The Literary Vixen presents…
Joining us today is Kelly Coulter! Her book, Blood Witch (Blood Witch Chronicles Book 1) released on December 29th 2021.
What inspired you to start writing?
I have always been a big reader, but more importantly, I have always had a big imagination. I’ve only just found out that it’s got a name. Maladaptive Daydreaming. I can’t actually believe people DON’T imagine entire worlds and characters and that they have conversations in your head. *So strange* But anyway, I reached a stage where I needed to get these people out of my head and into their ‘real’ homes (the pages of a book) But turns out, they just get replaced with more people and ideas; so I guess that means I will have to keep writing to give these poor colourful characters a home.
What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
When I get an idea in my head, I will research everything I can about it. And then I end up thinking things like *I swear I read a book with this character called (insert name)* then I have to stop everything to google everything about this other character. Then I think *I swear there’s a character from (insert TV show here) that looks like him. It’s a fixation and I can’t get back to writing until I have satisfied this weird need to know everything in the back of my mind that randomly pops up at the most annoying times.
How do you deal with the emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story?
The emotions don’t hit me while I am writing it. I can completely detach myself from the story, my fingers just fly over the keyboard and the story comes out. It’s when I’m reading it all back over a few days later that I think *wow that’s sad, did I really write that?* then I give myself a pat on the back because I managed to upset myself which is no easy feat (I’m a horror fan, I totally expect character deaths)
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
I’ve learnt that I have an unwavering commitment to the author world. I had books I wanted to write but never realized that I would become so completely engrossed in ‘the life’ that it’s all I want to do. Unfortunately, I have a day job and small kids that takes up most of my time, so writing is (at the moment) a side job that I do when I have a tiny amount of free time, normally school holidays is when I get most of my writing done. It’s now a goal of mine to be able to write full time, it’s surprising that my entire career goals changed so easily.
Favorite book when you were a kid?
Watership Down. I’ve read it and watched the original film so many times.
What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
J.R Ward. Her world building and characters are amazing. The dynamic between the main characters has also been something I aspire to create. I tried to keep the relationship between the Brothers in mind when I was writing the sibling bond and sarcasm between them.
Do you have any new series planned?
OMG YES! I have a whole MC series planned which I need to do more research on. As a Brit, I don’t know much about the US but it’s going to be based in Ohio (there’s a great reason why it needs to be there specifically) So far, I have four books plotted out with the titles and character arcs done. I have also arranged for the Logo to be created for my MC and I’m super excited to share it with everyone! I’m hoping the first book will be out by the end of 2023/Jan 2024.
What advice would you give to other authors?
Don’t allow yourself to be fit in a box. I’ve written PNR books, but I don’t want to be pigeon-holed into being *only* a PNR author, I have a whole host of ideas swimming around in my brain, fighting other stories to be released first, and none of them fit the genre that I originally started out in. So, if you want to, write every single genre, write whatever story you want to. I guarantee there will be people out there who will read whatever the hell you write just because it’s YOU.
What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?
I’m dedicated to the cause. I’m dedicated to getting original, amazing stories out to people. But, please be patient with me. In the past 2.5 years, I’ve been able to get out 3 books with the 4th one being written. But it’s a slow process and it’s hard. I don’t want to be forgotten, but I also cannot physically get any more books out than what I currently do. With family life, work and a deployed husband, life is stressful. But writing helps; when I’m at home, and the kids are asleep, and I’m by myself with my brain swirling and characters arguing, writing helps. So please bear with me, I’m always here, I’m just writing at the only pace I can manage.
Thank you Kelly Coulter for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out her book, Blood Witch today!
~Synopsis~
Weird. Unwanted. Orphan.
I’d been called all these things and more only to find out that I was also a blood witch – the last one.
Now everyone wanted a piece of me, and I not only had to figure out my place in this new world, but also
what I could do and who I could trust.
Bastard. Loner. Monster.
I was all these things and more. I had spent so long with my grief that it became my new normal.
The losses that I experienced created who I am now. Until her.
For her I want to be better, for her I will destroy everything and everyone in my path to keep her safe…
she’ll just have to get used to me.
Warning: This book contains scenes of abuse that some readers may find triggering. As well as sexual situations, violence, miscarriage, non-con, excessive swearing, British humour, and scenes that may offend you. Recommended for 18+
Born and raised in North London, Kelly found a love of reading at a young age, demolishing books at a rapid rate. She would often get in trouble at school for reading when she should be studying, hiding her romance novels within science texts to try and keep them hidden from teachers.
Her teachers would be shocked to know that at the ripe old age of 27, she went back to university to get her English degree, and subsequently did her teacher training. She now teaches Secondary English to fabulous students who will never read her books until they leave school and/or have reached the age of 18!
A lover of all things romance and horror, Kelly decided to combine aspects of the two to create her first book: Blood Witch. A story about a woman who finds out her secret heritage through a weird series of events – and the last of her kind. The main protagonist has to navigate a brand new reality full of back-stabbing witches and psycho Lycans out to hunt her for her power.
As someone from London, her PNR series is set around London and features a variety of slang terms that may confuse or annoy people who don’t understand the lingo, but for her first book, Kelly thought it would be a great idea to ‘write what she knows’. And so, the characters are a mix of snarky Londoners with foul language and sarcastic remarks. And despite being a lover of everything ‘Zombie’, there are unfortunately no walking dead within those pages – though there are definitely plans to write a Zom-Poc in the future!
Kelly currently resides in Oxfordshire with her awesome husband and crazy, beautiful sons who have told all of their teachers that their mum is an author…this does not bode well for those poor Primary school teachers who may ‘clutch their pearls’ in shock at some of the content. (Beware trigger warnings)
With three Paranormal Romance novels under her belt, Kelly has decided to branch out into a different genre. Her fourth novel is set in the Groveton College shared world and releases on the 6th November, featuring a range of taboo romance novels with a whole host of dark and taboo romance authors.
The Literary Vixen 