By D.W. Vogel

My favorite part of writing a book is conceptualizing the story before I begin writing anything down–answering all the “why” questions. Those answers help me understand my characters’ motivations. I love sorting out the reasons why everyone does what they do.  This was particularly interesting while writing The Forgotten King because the characters existed before I got my hands on them. I had to take characters that people felt like they already knew and loved and get inside their heads.

It’s a whole new experience writing in someone else’s world. With my own sci-fi series, I have total control over everything that happens. But when writing in an established world like Crystalia, everything has to stay true to Super Dungeon canon. That was the hardest part about writing The Forgotten King. There’s so much more to the world than even the most hardcore fans know. It’s fun to explore a new story in such a beloved setting.

The Forgotten King starts in the Fae Woods and ends in Lordship Downs, where the Forgotten King is desperate to escape his warded prison. His efforts to undo the spell that has kept him captive for generations is releasing his evil into the heart of the Fae Woods, spreading ever closer to the sacred Deeproot Tree. I hope fans will be thrilled with the backstory of the magic that holds the Forgotten King prisoner in Lordship Downs.  Fans will also learn how Princess Emerald came to learn the ways of the Glimmerdusk Rangers, why a Questing Knight stomps around a forest in full armor on foot, and why pine trees aren’t nice trees.

The characters really bring the setting to life. The character I was most surprised by has to be Trent. Trent stole my heart. The powerful Treant might not be what you thought he was. I won’t say any more about that to avoid spoilers.

As I was figuring out the “why” of this story, I most related to Princess Emerald. I’m Team Emerald all the way. She’s snarky and tough, and I think readers will really connect to the backstory of how she came to associate so closely with the Glimmerdusk Rangers.

As for villains, when Boris enters the fight, fur flies. He was the bad guy most fun to defeat. But it’s a grand entrance for a beloved character, and a great moment for all our heroes.

Overall, writing The Forgotten King was a great experience. I ended up with  a heartfelt, deep story about the bonds of friendship, the perils of prophecy, and the price of treachery. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves adventure and danger in the world they’ve come to love. I can’t wait for everyone to share the joy of this story.

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About the Author:

D.W. Vogel is a veterinarian, marathon runner, cancer survivor, SCUBA diver, and current president of Cincinnati Fiction Writers. She is the author of the Horizon Alpha Series from Future House Publishing, and the writing manual Five Minutes to Success: Master the Craft of Writing. She also has short stories in several anthologies from various publishers.

This is part 3 of a 6 part series.

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