safe right now and can use this blog as a source of escapism. To me, one of the best sources of escapism is fantasy novels, and this week, both on the blog and podcast, we have exciting interviews to share with none other than author Kristen Johnson.
Kristen's first novel in the Valaraii Rising Trilogy is currently available for pre-order! Titled The Forgotten, the book follows an enchanting cast of characters.
Deep within the Rudu Mountains in a long-forgotten tomb guarded by Strygoi—phantom creatures that thrive on fear and flesh—a warrior lay within a dark sarcophagus until two dwarf brothers, fleeing from the tomb’s terrifying guards, arrived. The warrior they awakened would be more than they could ever imagine and take their exiled clan on a journey beyond any fantasy or nightmare any of them had dreamed.
It will take all the reckless courage and ingenuity of the dwarves to survive the terrors heading their way as the Dark Lord Merilik appears, intent on what he started so long ago—the line of Asger’s total annihilation.
If you're a fantasy lover, look no further than this complex and gripping adventure tale. To purchase The Forgotten, you can click here.
Now, please enjoy the following Q&A with Kristen, and check back on Friday for Kristen's podcast interview!
BOOKMARKED: What can you tell readers about your novel, The Forgotten?
KRISTEN JOHNSON: The Forgotten centers around Sylle, a forgotten woman warrior who has been entombed for several centuries. During Sylle's entombment, the Dark Lord Merilik's power and realm has grown, spreading across MithTerra with very few able to stop his quest to exterminate the line of Asger, and any others who dare stand in his way.
Two dwarf brothers, twins Finn and Kwin, and descendants of Asger stumble into Sylle's tomb while fleeing Strygoi, dark nightmare creatures that paralyze their enemies with fear-filled visions, and accidentally awaken the warrior. The Forgotten focuses on Sylle and the dwarves, who are not known for trusting other races, having to work together to save Exulias, the dwarf kingdom, as well as two nearby human towns, Helmfirth and Kilead, from the encroaching armies of Merilik. Alliances will be made and tested as the groups are faced with malidaemons, fiery hellhounds that have the ability to possess humans and elves along with orcs, goblins, and something powerful that lives in the waters of Scimerian Lake, and possibly within Exulias, too.
What do you find is the hardest part of writing a fantasy novel?
I'd say the hardest thing about writing this novel was finding the right words to describe everything I was seeing in my mind. I wrote outlines of scenes in my journal and then expanded them into full scenes, which I then transcribed onto my computer; but I often found myself rereading and reworking just to make the novel read the way I wanted.
Were there any novels or authors that inspired you as you were writing The Forgotten?
I was inspired by Tolkein's The Lord of the Rings. I read it in high school and loved the world he created, so I started writing stories and adding myself into the world of Middle Earth. Over the many years since high school, those stories morphed into this trilogy.
What can readers expect from the rest of your Valaraii Rising Trilogy?
In book two, which is called The Lost, Sylle, the dwarves, and their allies journey north to the Perdarus Mountains to find those who had been taken by the Dark in Merilik's quest to destroy Exulias.
In the final book, Sylle and her allies will meet Merilik in battle on the plain before the destroyed dwarf kingdom of Shara. Through their journeys, they will meet Drengas and Indili, two distinct groups. The Indili are the remnants of the first humans to walk MithTerra, while the Drengas are mainly human, but they've mixed with every race over the ages. Within the Dreor's prison, they will discover the remnants of the wereling, humans with the ability to transform into animals. They will become goblin prisoners, face off against basiliks, Malrauks, and an all-consuming fog while trying to learn how to trust each other.
The books are full of action, magic, friendship, and strong characters—good and evil.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
My advice would be to write what is true to you. Don't try to be someone else or write what you think others want to read. Your writing needs to come from you.
Is there anything you'd like to say to the supporters in your life?
I have to thank Henry Thomas, my nephew, for reading my work and giving me feedback. He gave me the courage to not only finish the series but to try and have it published as well.
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Thank you again, Kristen, for a great conversation. And please listen to her interview on JCP's podcast, Bookmarked, this Friday!
Thanks for reading and supporting JCP's blog and podcast!
Allison Chudina
Editorial Assistant
Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.
Bookmarked
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