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Name of Author: Kady Cross
Title of Book: Uninvited (on Wattpad) Sisters of Salt and Iron (published by Harlequin Teen)
Favorite Authors: Neil Gaiman, Oscar Wilde, Stephen King.
Bio: I grew up in a very rural community, the youngest child with a huge age gap between my older sisters and myself. I had to rely on my imagination as a playmate. I would beg my mother to allow me to watch 'scary' shows on TV, and to buy me anthologies of ghost stories. I like to be scared in a fun way!
Can you explain what your book is all about?
Uninvited is about a group of friends who think it would be fun to spend the night in a haunted house. It isn't fun at all.
Who is your target audience - and why?
I'd say the YA market mostly, because I wrote YA books for my publisher, but really, my stories are for anyone who wants to read them!
What is 'paranormal' about your story?
Ghosts! People being transformed into ghoulish creatures. An old, haunted house. Paintings that seem alive.
Does it contain other genre elements, if so which ones - and why?Maybe a bit of romance, but that's only because I have to have relationships between my characters.
Tell us about your writing process - how do you get from story idea to a Wattpad published story?
My process was a little different. Wattpad and my publisher (Harlequin Teen) decided to do a project together where 3 of HQN Teen's YA authors (who are writing spooky stuff) would write original scary stories to post on Wattpad. I wrote the installments and sent them to my editor, who then sent them on to Wattpad for publication. I basically just sat down and started writing what I thought would be a classic, fun, haunted house story.
Did you encounter any challenges when writing, if so - how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge most professional authors face is self-doubt. It can be terrible. Imagine putting your work out there and having people tell you it's awful! That's what happens when you produce something artistic -- some people will love it, and others will hate it. Oddly enough, it's harder to remember the ones that loved it. The bad reviews stick with you, and I always seem to remember them when I'm trying to write something new. There's a point in every book when I stop and think it's garbage and that I should find a new job. Fortunately, I love writing too much to give it up. I'm able to make a living doing what I love, so that helps quiet the negative voices.
You often hear that 'writing well' is the baseline for success. What does that mean for you?
I think that means putting yourself in your work and treating it, and your potential audience with respect. Do the best job you can, write the best story you can, and then keep trying to improve. Also, I think it means writing what you love, rather than what you think will sell.
One final question, this being the Paranormal genre: Have you ever had a paranormal experience?
Yes. My mother was of Irish descent, and there's a healthy respect for ghosts in that culture. I wasn't brought up to think them necessarily frightening, or bad, just that they were out there. I believe I've seen ghosts, but I also think if you open yourself up to those things they will find you. I've never actually interacted with a ghost, but if a friendly one wants to come visit, I'd be up for it. I actually find the idea a little comforting.
