Author Interview: Kelsey Rae Barthel
Today’s interview is with Kelsey Rae Barthel, author Beyond the Code, a fantasy novel currently funding on Inkshares.
Hi Kelsey! Please tell us about your current project: Beyond the Code is fast paced action with a dash on supernatural abilities. It follows Luna, the powerful Knight of the Iver Family, in her mission to take down the ambitious and dangerous Damon Lexus. When tragedy strikes it shakes her entire world to its core, but out of the misfortune of death will rise a new crusade that will change their world for the better.
What makes your book unique? It adds the powers and secret identity aspects of the super hero genre with a more realistic plot driver. The heroes don’t fight random crime just to be heroes. They fight to defend each other and for a need to make things better.
What attracted you to fantasy? I like to live in stories that are as far from normal as possible. I like to escape rather than relate.
Can you tell us about the process of creating your own mythology? First I come up with the initial ideas. Usually inspiration strikes when I’m watching shows or walking and listening to music. I try and write down every idea that I get and I find the ones you continue to expand on are the ones you’re most interested in.
Are there any real-life experiences that inspired elements of your story? Actually a lot of my characters were inspired by some of my very close friends. Even though the characters have grown into their own, it was my closest friends and loved ones that sparked life into them.
Do you have any other creative outlets, besides writing? I paint, draw, and play Dungeons & Dragons.
What sort of books (genre, writing style, etc.) do you enjoy reading most? I’ve really come to enjoy the first person perspective when the storyteller is really fun. As for genre, my favorite is urban fantasy.
What are your three favorite books? And, have they influenced your own work in any way? Any of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher books are great. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee. They have all taught me the importance of timing and dramatic reveals within stories. When did you realize that you wanted to be an author? I’ve always found great joy in writing but it wasn’t until I got older that my ideas really started to take a greater form. I realized that I was the happiest when I was working on my stories. It became my dream to make a living off that happiness.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers out there? Don’t think of writing as this magical journey that you can only do at the proper time, proper place, and special tools. It’s work. HARD WORK. No matter what you tell yourself there aren’t any short cuts. Just sit down and work.
Off the top of your head, give us three writing prompts: 1. A directionless young man inherits a mansion from an eccentric grandfather but it comes with some unlikely tenants. 2. A girl in a war torn country finds an alien spaceship and goes for a ride. 3. Three powerful mages have to save their world from a dark invader.
What have you learned about yourself, your book, and/or self-promotion since joining Inkshares? About myself, I’ve learnt that I’m far more resilient and able to take criticism then I thought. About my book I’ve learnt that people actually are interested in it. That’s always a good thing to learn for a writer. And what I’ve learnt about self-promotion is that when I started this I knew nothing about self-promotion. I also learnt that there is no room for too much pride. You have to be willing to pretty much beg people to support you.
Coffee or tea? COFFEEE!!!!!!!!
You’re invited to your dream dinner party. It’s a party of four. Who else is there? Nikola Tesla, Betty White, and Stan Lee.
Name three non-essential items you would want to have on a deserted island: Netflix, books I’d like to catch up on, and my laptop.
About Kelsey Rae Barthel Growing up in the extremely small town of Hay Lakes gave me a lot of free time. Making characters for role-playing and writing short stories was fun source of entertainment in the tiny town where nothing happened. It wasn’t until I grew up and moved to a city that I started to really concentrate on creating full on books and honing my work. Now here I am, trying to make it as an author. Look at that.