The Witch's Ambition Trilogy by Kayla Krantz - Special Guest Blog Post + Interview
**See how it all ends in the final installment of The
Witch’s Ambitions Trilogy, set to release 8/15.**
As the war destroys the last of the covens,
Lilith knows there is only one way to end the chaos for good—a final showdown
against the Sage that only one of them will walk away from.
Guest Post
How did you get into writing horror/suspense, and what is your favorite thing about those genres?
How did you get into writing horror/suspense, and what is your favorite thing about those genres?
Horror and
suspense have always had a special place in my heart. While other kids enjoyed
fairytales at bedtime, I always liked scary stories, suspenseful stories.
Stories that would keep me up at night because they didn’t have a real ending
rather than the happy endings of other children’s stories. I was friends with
the monster in my closet, not afraid.
When I came
across my first Stephen King book, I loved it so much. It was everything I
wanted in a story. The wildness of the story, the mystery, the psychological
dilemma, it all appealed to me. Ever since then, I wanted to write stories that
would follow in the footsteps of Stephen King. Books that would boggle the
mind.
My first
attempt at this was in my debut novel, Dead by Morning, where I tackled the
idea of blending the supernatural with a seemingly normal background. The story
progressed to suspense and horror, leaving me with a book that’s a blend of all
genres.
Horror and
suspense are my favorite genres to read because they are more real to me, more
believable than romance books. Fear is a real tangible emotion that everyone
has experienced at some point in their life. Being able to draw on that can
create truly engaging stories.
Author Q&A
1. What is the first book that made you cry?
Stephen King’s Pet Sematary will always
be the only book capable of making me cry. The way that he portrays the death
of the son is so powerful that it always brings the ugliest emotions out of me.
2. How long, on average, does it take you to
write a book?
From start to finish, it takes me about a year
to finish a book. The first draft typically takes me anywhere from a month to
two. Then, I have what I call the “fluffing” stage where I add things like
descriptions, dialogue, and work on character personality. This is the longest
stage of the process for me and can last about six to eight months. Finally,
when it’s time for the final edit, I take about a month to go through it all,
making sure it reads right and correcting spots that are difficult to
understand.
3. How do you select the names of your
characters?
I don’t really select the names of my
characters, they come to me. When I first start working on a new piece, I don’t
give my main character a name. I write them as “MC” until I get a feel for
their personality, then the name usually comes to me. Sometimes, they have
pretty normal names, but once in a while something unique will come to me.
4. What creature do you consider your
"spirit animal" to be?
If I had to choose, I would say a wolf.
They’re beautiful creatures, ones that are really misunderstood.
5. What are your top 5 favorite movies?
Top five favorite movies
be (in order): Heathers, Flatliners (the original), Dogma, Sinister, and
Goonies.
6. Do you have any advice for aspiring
writers?
My biggest advice would
be to never give up. It’s a tough business, but as long as you remember why
you’re writing and remember the purpose of the story that you want to tell,
then no one can stop you from experiencing greatness.
7. Tell us 10 fun facts about yourself! :)
1.
I am a cat person.
2.
I love to draw and
paint in my spare time.
3.
I am Wiccan.
4.
I am studying for my
Master’s in Business Administration.
5.
I hope to own my own
bookstore someday.
6.
I am very introverted.
7.
I am a coin-collector.
8.
I love 80’s and 90’s
music and movies.
9.
I know how to play the
flute, saxophone, and tuba.
10.
I love to play Xbox.
11. If you could live in
any time period, what would it be and why?
I would choose the ‘80’s
because I love the movies and music of that genre. I feel like I was born in
the wrong generation because I adore everything about that decade. Even the wacky
clothes.
12. What is your favorite
genre to read?
My favorite genre to read
is psychological thrillers because I love being kept in suspense. Not knowing
where the story is going keeps me engaged. Books that are predictable aren’t
fun for that very reason.
Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaylakrantzwriter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaylathewriter9
Website: authorkaylakrantz.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayla.krantz/
About the author:
Kayla Krantz is a proud
author, responsible for a number of fantasy novels, and is fascinated by the
dark and macabre. Stephen King is her all-time inspiration, mixed in with a
little bit of Eminem and some faint remnants of the works of Edgar Allen Poe. When
she began writing, she started in horror, but somehow drifted into thriller and
fantasy. She loves the 1988 movie, “Heathers.” Kayla was born and raised in
Michigan, but traveled across the country to where she currently resides, in
Texas.
To keep up with her, sign up for her newsletter:
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