Meet fantasy author Katie Zaber
Interview
1. Tell me about yourself. What inspired you to write?
I’ve always been creative, but never
took up writing until I was recovering from surgery, was on a lot of meds, and
let my imagination loose. Once off the meds and healed, I edited the story, building
and rearranging, working through drafts until I was happy.
2. Describe your desk / writing space.
I sit in front of a walnut stained
secretary desk with a hutch holding an array of keepsakes. Albums, picture
frames, my Snoopy collection, souvenirs, and nostalgic knickknacks line the
shelves of the hutch.
My work space is a wonderland of
post-it notes in three different colors: pink, neon-yellow, and green. On the
right corner of my desk, shoved between the monitor and notary stamp, is a
yellow, mini-spiral notebook that contains book outlines, plots, and ideas.
Little sticker tabs separate the notebook into different sections. The tabs not
in use are floating on the surface of pamphlets and lists of login information
to accounts I hardly visit.
A leather bounded diary with nautical
embellishments, complete with anchor bookmark, holds random thoughts and
sketches. A mechanical pencil can be spotted, hiding between the yellow
notebook and leather diary. Its extra parts—erasers & extra graphite are
strewn about the entire desk.
Between the post-it notes there are
three hacky sacks. There’s also a rectangular leather box with a brass
kaleidoscope made to look like it was used on a whimsical pirate ship.
It’s a happy mess.
3. Do you have a writing routine or do you write when inspired?
I try to stick to a schedule, but
that normally doesn’t happen and I end up writing when inspired.
4. How do you come up with the title to your books?
When I write a book, I usually have a
broad idea of what I want to call it, but I usually decide when I’ve finished
the first draft. Almost like a parent meeting their new born. They might have
an idea of what they want to name the child while pregnant, but that can change
when they see the baby face to face and realize he isn’t a Jim, he’s a Stephen.
Kind of like that.
5. What was the hardest scene for you to write? Which scene was your favorite to write?
Intimate scenes. They are my weak
spot. I feel like I can never get them exactly right.
My favorite ones are when I’m describing
something for the first time. When I introduce the reader to a new environment,
object, or food, my goal is for the reader to feel the mist and sun on their
skin. I want them to see in minute details what the character is looking at and
taste the juice running down their cheeks as character bites into fruit.
6. What inspired your book/series?
My fantasy series, Dalya was inspired
by the song, Lord of the Dance. Somehow, it was stuck in my head and my
imagination took over. I pictured a king singing the song—a much more sinister
version—while destroying a village of people who disobeyed him. At first, the
story was going to be about him and how his reign ends, but I didn’t want to
tell it from his perspective. That’s where Megan comes in.
My
other series, DNA Demons N Angels was inspired by a recurring nightmare. It’s weird, I know. But I
kept having a dream that out of the blue I was pregnant and that it was a
demon. One day, I played around with the idea of what it would be like to be
the mother of something different. The story grew from there.
7. What are you working on next?
After that, I plan on writing the
second book in my paranormal romance series, DNA Demons N Angels. I’m playing
with the title, Raising Hell, How to Survive the Terrible Twos. Here is a link
to the first few chapters of the first book. DNA
Demons N Angels
8. What authors or books have influenced your writing?
There’s a few. I’d say Margaret
Atwood, J.R.R. Tolkien, John Conroe, Jim Butcher, Kevin Hearne, Karen Marie
Morning, Jennifer Estep, Laini Taylor, and Chuck Palahniuk are some of the
biggest influencers. However, I’d like to think I’ve absorbed a little bit from
every book I’ve read.
9. If you could live anywhere, in this world or fantasy, where would you live?
I’d love to live on a winery in
southern Italy. The architecture is breath-taking and I love the small villages
with cobblestone streets, knowing your local artisans by name and buying
locally from them. There’s something really romantic and peaceful about that
small village lifestyle that I hope to one day experience.
If I got to live in a fantasy world,
it would be made of chocolate and it wouldn’t be frowned upon if I ate
everything.
I’m a steak and potatoes kind of
lady, but the steak needs a decadent brandy cream sauce and buttery garlic
whipped potatoes.
11. Coffee or tea? Wine or beer?
A good cup of black tea with a little
bit of sugar and milk is my go to in the morning. If I drink coffee, its half
milk, and I don’t count the how much sugar.
I love sweet, fruity wines.
12. Describe yourself in three words.
Curious,
Spaz, Sensible
Katie's Books
Kindle Countdown starting June 16th $.99, June 18th $1.99, June 19th $2.99.
Katie's Bio
Katie
Zaber, author of the series Dalya and DNA, is a fantasy author whose
imagination knows no bounds. As a child, her parents read stories about
Atlantis and other fictional places that she dreamed of exploring, fueling her
love of history, adventure, and fantasy. She loves to spend what little free
time she has winemaking, baking, and reading. When she has a full day to
herself, you can find her at the beach or at a winery. Her favorite meals are
the ones her boyfriend cooks, and she loves spending quiet nights at home with
him, binge watching new fantasy shows or play video games.
Katie's Links
Newsletter and Free ebook of Ashes
and Blood - https://www.subscribepage.com/s4t6x8
Amazon
Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/Katie-Zaber/e/B087YXPDF2
Website-
https://zaberbooks.com/
Goodreads
- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20290665.Katie_Zaber
BookBub
- https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katie-zaber
Facebook
- https://www.facebook.com/dalyaseries
Twitter
- https://twitter.com/Zaberbooks
Instagram
- https://www.instagram.com/zaberbooks/
