Interviewer : Amā Shavi

Meet katiegoesmew, author of 'A Dove's Tale' and other captivating works such as 'A Beast's Tale,' 'The Hidden Crystal,' and 'Second Chances.' Today, we're here to take a peek behind the scenes of her life and writing journey.

Hi Katie, can you share a bit about yourself and how your journey as a writer began?

I come from a family of readers. My mom was reading to me before I was born because she was already to my older brother. I always wanted to be like him, so when he learned to read in kindergarten, I had to learn, too. So, I learned to read when I was 3. There are always writing assignments in school, and he and I always did well with those. Then, in middle school, a couple of my cousins started doing roleplay fanfictions on MSN Messenger, and I joined in with them. We all encouraged each other to write original stories, too, so I started writing my first original story outside of schoolwork when I was 12.

1. Who or what encouraged you the most when you were starting out as a writer?

My brother and my cousins. We were pretty close, and we had similar tastes in books and TV shows and all that, so we all wrote similar stuff at first, too.

2. If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice about writing, what would it be?

It doesn't have to be perfect. I have yet to finish that first story I started at 12 years old because I always approach it with this mindset that this time, this edit, this rewrite, is going to be it. The one. That's really restricting and intimidating, and when the story invariably ends up not meeting my standards, I get discouraged and drop it for another few years before I work up the courage to try again. It was really freeing for me when I learned that J. R. R. Tolkien continued editing the Lord of the Rings after he published them.

3. Share a book quote that inspires you as a writer or resonates with you personally.

Hm... I'm not a person who collects inspirational quotes. Funny quotes, yes. There was a great one on an episode of Cheers last night, something like, "What concerns me is these women are allowed to drive and vote."

4. If you could choose any celebrity to narrate the audiobook version of your book, who would it be and why?

Kelsey Grammer. He's got such a great voice. My brother once said he'd pay to be ridiculed by Kelsey Grammer.

5. Describe a scene or chapter in your book that was particularly challenging to write. How did you approach it?

Every passionate romantic scene. The physical stuff comes easy, but I can't write empty passion. It has to show meaning, the depth of the couple's relationship. I can take days with multiple iterations of dialogue going multiple different directions and totally different conversations before I hit on the right words.

6. If you could live in any fictional world for a week, where would you choose and why?

Hm... See, I think I'd like a fictional world, but then I start imagining all the difficulties. Do they have running water? Electricity? Indoor flushable toilets? But, if we're ignoring all that and going with the perks, "How to Train Your Dragons". The movies. I haven't read the books yet. I love Toothless. 😊

7. How do you typically approach character development, and do any of your characters reflect aspects of your own personality?

Character development is something that happens along the way for me. I have an idea of what I want from a character, but as I write them within the story, I learn more about them, so I guess they develop for me as much as they do for the reader. My sense of humor often works its way into at least one character. In A Dove's Tale, the dry humor in Ivetta's inner thoughts are often mine. My mom has said she'll read those lines and picture me saying them.

8. What's your favorite writing snack or beverage that keeps you fueled during long writing sessions?

Coffee! And chocolate. But coffee. Getting the right balance of caffeine and inspiration can be difficult, though. Too much caffeine and not enough inspiration, and every little thing distracts me.

9. Share a line from your book that still makes you laugh or smile every time you read it.

This will go back to my weird sense of humor, but this one: “Once, just once, I’d like to see you come back hungover and laid,” she muttered.

The speaker is Theresa in A Dove's Tale chapter 102. Maybe nobody else finds it funny, but I do. 😉

10. Any tips for aspiring writers?

Just keep writing. And ask for feedback. If you keep everything you write to yourself, you'll never grow. There are a lot of writers out there who really enjoy helping newer writers find their voice and style.

11. Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans/readers?

Thank you so much for reading and supporting me, and keep the feedback coming. I love reading it, and I always try to find ways to incorporate suggestions into future edits. 😊

Thank you, katiegoesmew, for sharing 'A Dove's Tale' and your journey as a writer. I'd like to invite our dear readers to dive into her captivating novels, including 'A Beast's Tale' and 'Second Chances.' Show your support by voting and commenting on this interview. See you soon.