Interview with K. L. Small

1 day ago
4 min read

Since I last interviewed you Letters from Shadow Oaks and A Carousel for Shade Tree have been published. This is a departure from fantasy can you tell me about that?

My two most recent books, Letters from Shadow Oaks and A Carousel for Shade Tree, are both contemporary fictions. They don’t include any magic or fantasy elements. Both books were inspired by actual situations I’ve encountered. I enjoy writing and reading fantasy, but when a real-world opportunity presents itself for storytelling, I can’t resist writing it. For instance, after touring several carousels that were saved by communities working together to restore a carousel, I felt inspired to write A Carousel for Shade Tree.

Tell me about your books

My first four books were middle-grade fantasies. That age (roughly eight to twelve) is such a critical one for creating future readers. That was the age when I fell in love with books and writing, so it was natural for me to write A Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale and The Brass Ring Series. I also have a short story collection, The Dark Horse and Other Stories With a Touch of Magic. That book has seventeen of my short stories, twelve of which were previously published in various anthologies. As mentioned above, I have two contemporary fictions. I guess that makes me a multi-genre author, since I can’t stay in one lane.

Do you think you have changed as a writer since you wrote your first book? If so how?

I believe that I’ve become a better writer with each book. Working with a professional editor on my first four books taught me a lot. I don’t make the same mistakes now. Although I’ve probably stumbled into some new ones!

What’s your favourite part of being an author?

Telling a story is so much fun. Sharing a story with readers and hearing their reaction is my favorite part. That’s why readers writing reviews are so important to authors.

Is there a genre you would like to write in that you haven’t tried yet?

I have never written a children’s picture book. I have an idea for one and just might give it a try in the future. The idea for the story came to me as a series of mental images, so I’m sure it wants to be a picture book.

Which part of the writing/publishing process do you enjoy most?

Planning a new story is my favorite part of the whole process. I like to brainstorm who my characters are, where they will be located, and what will happen to them. I ask many “what if” questions. Most of this time is spent with a blank piece of paper and black, blue, green, and red pens as I sketch out what’s going to happen in the story.

What was your favourite research activity for a book?

I can get lost online when doing research for a book. One YouTube video leads to another. But I have to say my favorite activity was riding carousels and talking to carousel experts to prepare for A Carousel for Shade Tree. I learned about operational details like the fact that carousel gears need to be oiled daily.

What advice would you give other writers?

Stay positive. Writing is a solitary activity, and pursuing publication can be discouraging, but it’s important to stay positive throughout the process and keep writing. Write because you love writing.

Are there any books, tools or websites that have helped you that you think might be useful to others?

For books, I recommend Story Genius by Lisa Cron, which focuses on character development, and Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody for plotting. For tools, I like ProWritingAid for grammar, AutoCrit for developmental editing, and Canva for image creation. I also find Jane Friedman’s emails helpful for writing advice. Since time management is a major issue for creative individuals, I’m a big fan of David Allen’s Getting Things Done book and methodology.

What have you learned about marketing?

I’ve learned marketing is challenging. There are many avenues to use for book promotion, but often it is difficult to tell if any of them are getting the desired results. For instance, creating social media posts and reels can take a lot of time, but are hard to track if the effort results in the sale of books. In-person book signings are a great way to promote books, but there are costs and time commitments involved. I also believe there is an element of luck that goes into marketing.

Is there anything you would do differently if you were starting out now?

If I were starting out now, I wouldn’t wait until I retire to start publishing. I wrote for years while I was working in a corporate job, but I did little to pursue publication. If I were allowed to pursue a “do-over,” I would spend more time on querying what I wrote instead of waiting.

What is your next project? What should we be looking out for?

I’m currently preparing to publish a Young Adult (YA) fantasy called The Strandlock. It’s the story of Tima, a young plains woman, considered cursed by the camp elders and forced to hide her hair. Soon she encounters a shapeshifter with a secret. With his help, she may be the only person who can save her world. The sequel to The Strandlock is The Strand That Binds. I’m revising that manuscript for the continuing story of Tima and the shapeshifter.

Bio:

Kathleen “K. L.” Small writes stories with hope and happy endings. She lives in Florida on a ranch called Carousel Acres, with her husband, two horses, four barn cats, and assorted wildlife. She is a four-time award winner in the Florida Writers Association’s Royal Palm Literary Award competition.

She has published seven books:

A Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale

The Brass Ring Series (The Magic Carousel, The Christmas Carousel, and The Haunted Carousel)