MY INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR KAYLA KRANTZ!

What’s your name and what genre would you consider your books to be?

Kayla Krantz. I write in a number of genres ranging from paranormal romance to psychological thriller and dark fantasy.

Tell me about your book. How did you come up with that (story, angle, idea)?

 The story I’m currently working on, called When Night Falls, is just a collection of different short stories. Each one was inspired by something different but most of them started from snippets that I had written for my novels that didn’t actually fit in where I wanted them to go.

How did you get interested in writing this particular genre (historical novels, mysteries, sci-fi, children’s books, etc.)?

 I’ve always had a likeness for horror and thriller. I think it stems from my love of Halloween and things that are creepy and unexplained.

    

What’s a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write? Do you set a daily writing goal?

 I have a desk that I love to write at but if inspiration strikes, I’ll write just about anywhere. I don’t have a daily writing goal, I just make it a point to try to write something every day—even if it’s just a line of dialogue.

Do you have a new book in the making and if so, what’s the name of your upcoming book?

 When Night Falls is set to release January 30^th.

Here’s the summary:

A fairytale ball with a not-so-happy ending.

A company that secretly experiments on the minds of the mentally ill.

The Angel of Death with a deathwish of her own.

Monsters who can kill with just one look into their eyes.

These are just some of the stories When Night Falls has to offer.

Fast-paced, thrilling, and filled to the brim with darkness and characters driven by the voices in their head, this collection focuses on the darker side of life.

Trigger Warning: Not for the faint of heart. This collection contains stories that deal with difficult subject matter such as murder and suicide.

 

How important are character names to you in your books? Is there a special meaning to any of the names?

 I don’t have any special meaning to the characters in my books, but I do like to try to use uncommon names. When I’m creating characters, I also have a habit of avoiding using the names of anyone I know.

Where do your ideas come from?

 My ideas come from a variety of places whether it be dreams or music. I can get inspired from even hearing just one line of dialogue.

Is there a genre that you’ve been wanting to experiment with?

Fantasy has always been a favorite of mine and up until recently, it’s not something I ever really wrote. I like playing with new concepts and creating new worlds so high fantasy and dark fantasy has been really fun. Up next, I’m hoping to create something in the urban fantasy genre.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

The hardest part is probably just sitting down to write. I usually always have ideas in my head by sitting down to put them on paper takes some effort.

What do you think of book trailers? Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book?

 I think book trailers are a wonderful tool for advertisements. People are more likely to sit through a video ad than one they have to read. I try to make one for every one of my novels but so far, I don’t have one for When Night Falls.

 What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?

My best accomplishment would be my first fantasy novel, The Council, simply because it was the first book I wrote that was outside of my genre comfort zone.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

 I hope to start making a decent amount of money off my writing, enough that I can work only part time at my current job and still live well.

Have you always liked to write?

 I’ve always loved writing. Even in Elementary school, I had a habit of creating little stories to read to my teacher and the principal.

What writing advice do you have for aspiring authors?

 Never give up. Writing is a hard business and a lonely occupation. Many times you will feel alone and full of doubt but you should keep writing and get past it. The feeling when your ideas all come together is one of the best in the world.

 

 

If you didn’t like writing books, or weren’t any good at it, what would you like to do for a living?

Honestly, I can’t imagine myself doing anything else. If I had to choose, I would probably have been an artist instead because I’ve always been interested in drawing and painting.

Do you read reviews of your book(s)? Do you respond to them, good or bad? How do you deal with the bad?

 I try to read all reviews of my books. Some of the feedback in them is really helpful in fixing simple plot holes and making the story fuller overall. I never respond to them though rather than thanking the reviewer for taking the time to read the book rather it be a good review or a bad. For the bad reviews, I read them and carefully consider what they’re saying but I always take it with a grain of salt.

What is your least favourite part of the writing / publishing process?

Waiting for feedback. It’s stressful sending your work out into the world and waiting to see how it will be received.

What are you working on now?

