Author Interview: Gibbous Moon by Katie Groom

Rasta
Hello cinnabar moths or any kind of moth you’d like to be. Welcome to the Writers Triangle, cinnabar moth’s podcast about all things publishing and books. Today we’re here with Katie Groom, author of the Cardinal Moon saga. Hello, Katie, how you doing today?

K
I’m doing fantastic. Thank you so much for having me.

Rasta
I’m excited to have you and are you excited about the release of Gibbous Moon the sequel to Fixed Moon?

K
I am because it has gone beyond what I thought I could ever achieve. So I’m very excited about it.

Rasta
So I want to jump right into asking about it, you know, with gibbous moon, you go into the events that happen right after the events of fixed moon. without getting anything away. Do you think gibbous moon is a good standalone read? Or do you think that readers should do fixed moon first and then to go on to give us moon?

K
So like, I think if you read them out of order, it could still be understood. But oh, it’s so hard to discuss things, you know, without giving things away. But I’m assuming that if people are listening to this, they’ve already run fixed moon, maybe. But I think the story can be still understood. But I just think it’ll give a feel of preferring maybe certain romantic pairings over others as some characters heal, and the aftermath of the ending. It’s so hard to explain without, without spoilers. So maybe I could like say gentle spoilers from here on out, or something like that. But like, you know, there’s major plot points in the story that like I can’t mention with, with, you know, I can’t not mention, you know, or whatever. But that being said, like, there’s, I mean, I don’t know if I can mention this, but like, there’s a major like big stories series that I like, I love Twilight. And I read new moon, I know. Too many moons I guess in this thing. But anyways, I met I read the second book first. And all it did was make me be Team Jacob more than team Edwards. So maybe something like that would happen. But I still think you can fully understand the story, if you would read it on its own. But I also think you’ve missed some key points. But I don’t think it would be completely, you know, completely unable to decipher what’s going on, at all. So.

Rasta
Okay, so you’d recommend that people read the first book, and let’s see in the series, but if they wanted to start with give us one, they wouldn’t necessarily lose everything, it still be manageable. Yeah.

K
I mean, if if you go to the bookstore, and you can only find one, I mean, man, would it be my dream to have somebody find my book in like a physical bookstore. But, you know, if you can only find the second one, it wouldn’t hurt you to start with it, you could still grasp what’s going on and stuff like that. But you would just miss I think, a little bit of the history and things like that.

Rasta
Okay, that makes a lot of sense. And as long as you know, read both books, I do think personally, that it is a much smoother feeling when it comes to reading from the first book to the second. But if I hadn’t read the first book, that it probably took me a couple of seconds to get grounded. And then from there, I’d be like, okay, a lot is happening really fast. But I’m caught up.

K
Yeah, I think that’s where the hesitation is for me, because you get thrown into something a major event and you’re like, What is going on? And it might be confusing, but once you get past that major events, you could probably figure out what’s going on. It’s just like, action right away. Right? Yeah. And, and a lot of, I mean, it’s, it’s not just like, action, it’s like, almost like confusion and and, you know, a little bit of grief and just like what is going on? And even the characters don’t even know what’s going on in that instance, you know, so could be a little confusing, but I think you could get your bearings after that. So

Rasta
yeah, definitely agree. I think you would just take a little bit to settle, maybe, you know, a chapter, maybe two and then it all be smooth sailing from there. Yeah. And so with gibbous moon, you do make a lot of bold choices with it. Have you always been this fearless? Or is this where the character has guided you? Or is a combination of both?

K
So when you say fearless, I’m assuming you mean with my writing because in life absolutely not. I’m not shy about the fact that I have anxiety which keeps me from doing a lot of things sometimes. I’m so I’m fearful a lot. But with my writing, I’d say both a little bit of both. There’s things that I’m very passionate about that I wanted to include. There are some things that the care Actors lead me to do. You know, I and I talked about this a lot, but like, the characters are very real to me, it’s almost like I live in the world with them kind of thing. But there’s some things, you know, that I really, really want to do include, for example, there’s a side character in this one that, you know, their job is sex work, and I wanted to be clear that sex workers work and deserve respect. And, and that might be very bold to some people. You know, but there’s also, you know, alternate relationship styles, and I wanted to explore them, because they exist in the real, you know, we’re the real world, they exist in the, you know, Cardinal moon, saga world, everything like that. And with consent, you know, these are very much real types of relationships, they should be respected choices, that kind of thing. And then there’s other things that happen, like, you know, randomly like death by tree, which was just me being really bizarre. It’s something I wanted to include, you know, so, you know, that’s just, you know, something that maybe like, I’m a little evil in my head a little bit, but, you know, just something that came to me that I was like, I have to do this kind of thing. So I think it’s a mix of both. But I will say that I openly admit that sometimes the characters really, they do guide me and like, I mean, I think I think I talked about this in fix when I was talking about fixed moon that when I was writing something for fixed Moon, I had to rewrite it four times, because he just kept making the same decision. And I’m like, Come on, dude. And then I was just like, I have to, I guess I just have to leave it that way. Because this character is not going to let me do that. And I know that there are authors that are like, you control these characters, you made them. So that’s a bunch of malarkey. But for me, I, I know, my characters have a personality, and I’m just like, Oh, they’re not going to make that decision, no matter how much I want them to make that decision, you know, that kind of thing. So I guess a little of both a little go for it.

