Q: Tell us in a sentence. What’s the Kingmaster about?
It’s about Kyen of Avanna—a shy, bumbling, why’s-this-guy-a-hero—trying to find lost magic, stop an evil relic and rescue his best friend.

Q: You mentioned an evil relic. I assume this is in the badguy’s hands?
That would be the Kingmaster. He laid his sly fingers on magical darts that allow him to possess people. Naturally, he goes after the royalty—those in Ellunon who can give him the most leverage. Kyen’s best friend happens to be the crown prince of the most powerful kingdom.

Q: And who are the characters out to stop the Kingmaster?
Kyen’s at the forefront. He runs into Adeya, a spoiled, spunky, determined, and clueless princess. And there’s Galveston, an old-fashioned, chivalrous, pompous old knight. Kyen gets stuck with them in the wilderness when he’s hunting for the last summoner.

Q: Which character is your favorite?
Kyen. He’s such an oddball! I laughed into my keyboard so much writing him out. He’s like the wimpy kid, post-epic adventure, yet still blundering through life. Topping that off, he’s got these threads of honor and strength to his personality. They pop out at the strangest moments. I love how through the whole book, the biggest question is: “Who is this guy?”

Q: What makes The Kingmaster stand out in the fantasy genre?
It’s sword and sorcery fantasy. That means The Kingmaster is a lot more character-oriented and action-packed than your typical epic fantasy. The Kingmaster gives a lot of tropes a tweak on the cheek; it’s all the beloved ideas—the hero, the princess, the summoner, the quest—but with a new twist. Then, there’s Kyen. He’s such a character! (Opps, sorry, pun.) He’s not your typical sword-wielding hero-brute. He’s the jellyfish that got thrust into hero-hood by an odd turn of events. In a world where we’re all called to be brave, Kyen’s struggle is really relatable.

Q: Are you planning a sequel? What can you tell us about it?
Oh yes, there’s a sequel. It’s the epilogue of The Kingmaster realized. I’m not going to say more than that, for now.

Q: For those interested in The Kingmaster, where’s it available?
The ebook can be found at Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, Kubo, and Amazon Kindle. Amazon also has the print copy available as well.

Q: Follow C. A. Doehrmann on Twitter for news on the latest projects (like Book 2 of Ellunon.) Will you subscribe and like before you go?