Currently, I’m writing a piece for NaNoWriMo entitled The Crimson Grotto.

Can you give us a few tasty morsels from your work-in-progress?

 

Here’s an excerpt from The Crimson Grotto.

When the first shot was fired, splashing filled the air as the warriors capable of leaving the water, sprang from the depths to attack. Blood sprayed everywhere and the smell made Ashley want to throw up again. Heart pounding, she rammed the edge of her cage, trying to break her way free. So far, the humans had forgotten about her in the chaos, but she had a feeling that it wouldn’t last long. She bumped against the edge again, feeling the bars slide across the rocks with an unpleasant screech that hurt her ears.

She moved once again and the cage rocked. Before it could splash into the water, she was hoisted into the air. Confused, she glanced into the air and realized Brooke was holding her, pulling her away from the scene of battle as fast as she could manage.

“Thank you,” Ashley whispered.

Barely had those words escaped her lips when a shot rang through the air. At first, nothing changed, then a spot of red began to blossom onto the white of Brooke’s wings. A moment later, she dropped in altitude, hands loosening on Ashley’s cage as they both splashed into the water. Ashley cried out as her cage sunk beneath the surface of the waves, looking up into the stream of red that mixed into the water below Brooke’s body.

“Help!” she cried out.

“I’ve got you,” a familiar voice said.

Ashley’s heart soared in happiness as she turned and met Cove’s gaze. He didn’t speak as he undid the lock on her cage with a quick flick of his wrist, freeing her from the sinking prison.

“Brooke!” she said, not even wasting a second to offer Cove a proper “thank you,” before she propelled herself to the surface and Brooke’s bleeding body.

She scooped the Siren into her arms, wiping the wet hair from her face as she cupped her chin, studying her for signs of life. Brooke’s eyes were closed, a stream of blood running from the corner of her mouth, and when Ashley continued her study, she realized the bullet that had pierced her wing had also gone straight through Brooke’s chest.

“No! Brooke!” she said, slapping the girl’s cheek with the hope of reviving her.

Cove didn’t say a word, merely eased the Siren from Ashley’s arms and swam her to a part of short shielded by the rocks. He dragged her onto the sand and looked up at Ashley.

Her heart broke before he said the words she dreaded to hear.

“She’s dead.”

 

Where did your love of books come from?

I was born with it. When I first learned to read, I loved it. I was an advanced reader from day one, always reading at levels higher than my age.

Do you have any favorite authors or favorite books?

Stephen King is my number one favorite author and always has been. He’s my biggest inspiration to write well and to write at all really. I also enjoy reading books by Gillian Flynn and Ruth Ware.

Of all the characters you have created, which is your favourite and why?

My favorite character would have to be the villain, Chance, in my Rituals of the Night Trilogy. He’s my most well-developed character. Even though he is dark, he is also witty and sarcastic. I can always picture his response to most things in my head and for that reason, he’s my favorite. No matter how many books I write, he always will be.

 Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Writing always leaves me feeling energized because it’s my outlet, the way I get everything off my chest. A good writing session is just as relaxing to me as a hot bath is to some people. When I don’t get to write for a while, I often feel irritated and down.

 Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

 I always try to be original. I write the story the way that I want to. People will either like it or they won’t. I’ve come to accept the idea that no matter how I craft the story, there will always be people who don’t like it. Even Harry Potter has one star reviews.

 

What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

I communicate often with a network of other indie authors. They help me by motivating me and making me work harder to accomplish my goals. Whenever I’m feeling down about my writing, they help lift me up and I know I can always depend on them to help me through any tricky spots.

If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be?

 I would probably name it something satirical such as This Fresh Hell.

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Where can your fans find you and follow??

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaylakrantzwriter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaylathewriter9
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14006736.Kayla_Krantz
WordPress: https://authorkaylakrantz.wordpress.com/
Amazon Author: amazon.com/author/kaylakrantz

 

Thank you for taking your time to do this interview ❤️