R. Kane Maurer brings his love of fantasy and adventure tales to a trilogy of his own design, The Forbidden Powers. After agreeing to explore a local cave, Jonny is thrust into another world of magic, trolls, dragons, and legendary heroes only read about. Jonny quickly finds this is all too real and must learn to not only save himself but to defend the world he knows from a sinister force who seeks the power of a god.

"The Cup in the Shadows" is the first of Maurer's three-volume set, available through the Hellbender Books imprint of Sunbury Press. Inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and others, Maurer has brought his original storytelling to the printed word, and discusses the trilogy with host Lawrence Knorr.

R. Kane Maurer lives with his family in Hershey, Pennsylvania.