Interview with Kelley York, author of HUSHED!

I am super stoked to have author Kelley York on the blog today! Kelley is the author of HUSHED (Entangled, Dec 2011), and has graciously agreed to a mini interview in honor of the cover reveal for her first self-published novel HOLLOWED. The cover will be revealed right here on writers write, right? tomorrow, so be sure to come back and check it out!


Now, on to the interview!

1. Thanks so much for taking my questions, Kelley! HUSHED is your first published novel, and I must say that it's quite a debut! Inquiring minds would love to know...Is HUSHED your first book, or do you, like the rest of us writers, have a couple of manuscripts stuffed in a desk drawer, never to see the light of day? :)
Ha! Good question. HUSHED is the second book I ever wrote. The first one actually falls in line with HOLLOWED. It's a different set of characters elsewhere in the world, but it's the same 'universe'. They're a part of the same series and their stories will gradually meet. I'm in the process of rewriting that first book, so it can be released. 

2. You definitely have a talent for creating vivid, realistic characters that grab readers by the heart and don't let go. How hard was it for you to say goodbye to the HUSHED characters (especially Archer!)?
Thank you! It can be hard. I miss Archer and Evan and now and again I wish I had enough material to give them a sequel. Sadly, their story is mostly told. I've considered revisiting to write a short follow up, just to give everyone a peek at how they're doing after the events of the story. But then I kind of wonder if that would spoil everyone's imaginations.

3. Do you have a process for your writing? Wake at 5am every day? Crank out 10k words before lunch? Eat only M&Ms while creating? 
I write whenever I have time. ;) How's that for process? I find I write best while sitting at my desktop computer (as opposed to my laptop), and in the morning around breakfast time. For some reason, it's harder for me to concentrate in the evenings. I can generally get out 1k-2k in a short sitting, if I'm not interrupted or distracted. Then I take a break, clean something, watch something, and come back to it. Now that I think about it, I never eat while writing. I'll starve myself for hours on end because I forget the existence of food. 

4. Tomorrow is the cover reveal for your newest novel, HOLLOWED (be sure to come back here, readers, to check it out!), which you are self-publishing. Of all the aspects of the self-publishing process, which one has been the most terrifying? :)
ALL OF IT! It's scary to release a book that hasn't been professionally edited, and relying solely on the judgment of yourself and betas. The cover is also terrifying, because while I think it looks nice, what is the rest of the world going to think? Self-pubbing anything require a catchy, professional-looking cover. HOLLOWED also involves paranormal creatures the book market is already saturated with, so I'm hoping against hope what I can provide readers is a unique, fresh experience with them. 

5. Lastly, the question I like to ask all interviewees: If you were stranded on a deserted island, and could only have one book with you, which would it be, and why?
That's hard. The first one that comes to mind is HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE by Diana Wynne Jones. Though maybe I should choose one of the A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE books by George R. R. Martin because they're so huge. More hours of reading entertainment.

Thanks again, Kelley!
Thanks for the questions! :D


 Remember to stop by the blog tomorrow for the first look at the cover of Kelley's latest novel, HOLLOWED!