An interview with Kathryn Troy
I’m a history professor by day, a novelist by night. I like to write what I read – fantasy, romantic fantasy, gothic fiction, historical fiction, paranormal, horror, and weird fiction. Horror cinema and horticulture are my other passions. When I’m not reading or writing or teaching, I’m gaming, traveling, baking, or adding some new weird creepy cool thing to my art collection. I’m a Long Island native with one husband, two children, and three rats.
What is your favourite dragon in literature?
The one in Into the Land of the Unicorns, by Bruce Coville, that tells Cara the truth about her family.
I’m not going to be reviewing your newest novel, but from your other published novels, is there one that is your own personal favourite?
Gosh, I love them all. I have a soft spot for my Frostbite series, because those are the characters I was able to put on the page first, and their struggles make me cry.
Everyone has a ‘first novel’, even if many of them are a rough draft relegated to the bottom and back of your desk drawer (or your external harddrive!). Have you been able to reshape yours, or have you abandoned it for good?
Yep. It’s A Vision in Crimson, the first book in my Frostbite series, which is being re-released by City Owl Press in 2024. The most exciting part is getting a new cover. I love book covers.
Over the years, what would you say has improved significantly in your writing?
The sharpness of my writing. In my earliest drafts, I used a lot of hedges in dialogue. I’ve gotten better at getting right to the point.
Some authors are able to pump out a novel a year and still be filled with inspiration. Is this the case for you, or do you like to let an idea percolate for a couple of years in order to get a beautiful novel?
Good question. A bit of both, actually. Ideally I’d like to do a book a year to keep myself active and relevant, but some books just take longer. So self-imposed deadlines are good, but I’ve learned to give myself a little grace and patience if it will take me a bit longer to get the best final product.
I have heard of writers that could only write in one place – then that cafe closed down and they could no longer write! Where do you find yourself writing most often, and on what medium (pen/paper or digital)?
I can write anywhere, but it needs to be quiet. I like my dining table best. I have plenty of room, and all I can hear is the ticking of the cuckoo clock on the wall. Pen and paper, all the way.
Before going on to hire an editor, most authors use beta-readers. How do you recruit your beta-readers, and choose an editor?
My husband is my first and best beta. We read a lot of the same books and have the same literary aesthetic in many ways, so I always think of his opinion as the one that counts most, since it’s like the me outside of me. My other betas I’ve gathered from my Goodreads and Facebook groups, and they are wonderful and reliable.
I walk past bookshops and am drawn in by the smell of the books – ebooks simply don’t have the same attraction for me. Does this happen to you, and do you have a favourite bookshop? Or perhaps you are an e-reader fan… where do you source most of your material from?
I do love physical books, but in recent years my vestibular issues make standard print too small for me to read for extended periods. So I’ve learned to accept e-books and their wider accessibility.
I used to find myself buying books in only one genre (fantasy) before I started writing this blog. What is your favourite genre, and have your tastes changed over time?
Oof no I read in so many genres, and my tastes have only been cemented over time. Fantasy, Gothic, Horror, Mystery, Historical genre, Weird Fiction. I really am not a fan of contemporary fiction, and I’m done reading literary fiction since it’s no longer school-assigned reading 🙂 I will read the occasional biopic/cultural piece. My favorite is Lipstick Jihad.
Social media is a big thing, much to my disgust! I never have enough time myself to do what I feel is a good job. What do you do?
I agree with you whole-heartedly. I prefer to live my real life. But it’s a part of life now. I use mostly Facebook, Goodreads, and Instagram. I’m proud to say I’ve never tweeted.
It is not the funnest part for me, because it means more screen-time, which is a strain on my eyes and brain. But I like Instagram best because I am a visual creature, and aside from bookish things, I mainly follow artists.
Answering interview questions can often take a long time! Tell me, are you ever tempted to recycle your answers from one to the next?
Nah. I like to keep it fresh. And you never know- sometimes depending on my mood, the answers could change 0_0
You can find Kathryn on a range of platforms, including:
The Shadow of Theron: The powers of old are fading. A new Age is dawning.
Holy relics are all that remain of Theron’s sacred legend. Now those relics, the enchanted weapons forged by the Three-Faced Goddess to help Theron defeat the wicked Sorcerer Argoss, are disappearing.
Lysandro knows the village magistrate Marek is responsible, and he searches for proof disguised as the masked protector the Shadow of Theron. But when Marek wounds him with an accursed sword that shouldn’t exist, Lysandro must find a way to stop Marek from gaining any more artifacts created by the Goddess or her nemesis. The arrival of the beautiful newcomer Seraphine, with secrets of her own, only escalates their rivalry.
As the feud between Lysandro and Marek throws Lighura into chaos, a pair of priestesses seeks to recover the relics and return them to safekeeping. But the stones warn that Argoss is returning, and they must race to retrieve Theron’s most powerful weapon. But as they risk their lives for a legend, only one thing is certain. The three temples to the Goddess have been keeping secrets: not just from the faithful, but from each other.
Wheel of Time readers and fans of Sarah Maas, Saladin Ahmed, and Trudy Canavan will delight in this fantasy adventure duology infused with romance.
Purchase The Shadow of Theron here:
