I was lucky to get an interview with Kristin Gleeson, the author of Awakening the Gods, and one of this year’s #SPFBO8 semifinalists.

Please, tell us a bit about yourself…
I am a writer, musician and artist who is married to a Cornish man and lives in wilds of West Cork, Ireland though I’m originally from Philadelphia. I’m a USA Today bestselling author and I have a PhD in history, and a Masters in Library Science which translates to I love books and I love history (sadly there was no degree available in fantasy). My working career has gone through several morphs from nurse to archivist to administrator of a large historical society, a musician and storyteller, a children’s librarian and an art teacher in America, UK and Ireland. Now I pose as a writer and enjoy long bouts of indulging my imagination.

What was the first thought that popped into your mind when you found out you had made it to the semifinals?
My first thought was disbelief because I was certain that my reviewer would hate it and looking at the others, I had already ruled myself out. I thought my novel might be too clever for its own good. It’s filled with Celtic gods but has Irish trad music threaded through it, along with a literary quirky voice and style that might not be everyone’s cup of tea. But amazingly, though my story was not his kind of genre (urban fantasy with romance in it), it won him over. What a huge boost to the old confidence that was.

Why did you decide to take part in the SPFBO?
This is my first time taking part, though I followed it closely last year and was vaguely aware of it before then. It impressed me because of its transparency, something rare for a literary competition and the fact that those reviewing and judging it do it because they love the genre. Mark Lawrence’s involvement was the clincher, though. I’d read his books and used them in the teen book clubs I ran in the US and Ireland which were huge in getting the lads to bridge that read chasm from kid to adult and continue reading.

This is my first fantasy series, though elements of fantasy are woven through many of my historical fiction novels. This book was published in July of last year, so I’d just missed the deadline, but I promised myself I would enter this year and just see if it came up to scratch.

Aside from your SPFBO8 book getting the stamp of approval by being in the semifinals, why should I buy it?
In case I haven’t mentioned before it’s quirky, different and filled with good craic. Set in modern day West Cork and Dublin, Irish gods, the Tuatha de Danann, struggle to shake off their ancient issues and conflicts in order to eliminate a deadly old Fomorian foe in a new corporate disguise amid loads of Irish music and magic.

What got you into writing? And how long have you been doing it?
My mother loved to make up stories for my sister and I when we were young and it easily translated for me to make up my own from the start for boring periods like waiting in line with my dad at the supermarket, sitting in church, or even lying in bed before I went to sleep. There was always a story in my head that I would make up. I wrote my first story down when I was about 11, Professor Dealy’s Inventions, complete with illustrations (I still have it—how sad is that). It was all go from there and I was writing short stories after that for school, my earliest at 12, “An LSD Trip as I Imagine It”. I make no comment on that. I still have it and can only say that it’s hysterical. I wrote short stories through high school and college, but following college I moved to the UK and life took off. But by the end of my twenties I was back to writing, though mostly non fiction. But the stories continued.

Then I started playing the harp and began to blend stories with music, like a bard. My aim was to create an experience where the harp music and the story would have a therapeutic effect. Therapy and Healing with harps and harp music is a big thing now. I also think that there is much to be learned from mythic tales. I told Celtic tales mostly and arranged traditional music to play with it.

From there it was a short step to coming up with my own tales which eventually translated into my first novel. I’ve been writing novels ever since.

Why did you choose to write fantasy? And why pick this particular fantasy subgenre?
My earlier books are Historical Fiction, but many had an element of fantasy in them, whether it was witchcraft, myths, fairytale or legend. Fantasy has always been one of my favorite genres, along with history and I was reading it from an early age. Living here in Ireland you can’t help but feel the myths and legends that have shaped the people, culture and even the land. I knew I wanted to write about the Tuatha de Danann because the legends are all around me in the shape of mountains, ancient ruins, (fairy) forts, wells and local lore. I formed my own idea of them and wanted to put them in a modern setting so I could bring the two together and reflect how they still live on in subtle ways in the community.

Which other author has had the biggest influence on your writing?
That’s really tough. I can never pin these things down to one author let alone a book. But I would have to say that Charles de Lint’s Newlyn books were huge for me in fantasy, along with Stephen Donaldson, Marion Zimmer Bradley (yes, I know) and Morgan Llewellyn. Outside of fantasy I love the literary writing styles of Joseph Boyden, Roddy Doyle, Anita Shreve and Nadeem Aslan.

What’s the best thing about being a writer?
Making up the stories, losing yourself in them and then watching the characters and storylines have a life of their own.

What’s the hardest thing about being a writer?
MARKETING! Well, though it’s technically not part of the writing process, it’s part and parcel of any author today. I loathe it. It changes so quickly and there’s always something new you have to gen up on. And all of that takes me away from my writing.

How do I get into the semifinals? Just kidding! No seriously, might you be willing to share a tip, a scrap of wisdom, or perhaps an app, tool, or resource that you can really recommend to authors?
I once heard Toni Morrison being interviewed on the radio and she was asked this question. Her answer was three things. 1. Read. 2. Read. 3. Read. It’s great advice because your subconscious picks up so much about structure, style voice, pace, etc. and it helps it flow naturally when you come to write rather than through dogged determination. I also read something once about reading at least 1000 books in a genre before you attempt to write in it, for much the same reason. Each genre has certain reader expectations and it’s best to know what they are when you write. That said, I’m a great one for genre blending, so I clearly don’t listen to my own advice in this case.

Whether you are a pantser or an outliner (I’m an outliner) another thing I would suggest is that if you are new to writing or a genre, study the genre, take it apart. What makes a particular popular book good? Characters, pacing, plot, etc. Writing style. Write down passages that you love. The act of it will help you subconsciously to improve your writing. That’s how I learned to write love scenes that I enjoyed.

What new projects are you working on?
Lol, right now I am filling my head with various stories while I play around with the harp, guitar and fiddle. It’s a germination period for me. I have several ideas for more stories of Irish gods, a novel set in Medieval Ireland, an addition to my series set in Tudor Scotland and a contemporary romance set in America all of which have loads of music in them. I’ll let the gods decide.

Anything else you would like to say before we close?
Just a huge thank you for your patience and the invitation for this interview, Rune. And also huge thanks to the bloggers, but most especially to Mark Lawrence for hosting this competition.

Congratulations on the semi-finalist spot Kristin. While I can’t get over all the instruments you play and that you’re a real-life fantasy bard, or for that matter all the different stuff you’ve written over the years, I just hope you make it to the finals and/or come back next year!
Thanks for doing the interview.