Kirsty Inic is an Australian YA Fantasy author. Living in Sydney with her husband and mini-lop bunny Winston, she is a lover of tea, books, and all things magical.
Always the avid reader, she dreamed of one day writing a book of her own. A budding writer for many years, she fulfilled her publishing dream with her debut novel The Witch of Ellesmere.
When not writing, Kirsty can be found sipping on copious amounts of tea and snuggled up with a good book. If the weather is nice, you may also find her outside in the garden tending to her many plant babies.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Q&A
Q1:
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Witchof Ellesmere is my debut novel and is the first in a YA fantasy trilogy. For as long as I can remember I have always loved to write, especially stories about magic and whimsical faraway lands that are rich with magical beings and mythical creatures. When I first started drafting The Witch of Ellesmere it was these things that inspired me to create a story that would lift the reader up and transport them to somewhere magical.
Q2:
What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
There are three things I always need to have in order to stay focused while writing. My writer’s notebook which is home to the many notes I scribble down when plotting out my novel, my fantasy music playlist—I actually can’t write without listening to this—which mainly consists of acoustic versions of songs played on fantasy/sci-fi TV shows or movies, and last but not least… A huge cup of tea.
Q3:
I know you are big on plotting your novels in great detail before you
begin your first draft. What advice would you give a panster wanting to give
plotting a try?
To not feel like you have to follow what you’ve plotted as if you're ticking off a checklist. The main reason I love plotting is because it helps me to get all my thoughts and ideas down on to the page before I actually start writing. By plotting out my chapters I’m able to see where the story is headed and if there are any plot holes or pacing problems before I begin writing the first draft. It saves a lot of time in the editing stage. But in saying this there have been times where my characters have decided to take me on a different path that moves away from what I’d originally plotted and that’s okay too. This can sometimes lead to advancements in the plot or character development which can add so much more to your story.
Q4:
What, to you, are the most important elements of good writing?
For me it would have to be plot, setting and character. When all of these elements are done well it creates such an immersive and exciting story and is what makes the reader want to continue reading.
Q5: The writing process has many
stages, but the three main ones that spring to mind are – planning and
research; plotting and drafting; editing and fine tuning. Which of these
process is your favourite and why?
The editing and fine tuning stage would have to be my favourite. For me this is where I feel like the story truly comes alive. Where the words I’ve written can be weaved together to really make the reader feel or see what it is I’m trying to convey. For me, the editing stage is where the magic happens.
Q6:
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about
writing?
It’s actually a Neil Gaiman quote: “Write anyway! Fix it and make it sing on the good days.”
I can be a bit of a perfectionist, so writing my first draft is always a little daunting for me, but when I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with my writing I read this quote and know that when I edit, that’s when my writing is going to come alive.
Q7:
How do you come up with character names for your stories?
Most of the names I find come from searching Pinterest and baby name lists, but I actually love coming up with character names. Usually, this process includes a lot of research as I like my character names to have some meaning behind them. I try to find names that represents some of my characters personality traits or gives a little hint as to who they are as a person. For example, my main character, Braelyn, her name means strong, adventurous, or brave which are just some of the traits that show through her characters journey.
Q8: At what time of the day do you do
most of your writing?
Most of the time I write in the early morning—around 5am—before I have to start getting ready for work. The mornings for me are when I’m most inspired. It’s quiet, the sun is still rising and it just feels like such a magical time of the day.
Q9:
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on Book Two in The Witch of Ellesmere trilogy, which is due to be released in the first half of 2023. I can’t wait to be able to share more about it!
Q10:
What are you currently reading?
My
current read is A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown and I’m
absolutely loving it!
Goodreads
