#16 Tyler Kirk 1 on 1 with Mark Atley

Tyler Kirk is an author based in Spokane, Washington, whose work explores the complexities of human emotion, moral dilemmas, and the unpredictable nature of life. 

Hello everyone, and welcome to "1 on 1 with Me!" In this series, I highlight a new author and engage in a thoughtful conversation about who they are, what they care about, and their perspectives on various topics. I start with standard questions and then move into tailored follow-ups based on their responses.

I find the format to be conversational, and I truly enjoy it. My primary focus is to highlight the author I am interviewing.

Who am I? I am an author known for creating crime fiction, with a particular focus on complex characters, engaging dialogue, and narratives centered around crime themes. I genuinely enjoy listening to people and letting them share their stories.

If you are interested in being a guest, please reach out to me on social media or email me with the subject line: "Author Interview."

This initiative is my way of giving back to the writing community. The guests you’ll hear from in these interviews come from diverse backgrounds, and they may or may not be familiar voices in the writing community. That’s the beauty of this platform on Substack—it's free!

My values

• —Everyone matters. 

• —Be positive. 

• —Gratitude in everything. 

• —Default action is compassion.

• —Empathy. Always. 

• —Motivations matter

• —Fight for Resolution

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On to the interview!

Tyler Kirk is an author based in Spokane, Washington, whose work explores the complexities of human emotion, moral dilemmas, and the unpredictable nature of life. 

Who are you and can you tell me a little about your work?

I’m Tyler Kirk, an author based in Spokane, Washington. My work is shaped by a deep connection to the Pacific Northwest and a fascination with storytelling that blends personal experience with universal themes. I explore topics such as moral ambiguity or choice and consequence, weaving these threads into narratives that resonate with readers.

What drives you?

What drives me is the power of words to evoke emotion and provoke thought. I believe in the transformative potential of stories—whether they challenge assumptions, provide an escape, or offer new perspectives. Writing allows me to explore the complexities of the human experience and share that journey with others. It’s a way to make sense of the world and, in doing so, connect with those who may find meaning in the same words.

What do you hope to accomplish?

Ultimately, my goal is to write stories that linger in the minds of readers long after they’ve turned the last page. I want to spark conversations, offer insight, and create a space where readers can see themselves in the characters I bring to life. Whether through fiction or nonfiction, I hope my work encourages reflection and provides a sense of belonging, reminding people they are not alone in their thoughts and experiences.

How do you see your relationship with the reader?

I see my relationship with the reader as a conversation—one that transcends the pages of my books. When I write, I’m creating a world, but the reader brings their own experiences, emotions, and perspectives to the story, making it unique to them. It’s a symbiotic relationship: I offer the characters, the themes, and the narrative, but the reader contributes their own interpretation and emotional journey. In a way, I view the reader as a co-creator. Their engagement with the work, their reactions, and even the questions they may ask themselves long after reading are just as important as the words I’ve written.

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

I view my characters as living, breathing entities—individuals with their own desires, fears, and motivations. They start on the page as my creation, but over time, they begin to feel more like companions, often surprising me with their decisions and actions. As an author, I’ve learned to give them space to grow, to let them evolve organically in response to the plot and their experiences. The way they change reflects not just the story’s events but the inner workings of their minds, their values, and their ability to confront conflict.

What has changed for me is my understanding of how characters truly come to life. Early on, I might have treated them more as tools for the story, but now, I see them as integral to the heart of what I’m trying to convey. What has stayed the same, though, is my desire to create characters who feel authentic. Whether they’re flawed or heroic, they must feel real and relatable, even if their circumstances are extraordinary.

Developing complex characters is a delicate balancing act. I begin with their core traits—what they value, what they fear, and what drives them. From there, I layer in contradictions. Complexity comes from tension, so I give them internal struggles that mirror the external conflicts they face. They have weaknesses as much as strengths, and their choices reflect that tension. I also place them in morally gray situations, where their decisions aren’t easily categorized as right or wrong. In the end, my goal is to craft characters who feel like people, not just figures on the page. They should challenge the reader, invite empathy, and reflect the complexity of the human experience.

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 has definitely evolved throughout my writing journey. When I first started, success meant seeing my name on a book cover, getting published, and having people read my work. As I've written more, though, my idea of success has shifted. It’s about the impact my stories have on readers. I measure success by the conversations my books spark, the emotions they stir, and the connections they foster between people. Another change is how I view the creative process. Early on, I focused a lot on achieving a "perfect" outcome—writing something that would impress others or meet certain expectations. Over time, I’ve come to appreciate the journey of writing itself. Success now includes the satisfaction of personal growth as a writer, the joy of experimenting with new ideas, and the ongoing challenge of improving my craft.

