Author Interview #4 Stacia Kaywood 1 on 1 with Mark Atley

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On to the interview!

Stacia Kaywood, writer of Historical Romance

Who are you and can you tell me a little about your work? What drives you? What do you hope to accomplish? 

I am Stacia Kaywood. I write historical romance and have two novels and a short story in publication. The historical time periods I write are Regency England (1820s) and the late 1940s. My drive is fueled by the need to share my stories. There is nothing I love more than author events and getting to connect with readers and watching the excitement on their faces as they pick up your book. I hope that to make a solid fan base who can't wait for my next release and to eventually earn enough from my writing to live comfortably in retirement

How do you see your relationship with the reader?

The reader keeps me motivated and writing. Readers are the reason I continue to write and work hard to make my stories what they are. I might not always give them exactly what they want (I’ve been ignoring a fan favorite at the moment), but I want to know I’ve created fans of my work that will in turn push me to keep creating. It’s a cycle with readers being the most important part of the journey.

How do you view your characters? What has changed over time, and what has stayed the same? How do you develop complex characters? 

My characters are my muses. They’re the ones who talk to me and create the story. I hear it through their voices. Without them, there is no story. Since I started this journey, the characters have remained the driving voices of my stories and keep it so. Complex characters are fun to create. They should always have that fatal flaw that they need to overcome in order to resolve the major conflict within the story. I give them vocabulary that’s unique to them, that gives them a solid voice. Then I have to pause in my story telling to make sure I keep them on track with the flaws, else, I end up resolving the conflict too soon. I have to remind myself, they’re a blockhead, they won’t do the right thing here. It’s time to torture them a little.

What is your version of success? Has it changed during your writing journey? How so? What’s different now versus when you started?

My version of success goes a bit with the first question, but in short, making a supplemental living from writing is my goal. Hitting Amazon 100 or New York Times Bestseller would be phenomenal, but I want people to read my book because they love my writing or are interested in the story. I think when I started I was more inline with making it big and working the talk show circuit, things like that. They were a bit too pie in the sky, so my goals have been refined.

What type of reader are you? How do you view books you read, and how do they affect you and your writing?

I’ve been terrible about reading lately. I found with all my projects, time is fleeting. But when I read a book with all the time available to me, I will consume it in one to two days. I love reading books quickly. When I read in my genre, I find inspiration in their words, especially new vocabulary to spice up my prose. They give me ideas for working in conflict and what other readers want in a novel. I firmly believe in the adage that to write, you must read. 

How do you find readers? What works and hasn’t worked for you? What resonates with you when readers share thoughts about your work? And where do you see yourself in the writing community and publishing world?

I find readers just about anywhere. People I work with, social media, word of mouth, but my favorite place to connect with readers are author fairs. I love meeting new people who are there because they love books. When readers share their thoughts with me, I look for what I am doing right and what they love. It helps me to evaluate my writing and to know I am on the right track with a series. I see myself in the writing community as a supportive presence. I love cheering on other authors and learning from them as well. I am a blip in the publishing world, but happy to be a part of it. 

—Tell me something interesting about yourself that these questions stimulated thought about. And tell me something you want others to know. 

I have only been seriously writing since 2020 with the lockdowns. While I always had an interest in writing and would create short stories, I never thought about writing an entire novel until the world shut down and I needed an outlet. I’ve been hooked ever since. I find inspiration for my stories in odd places. A painting, a photograph, a social media post, but I think my favorite inspiration came when I was given a challenge to write a short story in a month for an anthology. I was driving home and passed by Union Station in Kansas City. It’s a gorgeous building with a fascinating history that was nearly lost until it was restored in the 90s. But the story came like this. I saw the building and pictured a bench at the end of WWII. I saw a young woman, victory rolls in her hair and a smart suit with a suitcase filled with magazines of Hollywood stars. In twenty minutes, I had the entire story written in my head, and it is one of my favorites. My only complaint is the readers, who ask: when are you going to write Edward and Lucielle’s story? You know you did something right when they can’t get enough of the story!

How did you discover Historical Romance? What drew you into this particular genre? What was your introduction and what is the biggest value in it for you?

