Vaughn R. Demont

Vaughn R. Demont

Vaughn R. Demont is an American author of urban fantasy. He has published ten novels and anthologies writing both as Vaughn R. Demont and under the pen name Charles Equus, including the *Broken Mirrors* and *Blackwarren Heists* series.

### Education

Vaughn attended the State University of New York at Oswego where he studied novel-length fiction under Robert O'Connor, flash fiction and short story under Leigh Wilson, and memoir and creative nonfiction under Ira Sukrungruang. Vaughn's first novel, *A City-Dweller's Guide to the Supernatural, or How to Date Someone Who Shouldn't Exist*, which remains stuffed in a box somewhere, is the first work where his signature setting, The Argent City, was created. Vaughn also studied urban sociology and the sociology of deviance to aid in expanding his setting further. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing.

Demont also attended Goddard College where he studied plot structure under Deborah Brevoort, comedic and improvisational writing under Susan Kim, and was mentored in speculative fiction, fantasy, and urban fantasy by Rachel Pollack. His Master's thesis was written upon "*Archetypes of the Modern Wizard Protagonist*", which explored how wizard characters had evolved past expository mentor characters in the Hero's Journey to Heroes themselves. His creative thesis was an initial draft of what would later become his third novel *Lightning Rod*. He graduated with a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, with a concentration on Speculative Fiction.

### Personal Life

Vaughn R. Demont is neurodivergent cisgender male. married, and identifies as a homoromantic asexual, as well as a member of the furry fandom.

###### Mental Health

Demont has been open about his struggles with depression, anxiety, being a survivor of domestic abuse and sexual assault. He is an advocate for access to mental health resources, particularly for survivors of abuse. Demont has also struggled with writer's block since 2015, and has committed to a mental health regimen centering on therapy and medication.

###### Influences

Demont counts Elmore Leonard as one of his primary influences, primarily for his crafting of written dialogue and interconnected plots and settings over numerous novels. He also counts paranormal romance novelists such as Laurell K. Hamilton, Richelle Mead, and Sierra Dean as influences as well.

###### Controversy

Demont has been called out for transphobic language and misgendering in addressing the character Shiko Akimura. Though it was revised in 2022, the text had stood uncorrected since the debut of Coyote's Creed in 2011. Demont also gained a small measure of notoriety for his "Open Letter to Jim Butcher" where he calls out the renowned urban fantasy author for his poor LGBT representation in his Dresden Files series.

### Tales of the Argent City

* The Last Paladin
	+ A Squire's Vow (2009)
	+ Courage and Faith (2009)
	+ Devotion and Grace (2009)
	+ The Rites of Spring (2010)
* The Vampire Fred: Wicked Game (2009)
* House of Stone (2010)
* Tales of the City (Anthology) (2011)
* Broken Mirrors
	+ Coyote's Creed (2011)
	+ Lightning Rod (2012)
	+ Community Service (2013)
	+ Breaking Ties (2015)
* The Blackwarren Heists
	+ Redcap, Whitecap, Goblin, Thief (2022)
* A Satyr by the Reins (written as Charles Equus) (2022)