What’s different now is that I’ve learned to focus more on the intrinsic rewards of writing—like the satisfaction of creating something meaningful, the excitement of a new idea, or the feeling of a story coming to life. I’ve come to realize that success isn’t a destination but a continuous journey.  

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

I’m a deeply engaged reader—one who doesn’t just read for entertainment, but for the experience and insight it offers. I gravitate toward books that challenge me, that make me think and feel in new ways. Whether it's a complex character, an intricate world-building structure, or a theme that resonates with me, I appreciate books that offer depth and complexity. I’m the type of reader who reads between the lines, looking for subtle nuances and layers that give a story richness.  

As for how reading affects my own writing, it’s immeasurable. I see every book as a conversation with the author, and through that conversation, I constantly learn and evolve as a writer. Whether it’s a storytelling technique I admire or an idea that sparks my imagination, the books I read influence my voice and the way I approach my own work. I think the more I read, the more I understand how to craft stories that balance emotion, theme, and character.   

How do you find readers? What works and hasn’t worked for you?

Finding readers is a combination of reaching out and letting my work speak for itself. For me, it’s been a balance between direct engagement and letting word-of-mouth do its magic. Early on, I focused a lot on traditional marketing, like social media campaigns and trying to get noticed by book bloggers or reviewers. Some of it worked—certain platforms allowed me to connect with readers who shared my passion for the themes I explore, but I’ve learned that authenticity goes a long way. Readers can tell when you’re genuinely invested in your work and in them, and that personal connection often results in a stronger, longer-lasting relationship.  

What hasn’t worked as well is trying to fit into overly broad or generic marketing approaches that don’t speak to my specific audience. 

What resonates with you when readers share thoughts about your work?

When readers share their thoughts, I’m especially moved by moments when they express how my work made them feel seen or understood. It’s those deep, personal reactions that make everything worth it—when someone tells me a character reminded them of themselves, or that a theme in my story resonated with their own life. That’s when I realize that, beyond entertainment, my work has sparked something meaningful in their lives.

Where do you see yourself in the writing community and publishing world?

I see myself as part of a larger community of writers who are constantly learning and growing. The writing community, especially through platforms like social media, writing groups, and events, has become an invaluable source of support and inspiration. It’s not just about the books we create, but about the shared experience of navigating the challenges of writing, publishing, and connecting with readers. I see myself contributing to that community by offering my perspective, learning from others, and, hopefully, offering guidance to newer writers along the way.

Who inspired you to write? Where did that drive originate, and how did you or someone you love nurture that gift to develop into the person you are today?

This set of questions has made me reflect on how much of writing is a continuous process of discovery—not just about characters and stories, but about myself as a writer. One interesting thing I’ve realized is how much I’ve grown in my understanding of both writing and reading.  

Something I’d want others to know is that writing isn’t just about inspiration or raw talent—it’s about persistence and vulnerability. The process can feel overwhelming and even discouraging at times, but it’s the moments of pushing through that make it rewarding. And the real magic happens when you allow yourself to be vulnerable in your writing, when you don’t hold back your emotions or fears, and when you let your characters truly take on a life of their own. The more honest and raw you can be with your words, the more your readers will connect with them.  

I’ve always been inspired to write by the people and stories around me. Maybe it was a teacher who saw something in me early on, or a parent who’d read to me as a kid, filling my head with wild tales. I think the drive came from this itch I’ve always had to make sense of the world, to pin down my thoughts and feelings before they slip away. It might’ve started with scribbling in journals or daydreaming stories when life got messy, writing was my way of taking control, you know? As for nurturing it, I think it came down to my own relentless curiosity, a need to dig into every question, every feeling, until I could pin it to the page. That’s what molded me into who I am today: someone who writes to wrestle with the chaos, to bridge the gap between me and the world, and maybe, just maybe, to make something that sticks with someone else.

I believe the previous question is related to this one, as it touches on the emotions and complex relationships of characters. Where does this fascination with such subjects stem from? What excites you about them? In the real world, how do you see the study and application of the human condition affecting your life? How do you implement the lessons learned from your writing?

My fascination with emotions and the tangled web of relationships probably comes from the same place as my writing itself, that relentless curiosity I’ve always had. I’ve never been able to look at someone and not wonder what’s churning beneath the surface: what they’re afraid of, what keeps them up at night, or why they love the way they do. It’s like I’m drawn to the messiness of it all, the way people can be so contradictory and still make sense in their own heads. What excites me is peeling back those layers, finding the raw, unpolished truth in a character’s joy or their heartbreak, and seeing how they stumble through connections that shape them, for better or worse. In the real world, this obsession with the human condition is like a lens I can’t take off. It’s not always pretty, but it keeps me grounded, and maybe even makes me a little better at being human.

