There was a time in my life when I read only fantasy novels and I credit my obsession with The Lord of the Rings for that. So reading about Kaitlin H. Powell’s books has me excited, because she pitches it as LotR meets Throne of Glass and I am here for all those vibes! As an upper YA fantasy author, Kaitlin’s got a lot planned for the future, but right now she’s putting all her focus on The Gifted Saga, her debut series.
Plus, look at those covers! They’re so beautiful in their simplicity and the little details are stunning.
While fantasy is Kaitlin’s go-to genre, she (like a lot of us) is intrigued by the idea of a murder mystery/thriller. In the meantime, you can find her listening to movie soundtracks (How To Train Your Dragon, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Narnia are her top picks) as she crafts another masterpiece.
After querying her debut for a year, Kaitlin chose the self-publishing route. Gifted is out now and available in Kindle Unlimited. Hunted, the second book in The Gifted Saga, releases October 29th and is available for preorder right now!
BEING AN AUTHOR
Who or what inspired you to write?
I’ve always loved reading. In elementary school, we would have weekly vocab we needed to learn. My teacher would make us write short stories, incorporating the twenty or so vocab words. I was a very creative child, and these were my favorite assignments because of the freedom we were given. I would write five pages when the requirement was only two. As I got older, I kept writing. I couldn’t stop, and didn’t want to.
What’s the best and worst part about being an indie author?
Personally, the best part is the freedom. I love getting to decide the timelines, deadlines, marketing, social media, and everything that goes into the book. One of my favorite things about Gifted is the chapter headings I was able to add. Each chapter has a sword decal, which I think is so cool.
The worst part is how responsible I am for it. I finance everything, from editing to cover design to marketing. It’s more expensive than I had anticipated, but worth it.
Why did you choose to self-publish instead of going the traditional route?
I tried to traditionally publish Gifted for about a year. I received fifteen or so rejections (some of which were very warmly written, which I appreciated). My dad encouraged me to self-publish it, since it had already been written. I followed his advice and I’m so glad I did!
When you’re not writing, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing?
Listening to movie soundtracks (How To Train Your Dragon, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Narnia are the most prevalent right now), scrolling Pinterest, and walking around in nature!
What are your top 5 tips or pieces of advice for aspiring authors?
Write. Even if you know no one will ever see it, even if you hate it. Practice truly is the best way to get better at anything, especially writing. I’ve written tens of thousands of words that no one will ever see, and that’s helped me become the writer I wanted to be.
Believe in yourself. Some days are harder than others, but believing in yourself and persevering is paramount.
Have a good support system. Friends, family, significant others. My support system has helped me through the days where I struggled with imposter syndrome or with any parts of life that come with being an indie author.
Write what you want to read. Very common advice, but I stand by it more and more each year. I wrote Gifted because it was something I wanted to read. I was excited about it, even when I felt burnt out.
Continue seeking out knowledge. I’m always trying to find new ways to improve, whether it be writing or the admin side of being an indie author. I read books about writing novels, I read interviews from some of my favorite authors, and I ask other authors questions about how I can keep getting better.
ROMANCE AS A GENRE
Why did you choose romance as the genre to write in? What is your favorite thing about the genre?
I chose to write a fantasy romance because I loved the idea of a high fantasy like The Lord of the Rings and mixing it with the love stories of Throne of Glass. Love is in everything, so it was easy to weave it into the threads of Gifted.
My favorite thing is how different it can be to everyone. There are so many common elements in every great love story, but they’re all so different and beautiful.
If not romance/subgenres of romance, what genre would you like to write in?
I think romance is going to be a big part of any novel I write, but I like the idea of a murder mystery/thriller!
What are your most and least favorite tropes?
My favorite tropes are forced proximity, fated mates/soulmates, enemies (or rivals) to lovers, found family, only one bed, and hero’s journey.
My least favorite tropes are insta-love and love triangles (unless they’re written in a way I love, which I’ve found to be very subjective and impossible to quantify).
What are some tropes you want to write in the future?
My urban fantasy duology that’s coming out in a few years has forced proximity and I’m very excited to write it!
YOUR BOOKS
What inspired your published stories? How and when did you come up with these stories and plots?
The idea for Gifted had been in my head for several years before I sat down and started asking questions. Who is the main character, and why is he in the dark about Gifteds? Why is he going to help them? Why is love such a big part of his story? I wrote the outline in my college’s library in one afternoon, and then spent the next two and a half years drafting and tweaking until it was done.
Can you briefly tell me about your books?
The Gifted Saga is an epic upper YA fantasy series with romantic subplots. Gifteds have been extinct for a hundred and fifty years, but it’s a lie. Beau discovers he’s a Gifted, and must work with his new friends to stop the threat lurking in the kingdom, waiting for the perfect time to strike. From tracking down legendary Gifted artifacts to finding allies in the mountaintops, Beau finds himself asking the question: how much is he willing to sacrifice for those he loves?
How much of yourself do you put into these characters?
I think it depends on the character! I put my love of reading in Beau and my sense of humor in Emerson. Cassia’s strength is inspired by my mom. Each character has a bit of someone I know!
Is there one common element that readers can find in all your stories?
Love, in the many forms it comes in. Romantic love, platonic love, familial love, sibling love…everything that love can be. I truly believe love is in everything, and it’s fun to see the different ways it can manifest in my stories.
What’s next on the bookshelf for you? Anything you can tell us about a future project?
I’m deep into the first draft of Gifted3! I haven’t shared the name yet because it’s a bit of a spoiler for how Hunted ends, which is a bit of a cliff-hanger ;) I’m also finalizing the outline for the novella that details the journey of two characters on a side mission during the events of Gifted3 and the outline for Gifted4, the end of The Gifted Saga.
When you write these stories, what are you hoping your readers will feel?
I hope my readers will feel the inevitable hope and the indomitable human spirit in each of my characters. No matter what they’re up against, there’s always a small amount of light to be found in the dark. And the love! I want you to feel the sheer amount of love the characters have for each other and how they would do anything to make sure they all survive.
AUTHOR’S CHOICE
Paperbacks, hardbacks, ebooks and audiobooks
Contemporary, fantasy, historical or romantic suspense
Single or Dual POV
Standalones, series or standalones in a series
Open door, ajar door or closed door romances
Music or silence when writing
Plotter, pantser or plantser
Water, tea, coffee or….wine?
Cold or warm weather
Write better in the morning, afternoon or night?
Illustrated or photo cover?
While you await the release of Hunted, you can find Kaitlin on Instagram. Also check out her website and make sure you sign up for her newsletter!
Comments