Ask the Author: Kelly Riad
Answered Questions (6)
Kelly Riad
This is always a hard question to answer, because it seems that inspiration never really comes from just one source. For example, with my elves series, I was first inspired by the movie, "Ladyhawke." I loved the idea of this curse that kept these two lovers apart - that they inhabited different worlds, it seemed, and for just the briefest moment, at sunrise and sunset, they could be together. And then I just loved the idea of elves and felt that there really wasn't enough of them in literature. Tolkien had sort of cornered that and perfected it and I guess everyone else felt that it was better left untouched. I'm a selfish person so I wanted more elf stories. After I started actually writing it, it took on a life of its own and certain characters who were never meant to be that important (cough, Emily, cough) hijacked the story and made it their own.
With the YA book I'm currently writing, I loved the idea of a boy and girl growing up together, having known each other since they were infants and being each other's world. And then having to go through something very disastrous, very heartbreaking that tears them a part and seeing what they do to get back to each other.
With the YA book I'm currently writing, I loved the idea of a boy and girl growing up together, having known each other since they were infants and being each other's world. And then having to go through something very disastrous, very heartbreaking that tears them a part and seeing what they do to get back to each other.
Kelly Riad
I typically read. Usually cheesy romance novels that aren't written very well. I don't know what it is about that, but the worse the writing is, the more inspired I am to write. Maybe it's a matter of sub-consciously thinking, "I could do this better!" Which is petty and competitive, but we must all be honest with our flaws, no? And then if an idea comes to me, sometimes in a dream or sometimes just in living life, then I'll jot down little bits, most often conversations, in a small notebook I keep on myself always.
Kelly Riad
TOO MUCH! I have several projects right now, but the most prominent that I'm nearing completion is an adult Paranormal romance that delves into Celtic mythology, and a YA paranormal book about a teen girl who has to return home and face the consequences of her actions after she discovers she's a witch. I'm also hoping to go back to working on a prequel to Always Me that follows Xander through pre-WWII Austria as he discovers the truth about his past while trying to save his current family. See? Too much!
Kelly Riad
Write!! Write, write, and write. And don't be afraid to share it. You need readers to be a writer, otherwise you're just journaling, right? (Journaling's a word, I don't care what the red squiggly line says!) Know that your first book will most likely not be a masterpiece AT FIRST! and will also most likely not look very much at the finish as it did when you started. The first book of my elf series had started out with a different title and very different premise. Find writers groups, whether they're online or in person, visit writing conferences, ask questions! And finally, the best thing I ever did for my writing was read "On Writing" by Stephen King. Seriously, learned more from it than any textbook in school.
Kelly Riad
I get to spend hours and hours in other worlds, take adventures that are not realistically possible and meet new and exciting characters. I've also had all of these things swimming around in my mind - my father called it "La La Land" where I daydream up entire stories and writing let's me get them out, sort of relieve the pressure on my mind and help me focus on every day tasks.
Kelly Riad
Bang my head against my laptop and pout :) Actually, I typically will either leave the work that has me blocked and try working on something else or reread through what I'm working on to see if that knocks any thoughts loose. And if that still doesn't work, I stop writing all together and read. Usually reading helps get me back in the mood to write.
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