Rasta
Okay, that makes a lot of sense. And I do think that, you know, you do have this very real relationship with your characters. That one, that’s one of the things that we actually enjoy. Here. cinnabar moth is how well you know them, and we enjoy, like, the level of depth of your understanding of them. And so can you share a little bit more about your relationship with the characters that you live in the world with them? What does that mean to you?

K
Like, I love them, like, I do love my characters, all of them even like, I guess everybody like, hates rayon, like, Stevie’s on. It’s like a big joke. Everyone dislikes him. I even love him, you know, they’re all part of me, whether it’s a part of me that’s like, that I already am, or a part of me that I want to be kind of thing. Like, they’re, there’s characteristics about some of them that I’m just like, I wish I could be that, you know, so that part of me and then there’s some of them that, you know, are really, they are a part of me, there’s, I think I’ve even said that, like, hate, it’s a he beats in my, I’m sorry, they I don’t know why I do that. Sometimes I say he but I mean, they, and the history with Kade is and we could probably get into that some other time. But the history with Kade was they were born and you know, forced to present as a male and later became who they are, and, and aren’t. And I think that knowing that history is why sometimes do that. But at any rate, you know, Kade beats in my very heart, like sometimes, you know, but when I created the characters, like when I created Hugh and Zoey and Kate and Stevie, I had notebooks full of notes about them. favorite outfits favorite ice cream favorite food, what they were on a date if they could pick their favorite outfits? I think it’s you know, Hugh pulling his hair back going into battle is something that is very, very much me one time. You know, earlier this year, actually, my boss came into my office and was like, Oh my gosh, pulled your hair back who who will upset you today? And I didn’t even realize that, you know, but you know, that’s just something that I do. You know, and but like, like I said, you know, before Hugh and Zoey, they’ve argued with me as I wanted to write things about them. You know, I had to rewrite that one scene with you like four times and he eventually won, and that kind of thing. But I know that it’s fiction, but I’m telling their story and their truth. And, you know, this is really I mean, it is Zoe’s truth and Zoe’s story, but this is really huge story. So I feel like it’s huge story with an additional point of view. And, you know, the these books are his story and his truth. And I really do. Let him kind of take the reins, I guess I didn’t even answer that question. I don’t even know, because I kind of went off in the middle of nowhere with it. But

Rasta
No, I think that you did. Because the question was, you know, how did? How do you connect to these characters and I feel like you’ve described it pretty well.

K
I can go on a tangent.

Rasta
Sounds like you have had even before you started writing these characters, in terms of, you know, writing Fixed Moon itself, you still spent a lot of time developing your understanding of who these characters were as people in this world that you are creating.

K
Yeah. And like some of the side characters don’t have as much. I’ll be honest about that, like Zoe’s mom. I mean, she’s got like, a couple pages. Stevie’s parents have a couple pages. You know, and they are some that I’d like to delve into more eventually, but, um, you know, but the, the Big Four, I knew that I had to have like, a lot about them. And, and I don’t know why it was always the big four that I wanted for that, but it’s always been like, you And Zoey. And then like, just, you know, slightly below. main main character status. Caden, Stevie. And, you know, I mean, Stevie was completely inspired by a Barbie doll. Oh, what was she, like, totally rad Barbie or something like that. And she’s just a burst full of color and all this hair and geometric, like shaped earrings. And you know, that Stevie, you know, and she’s really a little bit of an homage to my sister, Stephanie, whose nickname is Stevie bopper, she’ll probably kill me for putting that on the internet. But you know what, that’s the truth. And, you know, that kind of thing. But, you know, I just felt like, I have to know the characters. I don’t even know why I felt like that. But I’m like, I’ve really got to know these characters. If I’m gonna write a character driven story, like, how could I not know the characters? If I’m gonna write about them? You know?

