Poisoned Pawn: An Author Interview with K. L. Vincent
- 16 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Ready to dive into a new epic fantasy? This week, indie author K. L. Vincent tells us all about the Lost Sovereigns series, from its humble lockdown beginnings, to gladiatoral battles, to neurodivergent representation. Catch up now in time for book two, coming this autumn!
Thank you for joining us! Could you start by introducing yourself?
Hi there! My name is K. L. Vincent. I write romantic fantasy and some magical realism. I’m also a toddler mom, cat mom, nature enthusiast, and avid reader. I read anything from fantasy to historical fiction. Â
We would love to know more about Poisoned Pawn and what inspired you to write it!
I wrote Poisoned Pawn during the COVID-19 lockdown. My twin, whom I’d seen regularly before, was living in another country. We had been reading fantasy books together, and I had been writing short stories on the side. Poisoned Pawn mainly arose from this: a story about two sisters who depend on each other, then become separated by extenuating circumstances. The story follows their choices that arise from that split.Â
What drew you to the fantasy genre in particular?Â
It’s been my favorite genre my whole life. My father read the Narnia series and Grimm's Fairytales to my sister and I, then to my younger brother when we were kids. We would all crowd around him before bed, and he’d read us a chapter. It’s one of my fondest memories. So, that and the ability to escape into a world different from our own, drew me in.Â
And what do you love most about including romance in this genre?
Romance provides hope, yearning, drive. It keeps me turning the pages. I believe it enhances the fantasy genre. It provides depth that is missing in other genres.
Do you have any favourite romance tropes, and do any make an appearance in Poisoned Pawn?
Oh yes, I have many. Enemies to lovers, slow-burn, found family, Beauty and the Beast, are some of my favorites, and you’ll find them in Poisoned Pawn.Â
Tell us about the world-building process! How did you create this thrilling world of brutal territories? Was there anything in particular that inspired you to focus on a darker, more dangerous setting?
Much of my world-building is grounded in history. I love visiting museums and discovering people’s pasts. I see an object and I imagine the story behind it, the person who touched that desk or who held a brush to canvas. It’s fun to see where the mind goes. However, with fantasy, you don’t have to be a factual historian, just factual to the world you create. I use history as an inspiration, not a textbook. That’s one reason I love the genre so much! However, some history buffs might shun me for that.Â
Similarly, what made you decide to feature gladiatorial games in this story? Did you discover any tricks to balancing the high-stakes action with the romance, mystery, and fantasy aspects, and was there an element you loved writing the most?
I chose gladiatorial games because I wanted a notable contrast to the world Æri is from. Though her realm isn’t perfect, women run it, and she has autonomy. They kill because they have to, not for a game. Then, she’s captured, and her world is turned on its head. In FÃronbec, they enslave people and force them to fight for entertainment. It’s a patriarchal society where female rulers are nonexistent. Æri has to adapt to this new world in order to escape it. I loved writing her struggle where she ultimately has to accept she’s having feelings for a person who put her in this situation.Â
Are you a plotter or pantser, and did any additional, perhaps even unexpected, research go into this book?
I am 100% a pantser, but I give myself a ‘light’ outline to follow, so I know where I’m headed in the story. I ended up writing Poisoned Pawn with no structure, then compared it to the Save the Cat template and found it fit in relatively well with a few tweaks during edits. I have thus grown as a writer and use some structure to help form my outlines.
Researching historical grooming routines was unexpected. I didn’t think I’d be researching if people shaved their armpits until a scene came up in Poisoned Pawn that needed it!Â
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Can you tell us a little bit about your characters? Which, if any, do you identify with most and why?Â
Poisoned Pawn is from multi-POVs, however, the reader follows Æri most of the time. Æri is a warrior huntress and leader of the Narkrye, who are essentially the protectors of their realm. I like that she is independent and resourceful, but also flawed and vulnerable.Â
The other POVs are Æri’s sister Brynja, the queen of their realm. Signe, the second in command in the Narkrye and Æri’s lover. Rione, a venator hunter of Æri’s enemy realm and King Remus’s strategist, and lastly King Remus, the ruler of her enemy realm. I would say there is a little of me in every character I write. I don’t identify with them, though I have a character in Book 2 I find similarities in. There are elements in Æri that I relate to though: she’s a twin, she has sensory challenges, and she has some elements of ADHD/ADD.
And which characters do you hope your readers will connect with the most?
Definitely Æri, or Brynja. I hope there are elements in all my characters that readers can connect to, but this varies so much and I understand some readers may not relate to them at all.Â
Why was it important for you to include queer and disabled representation in this book, and is there any representation you would personally love to see more of as a reader?
I wanted to create a world that reflects our world today. I think everyone deserves to see a part of themselves represented in the books they read. I’d love to see more queer representation and disability rep in all books. I think it would also be brave if mental health in relationships were included more often. I don’t see this so much in fantasy and romantasy because much of the conflict is external.Â
What can readers expect from the Lost Sovereign series going forward? How many books do you currently have planned for this series, and how will Æri continue to grow (without giving too much away, of course!)?Â
I have four books planned in the series, with some potential spinoffs. Book 2, Song of the Deities, is due to be released in fall 2026. Readers will get more from Rione in this book and his growth, along with Æri’s. She is learning to navigate on her own terms and without her sister, Brynja’s direction. Brynja too has a significant shift, but her path is much darker than Æri’s.Â
Have you come across any surprises or challenges in writing or publishing so far? How have you overcome them?
The biggest challenge I have found with indie publishing is finding the time to divide writing-related tasks such as marketing, design, set up with writing. When I sit down to write, I have ideas that have been floating in my head for weeks but haven’t had a moment to put them to the page. I use Notes on my cellphone constantly for this. As an indie author, adapting, persistence, and flexibility are key!Â
Our podcast focuses on media we’re currently loving. Are there any books, shows, movies, or games you’re enjoying at the moment? Any recommendations for our audience? Bonus points if it includes sapphics!
I love to read! I’d recommend anything by Alix E. Harrow, Rachel Giling, V.E. Schwab, or Alison Saft. C. G. Drews is another author that has caught my attention, but I’ve only read one of their books. This year, I am trying to read more indie authors too!
About the Author
K. L. Vincent is an award-winning author originally from California with a degree in theater design and anthropology from UCLA. She later received a master’s degree in anthropology and occupational therapy in the UK. Following her passion for history, people, and travel, she dabbled in archaeology and spent a summer exploring Scotland while volunteering on a dig at the Ness of Brodgar.
She is an active Globe Soup member and continues to pen stories whenever possible. As a neurodivergent writer, she infuses her work with a focus on resilience and identity. Both she and her identical twin collaborate and bounce stories off one another even though they live in different countries. Outside of writing, she practices as an occupational therapist and teaches English. She calls France her home and lives with her husband, baby girl, and orange furball.