Interview with:
Young Adult, Science Fiction
& Fantasy Author
Aya Knight
*** Meet Aya Knight ***
Aya Knight was born in South Florida, where she spent the majority of her childhood. At a young age she developed a strong passion for fantasy and a love of writing.Through movies, books and video/computer games she would escape into an alternate reality filled with adventure, magic and epic quests. As Aya entered adulthood, she expressed her enjoyment of writing through becoming a freelance journalist. She wrote about a broad variety of topics that gave her a brighter insight of the world. Eventually a story began to develop within her mind involving characters she immediately grew attached to. Aya knew that she needed to compile her thoughts onto paper. She grew so intrigued with the evolving storyline that she placed all hopes within the hands of her imagination, leaving journalism behind. Aya now works as a full-time novelist, where she continues to pursue her passion. In addition, Aya is also CEO of Silver Knight Publishing. A traditional publisher of quality books. Aya is a bestselling, award-winning author.
*** Interview ***
Tell us about your book? What inspired you to write it?
Have you always enjoyed writing?The Chronicles of Kale: A Dragon’s Awakening is the first in a series of three. It’s the story of a young dragon, who despises human-kind. Through a twist of events he finds himself turned into one of us, and then thrown into our world—completely out of his element. It’s his story as he tries to return to the life he once knew, while embarking upon a whirlwind adventure along the way. I’ve always enjoyed the fantasy genre. I think it just offers such a great escape from reality, into worlds where fantastic things are possible. I was inspired to write a long time ago, during my days hearing my father tell bedtime stories and creating wild Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. In my 20’s, the idea behind ‘Kale’ pressed on my mind, and a world began to develop. I knew that I had to get these thoughts onto paper—and thus, The Chronicles of Kale was ‘born’.
Absolutely. I think it’s deeply ingrained as a part of me. There’s just something about being able to create vast worlds, through the power of words. You become the puppet-master in your own universe—where the possibilities are boundless. I’ve scribbled stories on paper since I was much younger.How did writing this book help you?
A lot happened during progress on the first novel. There were highs, and deep lows. I think that funneling emotion into the manuscript not only helped me cope with things happening, but also brought the characters to life—their trials, emotions, and hardships became real, in a sense. Though the story is fiction, there are aspects that were taken from my life, on an emotional level, and funneled into the book. For example, Illadar coping with the loss of a loved one was channeled from my own loss of a relative. It was a way that I could release inner feelings that I otherwise wouldn’t speak of.What's next? Is there something you're working on now?
Most definitely! I’m not sure if I’ll ever leave writing behind. Now that The Chronicles of Kale trilogy has come to a close, I am working on a couple of other projects. A young-adult apocalyptic novel is in the works, as well as (without revealing too much) a stand-alone novel that plays upon Kale’s world.What do you hope readers will "take away" from reading your book?
I hope they will finish having felt that they’ve just taken a vacation from reality; that they’ve joined the characters on the adventure of a lifetime. I want it to be a fun and enjoyable read that offers a break from daily stresses. My hopes are that the ‘world’ doesn’t just appear on paper to them, but in their minds, as they are immersed within an alternate reality.What advice would you give to other Indie Writers or those who dream of writing a book?
I would definitely say to push yourself. If you have a passion to write, you absolutely must give it your all. Make it a point to write a little every day—even if it’s only a sentence or two. It keeps you moving forward and engaged in the work. Even on days when it might seem difficult to bring yourself to sit and scribble a few lines, I feel it’s important to keep working towards the end. If you need inspiration, read other books. It’s a great way to see how others interpret things, and can help improve literary abilities.
*** Connect with Aya ***
