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Kelly Lynn Colby has always been curious about the abilities hidden within the human psyche. In her new series, Emergence, she explores the world through the eyes of people with such gifts. Though this novel is a bit different from her first foray into publishing with Tarbin’s True Heir, a traditional epic fantasy, Kelly still can’t keep magic out of her writing. Kelly writes about the fantastical at her cluttered desk, coffee shops, and parks, mostly in Houston, Texas. You can follow her adventures on Facebook or Twitter @kcolbywrites or subscribe to her blog at kellylynncolby.com.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? What/who inspired you to publish your first book?

I’m an avid lifelong reader. I even wrote some Star Trek fanfiction when I was a kid not knowing that was what it was. This was before the internet. Yet, I’d always been practical about my careers and life choices and never once considered that the names of those authors I saw on all those books were people who actually did this for a living. Until Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta gave a talk about being a professional writer at Dragon Con years ago. As they went down the list, I checked off each one of their requirements, starting with don’t be a jerk. Somehow, through that talk, they gave me permission to be a writer. That’s what I’d been looking for all these years and didn’t even know it. Permission. On our drive home from Dragon Con that year I wrote my first short story in decades. Haven’t stopped since and am now friends with Kevin and Rebecca.

How much of your books are realistic? Are the experiences based on someone you know, or are they events in your real life?

The characters and the relationships and struggles they experience are real, but nothing is based wholly on my life or experiences. It’s pulled from everywhere and pieced together in a fun way.

What is your current project? Will you share a little of it with us – kind of a sneak peek?

My newest is the first book in a paranormal thriller series, The Collector. This is the back cover copy. 

“Fauna Young owns a small computer repair shop. She lives in a townhouse downtown. She loves to dance with her two best friends in city clubs. From the outside, Fauna’s life looks like any other young professional’s in bustling Houston.

On the inside, Fauna hides a secret. She can read people’s emotions as well as intense memories impressed on everyday objects. She calls it her curse, and she’s never found anyone else like her.

Until Fauna uncovers a statue pieced together with multiple impressions. Hopeful that she’s finally found someone like her, Fauna tracks down the artist only to find his mutilated corpse.

With a serial killer on the loose targeting people like her, Fauna might have ended her solidarity only to cut her life short. Now she must work with a skeptical homicide detective to catch the mad man before she becomes the next victim.”

I’ve attached the first chapter to the email as well.

What do you do in the ‘real world’ when you’re not writing?

I’m a freelance editor which pays the bills now and keeps me quite busy. I would call that my day job. My side hustle is the editorial director at Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing where we connect adventurous readers with speculative fiction authors to provide an endless array of fantastical worlds to explore. Then I write as my passion.

What are the challenges in writing your books? (Ex: logistical, research, literary, psychological, etc)

Time. As you can see above, I’ve got a lot on my plate and that doesn’t count my volunteering or family responsibilities. The second biggest challenge is forcing my mind to cooperate. I have ADHD and it’s about impossible for me to focus long enough to get my word counts in. I have so many tricks to get my mind to write anything at all. I do word sprints with a timer. I play 4thewords so I am rewarded with the completion of quests when I hit a certain word count. I stream on Twitch with others to use peer pressure to get writing done. So many things and none of them work every time which is why I have to switch it up so often.

Are there any quotes or verses you find inspiring? What are they and why?

I’m not much one for inspiration. I think the last thing I saw that made me cry because it spoke to me was from the musical Prom. The principal at the high school was talking to his Broadway star crush explaining why theater meant so much to him and he said, “A distraction is momentary. An escape helps you heal.” Something about that really hit home, especially when talking about the theater.

Tell us a little about yourself. Perhaps something that a lot of people do not know?

I’m pretty much an open book. I like to cook and bake. I crosss stitch and am currently working on a piece that will probably take me the rest of my life to complete at the pace I’m going. I tend to only write in speculative fiction, but I read everything. I think that’s one of the things that makes me a good editor.

My newest thing is the podcast 20 Questions with your Favorite Author which has been a blast to record.

Are you a planner or a pantser when it comes to writing? (Planner – outline; Pantser – sit down and write)

I am a planner. I have extensive outlines before I write one actual word of a draft. My current outline for the next in the Emergence series, The Healer, is 10,000 words long and the book will probably only be 50K words when it’s done. If the revision stage is too daunting then I won’t do it. I’ve got to have the bulk of the story down before I write—remember how hard it is to get me to write at all—or a big disaster will result which will make the revising process absolutely impossible.

If there was anything you could change regarding your publishing experience, what would it be and why? Also, do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

I wish I hadn’t waited for permission. I was writing through high school and while I was in the Navy. Then I got out and had a husband and a family and I needed to work and writing felt like a selfish hobby that I didn’t have time for, I certainly was never going to make money at it. So I set it all aside. Maybe I’d pick it up later when I had time. Well, there is no later; there is no perfect time. Write and don’t stop. If you need permission, I’m giving it to you right now. You have permission to steal a few moments to write in the morning or at lunch or while the kids are sleeping or during your commute. Get those ideas down. Explore your creative mind. Then share your work. You have permission. Make it happen.

My advice for aspiring authors is to keep writing and find a group of authors to grow with. This is not a business that you succeed in all by yourself. It’s not that lonely author struggling away at her desk by herself until finally an agent throws her a bone and her book gets published. You have to get out there, pretend to be an extrovert for short bursts to meet people and make it all happen. So very few authors are culled from a slush pile and are actually able to make a living of this anymore. You have to make it happen. And you can, but not alone. Find your people.

And follow Kevin and Rebecca’s rules by not quitting your day job until you have a nice steady income coming in.

Is there anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Keep reading. If you like something, recommend it to a friend. Leave a review. All of these things help us authors continue to create which gives you an endless supply of escape so you can heal.