Author Interview: Kalynn Bayron

Back with another interview for you today, and it’s an exciting one! Cinderella is Dead was one of our most anticipated reads this year, so we’re absolutely stoked to be able to interview Kalynn Bayron. So, if you want to find out how exactly she’d describe her current project, which character she’d fight zombies with, and more, read on!

And don’t forget to follow her on Twitter!

Let’s start at the beginning. How did you first get into writing?

I started writing songs and poetry when I was in middle school, probably before that. In high school I tried short stories and then a novel when I was about 19. After that I wrote a lot of terrible fan fiction. And a few more bad novels. Storytelling has always been something I was drawn to. The medium has changed over the years, but the goal remains the same—I want to tell stories that are fun and engaging and that center characters who are so often relegated to minor supporting roles.

What are your favourite genres to read and write, and are there any genres or tropes you wouldn’t write?

I love fantasy, horror, and paranormal. I love a good spooky, atmospheric gothic horror story. Cinderella Is Dead is a fantasy with some very dark threads running through it.

I happen to like tropes, so nothing is really off limits for me. Nothing is overdone unless we all get a chance at it. So, I will be writing insta-love, ‘oops there’s only one bed’, and chosen ones because we as LGBTQIA+BIPOC deserve to have fun with these tropes, too.

How do you get inspiration for your books and what’s your writing process? At what point do you let other people read your drafts and who are they?

I find inspiration in all kinds of things but a lot of the time it’s other books, movies, or music. Creative people inspire me. My issue is that I have too many ideas! I’ll never be able to write as many books as I’ve got in my head but I’m going to try!

The first person to read my drafts is usually my daughter. She understands that it’s going to be trash and she doesn’t judge me. But no one sees my actual first drafts. By the time I have something to send to my agent it’s usually a second or third pass.

Which three authors would you say influenced your writing the most?

Toni Morrison is an inspiration and not just in my writing life. She makes me want to be a better person and her work makes me want to be a better writer. Octavia Butler is also a huge influence, especially when it comes to speculative fiction. N.K. Jemisin’s work has been hugely important to me as a Black woman writing fantasy.

And for something that is also very important to us & what we put a lot of emphasis  on when blogging. What does ownvoices LGBT representation mean to you?

Ownvoices started off as a way to signal that a piece of work was created by someone who shared some or all of the MC’s marginalized identity. Marginalized identities include those that have been historically underrepresented (BIPOC/LGBTQIA+). Now we have people saying ownvoices for reasons like, “I like mayonnaise and so does my MC! I too am an ownvoices creator.” It never fails and it’s exhausting. It was clearly created to give marginalized voices an opportunity to be heard and to tell our own stories and there are some who simply cannot accept that something isn’t for them.

We, in the LGBTQIA+ community, are not a monolith. We need more stories that reflect the vast range of queer experiences. Even if we’re forced to set the ownvoices label aside, the work will continue. I feel very fortunate to be in community with authors who are really putting in the work.

What’s one piece of advice you would like to give your younger self?

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice it would be to not be discouraged if you don’t achieve certain goals early on. There’s this myth that you have be successful by a certain age but it’s ridiculous. My mid-thirties have brought me my biggest career successes and there will be (fingers crossed!) much more to come.

Summarise your most recent/next book in up to 5 words and a meme.

Poison. Plants. Mythology. Queer. Secrets.

If you could have dinner with one member of the LGBT community, dead or alive, who would it be?

Marsha P. Johnson.

Which of your characters would you most want to fight a zombie apocalypse with?

Constance. Hands down.

Is there a famous franchise or simply a movie/TV show you’d like to be able to write for?

Bring back Sleepy Hollow and let me write the script!

Do you have any secret non canon ships in your books you wish people would write fics for?

No, but I love fanfic so I’d be curious to see what people might come up with!

Rec us some great LGBT books you’ve read recently!

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kalynn Bayron is an author and classically trained vocalist. She grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. 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. She currently lives in San Antonio, Texas with her family.

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