Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous: A Guest Post by Autumn K. England

Oaklin Nettlewood swore they would never use magic again, but everything changes when Oaklin learns that friendship, kindness and a few mushrooms can heal past wounds in this charming fantasy. Welcome to Mossley’s Rest. Read on for an exclusive essay from author Autumn K. England on writing Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous. 

STARDEW VALLEY meets STUDIO GHIBLI in a charming cozy fantasy about healing, redemption, and the subtle magic of simple living. Perfect for fans of Can't Spell Treason Without Tea and The Spellshop. Welcome home, weary traveler.

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous was born at the Dungeons & Dragons table, as so many of my books seem to be. As our adventuring party mowed down minion after minion on our way to the big boss, I asked a question that should have come much sooner: are these people here of their own free will? Were they manipulated into servitude, or maybe influenced by one of the many mind-altering spells in the D&D spell list? And if that’s the case… then should we be doing this? And what happens to the ones who survive once their leader is felled?

Field Guide is my gentle, loving answer to that question. How could a person recover from such a horrific experience? How could a community receive them with compassion? What would it feel like to be wrapped in warmth and care as you acknowledge your trauma and rebuild? Oaklin Nettlewood fights tooth and nail against the idea that they deserve forgiveness and joy, but luckily, they’re surrounded by people who refuse to give up on them. This book features all the things that make me feel safe and grounded: friends who laugh, show affection freely, and take care of each other. Delicious food. A wise but snarky mentor. A tight-knit community. Funny animals. And, of course, lots and lots of digging in the dirt and helping new things grow. It’s amazing what you can create in a single growing season. From early spring to the first killing frost, Oaklin finds a path to healing and forgiveness.

Before becoming a book, Field Guide took a detour through interactive fiction, a sort of choose-your-path story game. The platform I wrote it for no longer exists, but the final book form was absolutely influenced by these origins. There are so many moments throughout the book where in the original game, the player had the option to shape the personality of the main character, romance their chosen side character, or even change the direction of the story entirely. Though ultimately I had to commit to a favorite path through the story when translating it into book form, I think a lot of the fingerprints from that original structure still linger. Moments where you can sense the character on a precipice, where you can feel the other possibilities unspooling. I think those remnants have only made the book more compelling, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to take it through this strange but fun development cycle.

Field Guide is my eleventh book, but it’s my very favorite thing I’ve ever written. I hope you love it as much as I do.