Rasta
So that makes a lot of sense. Because how are you going to have their experiences and their interactions with each other? And that their journeys feel real, if you don’t even understand them? Right? Yeah. So speaking on the characters journeys, is there a character whose journey you’re most excited about?

K
So I’m always excited about his journey, and I, you know, always gush about him. So I’ll stay away from that a little bit. But Zoey story, after the events of fixed Moon is very intense. And I really think that that is exciting, because she really didn’t have, you know, she didn’t know, at all, really who she was throughout the entire first book at all, you know, and then, you know, after you drown, let’s see what’s gonna happen there, you know, because it gets pretty quickly. And I think the journey that she takes in, in that aspect is very intense, and it’s very exciting. And then there’s a couple new characters that are introduced. And I love them very much, but they don’t get as much of a journey in this book. But, of course, Cades journey after finding out that Stevie betrayed them, they have to grieve, and they didn’t really get to, at the end of, at the end of fix moon, they didn’t really get to do that, because it was all about, you know, helping their friend grieve what happens? You know, and there is a grieving process that when a relationship doesn’t work out, especially when somebody pulls the crap that Stevie pulls,

Rasta
especially when dealing with betrayal, right? Right. Like

K
she betrayed them, you know, in such a big way. And, you know, there’s some grief that needs to go through there. And, and then also, you know, they, they get a little bit of a reward, you know, kind of in a way, and they start to realize what they deserve. And in, you know, I just feel like they really do get to come into their own and almost, you know, step into their own little kinda limelight, too, as well.

Rasta
So it sounds like you’re excited about, you know, all of them. So, this might Hearing what you’ve said so far, I feel like I have an answer to an answer to this already. Do you have a favorite character? And is it Whew,

K
I’m gonna remove you. Okay? Because it’s wide knowledge, I just love him. He’s my hero. You know, I mean, I’ve talked about this before I created him in a time when I just really needed somebody, you know, and it’s not fair to, you know, put him against everyone else. And but also, I created him so that I could love him with the intention that I was going to love somebody that was flawed and recognize that they weren’t perfect. I mean, because he’s got like a temper and, you know, all that stuff. But and, and also not see him, you know, with these rose colored glasses. So like, I created you to love you. So we got to take him out of that. And, but I’m actually going to pick someone that, if I could be honest, is like such a minor character, but it’s Zenga, which is Stevie’s mom. She’s limitless in what she’s gonna do to get what she wants, right. So like, I mean, in fixed movement is flat out stated she killed somebody to get the king to herself, so that she can become queen, you know, like she, she didn’t care. And she’ll do whatever it takes. But also, like, she’s very much into the magical world, she studies that she wants to know everything. And I think that that part of her is very much me, because I don’t know everything about this magical world, I created it, and I still don’t. And I continue to want to write in this world because I want to know more. And I love that about Stevie’s mom. And I just love the wealth of knowledge that she has. And she’s, you know, super proper, and like, you know, sit at this seat at the table, you know, that kind of stuff. You know, don’t talk about politics at the table, but she will still do whatever it takes to get what she wants. And I just kind of like her, I love her. And I would actually say she’s one of my favorite characters and doesn’t get enough page time. So,

Rasta
okay, so you have a minor character, actually, who we put in queue aside, that you’d love to explore more, and you enjoy kind of their, I guess, their boundless interest and inquisitive nature when it comes to exploring things. Yeah,

K
yeah. Maybe someday I’ll write a short story about her. I don’t know.

Rasta
Well, you know, if you do, I’m sure that the readers would love it. Awesome. Speaking of the readers, we know from the reaction to our PR list and from books Iran’s on library thing, that you have a nice following, how does it feel to have fans of your work and just know that you have readers of your work.

K
So like, that’s really thrilling. Because I never expected that I still sometimes in my mind, go back to the very first bit of feedback on Fixman that I got some from someone that wasn’t cinnabar. And they weren’t family. And her name is Erica, we actually work together Erica and I did back in the day. And she ended up reading an arc of fixed moon, like, on the day that they were released, she read it in like one day, and she tweeted about it, and how much she loved it and stuff. And that little tweet is like, I hold that so close to my heart, because i That was the first bit of feedback that I ever got, you know, outside of that little circle that had read my book, you know, when my writing, you know, and I just was so scared, but she loved it so much. And, and I do believe that she even went and got like the Ark of gibbous moon too, as soon as you know, signed up for that if she you know, as soon as possible and stuff and I just, it’s just so it’s thrilling. It’s so I don’t know, it’s just such kindness. You know, and I don’t I try to stay away from reading reviews because I’m very sensitive, you know. So it’s just so nice that people do enjoy it and because that is more than I ever expected. So because for very, like many years, I just kept my writing to myself, so I was the only person that ever read it. So it’s it’s surreal, I suppose. So. Yeah.

