Sherrilyn Kenyon

By starrymag | June 5, 2019

By: Maggie Stankiewicz

 

 

Q) What are you currently working on, and do you typically juggle multiple projects at once?

 

A) Usually I try to focus on just one because I’m ADD enough and I don’t need any help. At the moment I’m doing edits for At Death’s Door.

 

Q) You went through some hardships during your formative years. Do you think this influenced your proclivity towards the young adult genre?

 

A) No, not at all! [laughs] Yeah, one of the things that got me into writing was anything that I’d read with people in my background…They all wound up dead or in jail and just had these horrible outcomes. I wanted to give kids hope that it doesn’t always turn out like that. You know, sadly, most of my family did and I wanted them to see that there is something else out there. It’s hard. It’s not easy. It’s really easy to fall into it and to follow that path. There are certain members of my family that I don’t talk to and it’s a hard road. I wanted others to have another outcome, another path and something to look forward to, and to not just give up on life.

 

Q) Do you enjoy the research that goes into building worlds rooted deeply in mythology and other forms of lore?

 

A) Way too much! Way too much. I go down that rabbit hole and go, “Wait! I’m supposed to be writing. It’s been four hours. That’s way too much. That’s hours I’ll never get back and now I need to go feed my kids.”

 

Q) The Stygian playlist has some pretty heavy music on it. Do you find music to be integral to your process?

 

A) I used to be a DJ and I come from a family of musicians so it’s a huge part of the process. I listen to everything. I’m actually a classical musician. I play the harp and flute as well.

 

Q) At Death’s Door is slated to come out this fall (September 3^rd). What five words would you use to describe this upcoming release?

 

A) Pirates! Oh my god. Five words – that’s hard to do. Pirates. Demons. Magic. Funny. Death-defying. That’s kind of six but okay, I can’t count.

 

Q) Do you have more fun writing for your protagonists or the antagonists as you go through the writing process?

 

A) Both.

 

Q) If you could have one characteristic or ability held by one of your characters, who would it be and why?

 

A) That’s a toughie. Just one? Resilient. I’ll go with resilience.

 

Q) You manage to blend mythology and folklore into most of your work, from Greek gods to vampires. Are there are supernatural creatures that you haven’t written about yet that you hope to in the future?

 

A) Oh man. I’ve done a lot of them. I even managed to get a kobold in there. She was really arrogant and I loved her. No, you know, I’ve done trolls. I think I’ve thrown everything in there. Even the kitchen sink! Probably, maybe…we’ll see. I think I’ve done a pretty good job. Actually – unicorns! I have a story from college and I haven’t found a place to put it yet. I need to revise my unicorn story, but I did actually write it. I got paid in like three copies back in ’85 or ’86. Writers will work for either food or copies. Will work for by-line!

 

Q) What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

 

A) Never give up, never surrender. Thank you, Galaxy Quest! Believe in yourself. You’ve got everybody out there telling you why you shouldn’t do what you do and to go and to get a day job but follow those dreams. There are a billion writers out there, but the best characters choose you. They choose you for a reason and you’re the only one who can write that book so stay true to those characters. Don’t let anyone or anything stop you, especially yourself. We are our own worst critics.

 

Q) You’re active on social media and engage your “Menyons” through your website and newsletter. Do you enjoy the feedback you receive online?

 

A) Oh yes. I love them. But nobody is crueler than my brother – so he keeps me real!

 

Q) Is there anything you’d like to say to your fans or followers of your work?

 

A) Thank you guys for being there. I love ya’ll. You are the best.