Her name is Katie Epstein and she also writes under the pseudonym, Katie Carys. She’s from England in the UK, but has been reading American-English books for so long it’s easier for her to write that way too. She is mostly known for the Terra Vane series, a fantasy romance mystery set in both this world and another world filled with supernaturals.
Where available:
All of my books are available to purchase via Amazon stores, but I’m hoping to expand retailer distribution to other sales channels soon.
Website: https://katiecarys.com/
What sets your books apart from all others?
I love quirky, fast pace stories that make people smile, cry, laugh, and page turn like crazy. My writing is about the plot playing out a little against the grain while hanging on to those tropes so people can still identify with the genre. I love to invest in my characters, including the bad guys, so readers become invested in the story, too.
Who is your target market, who should be reading your books?
My target market is readers over the age of eighteen due to my love of writing love scenes, battle scenes, and curse words! Also, those who love fantasy, fantasy romance, and paranormal romance.
What authors inspired you most and how so?
Nora Roberts, definitely. The woman is a legend who can turn her hand to any genre. And Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Amanda Quick became a huge influence on me and my writing. I love how both authors create original women who grow from the harsh pasts they’ve faced, and men who aren’t afraid of their love interest’s strength.
What advice do you have to offer in support of other authors?
Firstly, know whenever you first start writing, remember, you’re learning a new trade, so take it easy on yourself. You will learn. You will grow. You will evolve. Yes, take on board advice, but the beauty of writing fiction is the rules can be thrown out the window on occasion. Embrace your true voice, and never, ever give up!
What is your genre of choice and why?
I love fantasy and paranormal romance because the artistic license is unlimited. Anything goes, anything can happen, and it’s fascinating to explore myth and legend and incorporate it into the world we know today.
How’d you come about discovery of your writing talent, gift or ability?
When I was younger, I needed so desperately to get my imagination out of my head and realized in the real world. I loved how books fed my imagination, so it became a natural step to put the creations from my mind into the written word. Although, I still struggle on the technical side!
What are your future writing endeavors? What’s next on your authorship agenda?
Once all current books are reviewed and ready for paperback, I’m looking forward to concluding many of my open series, so I can move on to a few sexy supernatural cozy mysteries waiting in the wings. I’m also collating a book of poems, some of which I share on my Instagram account @authorkatie.
Is writing for you synonymous with living and breathing, or just something you do as a hobby, and how so and why?
I struggle when I’m not writing. For me, it’s an extension of my being where I can express myself in a world that tends to confine us through expectation. When writing, I feel free, happy to connect to the worlds and characters who come into the real world through my crazy mind.
What do you feel we need to hear or read more of, that is rare today in a book?
More fantasy, more diversity, and less fear of delving into the balance of the masculine and feminine sides we all possess in the sense of intuition vs logic, creativity vs strategy, healing vs fighting, etc.
What changes in the literary world would you most like to see?
More support between authors. I’ve made some amazing connections with some great authors over the years, but I’ve also come across a lot of authors who’ve made it, making it hard for those starting out by forgetting where they started. We’re all here to help each other. There is no competition in books because the more the merrier.
Indie/Self-Published Author and/or Traditionally Published? What do you favor more and why?
I personally favor Indie publishing because I feel more in control of the creative process. However, I also support the traditionally published process, especially if you’re a beginner with a great idea to share with the world.
How is your writing controversial, profound or mind boggling, or how would you describe it?
The romance. When you’re writing a book that can transcend across a few different genres, then romance becomes a stigma. Either you’re not writing enough or you’re writing too much. I learned in the end, to go with the story, and let the characters dictate where things go. I do love it when people want more romance though. I’m a sucker for it when it’s edgy and loaded with fun and tension.
What do you hope to accomplish with your literary creation? What change or enlightenment do you want to bring about in your reader if any?
I hope with every book I write, I allow people to escape into possibilities that then encourage them to take chances in their own lives. I want my readers to laugh, go on a journey, and be self-empowered by the stories that come through me from another world, I’m certain. 😂
What’s the greatest compliment that you ever received regarding your literary accomplishments and what did this remark do for you, how did it transform your life or your writing?
When a fan of the Terra Vane series got a tattoo she amazingly designed in dedication to the book, among other tattoos she’d had done of books she loved, I finally felt like an author. It also made me want to keep going and got me reinvested in a series I was beginning to lose interest in.
What’s the most memorable criticism you received regarding your literary works and how did this remark transform you as a writer or influence your writing if at all?
A kind woman from across the world left an amazing review, giving me higher stars for the story, but also instances to support her feedback of where she believed I needed an editor. This led to me saving up and getting one, and the experience and editing process taught me so much. I would never have evolved the way I had without the push to go ahead in such a direction.
If you could ask a question of your favorite author of all time, what would the question be? How would you answer that question -yourself?
I would love to ask them how they deal with the negativity and craziness that can come with the job. To answer it myself, I’d say I’d talk it out with others so it doesn’t fester. I would also suggest reading the low reviews of successful authors. Not to make someone feel better, but to realize we’re all in this together, and there’s no escaping it. Only dealing with it and letting it go so it doesn’t tarnish the beauty of reader engagement.
What have you sacrificed, if anything, to be a writer, or to write as you do? What have you gained from writing, how has it rewarded you personally?
I gave up my day job back in 2016 so I could concentrate on being an author full time. It meant hugely pulling back on finances as we lost my salary, but also had to find money to pay for editors and cover designers along the way. But I’m glad I did it. I’ve learned so much, and it’s also allowed me to work from home so I can home school my daughter. I feel like me when writing. It’s a career I love so I never feel like I’m working. Or most of the time anyway!
