Debut You is an interview feature on Our Stories Matter blog. Debut authors, who have released or have upcoming releases in 2020, are given five questions to answer about themselves and their book. Currently, the questions are the same for all authors. We hope you enjoy getting to know these new authors and can offer them your support.
Describe yourself in five words, then expound on one of them.
Creative, dedicated, driven, quiet, and deserving.
It’s taken me some time to accept that I am absolutely deserving of the things that are coming my way because of the hard work I’ve put in. I think women are often taught and expected to be humble, to accept accolades with an air of restraint and humility. When I say I’m deserving, it’s because I know how hard I’ve worked, the sacrifices I’ve made, and the obstacles I’ve had to navigate, and when I get some good news, I feel confident shouting it from the rooftops. I am deserving of all the good things coming my way.
Explain your writing procedure, such as how you come up with ideas, carve out time to write (or, if you can write anywhere at any time during the day), deal with writer’s block, or anything particular or peculiar.
When I have an idea for a story, it’s usually something I’ve had in my head for a while. I know an idea is going to stick when I can visualize scenes from the beginning, middle, and end. The details don’t have to be clear, but I have to be able to see the general arc of events.
I do like to work with an outline. It starts as a list of bullet points for each chapter detailing scenes or plot points. I also like to create profiles for each character with certain details about them: birthday, likes and dislikes, fears, favorite songs. This gives me a really firm grasp of who the characters are and how they’ll fit into the world I create. I recently discovered Save the Cat! Writes A Novel, and it has been a game-changer. It has allowed me to really streamline the drafting process by having a more comprehensive outline.
I can’t write in coffee shops! There’s just too much going on for me to concentrate. I prefer to be at home.
Balance is the key to successful living. How do you balance the act of writing with other priorities, such as your job, family or fun activities, and self-care?
I’m a fulltime writer, but this work can consume all your waking hours if you’re not careful. I try to keep a regular schedule. I try to avoid my work email on weekends. My schedule is an act of self-care. It keeps me from getting burnt out or overwhelmed, and it also allows me to make sure I have dedicated time to spend with my family.
Understanding your audience is essential. What do you know for sure about the audience you are writing for?
I know, for sure, that young Black girls want to see themselves reflected in myriad ways. I know we deserve to see ourselves as the heroes, as the chosen ones, as royalty, as adventurers. YA fantasy is a space where my readers want more representation.
Tell us about your book.
Cinderella Is Dead is the story of Sophia Grimmins, a 16-year-old girl living in the kingdom of Mersailles. It is the kingdom where Cinderella lived and died 200 years prior. Cinderella’s story has become the backbone of this society. Women are expected to be subservient; they are encouraged to be distrustful of other women, and most importantly, they are required to attend the annual ball when they turn 16 to be chosen by a suitor. Sophia is in love with her best friend, Erin, and is looking for a way to escape the King’s oppressive rule. She may have a chance to do just that, but it will require her to trust a mysterious stranger, make a perilous journey into the heart of the White Wood, and uncover long buried secrets so shocking they will shake Mersailles to its foundations. It is a story about resistance and the power of truth. Black girl magic is real, and it exists within the pages of this story.
Cinderella Is Dead (Bloomsbury, Young Adult, 400 Pages, July 7, 2020) Pre-order
Kalynn Bayron grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. She is a classically trained vocalist. When she’s not writing you can find her listening to Ella Fitzgerald on loop, attending the theater, watching scary movies, and spending time with her kids. Bayron currently lives in San Antonio, Texas with her family.