Rasta
So for you it’s it’s been a positive experience overall. Yeah,

K
I mean, I don’t I couldn’t I don’t think there’s been anything that I could say was negative. I mean, even like, I got a negative review one time that somebody said it was all wrong, no calm and I was like, That’s so cute. I love it. You can use that to sell books because for me sometimes One or two star reviews that I read about other books, like sell them to me, you know, and I’m just like, you know, because that that just means that book just wasn’t for that person. You know, it doesn’t mean that it was bad. It just means it’s not for that person. And maybe it’s for me, and I just thought, oh, it’s all wrong. No calm was so huge. And I was like, I’m gonna use that in something someday. So, you know, I liked it. So it’s been good overall, for me. I mean, so I don’t know how it could be. I mean, I’m sure for some people, the experience could be negative. But for me, it’s exceeded my expectations of what I had for myself. So yeah, there’s that.

Rasta
So it sounds like you’ve been excited by this process. And I’m guessing for you then having a fan base is more positive thing. But does it feel? Do you feel any pressure from it? Or is it just all good?

K
So for writing gibbous moon specifically, I wrote and completed it before fixed Moon was released, so no pressure. And I just say that, like, when I was writing, give us moon, there’s one decision that a character makes that I did worry, there’s two decisions, but one that a main character makes that I did worry would make fans upset. But it’s true to the character whether the reader wants to believe it or not. So it’s like, Ah, I’ll just go with it. And then I also think, and this might be getting like too in the weeds, but sometimes I write things that might be considered political, and I’m doing air quotes around the word political, if you could hear those or not, I don’t know. But like, all art is political. And there’s this a couple of things that I write that just make it very obvious. There’s a decision at the end of this book, if assume that Alvin makes an AR heroes decide they, you know, whether they can support him or not in that decision. And I do feel that it was overtly political, you know, like, a statement of something that I have strong beliefs on and it but it could be a hot button for other people. So I was actually really cautious about that. And I was even nervous about sending the completed, you know, draft to y’all because I thought, oh, that might be too, you know, too hot button. And then I was like, oh, but you know, you guys are always open about that kind of stuff, you know, and so I just was a little bit cautious about that. But that being said, I also want to be clear that I don’t feel that Cades truth about being non binary as political. Although some people that I know, have said that it is somebody’s you know, Kate is who they are. So they’re not doing it for a statement, they are doing it, because that’s who they are. And they are confident in that person. So I just think like, I want to be clear that that is not a political statement, no matter how much you want it to be, you know,

Rasta
yeah, someone’s identity is not political. That’s just

K
Yeah. And, but there’s that one, that one decision, at the end of the book that Alvin makes, I can totally see that that’s going to be a hot button issue for some people, and I understand if it rubs people the wrong way, a little bit. Okay. So great pressure, yes.

Rasta
Okay. So it sounds to me like there are a couple of things that you’re thinking about when it comes to your decision making and how people might respond. But you didn’t feel any particular pressure necessarily to change? Well, that’s

K
correct. Okay,

Rasta
yeah, I think the for when I was writing my own book, as well, their their choices that I made throughout when I was writing it, that was like, you know, somebody might not like this. But this is my story. And this is how I want to express it and have it come out. And this is what I want to tell.

K
Right. And like, it’s just, it’s so hard to talk about it without like being a little more spoilery about it. But like that decision, at the end, I was just like, that’s, it makes sense for all these characters involved in this, and I just was like, this is the right way to go about it. And it was something that was going on, in someone close to his life at that point, like, on a little you know, and obviously different scale, because, you know, we all don’t have magical powers that I know of. But you know, and I just was like, I want to talk about this because this is something that’s going on, you know, in the world right now. And I think that it’s not, you know, addressed enough. And this is my opinion on it, and it fits with my story. And these are what my characters would do in this situation. So yeah.

Rasta
Sounds wonderful. And so with Uh, you know, you have the the different things that you have as talking points that people might be, you know, have reactions about or experience. And then you have the overall story of gibbous. Moon, right? What are you most excited about your fans are potential readers of the cardinal men saga? What are you most excited about them experiencing? In reading give us?

