What begins as a quiet moment in a truck’s cab soon turns into a fantastical journey across worlds, dimensions, and deeply human truths. Eugene, a truck driver with a background in history and a passion for woodworking and storytelling, never imagined that one day he’d be crafting a sweeping fantasy epic that readers are now calling a hidden gem. And yet, with Chronicles of a Lost King, he’s done just that.
Born from moments of idle wait at steel mills, loading docks, and roadside diners, the story began as a casual challenge from his daughter: “Why don’t you write a story?” Armed with nothing more than a Post-It note app and his cell phone, Eugene started jotting down thoughts. Those thoughts grew into scenes, and those scenes, over the course of eight years, became a sprawling epic of nearly 1600 pages. “It wasn’t a book,” he jokes, “it was a dictionary.”
But this “dictionary” was only the beginning.
Chronicles of a Lost King opens not with explosions, but with consequence, a magical ritual gone wrong, a queen trying to protect her people, and a man from our world pulled into a realm where magic replaces technology and choices carry eternal weight. This is not a fantasy about the destined hero with a clear path. It’s a story built on what-ifs, missteps, and the messy, often painful, reality of survival and trust.
“I didn’t want to write a story where everything’s set in stone,” Eugene explains. “Life isn’t like that. You make a decision, and then you live with it, good or bad.”
The novel blends high fantasy with raw emotional introspection. Themes of power, loyalty, and loss weave throughout the book. Sam, the protagonist, is a man scarred by a past he doesn’t speak of, navigating a world that isn’t his, finding strength in unexpected places—like in the loyal companionship of a mysterious wolf-like creature named Havoc, or the silent understanding that forms between him and Queen Arianna, even when words fail.
The bond between Sam and Havoc speaks volumes. “Anyone who’s ever had a pet knows,” Eugene says. “To them, we are everything. There’s no compromise. Just trust.” That kind of devotion is mirrored in the story, grounding Sam even as the world around him threatens to unravel.
Arianna, the powerful yet vulnerable queen, was inspired by historical figures like Cleopatra and Abraham Lincoln—leaders burdened by their responsibility to others in times of crisis. “She’s trying to rebuild a kingdom, not just survive. And that complexity is what makes her human.”
What makes Eugene’s writing especially gripping is its balance between action and introspection, between grit and humor. At one point, Sam—four chapters deep into his otherworldly adventure—is grumbling about wanting a cup of coffee and a bowl of cornflakes. “Nobody in that world knows what coffee is,” Eugene laughs, “and he’s stuck trying to explain it.”
This juxtaposition of epic and ordinary is what gives the story its heart. There’s grandeur, yes—interdimensional spells, royal politics, and magical laws—but there’s also the ache of homesickness, the absurdity of unfamiliar customs, and the universal longing to belong.
And this is only chapter one.
Eugene reveals that Chronicles of a Lost King is just the first entry in an ongoing saga. “Each book is a chapter in the overall story,” he says. “We’re working on chapter six now.” The series promises even deeper dives into character arcs, world-building, and philosophical undertones—like how we define identity when stripped of everything familiar, or how we build trust in a world that speaks a different language.
His inspirations are wide-ranging: ancient history, medieval legends, animation, and real-life conversations. “It could be something funny someone says,” he notes. “And I’ll think—yeah, that belongs in the story.”
Despite his modesty, “I don’t really know what I’m doing,” he confesses at one point. Eugene is clearly a storyteller at heart. Raised by educators, surrounded by books, and fueled by the creativity of a childhood spent inventing tales on long car rides, Eugene’s voice is both grounded and imaginative. He writes like he talks—honestly, with humor, and a sense of wonder.
He’s also not done yet. In addition to continuing the Chronicles saga, Eugene is archiving his late father’s sermons and revisiting his mother’s unpublished children’s stories. There’s even talk of a new project following “a goofy little puppy” through the woods.
When asked what he hopes readers take away from the book, his answer is simple: “Anything’s possible. Just try. Use your imagination. And if you’re the only one laughing—hey, that’s still a win.”
In an age of fast content and quick fixes, Chronicles of a Lost King reminds us that there’s still magic in slow-burning stories, in characters who grow through pain and humor, and in worlds built not by formula, but by heart.
If you’re a fan of fantasy or just someone looking for a story that dares to explore what happens when fate goes off-script, Eugene’s debut is one worth discovering.