Some Thoughts with ... Michael Vadney

1.- Could you introduce yourself to Jamreads’ readers?
Hello folks, I’m Michael Vadney, author of Crownfall, a nobledark fantasy, and host of the Author Adjacent podcast. 

2.- When did you start writing for publication?
I started writing my debut novel about five years ago, but I didn’t truly commit to it until two years ago. Before that, there were long stretches where I would step away from writing for eight or nine months at a time. Part of that came from being out of work, part of it was a lack of discipline, and part of it was the mental chaos that comes with uncertainty and feeling directionless.
But two years ago, I began rebuilding my life and recommitted myself to a dream I’ve carried since childhood: becoming an author.

3.- How did the first idea for Crownfall as a novel appear? 
Crownfall started as a chaotic collection of ideas that I gradually shaped into a coherent story. I took inspiration from many books, shows, movies, and real life people to shape the initial ideas before blending them in a way that made them my own.
Going into my debut novel, I knew there would be countless changes along the way, so I intentionally kept the scope contained enough to work as a standalone story while still leaving room for a larger series if readers wanted more.
From the beginning, I knew I wanted to tell the story through multiple POVs. I wanted a scrappy thief, a capable noblewoman, and a strong moral compass at the center of the narrative. As the outlining and drafting process evolved, the characters changed in many ways, but at their core, they remained true to those original ideas.
The end result became a story about three people from vastly different walks of life who are each, in their own way, radicalized against the Viceroy of their nation.

4.- Why did you choose to self-publish Crownfall?
That was not the original plan. I intended to take Crownfall through the traditional query trenches for a year, and if nothing came of it, then I would self-publish. But as I became more involved in the online book community and met so many incredible indie authors building meaningful careers through self-publishing, I was ultimately convinced to make the leap and release Crownfall independently from the start.
I do think I will eventually take a project to the traditional market and position myself as a hybrid author. For now, though, I am very happy with the decision to launch my first book as an indie release.

5.- How do you feel about Crownfall a month after the release?
At the time of this interview, Crownfall will have been published for exactly one month, and I still can’t believe the response I’ve received from the community. There has been an incredible amount of support from readers and fellow authors alike. Reviews are coming in, sales are steadily rising, and I’m finding it genuinely difficult to keep my excitement in check.
I’ve been very intentional about keeping my expectations low for Crownfall’s release, and I plan to continue doing so. It has been an important way for me to protect my mental health in an industry where it is easy to overanalyze every decision and burn out from trying to give 110% to marketing and writing around the clock.
Overall, I’m very happy with how things have gone so far. I’m hopeful for the future, but I continue to prioritize my health and long-term sustainability in this new stage of my life. Taking care of myself ensures that I can keep writing stories I love and continue sharing them with enthusiastic readers.

6.- You are also the host of Author Adjacent podcast. How would you say it has influenced your writing?
Hosting the Author Adjacent podcast has done wonders for my writing by directly exposing me to other authors who are often more experienced than I am in the craft, publishing, and marketing side of the industry. Through these interviews, I’m able to ask direct questions about the many facets of being an author and get real, practical insight in return.
The podcast has also opened doors I wouldn’t have known existed otherwise. Through friendships and partnerships formed via Author Adjacent, I’ve been invited into several anthologies and have been able to apply to many more opportunities simply because being part of the author community makes me aware of them in the first place.
I also can’t discount how many authors and books I’ve been introduced to through the show that I would not have discovered otherwise. Reading is, in many ways, the second-best way to improve as a writer, and Author Adjacent has significantly expanded the pool of writers I’m learning from.

7.- How would you easily pitch Crownfall to new readers?
Crownfall follows a noblewoman, a thief, and a magic engineer who are each radicalized against their government. At its core, it is a story about trust: trust in yourself, trust in others, and what it means to be trustworthy.

8.- Which pieces of media have you enjoyed recently?
I recently finished watching Pluribus and thought it was a fascinating exploration of a truly outlandish situation. 
Book-wise I recently finished A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman and To Catch a Witch by E.L. Montague. 

9.- What can we expect from Michael Vadney in the future?
You can expect a lot more from me in the future, because despite everything I’ve said about prioritizing balance and sustainability, I’m not planning to slow down any time soon.
This summer, I’m planning to experiment with audiobook narration, and if things go well, I may end up narrating the voices of Crownfall’s many characters myself. We’ll see if years of running D&D campaigns have finally been preparing me for something useful.
We also recently announced the Rings of Adventure anthology, a Kickstarter-exclusive project featuring over 30 authors. I’ll be contributing alongside a wide range of voices across fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and romance.
Beyond that, I’m already working on my next full-length novel, which I’m incredibly excited about. Think The Licanius Trilogy meets Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. I’m currently in the worldbuilding and high-level outlining stage, but I’m aiming for a punchy, action-driven series with some heavier themes around self-worth and identity.

Crownfall is the debut novel by author Michael Vadney. You can already get a copy using this link.