Once again, Katie Keridan, has returned to the Spotlight this week to chat about her third book in her YA fantasy series

Author Name: Katie Keridan

Book Title: Realm United

Book Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: October 8, 2024

Publisher: SparkPress

Welcome back, Katie! How would you describe Realm United?

Kyra and Sebastian, the former Felserpent Queen and King, thought they knew what reuniting the divided realms of Aeles and Nocens would require of them. Controlling the past might change the future, but will saving their world cost Sebastian and Kyra the very bond that tethers them across time? Perfect for readers who love YA romantasy, enemies-to-lovers, foundfamily, and opinionated animal familiars.

What inspired the idea for this book?

Since this is the third and final book in my Felserpent Chronicles trilogy, there were some things I knew I had to address…tying up loose ends, resolving plot holes, and answering the most pressing questions readers were desperately asking. There were also some specific plot points I wanted to address that I’ve been building up to across the series. I wanted Kyra to confront her dark side. I wanted Sebastian to come full circle after having faced his past so he could view things from a different perspective than he would have earlier in the series. From the beginning, I envisioned this series as a true romantasy, where the main characters’ romantic relationship was just as important as the fantasy world and magic system. I think we really get that in this book, and I still get tears in my eyes when I read the last few chapters because I just look at the characters and think, “What an incredible journey we’ve all been on together!” Reaching the end is very bittersweet…I’m so happy with the way the story has been told and I know it’s reached a satisfying ending point, but I also hate to leave and say goodbye to everyone.

In what ways do you think you’ve evolved as an author since your first book came out?

My writing has definitely improved! As much as I will always love the first book I ever wrote (Reign Returned), I also don’t expect it to be the best thing I ever write (at least, I hope it isn’t because then there’s no opportunity for growth!). The more I write, the more I learn, especially about pacing, world-building, and revealing character development. I think the Felserpent Chronicles trilogy got stronger with each book, and at this point in my career, I think Realm United is without a doubt the strongest book I’ve ever written. But it’s so important to remember that you can’t get to your third book without writing your first book!

So many people are scared to put their writing out into the world until it’s absolutely perfect. During my doctorate program, my dissertation chair told me, “There’s a perfect dissertation, and there’s a finished dissertation. You can’t have both.” I think it’s the same way with writing fiction…of course you want your book to be in the best shape it can possibly be before publication, which is why you work with brilliant and experienced professionals and kill your darlings and agonize over how many times you’ve used a specific word. But perfect is always in the eye of the beholder, and there’s no way you can please every reader. I’ve learned that I will always be learning and growing as a writer, and that will be reflected in my books, which helps me on the days when I feel like I’ll never write anything worth reading again.

How has your real life (day job, hobbies, etc.) informed your books (or latest release)?

It’s so important for people to remember that real life always determines your writing schedule, which means how much you write on a daily basis is going to change based on what else is happening for you. And that’s okay! This past summer for me was overflowing with family-related activities, which meant writing had to take a backseat. I had to learn not to criticize myself when I didn’t meet my usual level of writing productivity. And after a few months of chaos, my writing schedule is changing again…both of my stepchildren are now in college (one is a senior and the other is a freshman), so as family commitments become less demanding, I can focus more on writing. It’s a constant ebb and flow, and learning to work with life instead of against it is a lesson I’m clearly in the middle of learning!

What’s your favorite part about writing/being an author? What do you find challenging?

I love connecting with readers, whether that’s online or in person. Hearing what they thought about certain characters or scenes is so much fun. I also love being able to take a story from an idea bouncing around inside my head to something fully realized on a page that can be shared with others.

The hardest thing about being an author is definitely getting your book out there and getting people to notice it. As a neurodivergent author, marketing and PR are really hard for me, so I try to talk about my books in ways that feel authentic to me. I’m glad there are so many options for people to read these days, but it also makes it harder to stand out from the crowd and convince readers why they should spend their hard-earned money on something I’ve written. I love the creative side of writing so much more than the business side, but you have to know your numbers and learn to look out for yourself in this industry.

What advice would you give to writers just starting out?

Read as much and as often as you can in the genre you want to write in. Understand the most commonly used tropes, even if you decide not to use them. Attend workshops or classes as you’re able. But most importantly, write! Get your words onto the page. You may never share them or they may become a best-selling book, but nothing will happen until you wrangle those words out of your head and onto a piece of paper. I know it’s scary and I know it’s hard to silence your inner critic, but in my experience, the best way to become a writer is to write. And the best way to become a better writer is to keep writing.

What’s capturing your imagination these days outside of reading and writing?

I love to travel, and I’m inordinately proud that my French has become decent enough that Parisians will speak to me in French without immediately switching to English when my husband and I visit France. I spend a lot of time in the woods, sitting by the creek, watching birds and letting the water carry away my stress and anxiety.

Can you tell us about what you’re working on now?

I’m working on a middle grade book, and let me tell you, writing a stand-alone book has been such a nice change after navigating a trilogy. The book follows a young girl with autism who copes with the loss of her beloved paleontologist grandfather with the help of an unexpected (and very large) new friend.

What was the last book you read? What did you think of it?

The last book I read was “The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn” by Sally J. Pla. I’ve read this book so many times, but I turn to it when I need comfort or inspiration or just a place to mentally escape. I relate to the main character, Maudie, so much, and I always feel inspired and empowered by the things she endures and ultimately overcomes.

Where can readers find you?

My website is www.katiekeridan.com. I’m most active on Instagram (@KatieKeridan), and that’s the best place to find out about any upcoming workshops I’m teaching, panels I’m part of, and all things writing-related.

Thank you, Katie! Realm United is out TODAY.

Realm United

This enemies-to-lovers YA romantasy is the last book in the popular Felserpent Chronicle series, bringing the story full circle with timely themes of sacrifice, war, and love.

Sebastian Sayre and Kyra Valorian, the former Felserpent King and Queen, thought they knew what reuniting the divided realms of Aeles and Nocens would require of them. But fulfilling their promises to stop Tallus and bring peace between those with silver and gold blood will require sacrifices they didn’t expect to make.

Furious over Kyra’s refusal to help him turn Daevals into Astrals, Tallus assumes control of Aeles and announces he’s developed a weapon capable of killing everyone with silver blood. Kyra discovers a way to defeat him, but it will require her to perform a terrible act she isn’t sure she can live with. Sebastian loathes becoming a recognized public figure, and given his dark past, there are those who don’t trust him to hold a position of power, even as he and Kyra race to reunite the realms.

Filled with old friends and new allies, devastating betrayals and surprising revelations, this heart-pounding conclusion to the Felserpent Chronicles ends where it began: in the grey waters of Death. Controlling the past might change the future, but will saving their world cost Sebastian and Kyra the very bond that binds them across time?

Author bio:

Katie Keridan has written all her life—from childhood, through college and graduate school, and during her career as a pediatric neuropsychologist. She enjoyed being a doctor, but creating her own characters and worlds brought her far more joy, so she slowly left the medical world behind to focus exclusively on writing. She has written two other novels in the Felserpent Chronicles series, Reign Returned and Blood Divided, and her work has been featured in Highlights Hello Magazine, The Blue Nib, Youth Imagination Magazine, Red Fez, The Red Penguin Review, Sand Canyon Review, and Every Day Fiction. She loves sharing her writing with others who feel different, misunderstood, or alone. Katie lives in Northern California with her husband and two very demanding cats.