K
Oh, okay. So it’s tough because I’m very excited about this book. And I’m very proud of it. I’m excited for the readers to meet Silas. And Zarrella. There are new characters, and they’re both incredible. And then I’m really for everyone to see but a little bit about Stevie in the aftermath of her decisions. In fixed moon, you know, decisions have consequences, my friend. And also there’s this one extremely creepy scene in the dark forest at night broke that no one should really be going in that I evil laugh the and I mentioned this earlier. But my evil laugh the entire way through writing it. I’m not quite sure what that says about me. But the whole time I was writing it, I was like, getting what you deserve? Because so yeah, like, there’s just those little things. And then, you know, obviously, I’m excited for them to see, you know, the growth of the characters. And you know, and then also, you know, what that is lined up for the next part, too. So, yeah.

Rasta
Awesome. Sounds like you’re excited about the entire book.

K
Yeah. I’m really proud of it. It was, I am. And I really, I enjoy, I had a really great time writing it. So

Rasta
I think that’s awesome. I always think it’s wonderful when authors are excited about their writing and excited to share it with people. And those leads to some of the best stories, you know, and people enjoy their own writing and express it and share kind of that energy through their writing as well, you know, yeah. And so I think I’m excited for potential readers and fans of the of the series to read gibbous moon, and sounds like you are too. So we’re all excited. So you’ve, you’ve talked a little bit about, you know, things in the story, but are there any easter eggs or surprises for the fans that you that you can hint out or that you put into the story.

K
Um, I think it’s a nice surprise that I stayed out of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh and everything that I write. So it became the exception to the rule, I do think it’s a nice surprise that we actually do get a little bit more about that ridiculous line that they have to stand in to register to be a part of the night book world, like we actually get to go through that line with some with a couple of the characters and stuff like that. And I think that whole that thing is kind of ridiculous. But you know, that’s the politics of that place. And then I also think that there’s a fun like little surprise that there’s a different kind of magic that isn’t Sun, Earth or water, even though there’s those three witches, those three shrews that sit on that council. You know, there’s more magic than what they have. But that doesn’t get representative very often. And I think it’s not nice to see that there’s other things you know, so, I mean, I guess easter eggs. I don’t really have any, because I stayed out of Pittsburgh, but just little surprises here and there.

Rasta
Oh, maybe the Easter egg is that it’s not in Pittsburgh.

Rasta
Yeah. So it sounds to me like you’re mostly you the experience that you’re writing was less with nods, just specific things and more a matter of delving deeper into the world and bringing them deeper into the lore and the the experience of living in this story.

K
Yes. And like what it would be to be able to go to that safe haven of Well, is it really that safe? Night Brooke.

Rasta
And so going into the story right and thinking about it more? Do you have a sick thing that you kind of expect fans will love the most about the story? Or about where you take them with the story or are you just kind of open to without any expectations.

K
So I’m hoping that they’ll love getting to know so in Hue a little bit independently from one another. It’s important to know that a couple are individuals and not just who they are together. It is interesting to see how much you is really true. dramatized by Zoe drowning? Well, I guess it felt spoilers if you haven’t read Saxman Zoe drowning than she is, you know, like, she becomes stronger afterwards. But he is just, I mean, obviously he was a mess at the end of fixed moon, and he is just not over it. And you know, and you kind of get to continue to see that a little bit. So yeah.

Rasta
Yeah, I do think that the experience of them as individuals is a nice experience to have as a reader to be able to get to know them a bit more as I think in particular, Zoe as well, we get to know her more as somebody living in the magical world, on her on her own terms, right.

K
Yeah, like, she had no idea. And if you remember, from the first book, she had no idea who she was, she had just moved to an entirely new city that she had never wanted to go to before. Like, she just moved to Birmingham up and up and moved, because her engagement ended, she was completely, you know, in involved in that relationship. And she just didn’t know who she was afterwards, it was just her and her stuffed Maltese dog, Judy, you know. And to be real with you, I have a stuffed Maltese named Judy. And that’s where that dog got that name. Anyways, she, um, you know, she didn’t know anything about herself. And then she meets this guy, she, you know, and he, you know, she’s like, Dude, I’ve never had somebody tried to break up with me this dramatically, you know, she didn’t believe him. So you know, and then she gets pulled into this world. So everything in her life was completely up ended, she has no idea who she is, at all as a person. And she really does get to discover herself, you know, because of this. So in this book.

Rasta
So we have, you know, that experience of Zoey in her own standing on her own two feet in this world that she barely had time to even really process before everything started happening. And in a strange way, things slow down for her to have a moment to breathe and really kind of find her footing. Whereas on the other end, whew, in a lot of ways, already knew himself.

