Kim Richardson - Writing Award-Winning Fantasy
Kim Richardson fell in love with fantasy when she first read The Hobbit in Grade 5. She started writing her own stories about heroes and quests packed with action, adventure and magic and today she is an award-winning author. As our Author of the Day, Richardson tells us more about her Divided Realms series, her writing habits and what she is working on right now.
Give us a short introduction to what Steel Maiden is about.
The book revolves around the story of young woman named Elena, and what she must overcome as a high priest's champion in The Great Race, the deadliest race in the realms. As she discovers more about her own secrets, she realizes the race's mysterious truth. It is up to her to stop the evil that looms over her homeland before it becomes too strong and consumes them all.
Why fantasy? What is it about the genre that draws you?
I fell in love with the fantasy genre when I read The Hobbit in grade 5. I love coming of age stories, stories about heroes and quests packed with action and adventure and magic.
What inspired the Divided Realms series?
The idea of the series came to me when I started watching Vikings on television. The Vikings had Shield Maidens, women who fought alongside the men. They were brutal, fearless, and I liked that about the show. So, I started working on the idea of having a strong female lead, skilled with a blade but also magical in some way.
Steel Maiden has been compared to Throne of Glass. Are you a fan?
Yes. I’ve read and loved The Throne of Glass series. Great books.
Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?
I studied 3D Animation and worked in Visual Effects for fifteen years before I started to write full time.
How do you balance all of the demands of a successful writing career (writing, appearances, etc.) and the myriad personal life demands?
One day at a time. Writing is hard work, harder with your everyday distractions, but you just had to soldier on.
If you lived in the world of your series, who do you think you would be?
Probably Elena.
Do you have any interesting writing habits, what's your average writing day like?
I write every day. I wake up in the morning and write throughout the day until I reach my goal of 2000 words.
What are you working on right now?
I’m working on the second draft of The Helm of Darkness, Book 2 in the Horizon Chronicles. A YA Paranormal series.
Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?
They can find me on my facebook Author Page here: https://www.facebook.com/KRAuthorPage
