Kyle Alexander Romines - Five Kingdoms, Five Kings and Queens

Kyle Alexander Romines is a teller of tales from the hills of Kentucky. He enjoys good reads, thunderstorms, and anything edible. His writing interests include fantasy, science fiction, horror, and western. Kyle's debut horror novel, The Keeper of the Crows, appeared on the Preliminary Ballot of the 2015 Bram Stoker Awards in the category of Superior Achievement in a First Novel. He obtained his M.D. from the University of Louisville School of Medicine. As our Author of the Day, Alexander tells us all about his book, The Wrath of Lords.

Please give us a short introduction to what The Wrath of Lords is about.

Five kingdoms. Five kings and queens. One High Queen rules all, and her wardens keep the peace.

The Warden of Fál series follows the adventures of Warden Esben Berengar, the most dangerous man in Fál. While the High Queen’s other wardens are beloved heroes, Berengar is hated and feared—and with good reason.

Tell us more about Berengar - what makes him so special?

Although he presents himself to the world as a merciless killer, Berengar is an incredibly complex character. He’s a flawed, scarred, and deeply broken individual with a deep-seated distrust of others. I’ve enjoyed peeling back the layers of his character over the course of The Wrath of Lords and the other books in the series.

Why fantasy? What drew you to this genre?

I’ve written books in many genres—horror, science fiction, thriller, and western—but fantasy is the most rewarding to write. Worldbuilding and creating unique characters and their stories is as satisfying as it is challenging.

One of the readers said "this book will hit you with lots of emotions" - was that your intention?

Yes. The Wrath of Lords is a very dark book. Berengar starts the series as a broken man. He’s spent his life killing monsters, but for every monster he kills, two more seem to take its place. But no matter what, Berengar never stops trying, even when things are at their most hopeless.

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

I am a medical doctor. I graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 2017.

What is your favorite line from this book?

The first line! “He killed the first man with his bare hands.”

What is the hardest thing about being a writer?

It’s easy to lose myself in my writing when I get caught up in a story. I have to remember to pay proper attention to the other areas of my life.

This is the first book in the Warden of Fal series. Can it be read as a standalone? Did you plan from the start to make it into a series?

That’s a great question!

The Wrath of Lords is a standalone novel. You don’t have to read any other books to understand what’s going on. Each book in the series is set in one of five kingdoms and tells its own story.

It’s not necessary to read them together or even in order. However, taken together, the books tell a larger story.

How much fun do you have coming up with these story lines and characters?

It’s a blast! I worried at first about making The Wrath of Lords such a dark story, but in The Blood of Kings (book two) I introduce Berengar’s companion, Morwen the magician. Morwen, an optimistic young girl, is the perfect counterweight to Berengar, and these two are tons of fun to write together.

Do you have any interesting writing habits? What is an average writing day like for you?

I write using Dragon dictation software, which means I speak my stories into existence, and the software transcribes my spoken words onto the page. I write each day and edit, research, and market on the weekends.

What are you working on right now?

I am almost finished writing The City of Thieves and The Will of Queens, books three and four in the Warden series. The Blood of Kings (book two) will be released in May, and books three and four will be out in June.

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

Check out my amazon page for the full list of all 10 current books, plus a FREE short story prequel to my warden series. I have all sorts of books out in many different genres. https://www.amazon.com/Kyle-Alexander-Romines/e/B016SH7KVU/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

By the way, The Wrath of Lords will soon by out in audiobook from Matt Addis, narrator of a 2015 Audible Book of the Year Nominee.