K
And yes, what are yours to figure it out? Yes.

Rasta
He had a lot of time to figure it out. And so instead, he’s, we’re, we’re we’re discovering him, not just in perspective of getting more but also discovering him as he’s changed once again by events happening in his life.

K
Well, yeah, I mean, especially since he had that meeting bond connection, and that was torn apart.

Rasta
Yeah. Yeah. And so with with you, he’s a fan favorite. And we have Zoe, who is also a main character’s story, we get to experience a lot more, but also think that Cade really comes into their own in this book as well. Do you think that Cade will become a rival for you in terms of winning over fans hearts?

K
So like, okay, they are fantastic and so funny. I don’t know that those two can ever be rivals, like in any more than like, sibling rivalry, you know, I mean, K calls you brother regularly, you know, but not in the Hulk Hogan way. It’s not like Hey, brother. You know, like in in like the, you know, Terms of Endearment they, you know, and they are found family together. And yes, sibling rivalry exists, but I just don’t think that’s what what even happened here in the point of view of the characters. Because you couldn’t really love one without the other I feel like but but that being said, for those that do want more Kade there is a plan dolla G I hope I’m saying that word right, because that’s how I’ve been reading that word. My entire life dolla G Do you ever read like a word? You’re like, Oh, that’s not how that’s pronounced. Anyway. Yeah.

Rasta
Like that, where I’m like, it has to be this right. I remember when I was younger, I, I always thought it was route instead of route.

K
Well, you know what, though? It is? We won’t get into that. But it is depending on where you are from and what you’re talking about.

Rasta
Yeah, so yeah. About six,

K
six or routes, 60s, or whatever. But anyways, there’s a plan we do have a plan to have a duology for Kade. And also Kade, who we all felt horrible for at the end of fixed moon gets a few moments where we get to cheer for them. And by the end of this book, I will say that like this book is what really solidified them into my heart, you know, and and when when I write about K, like, my heart beats a little bit faster, you know, that kind of thing. So I, you know, rivals not more than sibling rivalry. But you if you if you really do fall in love with K, they’re gonna have their own little thing too on the side so you’ll get some focus for them. So yeah.

Rasta
Well, that’ll be exciting for the fans of Kade to be able to get more Cade. Yeah you know, you, you got a plan to ology or Dula Ge, I don’t know how it’s pronounced either for Arcade. And then we’ve got, you know, the second book in the cardinal Moon saga itself, with gibbous. Moon. You mentioned earlier that you wrote gibbous. Moon before it fixed Moon had been released. Was that correct?

K
Yes. Like, I think even before the arcs might have gone out, I don’t even remember. I just I wrote I wrote it. In the span of, I believe, December, to May, because in May, I went to Scotland on a trip celebrating that I had finished the for like the draft and turned it in. So I had written it very quickly. And I do believe it was before the arcs went out, I do. So yeah.

Rasta
So when you’re when you’re writing that, you know, it’s your second book, your first book hasn’t been released yet? Did you feel any pressure or any worries about, you know, the release of fixed moon coming out? And then will, will the second book live up to the first book or anything like that? Or what was your experience with that?

K
Well, it was actually yes and no, like, so as I mentioned before, I got anxiety. So like, I always want, you know, and so I was like in a constant state of anxiety, will cinnabar moth like this, you know, will they like were taking these characters, you know, that kind of thing. But there wasn’t any pressure to live up to like a hype of having, you know, a best seller or anything, because it had been released, so nobody knew. Yeah. But like, at the same time, I really kind of was thinking like, like I mentioned before, like, is this decision going to rub people the wrong way? Will I lose readers over this? And I’m like, No, I don’t really think so. You know, and then I was like, if cinnabar lets it get through. I’m sure that they you know, if they had a big red flag, they would say, Hey, Katie, let’s let’s talk about this, you know, but the real pressure was just pressure from me being worried that it would you get like y’all would read it and be like, no.

Rasta
So it sounds to me like your your pressure as far as the book Living up the second the second book, we got to the first wasn’t really the thing so much is would it get accepted?

K
Right. Right there. Yep.

Rasta
So but you know, with with having anxiety that does make sense you whenever you’re doing something, will this turn out the way I want it to hope so. Yeah.

Rasta
But you’ve now you’ve gone through it, right? You’ve written the first book, you’ve written the second book, both of them are all give us when it’s about to be released, and Fixman is already out. And you’ve had this experience now, are you feeling more confident as a writer? Has this process changed you as a writer at all?

