Thursday Writer's Window - Kyra Dune

Welcome to Writer's Window!

 

As a writer, I am always fascinated by other writer's work and how they craft a particular story. Today, I will be spotlighting Kyra Dune and her book "Shadow of the Dragon". Kyra Dune was born in Oklahoma, but spent most of her life travelling with her family. She is the author of more than a dozen fantasy novels, including: Shadow of the Dragon, Elfblood, and Firebrand. As a child, her favorite stories were those that told of ordinary children being whisked away to magical lands. She has yet to find her own secret wardrobe or rabbit hole, but she hasn’t given up the search. You never know what might be waiting over the next rainbow. 

Recently Kyra consented to an interview about her book and her life as a writer. Please, join me now as I take a peek into this author's imagination window and get to know her a bit more!

 

Tiffany: Your current work is "Shadow of the Dragon", what message does this particular book convey to your readers?

Kyra: The title of the book is Shadow Of The Dragon and the core message of the story is how unhealthy it is to let one moment in time define who you are and how you relate to other people.

 

Tiffany: Will you give a short synopsis of your book?

Kyra: After a dragon attacks their village, two siblings must strike out across the frozen countryside to find safety. But what they find is much more than they bargained for.

 Tiffany: Why did you write this particular story?

 

Kyra: That's kind of a hard question to answer. I guess I wrote because it was in my head and it kind of demanded to be written. I really like Micayta's character. She's complicated and has a tendency to come off as a lot more cold hearted than she actually is.

 Tiffany: I often model characters or situations after true events. Are there any characters in your books that are modeled from people in your daily life?

 

Kyra: I think all my characters have bits and pieces of people I've known, and bits and pieces of myself as well, but I wouldn't say any of them are really modeled after certain people.

 Tiffany: Tell me Kyra, how do you come up with your story lines?

 

Kyra: I don't know. The stories come to me and I write them. I don't consciously think about it.

 

Tiffany: When was the point you realized that being an author was no longer a dream but a reality?

Kyra: When my first novel, Flight Of Dragons, was accepted for publication. I was so excited, I laughed, I cried, I jumped around. There's no feeling like having your dream come true. It was a powerful moment.

 Tiffany: Writing is such a personal experience and advice is sometimes lacking for a young writer. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

 

Kyra: Don't give up. Even if it seems like it's never going to happen for you. It's better to try and fail then to stop trying and have to spend the rest of your life wondering what if.

Tiffany: What do you enjoy the most about the writing process?

Kyra: I love everything about writing. Well, okay, almost everything. Editing can get a little tedious. But for the most it's an awesome job. What could be more fun than getting to spend all day talking to your imaginary friends and getting paid for it?

 

Tiffany: I have found that the Publishing world is often a scary and confusing place for a new author. What warning(s) would you give young writers/authors?

Kyra: Do your research. If you're going to submit to a traditional publisher, make sure you talk to other writers who've worked with them. Also, always have somebody else read your book whether you're submitting it to a publisher or self-publishing. Every book needs a fresh set of eyes.

 Tiffany: Like I said before, the publishing world can be very confusing, and there are so many new ways to be published now. How did you go about getting your book published?

 

Kyra: I did a little research and found a small press publisher who didn't require an agent for submissions. I sent Shadow Of The Dragon in and they picked it right up. That was pretty cool. I actually work with three separate small press publications and I have great relationships with all of them. But recently I've decided to branch out into self-publishing, so we'll see how that goes.

 Tiffany: Ok, enough with the "work" questions! Let's get creative and personal! If you were given one day to live, what would you do that day?

 

Kyra: I would spend it on the beach in Alabama. It's so pretty there. Especially when it's a cool, gray day and a storm is moving in over the water. I'd have the beach all to myself, no company but the seagulls. I would just stand there and listen to the waves and let the wind blow through my hair. It's the kind of place that makes you really think about how big everything is and how small you are.

Tiffany: If you could meet one of your favorite authors, who would it be and why?

 

Kyra: Stephen King. I love his work. His characters are so real and his writing so honest. He's fearless when it comes to storytelling. Meeting him would be amazing.

 Tiffany: So many authors have muses or people that inspire them. Who inspires you?

 

Kyra: My dad. He always taught me to chase my dreams and never give up. I wouldn't be where I am now if not for his encouragement. He made me feel like I could do anything. Whenever I get discouraged, I think of him and it keeps me going.

 

Tiffany: Kyra, if you could go back in time, what would you say to your younger self?

Kyra: Don't spend so much time stressing out about whether or not you'll ever be a 'real writer'. If you write you're a writer, period. Someday you'll get exactly where you want to go. Try to enjoy the journey a little more instead of obsessing about the destination.

 Tiffany: Writer's always have lots of irons in the fire. Can you tell us, what’s next for you?

 Kyra: Lots of writing. I'm working on five projects right now, so I'm very busy. I have several books coming out this year, some traditionally published and some self published. I've recently gotten a small bookstore to take some of my paperbacks and that's really cool. It's amazing to see your books on the shelf of an actual bookstore. And I'm hoping to get a table at my very first convention this year. I have my fingers crossed on that one. It's going to be a good year.

Best of Luck Kyra!  Thank you for letting your imaginative process be showcased today.


To learn more about Kyra Dune you can -
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