Interview with Alysha Kaye

What genre do you write and why?
I write contemporary fiction—mostly realistic, although my first novel has aspects of fantasy as well! I just love writing about the beauty in real, day-to-day lives.

Tell us about your latest book. 
Interview with Alysha KayeThe Waiting Room was inspired by a dream I had about waiting for my boyfriend after death—it’s all about the chance to be reborn again and again with the love of your life. The catch, however, is that you have to wait for them to pass away…and that could be a number of painful years, stuck in a waiting room watching them go on with their life. The Waiting Room follows Jude and Nina, a normal, happily married couple, as they are reborn together again and again.

What marketing methods are you using to promote your book? 
I use Twitter, Facebook, Wordpress, and Instagram to market my novel—gotta love social media!

What formats is the book available in? 
Paperback and Kindle.

Who are your favourite authors? 
Currently, Markus Zusak and Audrey Niffenegger.

What advice do you have for other writers? 
Set goals for yourself and FORCE yourself to write sometimes, even when you really, really don’t want to (that’s when some of the best material surfaces). Don’t listen to the people who will inevitably try to discourage you.

What's your favourite quote about writing/for writers? 
I really like the Hemingway quote, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”

What's the best thing about being a writer? 
The best thing is hearing from readers who really enjoyed your work—it’s so incredibly fulfilling, even if it’s just ONE random stranger telling you they cried during chapter 5, etc.

Where can people find out more about you and your writing? 
Please connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Wordpress! All of my sites are listed on my website: www.alyshakaye.com

Who is you favorite character in your book and why? 
My favorite character is a very minor part—Jake Reynolds (which is actually my cousin’s name, but the character is nothing like my cousin haha). He is just funny—comic relief in the best way.

Why do you think readers are going to enjoy your book? 
I think it’s fun to ponder the afterlife—where we go, what happens—whether it be heaven, reincarnation, or something else entirely!

How long did it take you to write your book? 
I started it when I was so young, still in college! Then I finished it up a couple years later in just a few months. I was furiously typing away at a terrible desk job that left me with nothing else to do for hours on end!

Who designed the cover? 
An amazing graphic designer named Marija Vilotijevic who works for Expert Subjects.

Interview with Alysha Kaye
Did you learn anything from writing your book that was unexpected? 
I definitely learned a lot about the entire self-publishing process. I can’t wait to finish up with my next novel and use what I’ve learned from the first!

Where can a reader purchase your book? 
Amazon, mainly! But if you happen to be in Austin, TX, BookPeople also sells copies.
                                                      
What are you doing to market the book?  
I find a lot of fellow bookworms on social media and request reviews J Most are willing to try something new by an unheard of author!

Who inspires you? 
My mother, my students, my boyfriend…everyone I love, really!

How do you research your books? 
The Waiting Room didn’t require much research other than typical life experiences, but good ol’ Google does the trick for me.

What is your work in progress? Tell us about it. 
I honestly haven’t written enough of it yet to decide if I even like it haha but I will say it is 100% realistic contemporary fiction, no aspect of fantasy in this one.

What are your thoughts on self-publishing verses traditional publishing? 
I love self-publishing! I wanted to have a lot of creative control and I wanted to get this novel out as soon as possible—you just can’t have either of those things in traditional publishing.

Who or what inspired you to become a writer? 
I’ve been writing ever since I was really young—it was my creative outlet as a super imaginative only child. So I guess the first thing that inspired me was that loneliness—needing somewhere to get my thoughts and feelings out. I was soon filling up notebook after notebook.

Does your family support you in your writing career? How? 
My parents definitely do—they were some of my first readers and reviewers. They’re always sharing my posts with their friends and encouraging me to keep writing.

What are you currently reading? 
I just started the Outlander series—I wanted to know what all the hype was about!

What books or authors have most influenced your life? 
I remember reading The Time Traveler’s Wife and just being so stunned at how much emotion it evoked—I sat and cried and cried and cried! A book had never made me feel so much, and I immediately began writing my novel.

When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time? 
I’m a high school English teacher, so a lot of my time is spent wrangling 9th graders! I also enjoy blogging, reading (of course), and exploring the amazing city of Austin, TX!



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