K
Yes, so fixed Moon was the first full book that I had ever written ever. So I was clueless clue less clueless as to what I was doing, clueless. And I’d wager now that I probably have like two or three clues as to when. But um, you know, I did find it really interesting that writing gibbous moon, I had a completely different way to write it. Like I completely like, when I wrote fixed Moon, I wrote it completely out of order, I changed things. There was one part where I got feedback where they were like, we need you to rewrite this part, take this completely out, we have this big suggestion, it’s gonna change it. And I was like, Oh, that’s really good feedback, boom, boom, boom, you know, that kind of thing with this one, I actually wrote it in order from, like, the very first thing that you read on the page was the first thing that I wrote, like, and it went in order, and I had never done that before. And I would edit as I went along, and it just was a very different process. And I think, I don’t want to say it made a better book, but it just made a better process, perhaps for doing it. And then I’ll be I’m writing book three right now, which we’re tentatively Well, the title you know, can always change but anyways, I’m Mix the two processes. But I’m gonna be honest with you that I think I’m subconsciously stalling the completion of that book because that means letting go a few. It’s like, I think that like, you know, I’m like, stalling, because I don’t want to let go my guy, you know, but, you know, I mean, he can always make an appearance in other books, who knows. But I have, you know, I’ve kind of mixed the two processes, and I’ve kind of learned to trust myself a little bit more as a writer, and to also be a more of a champion for my own work, and things like that, too. And so yeah, it has changed it, it has made me more confident for sure. And that is something that is very impressive, in my opinion about myself.

Rasta
I think that is impressive, I think that’s really great is that you’re, you’re finding kind of your groove as a writer, even though it does sound like you’re also switching up the process a bit from, you know, each time that you’re writing, and you’re finding your comfort zone, what feels natural to you. And I think that’s really important, you know, it’s part of the self discovery process, that allows you to feel a lot more comfortable in your writings that is not as fraught. And so with, you know, your style with your, I guess, not style, but your process of approaching writing that might be different. But something that is consistent with you is that both books share the fact that you don’t shy away from writing the trauma, in a way that’s personal, you don’t shy away from really getting into these emotional in these intimate moments with these characters, both for, you know, the positive and their negative experiences. Without Are you drawing from your own life experiences, or what does this intimacy with these experiences come from?

K
So, um, I would say, from a little bit of my own, and a little bit of those around me and things like that, I’ll be honest, that like, and this is going to, I don’t know how this is going to come across, but I haven’t had a lot of what people would call real trauma, like I’ve had some, but like, some people would probably if I would tell them, you know, I went through this or this, they’d be like, Oh, shut up, you know, just get over it kind of thing. I mean, I lived a life of, you know, sucking up cupcake, you know, growing up, you know, kind of thing. But, you know, I think part of it is that these characters are a part of me. So I know how I would react, but I also know my characters very well. So I know how they would react. And then the truth of it is whether or not people would consider my trauma is real trauma, it’s trauma to me, and it was awful for me and I do draw from that. You know, sometimes art does imitate real life. And, you know, but sometimes I take it, like I mentioned earlier, that this, this, that decision that I’m trying not to give spoilers about at the end of gibbous moon, you know, that was something that was that I went, you know, had to go go through with someone very close to me, you know, over the course of several years, and, you know, wishing that a different decision could have been made, you know, kind of thing and, you know, just witnessing how that drains somebody kind of thing and, you know, at the end of fixed moon when he goes through the loss of Zoey, and that big long, you know, point where he couldn’t even, you know, take a shower, you know, he didn’t you know, that I had grief at the end of a marriage that I had to address myself, you know, that kind of thing, and, and whether or not something’s your decision, you know, when you’re ending a relationship, that doesn’t mean that you’re not going to grieve that ending, you know, and, and that’s, you know, something that I had to battle personally. And I really drew on that when I wrote that kind of stuff. So it comes from a lot of places. Yeah.

Rasta
It does sound like it comes from a mix of experiences. So that you want to say just from my stance, NATO, this is a stance that we actually have our mom share is that people’s trauma are real, no matter how much as you might say it’s, quote unquote, light or not that serious people’s lived experiences and what they find traumatic and heavy for them is genuine. And it’s still trauma. And so I think that that’s something that I personally feel about it. And I do think that you know, drawing from his experiences, because the the weight of the emotion inside ourselves, even if it wouldn’t have had that same way for somebody else. Thanks. The answer? Well, they’re not the one who experienced it.

