Welcome to Writer's Window Thursday! Today we have the pleasure of K.N. Lee's company! Amateur artist, traveling enthusiast, and wannabe rock star, K.N. Lee is an American author who resides in North Carolina. She enjoys writing fantasy, poetry, horror, and twisted short stories. When she is not cooking traditional Asian meals for her friends, she travels the world and practices foreign languages. Her works include, The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld, the dark poetry collection, Wicked Webs, Empty Your Heart, and the paranormal collection of short stories, Thicker Than Blood. She lives with her two dog, Raven.
Let's Take a peek into this writer's imagination!
Tiffany: What
is the title of your book and what message does it convey to readers?
K.N. Lee: The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld is a
fantasy novel set in modern times yet utilizes high-fantasy weapons, alchemy,
science, and magic. The message that I like to convey is that even the
smallest, least intimidating, person in the room can indeed be the most
dangerous. My heroine is Koa Ryeo-won. She’s small, cute, and silly…but if you
cross her or threaten her loved ones, she’ll activate her enchanted sword and
make you pay!
Tiffany: Give
a short synopsis of your book.
K.N. Lee: What
would you do if a demon threatened your mother's life? If you're like Koa,
you'd sharpen your enchanted sword and go after him... Our world is threatened by the creatures of an alternate land called the Netherworld. Good thing Koa and the Netherworld division are there to keep the vampire population in check. Koa is a powerful half-blood with a mysterious past. Her best friend is her boss, she has a cursed mother, an enchanted sword, and an attractive human pet.
Koa also has a problem. A Netherworld serial killer, with a taste for little girls, threatens everything Koa has worked hard to protect. Not even Koa's boss, Halston can stop him. But he knows one prisoner that can. Too bad that prison is in the Netherworld.
Is Koa ready to journey to the Netherworld to release the one creature that can break her mother's curse and protect all that she holds dear?
Tiffany:Why
did you write this particular story?
K.N. Lee: This story actually began as a dream. It
then became a weekly experiment on my blog and before I knew it, I had a pretty
cool story and a few characters that I’d fallen in love with. I wanted a strong
female protagonist with incredible power and the ability to fight evil.
Tiffany: Are
there any characters in your books that are modeled from people in your daily
life?
K.N. Lee: You know what, I never really realized it,
but I think Koa may be modeled after my best friend. They’re both small, Asian,
and feisty! You wouldn’t want to test either of them!
How
do you come up with your storylines?
K.N. Lee: The first chapter came completely from a
dream that I had. Then, I sat down and let Koa take control. She surprised me
at every turn! I had a clear vision of what I wanted the end result to be and
who the characters were. I did use an outline towards the end, just to keep the
plot from straying.
Tiffany: What was the point you realized
that being an author was no longer a dream but a reality?
K.N. Lee: I’ve
always know. From the first story I wrote when I was a child, I knew that being
an author was what I wanted more than anything. Nothing gives me more joy than
retreating to the deepest depths of my imagination and creating magical worlds
and heroic characters. I think validation that I’d chosen the correct path came
when I finally let someone other than
family read my work. Their overwhelmingly positive feedback ignited something
within me. I decided to stop hiding pursue publication.
Tiffany: What
advice would you give to aspiring writers?
K.N. Lee: Never give up. Rejection is part of being a
writer. Write every day. Read. Never let your writing become a chore.
Tiffany: What
warning(s) would you give them?
K.N. Lee: Don’t let that inevitable self-doubt hinder
your progress. Push forward despite that little voice that tells you that your
work is not good. Prove to yourself that your words are worthy.
Tiffany: What
do you enjoy the most about the writing process?
K.N. Lee: I enjoy sitting at my desk and shutting out
the world. Talk about therapy for the soul! It’s like dreaming while awake,
except you have all of the control. I like the excitement of a new idea. Those
first lines are magical, and your heart soars with the joy that comes from
starting something new. The possibilities are endless!
Tiffany: How
did you go about getting your book published?
K.N. Lee: I actually have a fantasy trilogy called
Rise of the Flame that took me years to write, and I always wanted to go the
traditional route with that one. But I quickly learned that the road to finding
an agent or a publisher is a long one. So, being somewhat impatient, I decided
to self-publish The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld on Amazon. I figured that
I’d at least get my writer platform established, gain a fan base, and have
something on my resume. It’s been incredibly rewarding!
Tiffany: If
you were given one day to live, what would you do that day?
K.N. Lee: I’d spend it with my family in a Swiss
Family Robinson style tree house. We’d have yummy food, relax, and enjoy our
last time together.
Tiffany: If
you could meet one of your favorite authors, who would it be and why?
K.N. Lee: Stephen King!!!! I’ve been reading his work
since I was a child! He’s an incredible, prolific, author that I consider a
mentor.
Tiffany: Who
inspires you?
K.N. Lee: My mother! She’s an incredible woman. I’d
love to write her story someday.
Tiffany: Most
embarrassing childhood or adult moment?
K.N. Lee: Getting lost in South Korea was pretty
mortifying. I was new to the country and my Korean was not perfect by any
stretch of the imagination. I walked around begging for help, stopping
strangers, and pointing to the phrase “I am lost” in my Korean-English
phrasebook. Oh boy, that was embarrassing, but the Korean people were amongst
the friendliest I’ve ever met. A girl actually called her friend that spoke
English and got her to translate, and she bought me a cab home! Incredible!
Tiffany: If
you could go back in time, what would you say to your younger self?
K.N. Lee: Do not dwell on your failures. There is a
bright future ahead of you. Do everything within your power to reach your
goals.
Tiffany: What’s next for you?
K.N. Lee: The sequel to The Chronicles of Koa:
Netherworld is called Lyrinian Blade, and will be released early February! I’ll
also have a story, Last of the Jinn, in the fantasy anthology A World of Worlds
coming soon!
Thank you for stopping by today and letting us learn more about your book and you as an author! If you wish to learn more about K.N. Lee and her books you can find her here:
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