I discovered Historical Romance from the late and talented Julie Garwood when I was at college, because frankly, I wanted to read something other than textbooks. The Highland Lairds and Laird Fiance series had me dreaming of Scottish hunks in kilts. Then came her Regency series followed by those of Kleypas, Chase, and Quinn and honestly, I fell in love with the worlds they created. Dashing heroes, breathtaking scenery, and a life so far removed from my own. To me it's fantasy in a different name that promises both escape and a happily ever afters. I need that happy ending. I hate when people have heartache and death. I want that promise that the hero and heroine (or heros as it may be) find the happiness we all deserve. 

What type of research is necessary to write about WWII? How do you do your research? What is the hardest aspect of writing historical fiction? What’s the hardest part of Romance? What’s the easiest thing about combining both together?

To make it believable, I have to research every ounce of everyday life during WWII. Froom clothing, to etymology of words, to which unit from which states were on what battlefield and when. It is heaps of information that is often left out in the story, but informs the characters and plot. It has to feel like 1945 when you're reading the story. So the setting, the characterization, the names, the locations all have to reflect the time period. Most of my research is online. YouTube is often a source, especially if I want to watch old reels or pictures, there are a lot of military history sites to give me insight into the units and details from patches etc. So the hardest part has to be the research. I can't simply say they did X, without knowing how plausible it is. Information that is innate in contemporary romance because you are living it, all factors down to research with historical. Personal stories have informed a lot of the decisions I make about my characters, so I read a lot about German war brides while writing Bathed in Moonlight. The romance is actually my favorite part and the easiest if I am not having to shove it into a historical plot. For instance, American soldiers weren't allowed to marry German brides until 1946, which created a huge plot hole in my story originally. The easiest part of combining the history and romance, is watching the story unfold as the characters lend me their voices. While the setting and situations are different, inherently, we are the same as generations past with the same desires and wants. Having my characters fall in love is the sweetest part of my job, but don't worry. Like a true author, I punish them until they deserve their happy ever after.

I’m always interested in the person I’m talking to. What do your coworkers, family, and friends think of your writing? What are you doing when you are not living in that world?

Some co-workers love what I write, others let's just say are not as excited. My family is very supportive, but my daughter complains about the cover for Bathed in Moonlight, she is not a fan of the classic clutch pose with a Fabio-esque hero. My mother is actually one of my alpha readers, but if you think she goes easy on me, you'd be mistaken. She is actually one of my most valued readers because of how constructive she can be with her criticism. My father buys all my books and lugs them around the world when my parents go on vacation, leaving them in the libraries of various cruise ships. My books are floating on ships in the North Sea, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and very soon in the Caribbean. My friends are also wonderful, reading and cheering me on. When I am not in the world as Stacia Kaywood, I live as my secret identity as a German teacher.

Thank you for sharing, Stacia.

Author Blurb - Stacia Kaywood opens fascinating windows to the past through her enchanting historical romances like the World War II era Bathed in Moonlight. Her latest release is Stealing Annabelle, the first book in the Regency series Belles and Rogues. Viscount Linscott has thirty days to find a bride and secure his fortune, but love is a four letter word for fools. He didn’t account for a golden eyed debutante with a deranged cat. Annabelle Greene is a reluctant debutante far more interested in saving animals than hunting down a suitable match, but when opportunity crashes into her room in the middle of the night, perhaps marriage might not be so inconvenient afterall. For those interested in shorter stories featuring Kansas City landmarks, her work is available in A Kansas City Story, volume two titled “Of Dreams and Crossroads”, while “Harvey’s Girl” will be part of the Woodneath Press Anthology Heart of America: Kansas City Inspired Short Stories releasing this April. You can connect with Stacia through almost all social media platforms or through her website: https://staciakaywood.com/.

Mark Atley is an author known for writing crime fiction. His works include "Too Late to Say Goodbye," "Trouble Weighs a Ton," and "The Olympian." Atley has been recognized for his storytelling through complex characters, engaging dialogue, and narratives centered around crime themes. He is also a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW).

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