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Characters Are What Drive A Book
The Story of Evil: An Epic Fantasy Saga takes readers on an epic fantasy adventure through the world of Element. What was the inspiration that drove the development of the world the characters live in?
In creating Element, I wanted to incorporate many real-world cultures to highlight their richness and uniqueness. I spent a lot of time researching how to best accomplish this without crossing the line into cultural appropriation. The finished product resulted in a world the characters can travel through that never becomes stale or repetitive. Each city is different than the last as well as the landscapes between them.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
Characters are what drive a book, so they need to be relatable and believable. I mapped out each character arc so I knew where each person began and where they ended up. That made it easy to chart out all the struggles and accomplishments along their journey. None of the protagonists make choices that feel out-of-character. Hopefully, readers find them easy to connect with and root for.
When you first sat down to write this story, did you know where you were going, or did the twists come as you were writing?
This question brings up the idea of if an author is a “plotser” or a “pantser,” or as George R.R. Martin calls it, a “gardener” or an “architect.” I definitely fall into the camp of someone who plots/architects the story. Many of the plot twists in volumes three, four, and five were planned before I began writing the first one. Although some new characters, settings, and themes naturally arose during the writing process, most of what I wrote was plotted out early on.
When will Volume 2 be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
An Epic Fantasy Saga is the full and complete story (five volumes in one book) so there won’t be a sequel, but I do have ideas for a prequel book. However, I have not determined when I will start that project.
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During an annual jousting tournament, a mysterious villain attacks the capital with his army. Because of this disastrous event, Stephen Brightflame, an aspiring knight, embarks on a quest to save the kingdom from further destruction. He joins up with a convicted felon, an arrogant warrior, and a Halfling woman, but learns their tragic pasts are just as dark and disturbing as his own. This 430,000 word adventure features everything that makes the fantasy genre great: knights, castles, war, prophecies, magic, monsters, and dragons! After ten years in the making, experience the complete Story of Evil – An Epic Fantasy Saga.
The Story of Evil – An Epic Fantasy Saga
The Story of Evil, invites readers into the complex and beautifully wrought world of Element. Here, danger extends beyond monstrous threats, targeting the very heart of Celestial, its vibrant capital city. Three young protagonists valiantly step up to this challenging frontier, and their personal battles ignite the story with heart-stopping action and depth of character that will leave you wanting more.
At the heart of this epic are three remarkable figures: Steven Brightflame, a knight-in-training marked by familial tragedy; Kari Quinn, a halfling archer with an insatiable wanderlust; and Tyrus Canard, an enigmatic warrior navigating the perils of self-discovery amidst the unforgiving world. Each of their journeys is finely sketched, providing readers with a spectrum of emotions to explore.
“Heroes of the Siege” is a must-read for aficionados of high fantasy, resonating with the world-building prowess found in renowned sagas like “Game of Thrones,” “Mistborn,” and “The Witcher.” Johnson’s Element is a world richly embroidered with intrigue, dichotomies of light and dark gods, and a magic system that is as enthralling as it is enigmatic. Its pantheon of creatures, from elves and halflings to original monstrous creations, makes for a thrilling array of encounters throughout the narrative.
But what sets “Heroes of the Siege” apart, even within its genre, are the unexpected plot twists that Johnson weaves into the story. These moments of surprising ingenuity ensure that the book leaves an indelible impression, holding its own distinctive place within the reader’s memory.
Johnson’s vivid storytelling effectively carries the narrative, although there is potential for further embellishment in the portrayal of settings and characters. At times, his style harks back to traditional fantasy norms, leaving room for him to further refine his unique literary voice.
The Story of Evil series is an engaging and gratifying journey for any fantasy enthusiast. Personally, my immersion in these books led to a profound connection with the cast of characters that continues to resonate long after the final page has been turned. The allure of Element, its heroes, and their stories will pull you in, leaving you eagerly anticipating the next volume in this immersive saga.
Pages: 1564 | ASIN : B0C4FFXS7P
LITERARY TITAN 