Artist Spotlight: Emily King | Arts & Entertainment

While you may know the name Emily King from The Torch as the Features Editor and avid writer of her column “Dazzle Diaries” and other fascinating opinions, her writing goes far beyond this newspaper. King started to pen her fantasy series “The Avalanche League” back in August 2018.

The story has been divided into a trilogy and details the journey of a young wolf named Avalanche who is exiled to the mountains due to being born with a genetic mutation, causing the addition of majestic wings.

“In [Avalanche’s] reintroduction to society after ten years of hiding in secrecy, she encounters a league of four wolves who become the family she never had. Engaging an ancient text from the entire breed of wolfkind, she reconnects with her Hearthstonian roots and equips ancient doctrine along the way, discovering who she really is and how she can change the world. Together, they work undercover and advocate for change and equality for those like Avalance,” King said.

As she has developed her story over time, King looks to her faith for guidance and strength.

“Writing ‘The Avalanche League’ is my passion project, and publishing the trilogy in its entirety is one of my life goals. In more recent years, my faith has driven me to complete the story; realizing my writing talent was a gift

from God helps me carry on, because otherwise I would waste His precious gift. I intend to keep writing for the rest of my life because it is my calling. Anything and everything I can do in honor of Him is worth pursuing and writing is my outlet for praising God for what He has given me,” King said.

King also touched on some challenges she experiences as a writer, discussing how sometimes creative juices flow at inopportune times—when driving or when working on homework. To combat this problem, she keeps a Google Document to record ideas in. She also explained that she risks burnout when not around others and that people inspire her, cultivating a sense of interest in character crafting.

One of her favorite experiences as a creative writer is being able to step into her character’s world.

“It’s like a never-ending dream that you can share with the world,” King said. King’s dedication is admirable.

Not only has she written several books, but she has also created a ceramic figure, a shirt and sewn a plush of her main character. Even tapping into cartography, she has made a full-sized map of the world her story takes place. She calls writing a “rewarding” hobby and thoroughly enjoys being able to implement symbolism within her work to highlight the interconnectedness of everything as a way to mirror everyday life.

“One of my guilty pleasures as a writer is to connect everything, because everything in life is connected. Bonus points if there is a really deep and profound meaning behind certain things; symbolism is one of the best things ever for writing an amazing story,” King said.

Books serve as a source of comfort for many. Not only reading, but also writing and worldbuilding can provide this outlet. King expressed her experiences as a victim of bullying in school and how “Avalanche” serves as a testimony for outcasts everywhere.

“For some people, after growing up, the feeling of being an outcast doesn’t go away. Maybe they will be ostracized their whole life,” King said. “For everyone who is ‘different’ or doesn’t belong, this story is for you.”