Take 5: Vaughn Roycroft and DESTINY’S DOOM

Vaughn Roycroft, longtime WU contributor, dear friend, and assistant editor, releases his third novel—DESTINY’S DOOM, the final book in his epic Sundered Nation Trilogy–a week from this Tuesday, on March 18th.

When thinking about how to introduce this interview, we kept coming back to the same truth: Who doesn’t love Vaughn? He’s the nicest among us, the one most likely to leave a thoughtful comment on any given day, always ready with a kind word. Of course, we want to support him—because who wouldn’t?

But pointing out Vaughn’s generous heart and dedication to this community felt too easy—too obvious. We wanted something more.

So, we went digging in the WU archives to find his very first comment here. And, friends, we hit the jackpot.

September 17, 2010, at 9:01 AM
“…I’m a first-time novelist, and in the past year I put my first manuscript out there for others to read. I’ve been on the receiving end of that awkward moment you describe more often than I care to remember, including my own mother’s initial response. In the first round, the highly mixed reviews nearly caused me to quit. I reminded myself that many of these readers have never even read my chosen genre. I rededicated myself, revised, and I know I came up with a better result. I have the rewritten version out there again, and the results are much improved. It’s still my story, but seeing it through the eyes of others helped me to bring clarity to it. The process has been a roller coaster ride of joy and pain, but in the end, so very worthwhile.”

That date—2010—reminds us that storytelling is a journey, and not just for our characters.

Over the years, Vaughn has faced doubt and struggle, but also moments of triumph—seeing his books reach fantasy readers, growing a loyal fan base, and even hearing his work brought to life as an audiobook (which, by the way, is excellent).

One of the biggest keys to finishing a novel is perseverance, and few embody that spirit like Vaughn. He has always had a vision, and no matter what life threw at him, he never stopped pushing forward.

And now, with his first trilogy complete, we get to celebrate this enormous milestone with him.

Let’s dive in.

Q1: What’s the premise of your new book?

VR: Destiny’s Doom is the final edition of The Sundered Nation Trilogy. Although I doubt there will be many who will be overly concerned, I suppose I ought to start by warning that it will be nearly impossible to answer many questions about book 3 without revealing mild spoilers for books 1 and 2.

To quickly bring you up to speed, here is how I began my answer to this question for book 2, Bold Ascension:

“The Sundered Nation Trilogy is rooted in the culture clash between the Germanic Tribes and the Roman Empire during its decline. Book 1, The Severing Son, is about the rise of a young, banished chieftain—Vahldan of the Amalus—to prominence. With the help of his warrior woman guardian, Elan, Vahldan seeks to lift his people from poverty. Finding he is up against those who would repress their own people for profit, he seeks to bypass the system by pursuing glory to the fringes of a nearby empire.”

By the opening of book 3, nearly two decades have elapsed since the opening pages of book 1. In many respects, Vahldan has been wildly successful. He’s raised himself to leadership, gained vast wealth, and achieved stunning success as a conquering king. It’s success that comes at a very steep cost, including having inflicted significant harm to others—including to his own people. Even to those he loves. Destiny’s Doom depicts how each of our characters grapples with that harm, and how each of them faces up to consequences that continue to amass and strengthen to more firmly ensnare them.

It also examines the mounting pressure applied to those tasked with vanquishing Vahldan’s rogue empire—the extreme and bloody measures willingly embraced by the so-called civilized world to return to the normalcy of a profitable economy.

In the face of an inescapable doom, Vahldan must reconnect with his true self in order to achieve his foretold destiny.

Q2: What would you like people to know about the story itself?

VR: To preface this one, I feel compelled to reiterate my spoiler alert. I said in the Take Five for book 2 that I consider the overarching story to be a redemption tale, and I stand by it. I guess I’d like people to know that, while this story is quite dark—and yes, it is a tragedy—I still consider it a tale of the triumph of the human spirit. It’s definitely a warning about succumbing to ambition and justifying the abuse of power, particularly via religious manipulation.

In spite of the title, this book explores the danger of resigning to a dictated perception of fate, as well as the power of embracing freewill in striving toward our truest selves.

A lot of dark fantasy leans toward nihilism, but looking back on my writing journey, I can see that I’ve always been looking for meaning. I can honestly say I sought to root this story in hope. Hope that can sustain us even through the darkest of times.

Q3: What do your characters have to overcome in this story? What challenge do you set before them?

VR: This is truly a story about overcoming our own very human shortcomings by recognizing and accepting our humanity—both its enormous potential and its very real fallibility. Not to mention coming to terms with our mortality, and deciding how we can best shape the world we leave behind.

There are some very big and elaborate schemes at work here, and every member of the cast faces significant opposition and conflict. But each of them is forced to realize that there is no opposing force so great as their own flaws and weaknesses. They must learn that even in failure we can find hidden strength. Even in sorrow we can find understanding that can lead us back to joy. Only love can lead us back to meaning.

Q4: What unique challenges did this book pose for you, if any?

VR: Hoo boy. Getting this trilogy to this point has been such a journey. When you write something this large, achieving consistency is tricky. I can’t recall which one, but one of the fantasy authors I admire said (paraphrasing) that crafting an epic story is like building a cathedral, brick by brick—that without a solid foundation and precisely placed buttresses and symmetrical archways, the entire thing will collapse under its own weight. It really resonated with me, in spite of being unable to recall the source.

Since the runup to releasing The Severing Son, I’ve spent a large portion of my time and energy learning the ins and outs of publishing, as well as seeking to market and promote the series. Although I don’t consider myself a very adept marketer or promoter, I’ve put a lot of myself into getting this story out into the world, trying to have it read. I feel obligated to stick the landing.

It might seem obvious, but I’m struck anew by the reality that the audience for each successive book in a series is a subset of the previous edition’s audience. It is made up of those who trust me enough to move on. I very much want to honor that trust. I want to deliver an experience that not only feels worth their considerable while, but one that resonates, and perhaps provides reflection and even meaning.

It’s a tall order, I know. And, like my characters, I recognize that I’m doomed to some extent of failure. In spite of it, like my characters, I must bravely ride into the fray in order to seek destiny.

Q5: What has been the most rewarding aspect of having written this book?

VR: Damn, but it feels good to finish. I mean, really finish—to the point of having three books I can hold in my hands (not for long; they’re gorgeous but darn heavy). I’m 63 years old and this is one of the most massive undertakings of my life. I’ve been working in the world of Dania and Pontea longer than I attended school and longer than I worked in the lumber business. Only my marriage eclipses it as an achievement.

But you know what else gives me great satisfaction? Knowing that it’s just the beginning. Seriously, rather than feeling like a finite entity, this trilogy feels more like an elaborate beginning. Writing gives me purpose. Having already drafted books 4-6, and having a pretty good idea about where the tale goes from there, makes for a bright looking future.

Congratulations, V! Write on!

Friends, you can learn more about Vaughn’s fantasy trilogy on his website.