Welcome Author Katie L. Carroll!

We are 1/3rd of the way through this crazy freight train! This week, we're highlighting author Katie L. Carroll who write the young adult fantasy novel Elixir Bound. The book itself is an homage to Katie's sister, and just this whole interview about made me cry in my coffee. So totally go read it. /S.

Fill in the blank: If you like ________, you'll love my book.

If you like Kristin’s Cashore’s GRACELING, you'll love my book.

Be completely honest: how much of your main character is really you?

Oh, way more than I’d like to admit. I originally started writing ELIXIR BOUND with a different main character, but Katora just butted herself in and was somuch like me. But she’s not really me, just a fictionalized character that’s similar to me in some ways.

Why did you write your book?

I wrote ELIXIR BOUND after my little sister, Kylene, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 16. She loved the Harry Potter books and shared them (forced them on!) as many people as she could. When I told my dad I was going to be a writer instead of a physical therapist (I was 19 and in college studying to become a physical therapist), he was like, “Why don’t you write a story for Kylene then.” So I did, but it ended up being more about me than her I think. But that’s okay, it was my mourning process. I’m working on a second Elixir book, and a character inspired by Kylene is one of
the POV characters.

Why did you choose to go indie?

The indie route kind of chose me. I did originally pitch the story to big house publishers (back before everyone had agents and probably before the story was ready to be pitched). I got some nibbles but nothing came of those early submissions. I put the story away for awhile, but couldn’t let it go. It was too important to me, so I got a professional critique on it and did a big rewrite. I never really wanted to self-pub it and came across MuseItUp Publishing, which had been getting some good buzz, and got the ever important “Yes!”

What's the worst part about being an indie author?

Though the stigma of being an indie author has really dissipated over the last several years, it’s still hard to feel legitimate sometimes. For me, I think this feeling is largely more internal than external. But not feeling legit on the inside shows on the outside, which I think subconsciously influences how others in the publishing biz can treat indie authors. That and getting the word out about your book, though this is a struggle for 99% of authors.

What's the best part about being an indie author?

The indie community. For the most part, we are very supportive of each other. I’ve “met” (most of my interactions with other indie authors is online) so many great indie authors since ELIXIR BOUND came out. I feel like I have my very own little tribe.

What is the hardest part about publishing (to include writing, editing, marketing, branding,
etc)?

I have to say marketing. Writers are creative people; the writing and editing can be hard at times but it’s a labor of love. That’s the part that gives us the rush, the creating and fixing, making magic
out of words. To me marketing feels like a terribly uncomfortable combination of bragging and begging. “Look at me, I wrote a book and published it. I’m awesome and my book is awesome! Now please, please, please go out and buy it.”

Ugh…

How do you relax?

Being a work at home mom, I mostly relax with my kiddos (a 3-year-old boy and a 4-month-old baby boy). So that means sneaking in some reading time when I can, going for walks and playing outside, and in the evening watching TV programs with the hubby (because that’s about all we have the energy to do).

What is your favorite book?

Oh boy, just one favorite book. If I had to pick only one book, I’d go with THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson. It’s about a 16-year-old girl whose 19-year-old sister has just unexpectedly passed away, so you can see why it would touch a nerve with me. I feel like the author took my own thoughts and feelings about my sister’s death and put them in a book, but in a much more eloquent and beautiful way than I ever could. She expressed feelings through her characters that I didn’t even know I had until I read the book. A truly wonderful book even if you haven’t lost a sister.

What advice would you give to other writers?

Keep writing and reading and living. And don’t beat yourself up too much. I try to be kind to my writer self, but I don’t always succeed, especially when I haven’t been writing as much as I think I
should be or when my book doesn’t seem to be selling as many copies as I’d like to.