What aspects of writing do you find challenging? How does your creative process evolve from one book to the next? In what areas do you feel you have shortcomings?

Writing always comes natural to me, like breathing—it just flows when I let it. But that doesn’t mean it’s all smooth sailing. The toughest part is when I’ve got too many ideas crashing around in my head, and I have to pick one to chase without losing the others. Getting the emotions to land just right can trip me up too, I want them to hit deep and true without feeling overdone, and finding that sweet spot takes some wrestling. Then there’s the nagging question of whether it’s as clear to everyone else as it is to me, which can creep in and make me second-guess. 

My creative process? It shifts with every book. The first one was probably a chaotic sprint, fueled by that relentless curiosity and a need to prove I could do it. I’d write in bursts, wherever and whenever the muse hit. But with each new story, I’ve gotten a little more deliberate. Maybe now I sketch out the characters first, letting them simmer in my head before I dive in, or I lean harder on routines to keep the momentum going. It’s less about chasing inspiration and more about showing up, even when it’s messy. Each book teaches me something new. Whether it be how to pace the story or how to trust the story. 

Shortcomings? Oh, I’ve got plenty. I second-guess myself too much. Overthinking’s my biggest issue. It comes so easy to me, like a reflex I can’t shake. I’ll chew on every line until I’m stuck, paralyzed by my own head. My plots can twist into knots because I’m so deep in the characters’ minds that I lose the bigger picture. And pacing? That’s a struggle too, I’ll stretch out the quiet moments too long or speed through the big ones before they’ve had room to breathe. It’s maddening sometimes, knowing this thing I love doesn’t always bend to my will.

Let’s end on a positive note. How do those perceived faults contribute to your unique voice? How have you embraced and used them in your writing?

The flaws are what make me who I am though. That overthinking—it means I dig deep, maybe deeper than I need to, and it gives my characters this raw, messy humanity that feels real. The tangled plots? They mirror life’s chaos, and I’ve learned to lean into that, letting the story twist in ways that surprise even me. And the pacing quirks—those slow, quiet stretches let me breathe into the emotions, making the payoffs hit harder when they land. I’ve stopped fighting these faults and started wielding them. They’re not polished, sure, but they’re honest, and that’s what I hang my hat on. Embracing them has let me write stories that don’t just sit pretty, they wrestle, they linger, and they stick with you, flaws and all.

I’ve embraced them by owning them, not fighting them. I let the overthinking fuel depth, steering it to sharpen the edges of my words instead of stalling out. I lean into the chaos of my plots, trusting they’ll find their own weird rhythm. And the pacing? I’ve learned to use it like a heartbeat. Slow when it needs to thrum, fast when it’s got to race.These quirks don’t make my writing perfect, but they make it mine. Unpolished, human, and maybe a little stubborn. They’re how I leave a mark that’s distinct, something that sticks with you because it’s not afraid to be flawed.

Tyler Kirk is an author based in Spokane, Washington, whose work explores the complexities of human emotion, moral dilemmas, and the unpredictable nature of life. Drawing deep inspiration from the Pacific Northwest, his stories paint both the beauty and challenges of the world around us. Tyler’s most recent work, The Vitamin Kid, is the culmination of a manuscript his great-grandfather began writing before World War II interrupted his creative journey. After inheriting the manuscript, Tyler made a promise to finish the story and honor his great-grandfather’s legacy by bringing the book to life. Set in 1930s Hollywood, The Vitamin Kid offers readers an authentic, immersive experience of the time.

In addition, Tyler is the author of Children of Strife, a supernatural gothic horror fantasy series. The first book, The Arsonist, is already available, and with its anniversary approaching this May, fans can expect something special to celebrate the occasion.

For the latest updates on Tyler’s projects and upcoming releases, connect with him on Instagram and X/Twitter.

Mark Atley is known for writing crime fiction, with his works often characterized by complex characters, engaging dialogue, and narratives that build tension towards explosive climaxes.

Atley's approach to writing often involves creating intricate plots where characters' histories and motives are deeply interwoven, providing readers with both entertainment and a commentary on crime and morality. His work has been featured on platforms like Audible for audiobooks, indicating a broad reach in the crime fiction genre.

Mark Atley also engages with his audience through social media, where he can be followed for updates on new releases and insights into his writing process.