Author KC Freeman #interview

Please give a warm welcome to author KC Freeman

Tell us a bit about yourself…

Hi, I’m KC Freeman, contemporary fantasy and paranormal romance author. I live in North Carolina, USA with my husband, 5 kids, and fur baby, Harley. Before returning to my first love of writing, I did the usual – college (University of Maryland grad school), career (government mostly), marriage (married wonderful man 5 years younger so he can keep up with me), kids (5 – 2 in college now, 3 in high school).

I am grateful I finally have time to dive into all the stories bouncing around in my head since … forever.

My personal interests have always hovered within the realm of the supernatural, particularly angels and guardian angels. But there was not a lot of books to quench my interest so I decided to write them myself.

In my sparetime (ha! that’s few and far between), I like to read paranormal fiction, historical fiction, and have just started research into the ancient texts that were excluded from the Bible – there’s a lot of interesting stuff there. I also enjoy hiking but no one else in my family likes to join me so I don’t go too much. However, once a year my daughter and I participate in the Princess Mud Run (a 5K obstacle race where – true to the name – we come out covered in mud…everywhere).

My favorite authors are Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Stephen King, Anne Rice, Sarah J Maas, Cassandra Clare, Philippa Gregory, Michelle Moran, and Danielle Trussoni (who fueled my interest in angels with her book “Angelology”).

Have you always wanted to become an author?

Always. Always. Always. When I was a small child, I would peck out stories, plays, poems on my mom’s electric typewriter. Probably would have stuck with it, but was pushed to choose a college degree and career that was “safe and secure” financially so I became an accountant/auditor (hated every second).

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

I’ve always been interested in angels, particularly guardian angels. The story has banged around in my head since I was in my teens.

What are you working on now?

I’m wrapping up the edits to the third book in the GREYLYN THE GUARDIAN ANGEL series. I am also contributing a dragon shifter short story to a new anthology due to be released in the fall. However, I am most excited about my new series about a suburban mom who unsuccessfully keeps her “woo woo” psychic abilities in the closet. The best I can come up with a category to describe it would be paranormal cozy mystery.

Do you have any quirks while working?

Not really. I’ve written in my office (now claimed by my husband since COVID shutdowns so I’m now writing in a corner of the attic living room), in the car waiting on my daughter to finish swim practice, on the back patio, etc. I prefer my office and quiet (I can’t be creative if my son is playing Xbox in the next room or my husband is on a client call in the office). I do like to keep my crystals and visual inspirations nearby.

What are your hopes for the future?

My dream is to have the entire GREYLYN series in a boxset by the holidays with a couple short stories or novellas next year. However, my main focus is to make the new series, The Memoirs of a Mystic Mom, into a series where I publish two or three a year.

I also hope to travel more in the near future as I had just renewed my passport for a trip to Ireland before COVID hit.

Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?

In this career, we have a not-so-hidden syndrome we all suffer from. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. It’s called “imposter syndrome”. It is brought on completely by our subconscious negative beliefs about ourselves. Find a group/tribe of fellow authors who can support you during your bouts of doubt because it is completely a figment of your imagination. You are worthy of being successful as a writer. Trust yourself, your talent. Trust your story. Be true to your story. I found a wonderful group of supportive friends within the Scribophile community so I highly recommend the website for new and existing authors. I just wrote a post in my Facebook group, Soul Scribes about “embers in the wind”. It’s great advice for not withholding your story, your words, your fire from the world due to fear, or the monster imposter syndrome. If you do, the words, the fire suffocates and dies. Release your words, your story, your light to the world to fuel the light/fire in others. This is our purpose as authors. Not to keep something clutched tightly to ourselves but to release it so others may benefit from its energy.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

Hang tight. We had a huge delay with the release of the 2nd book in the GREYLYN series when the publisher suffered economic setbacks last year and has now closed its business. Now, with the story rights in hand, I am relaunching the first book (3/23/2021) with some tweaks and revamped cover; and the rest of the series (Book 2 – Revelations; Book 3 – Redemption) WILL BE PUBLISHED THIS YEAR. Thank you for your patience and support.