KRISTY NICOLLE FAQ: Creative Process

KRISTY NICOLLE FAQ:

Creative Process

1) What kind of stories do you write and what made you start writing them?

I currently write Fantasy Romance novels which interconnect to form an enormous overarching plot. I am working on the first saga- The Queens of Fantasy Saga- in a series of connected books called The Kristy Nicolle Fantasy Infiniverse. Eventually this series should span over seventy novels, shorts, novellas.

I started writing at a really young age and when I got diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and had to drop out of my Master’s degree at the University of Lincoln I decided to self-publish as it was something I could do from home and on my own schedule.

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2.     What drove you to write fantasy?

I don’t really know. When I was a child I loved fantasy, and as I’ve grown up that love has stayed with me. I feel like fantasy can take the domestic and make us see things from another point of view through the fantastical. I feel like it’s a kind of escapism you just can’t get from other genres. I also feel like fantasy is a challenge (and I love a challenge) more so than other genres because of the world building involved. That’s my favourite part of the process for sure.

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3.    Where do you write? Do you have any unique or quirky writing habits?

I ALWAYS type with sherbert lemons at hand. It’s a weird habit and if you ask my partner he’ll tell you it’s annoying because of all the wrappers littering my desk. I write predominantly in my study, however, I am also always carrying notepads and my laptop with me to coffee shops and waiting rooms, if I have a spare sec I’ll draft or brainstorm.

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4.    Do you set a plot or prefer going wherever an idea takes you?

I am a plotter to my core. I’m working on an enormous series called the Kristy Nicolle Fantasy Infiniverse, which will eventually span 70 novels that all connect, so plotting is key.

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5.    What inspired you to write Fantasy Romance? How much homework do you have to do to create the world building? 

Fantasy Romance has always been a real love of mine with writing, because there’s just no limit on what you can do with it. Fantasy is also amazing in allowing a writer to make points about reality in a glaringly obvious and fresh way. My world building requires a lot of research, in both the real world and my own lore so that all the dimensions fit together and work correctly. I did a lot of research for The Tidal Kiss Trilogy in particular, as I wanted my mermaids to be as realistic as possible and give them the lush surrounding that the readers were expecting.

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6.    What inspired you to write The Aetherial Embrace Trilogy? What can we expect from this trilogy? 

This trilogy is one of three that link in my first saga called- The Queens of Fantasy Saga. The trilogies are- The Tidal Kiss Trilogy, The Ashen Touch Trilogy, and The Aetherial Embrace Trilogy. The Aetherial Embrace trilogy is the most epic fantasy of the three in terms of genre, and also boasts the largest dimension and cast of characters. What you can expect? Lots of glitter, dragons, unicorns, angels, Fae and more. This is a world I’m super proud of because its so vast and diverse, and I can’t wait to see what readers think.

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7.     What classic aspects of mermaids did you use in the Tidal Kiss Trilogy and what makes your mermaids different?

Great question.

I feel like I’ve incorporated the classic light/dark dichotomy of mermaids into the stories quite effectively. I mean I wanted to really capture the ‘ooh aaahhh’ pretty aspect of mermaids in book one, but then book 2 goes and looks into the darker aspects of the mermaid mythos and the Psirens in the books which are the baddies.

I also try to incorporate traditional mermaid ideas such as being captured by sailors, their amazing singing voices and other themes you find in traditional mermaid myth such as luring men to their death. My mermaids are different because they can walk on land three nights a month under the full moon and with the lunar, tide connection this made utter sense to me as the writer.

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8. What are your Favorite things about writing?

I use writing as both an escape from my own chronic pain and a platform to give other sufferers a way to know they aren’t alone. I love when I’m in flow and time ceases to have any meaning, and I love creating worlds from scratch and putting different characters in whacky situations. It’s fun and challenging, and something I’ve always felt compelled to do!

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9. If you could give any new up and becoming author any advice what would it be?

Write because you love to write. Nothing else matters.

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10.    What, according to you, is the hardest thing about writing?

I think knowing when to stop tinkering and hit publish is the hardest part. You could essentially tinker and edit forever and never be sure everything is perfect, so taking that leap of faith and deciding to publish is definitely the biggest challenge for me.

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