Interview with Author Amy Crook

Author of LGBTQ+ Fantasy Romance

AUTHOR INTERVIEWLGBTQ+ ROMANCEFANTASY ROMANCESTEAMY

Kaleidoscope Romance

2/7/20263 min read

Describe yourself in three words.

Tired old cryptid

What are three facts about you?

I'm a very lazy eldergoth.
I live with 7 cats (two mine).
I've also been a working artist for many years.

What is your favorite book from childhood?

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

When you read, which authors are your go-to authors?

Jordan L Hawk
AJ Sherwood
T. Kingfisher

What book has made the biggest impact on your life?

Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey

Do you have any book related tattoos?

I have an owl carrying a book on my shoulder.

What is your favorite TV show or movie?

Currently, Murderbot

What subject could you talk about all day?

Fandom and Fan Culture

What is your dream vacation destination?

Tokyo

What do you do for fun when you aren’t writing?

Read, Watch TV, Bother cats

Are there any causes you support or which are important to you?

EFF and ACLU for our civil rights.

How did you discover writing as a possible career?

I read some books not to be named and enjoyed them and thought, yeah, I can do that. And then I did it enough to make a career out of it.

How did you choose your pen name?

It's just my name, and I'm very lazy.

Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

I love interesting magic, and I spend a lot of time googling magical meanings of things, then warping them to my own needs. I also write what I want to read, mostly!

What is the weirdest fact you've found when researching for a book?

There are more purple trees out there than you would think.

What trope is your favorite to write?

Found Family

What is your favorite thing about being an author?

Getting to share stories that delight me with people who are equally delighted by them.

What is your writing process?

I'm 90% pantser. I start with an idea, a direction, and some characters, then just go with it. And when I get near the end, I'll go make a list of loose ends to tie up.

What time of day are you most creative?

Afternoon and evening.

What is your ideal writing environment?

Comfortable, good music, at least one cat sleeping nearby, a nice cup of tea, and no one bugging me.

As an author, what challenges do you face?

As an indie author, it's mostly getting my name out there! Boring but true. Otherwise, I'd say in the writing process, it's getting past that mid-book slump when the plot thinnens.

What is your least favorite part of being an author?

Marketing

If there was one thing you could change about the writing/publishing industry, what would it be?

I would make it easier for readers to find the books they'll enjoy.

What advice would you give aspiring authors?

Edit really well, then check for typos again. The typos multiply. Also, don't be discouraged if your first book isn't a hit.

What is something you’d like to write, but haven’t yet?

A coffee shop story! I have one on my to-do list for later this year, though.

Which parts of yourself are reflected in your characters?

They are people who try to be kind, and who end up with found family by doing so.

Which of your characters have special meaning to you?

Horace, who is a mechanical bird, has become this emblem of writing what interests me and having people love it as much as I do.

How do you come up with character names?

Name generators and late-night brainstorming.

What kind of readers enjoy your books?

My ideal readers love cozy stories and want to just move in with the characters and cozy up in their lives with a cup of tea. My readers don't mind a slower pace as long as the journey is entertaining, and are more interested in the people than action. And who want extended happily ever afters!