Friday, July 5, 2013

Five Questions with Kailin Gow

Five Questions with Kailin Gow
 
 

1. When you think of your favorite books, what is it that draws you to them and makes you want to read them over and over again?

When a moment in a book rings true with me, when there is something universal in the book that says something about the human experience, about people and society. To me, a book has to be an experience, not just something to pass the time, but a moment in time that transport you into another experience.

2. Did you consciously decide to write the genre you write, or did it choose you?

It chose me. My first books were fantasy books for middle grade girls, published about 12 years ago when 9/11 happened. The type of book I wanted to write had to be magical and inspiring, yet down-to-earth enough to speak to an audience whom I felt did not have much of a selection back then. When my audience grew from middle grade age to teen to young adult to new adult and now to adult, I continued to write with these girls (now young women) in mind.

3. If you could sit down for a drink and a chat with any writer, who would it be, and why?

The authors in the Algonquin Group, Charles Dickens, Madeline L. Engle, Shakespeare, Stephen King, and Anne Rice. Why? Because these authors were pioneers and leaders in their type of writing. They set the stage for other authors to follow. I think when an author's book is fortunate enough to become popular enough to be a cultural icon, like Harry Potter (which revitalized reading for many), then that author should embrace it and realize there will be followers. There will be many publishers who suddenly want to jump on the train to publish the same type of book. It's like the movie industry...suddenly there is a big push for superhero films or zombie films or end-of-the-world films.

What I admire about these authors is they realize they are the trendsetters and carry on.

4. When you are not writing (or reading) what is your favorite pastime?

Traveling, discovering locations for settings, trying new foods, meeting and talking to people, watching films, helping build homes, volunteering at the American Red Cross to teach first aid and cpr to save lives, and helping girls and women in self-esteem/leadership development through the Girl Scouts and other organizations I volunteer or am a sponsor.


5. At what point were you sure that your book was ready to be published, and how did you go about making it happen?

You have to trust your instincts, and you also have to understand story structure and flow. My style of writing doesn't follow any trend or formula (I don't even know the latest since I'm too busy writing what is true to the story I want to tell). For me, it's an instinct as well as having had a decade of professional writing experience in business and television. How did I make it happen? That's a long story but it's better explained here:

Learn more about Kailin Gow here:

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