We're back with another enthralling chapter in "From Pen to Pageant: Chronicles of the Grand Masquerade Laureates." Tonight, we're thrilled to welcome Kit Landry, the mastermind behind our Mystery/Thriller category's winning novel, Cecaelia: Dangers in International Waters!

Kit Landry's book sent our judges on a thrilling chase across the high seas. With its intricate plot, heart-pounding suspense, and captivating characters, Cecaelia promises a voyage filled with danger, deception, and a desperate search for the truth.

This evening, we'll be setting sail on a literary adventure, diving deep into the inspiration behind Kit Landry's award-winning masterpiece. We'll explore the enigmatic world she's created, the characters who keep us guessing, and the secrets that lurk beneath the surface.

So, sharpen your investigative instincts, dear readers, and prepare to be swept away by the masterful storytelling of Kit Landry! Kit, the stage is yours.

So, what initially sparked the inspiration for your award-winning novel?

I've read a lot of mystery, thriller, and action novels. I love them! I was inspired to write my own while I was on a cruise to Alaska with my kids. Cruises are a bizarre environment, like nothing else. I thought 'I could write a thriller, why not?' I love thrillers with a distinct sense of place, to the point the setting feels like a main character. My next thought was 'what if it was on a cruise? And what is the worst thing that could happen to one?'

Wow, you'd a thrilling start with this masterpiece. How do you connect with your readers on a personal level, and what do you think is the most important aspect of building an author-reader relationship?

I love this question! I think it's one of the big reasons I serialized 'Cecaelia' instead of self publishing as a completed book. I wanted to connect with readers. I also wanted to get their feedback, and use it to become a better writer. I think mutual respect is an important part of that relationship. Readers have left amazing feedback. Editing is hard, but feedback gave me really direct ideas and areas to work on.

That's a thought readers live for. If you could time travel, which literary era would you visit and why?

I'm fascinated by the 'Algonquin Round Table' in New York in the 1920s. I wouldn't be nearly sharp enough to keep up with Dorothy Parker, but it would be fun to try.

That's awesome. How do you see the role of technology evolving in the publishing industry, and what impact do you think it will have on authors and readers?

I think we're seeing a trend toward shorter content, and more direct connection between authors and readers. I think serialized sites are at the front of this, but my guess is that we'll see it spread to more of the reading experiences people use.

Definitely. Who are your biggest literary influences, and how have they shaped your writing?

The fiction authors that I've spent the most time reading are Lee Child, Douglas Preston, and Lincon Child. I love being able to really sit in a character like Jack Reacher or Agent Pendergast, and I love their use of setting. I also love the way you can really sit with a character through a long series. I would love to continue writing with my protagonist, Laura, and put her into more bizarre and harrowing situations.

I'm looking forward to it for sure. How do you handle writer's block? What strategies do you employ to overcome creative hurdles?

I've heard people divide writers into 'pantsers' and 'planners.' If that's true at all, I'm a planner for sure. Having a strong outline has kept me moving, because I have an idea of at least the basic plot beats. I'm also trying to give myself the grace to write bad first drafts. Sometimes telling yourself 'I'm writing 500 words of a bad first draft today' is enough to get you moving.

If your book was adapted into a movie, who would you cast in the lead role?

That's so hard! I didn't describe Laura in a lot of detail, because I wanted readers to be able to live through her eyes. I've also spent the most time seeing through her eyes instead of looking at her, if that makes sense. But I imagine her being tall and athletic, in a broad shouldered way, and with a hard shell. I think vintage '90s action leading women like Linda Hamilton in Terminator are close. Lena Headley also has the right edge.

Haha, alright. Author's dilemma is so apt. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

I think it would be 'Relic' by Preston and Child.

Okay...what's the most embarrassing thing that's happened to you while writing?

I write under a pen name. I'm sure a lot of us do! The embarrassing thing I fear actually hasn't happened yet, but I worry about people close to me finding my work and being critical of it.

What's next for you? Are there any specific projects or genres you're excited to explore?

I have a scratch pad where I keep fragments of plots, or fully developed plots. Some of them are so fun to think about. There are hopefully half a dozen solid books in there, if I can make my way to them. I'm working on a post (post) apocalyptic story, and a sequel to 'Cecaelia.' I'm excited about both of them.

Eventually, I would also love to try non fiction. There are some fascinating people through history (with lives a lot more interesting than mine) that I would love to write about. I have a list. One of them is Julie D'Aubigny ('Le Maupin'), who was an openly bisexual woman in late 1600s France. She would challenge men to duels with swords, and once became a nun to seduce another nun. After she escaped, she burned the convent down behind her.

Damn, she sounds fierce. Gotta try that myself. Lastly, as an award-winning writer, what advice would you give to aspiring authors who are just starting out?

I definitely still think I'm an aspiring writer! So, advice I'd give myself and everyone else in my shoes: keep writing. I think a lot of success is based on the amount of 'butt in seat' time authors have. If you look at authors who have achieved a lot of critical success, a lot of them already had a catalog of books under their belt.

My other advice would be to keep your mind open to the world, and to criticism. I love the way writing helps us see the world in a different way. I tried my hand at painting for a while. I would stare at a cut open grapefruit for a few hours to paint a still life, and afterward I felt a deep connection with it. The process of deep observation changed it somehow. Writing is the same way. Little details like smells, sounds, and mannerisms from our lives can give us so much inspiration if we're open to them. Finding that inspiration also encourages us to be better observers and listeners. A lot of criticism is hard to hear, because of the closeness we build with our works, but with some reflection a lot of it is true and helps us improve. 

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Kit, this has been a captivating journey into the world of intrigue and suspense within Cecaelia. Thank you for sharing your creative spark and the meticulous planning that went into crafting such a thrilling mystery. One thing's for sure, readers won't be able to put this book down until the very last clue is revealed.

On that intriguing note, dear readers, we must bid farewell to Kit Landry. But remember, the world is full of mysteries waiting to be unraveled, and the thrills lurk within the pages of Cecaelia: Dangers in International Waters. For those who crave a good puzzle, keep honing your detective skills, and never stop questioning what lies beneath the surface.

Thank you once again, Kit Landry, for being a part of "From Pen to Pageant: Chronicles of the Grand Masquerade Laureates." Until next time, happy sleuthing, and happy reading!

STAY TUNED!