K
Exactly. Not everyone’s lived experiences are the same. And yeah. And that’s something that I remind people constantly when they say, you know, something isn’t real, or, you know, suck it up or whatever. It’s like you didn’t live that, you know, you didn’t live that experience. So you can’t judge, you know. But yeah, I agree with that. I mean, and I hope that it didn’t come across that I was making that, you know, light of that, but I, you know,

Rasta
Trump and Trump. Yeah, it didn’t come across the way I just wanted to share my own stance on it in support of what you’re saying about it. Okay. Yeah. With the, you know, you’ve gone through the experience now with writing, you know, these very intimate scenes and writing some delighted because there are some lighter scenes and in the books, as well, now, full gamut of emotions, right. And you’ve written now to full length books. Do you feel like you’ve found your voice as an author?

K
I think, a little bit. See, the thing is, I think I found my style, I think I kind of find the books that I enjoy writing the things that I want to keep writing. Yeah, I want to continue to grow, I want to keep improving, I think the more I do it, the better I’m gonna get. But like, I have found what I enjoy. Also, totally, my style is like, way too many M dashes. That’s, but that’s what you’re gonna get with Katie. Yeah, I think I found a style that I like, and I think that if somebody enjoys my style, they’ll continue to enjoy, you know, the way that I write because I have been told it’s very conversational, sometimes to the point that it’s just like, I feel like I could be reading it, you know, having this conversation with you kind of thing. You know, and I, I’ve kind of always been that way. But I think I’ve gotten a lot better. And I just, you know, I want to continue to get better and continue to improve and, and grow with myself with my characters. And with my readers, too. So yeah.

Rasta
I mean, that’s a wonderful message. And I will say a song has been read the first book and read the second, I do feel like I have seen even across just, quote unquote, just two blank novels, a shift in and a growth in you as a writer, as a reader of your work. Thanks. I will say that I personally have enjoyed following the journey with you and being part of this process with you. I appreciate that. Thank you. And so as you you know, find your voice having this increase in confidence and everything. Do you feel like you can identify as an author?

K
Yeah. Anyone that has written has authored something, and I’m an author, and I’m very proud of that. And I was scared of that. At first, but you know what, yes, I’m going to confidently say

Rasta
yes. That’s awesome. I’m, I’m glad you have that confidence feel to say it. And you know, that’s another sign of the growth right before you didn’t have that conference. Now look at you. And so with that, you know, you’re an author, capital A author, right? You’ve got your two novels out. You’ve got the doula G that you’re also working on for Cade, you’ve got Hino book three as well, right? Like, yeah, what are you going to do next? What’s on the agenda with for you?

K
So I am currently working on Book Three. And I’m like, when I complete that, that’s when I’m going to really start working on Kate’s story. In between books two and three, there’s between the release of Book Two and the release of Book Three, there is author in residence that I’m doing with the literary mag for I just shortened or magazine to mag Verlauf and there’s some short stories in there that are actually going to supplement the cardinal Moon saga. So I hope that the fans enjoy those. And there’s one that’s a standalone with a really cute joke about the word elevator and I love it. But yeah, I’m just right now I’m really working on Book Three and I want to make it fantastic. And then a good ending to you know, round up his story and slowly to say goodbye to focusing on him so much and then get to have a lot of fun. You know, I’m really looking forward to writing Cades story because once I think you’re doing the press tour for for fixed moon I got to write something in Kate’s point of view, and that was the moment that I was like, yes, yes. You can totally write something in Kate’s point of view. They are super sassy. And I love it. So much fun. So yeah,

Rasta
We always love a good sassy character.

K
Yeah, I like they are just so confident as to who they are. And I love it. I just love it. So yeah, looking forward to that.

Rasta
I’m looking forward to as well. And I’m also really excited for the lease of gibbous moon coming up this upcoming Tuesday. I know your fans are too. And so Kate, I’d like to thank you for talking with me today and for being on the writers triangle. Thanks for having me. And to all of our beautiful moms. Thank you for listening. Be sure to buy give us moon coming out October 3. And before we go, though, Katie, can you tell us where everybody can find you as far as social media and everything?

K
Yes. So on the site formerly known as Twitter or x. It’s Katie underscore rights underscore on Goodreads, Instagram and tick tock is Katie groom writes on blue sky it is Katie G writes. I think that’s all

Rasta
Wonderful. And for everybody listening, be sure to visit cinnabar moth.com to check out the transcripts and we’ll also have the links to Katie social media. Once again, Katie, thanks for you. Thank you for talking with me today.

K
Thank you for having me. I’m so excited. Thank you.

Rasta
Yeah. For now, though. Bye bye.