Hey folks! Springtime in Surrey has been out for over a year, but I have wanted to interview Katja for a while! I’m just finally getting around to sharing this interview, so enjoy!
Springtime in Surrey would be a great book to give as a Christmas present to a reader you love, so what better time to feature it again than now? Click here to grab a copy from the Press website!
Introduce yourself and your Springtime in Surrey story!
Hi, I’m Katja! I’m a Christian, an extreme bibliophile who devours over 365 books in a year, and an exuberant writer with a talent for starting short stories that explode into book series. I’m also a bilingual French-Canadian and has about a dozen topics I’m excessively passionate about (hint: that’s why I write). I focus on both contemporary and historical fiction, as well as non-magical historical and contemporary kingdom fiction, and I cover themes of worth, love, peace, and Christian growth.
What was your favorite thing about being a part of Springtime in Surrey?
Honestly, I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of this amazing team and publication company. I love our anthology, I’m a big fan of the other authors in the book, I adore the cover—there’s so many blessings attached to this for me!
In what ways are you like your leading lady or if you’re not like her at all, how are you different?
My leading lady is Catrìona Roylett and I am very, very like her. She’s about 22, and the hero describes her as small and plump, with dark brown hair and grey-blue eyes … aka, me. She’s studious, very conventional, and determined to find a good match in London society (okay, so that’s not quite the same as me). She has my weaker relationship with God, my desire for marriage and life purpose and to control things … she’s a portrayal of a lot of my flaws, honestly; but she also has a lot of my tastes and likes, such as fashionable clothes, books, and a love of learning.
If you could visit Surrey, would you?
Hands down! I adore England and its history and have always, always wanted to explore. My dream is to live there for a year or so and really get to experience the place. 🙂
What was the most challenging part of writing/publishing/marketing your Springtime in Surrey story—and how did you overcome it?
Perfectionism. I was gripped the whole way through with imposter syndrome, perfectionism paralysis, anxiety, and comparison. I was 100% sure my story was the worst and everyone would hate it, and that makes writing really, really hard. The team offered me way more grace than I deserve as I floundered in my overwhelm and I am so grateful! I don’t think I’ve overcome it yet, but I’m working on it, and what I’ve discovered is facing your fears head on and not letting them and the tasks build up really helps. <3 It’s often so much easier than you thought it would be once you get started.
What advice would you give to authors who are interested in joining an anthology?
Honestly evaluate where you are in your life right now and see if you can handle it. An anthology is a lot of effort and while it has tons of opportunities, it’s also a ton of responsibility. But also trust yourself and your God, and know you are stronger than you think you are! Don’t doubt yourself too much and just focus on doing your best instead of being THE best.
What are you working on now?
I’m writing a nonmagical fantasy retelling of The Blue Bird and The Three Musketeers for the Cornerstone Series, and I’m currently writing a story for the WBWP Fingerprints in Frost anthology. Lots of research going on. 😉
How can people keep updated on you and your writing?
I blog at littleblossomsforjesus.
TTFN!
~Kell~
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