I was lucky to get an interview with K.E.Andrews, the author of Hills of Heather and Bone, and a finalist in this year’s #SPFBO9.

Please, tell us a bit about yourself…
My name is Katie, and I live in Powder Springs, Georgia. I’ve been writing since I was in middle school (mostly fanfiction). Fantasy has always been my favorite genre to read, and it inspired me to try writing my own books. When I’m not writing, I like to spend time gardening and doing various craft projects.

Why should I buy your SPFBO9 entry?
Hills of Heather and Bone is a cozy read for those who enjoy a book that has lower stakes but still brings emotional moments, dark moments, and a vibrant fantasy world. Also there’s a spiteful chicken and plant puns.

What got you into writing? And how long have you been doing it?
My Aunt used to tell me and my brother stories she made up when we were children, so I’ve been inspired by storytelling my whole life. Middle school is really when I first started to get into writing, so really I’ve been writing for roughly fifteen years or so.

Have you participated in the SPFBO before and where did you hear about the competition?
I participated in Spfbo8 last year and my book, The Assassin of Grins and Secrets, made it to the semi-finals. I had a great experience with it last year, so I decided to participate in it again this year. I can’t really remember where I heard about the competition, but I think it was through Mark Lawrence’s page years ago.

Why did you choose to write fantasy?
Fantasy has been a huge part of my life, and since I loved reading about it since I was a child, I was inspired to write fantasy books of my own. Grimdark and dark fantasy were subgenres I didn’t get into until my teenage years. Prince of Thorns was the first grimdark novel I ever read and really inspired me to bring in darker themes to my own writing. I seem to like dark fantasy because it brings in a grittier realism. I also liked having the darker moments complimenting lighter moments, having the bitter and the sweet all mixed together in a story. Recently I’ve enjoyed the cozy stories too.

Which other author has had the biggest influence on your writing?
Mark Lawrence and Tolkien have played a big impact in my writing, along with T Kingfisher and Tahereh Mafi. Their prose really helped shaped Hills of Heather and Bone.

If you were to win the SPFBO, what impact do you think this would have on your writing career?
That’s a hard thing to imagine! I would hope that winning would allow more people to know about my book and open new doors for me. Mostly I think it will be proof for me that I am a good writer and that I have stories that people enjoy reading.

And now it's time to yank out your Palantir! Let’s talk about the future. What new projects are you working on?
I’m currently working on some short stories and revisions for the second book in my Assassin trilogy.

Do you have any dreams you’d like to share?
I really want to do more sustainable gardening next year. I was a bit too busy this year to do a ton of vegetables like I wanted to, but next year I’m hoping to successfully grow things I couldn’t this year. It’s a small dream, but sustainable gardening is relaxing and fun.

Anything else you would like to say before we close?
This year of Spfbo has been so amazing and I’ve made even more author friends and read more fantastic books. Even if my book doesn’t win, it’s been humbling to get this far, which is further than I ever thought my book would get.

I wish you the very best in the SPFBO finals. Hopefully, lots of readers discover your books!
Thanks for doing the interview.