Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Joel McKay (The Dungeoneers and the Treasure of Roan)!
Meet the Author: Joel McKay
Joel McKay is an award-winning author, journalist and executive from Northern British Columbia. His fiction includes the horror comedy novella Wolf at the Door, the anthology It Came From the Trees and Other Violent Aberrations and a host of short stories published in various anthologies and online.
About the Book: The Dungeoneers and the Treasure of Roan
Two thieves. One legendary treasure. Zero trust.
Wincott is a washed-up burglar with a bad back, frozen toes, and a goblin kill count that’s making his life very complicated. When he flees into the long-abandoned mountain city of Roan—just ahead of a bloodthirsty goblin horde—he finds himself knocked out cold by none other than his estranged son: Sish Torren, a fast-talking rogue with a short sword, shorter temper, and a talent for backstabbing… sometimes literally.
Roan is rumored to house an ancient treasure. It’s also filled with deadly traps, crumbling ruins, and the kind of secrets that swallow people whole. Wincott and Sish reluctantly join forces—not out of love, but because no one survives Roan solo for long. Especially not with mercenaries, monsters, and a certain vengeful former crew barreling toward them.
The Dungeoneers and the Treasure of Roan is “Dungeons & Dysfunction” meets Ocean’s Eleven—if everyone in the crew had unresolved trauma and zero impulse control. A darkly funny, fast-paced fantasy adventure full of sharp blades, sharper tongues, and just enough heart to keep you rooting for the worst people to do the right thing… eventually.
Perfect for fans of Nicholas Eames, Joe Abercrombie, and heist stories with emotional baggage and bite.
~Author Chat~
YABC: What inspired you to write this book?
I had an image in my head of a thief running up a snowy mountainside, looking back over his shoulder to make sure he wasn’t followed and then disappearing inside the mountain in search of something. I couldn’t shake it. I wanted to know who he was and what he was after.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
I think it’s one of the flashback scenes after the Charlie job goes sour and Wincott takes his anger out on Sish. It’s a loaded and traumatic moment and explains how they get to where they are at the beginning of the book.
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
Honestly, that you have to keep writing. Keep trying. Keep honing your craft. It’s not any more complicated than that. It’s like long-distance running – you can’t get good at it unless you start doing it, regularly. Discipline and finding joy in that discipline is critical.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
Deena Rae did an amazing job – she read my mind. The cover is exactly what I wanted – retro whimsy that feels like adventure and fun. That’s what this book is.
YABC: Do you have a playlist you listened to while writing?
I mostly listened to Jeremy Soule’s Skyrim soundtrack. It was perfect for this book. I’m a huge fan of his work. The music of Tamriel lends itself well to developing fantasy elsewhere.
YABC: If you could collaborate with any other writer in history, who would it be?
Raymond E. Feist – his Riftwar books were hugely impactful for me and I’m continually surprised at how little attention they get. They’re some of the best fantasy ever written. I get the sense, though I don’t know him, Ray is a nice guy and, undeniably, a real talent.
YABC: What would you say is your superpower?
Juggling. I’m really good at managing a million different things, projects, issues. It comes from my time as a journalist, I’ve trained my brain to keep it all up in the air and front and present. This is quite helpful being a moonlight author with a full-time career.
YABC: How do you cope with criticism from editors or the public?
It always hurts. The immediate reaction is not anger but disappointment in myself. That said, I’m a former journalist and now I run a city. I’m used to a lot of criticism for pretty well everything I write or any decision I make. You keep going. I write for me.
YABC: What’s up next for you?
Right now I’m working on my MA in Literature and my thesis is a cosmic horror novel. The next step on that is to get through first draft edits, write the accompanying research paper and defend it next spring. Then on to publishing.
Title: The Dungeoneers and the Treasure of Roan
Author: Joel McKay
Release Date: August 15, 2025
Publisher: Birchwood Press
Genre: Fantasy
Age Range: 14+
