Author Q&A: Kellyn Roth

Welcome back to Lantern Bearers! Today I have a fun Q&A with historical romance and women's fiction author Kellyn Roth. Thank you, Kellyn, for "joining" me today!

HK: Hi, Kellyn! Tell me about yourself and what you write, including your published works.

Kellyn: Simply put, I’m Kell. I write Christian historical women’s fiction & romance in hopes of discussing some tougher topics that don’t get a lot of discussion time in Christian fiction (or, if they do, it’s a touch condescending or unrealistic, neither of which I particularly care for).

When I’m not writing, or doing something writing-adjacent (I run a small press, Wild Blue Wonder, and my day job is with the Author Conservatory—I cannot escape authors, nor do I really want to!), I’m usually drinking iced coffee with my husband, getting lost in the Pacific Northwest with friends, or trying to convince my border collie to act with border-collie-esque intelligent (sadly, this is beyond poor Stanley).

Of my published works, I usually talk most about The Chronicles of Alice & Ivy which is a Victorian family saga I’m still in the midst of publishing. The first book, The Dressmaker’s Secret, concerns a young lady named Alice trying to find out who her father is … and why her mother doesn’t want her to know. (It’s not quite as scandalous as it sounds, and the story features a lot of strong Christian themes.)

HK: Historical romance normally isn't one of my "go-to" genres, but The Dressmaker's Secret definitely sounds intriguing! You've written many books, but at what point do you think an aspiring author should call themselves a writer?

Kellyn: If you write, you’re a writer. Half of writing is just deciding you’re going to do it … and then actually doing it. So I call anyone who is actually working on a book (or has in the past and intends to continue doing so, as we all need breaks!) as a writer.

HK: Breaks are important! And yeah, I'd say that being a writer requires a big dose of perseverance. I did mention you've written multiple books, but what is the total number, and do you have a favorite?

Kellyn: I think I’ve written 30-some overall, though only 10 full-length novels have made it through the editing process and gotten published. I don’t have an absolute favorite, but I’m still very proud of At Her Fingertips. It’s a sweet romance story (can be read as a standalone but is the third book in my Alice & Ivy series) that has a lot of themes I really resonate with.

HK: 10 full-length novels is definitely impressive! I do love the cover of At Her Fingertips, though I have yet to read it. So how do you get your books written? What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter (someone who plans out every detail) or a pantser (writing "by the seat of your pants")?

Kellyn: I’m a plotter, not because I think it’s the best method, but because my brain doesn’t work well enough to be a pantser. I can’t keep track of plot details, I don’t remember where I was going, and I have a tendency to ramble. Hence, an outline to keep myself on track!

Usually I spend a couple months or at least a month or so drumming up an outline, then draft fast, then spend eons (or it feels like it, at least) trying to work my way through editing, which is my least favorite stage.

HK: I find outlining to be my least favorite part of writing (though I love it when a book I read is so well outlined that there are plot twists perfectly executed). Let's talk about advice - what is the most valuable writing advice you’ve been given?

Kellyn: You know, it’s hard to pinpoint one thing. Over the years, working with a lot of great authors, listening to readers, and being critiqued by editors has given me a lot of miscellaneous feedback. I most remember digging into K.M. Weiland’s plot structure series/book for the first time, though. That really changed the game for me — made my stories stronger, gave them a structure that wouldn’t exist otherwise, and helped me grow as a writer.

HK: K.M. Weiland's character arc series was a game changer for me, so to any aspiring writers out there, I think it's safe to say that both Kellyn and I would recommend K.M. Weiland's blog for writing tips! Here's a fun question - what books do you enjoy reading?

Kellyn: I love a taste of everything, but my primary genre is historical romance, which I just love diving into. I’m also a fan of the classics — Jane Austen, the Brontës, and Gene Stratton Porter were my absolute favorites growing up. In terms of modern books, I love Sarah Sundin and Kristi Ann Hunter.

Pepper Basham’s mysteries with Grace and Freddie have been a new favorite series of mine, too!

I also adore C.S. Lewis as an author and theologian.

HK: Jane Austen is brilliant! I especially love Persuasion. I have one final question, - has writing and publishing books changed the way you see yourself?

Kellyn: That’s a very interesting question, and I’d say yes, but not in any ways I can easily discern. I’m not that great on the self-knowledge bits, but I know writing novels over the years has greatly influenced me. I grew up writing — I’ve never not been a writer — so how can I separate what is normal human growth from the writing process?

I know for sure that I’ve learned to be thick-skinned through publishing and to be very careful that my convictions are my own — and not simply a repetition of someone else’s. I’ve learned to stand up for myself and my books, and to (as tactfully as I can) speak out about situations and subjects that are underdiscussed. But would I have done that without publishing? I’ll never know!

Thank you so much for featuring me today! I’m so grateful to you, Haley!

HK: Thank you so much for joining me today, Kellyn! This was such a fun Q&A!

Readers...if you're a fan of historical romance and/or women's fiction, be sure to check out Kellyn's books! https://kellynrothauthor.com/ or find her on Facebook and Instagram.

Coming next week...a review of S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders. I recently read it for the first time...