E.K. Barnes interview

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

A little introduction:

Hello. My name is E.K. Barnes. I'm the author of YA urban fantasies When the Divine Are Dead and In the Case of Our Fate.

When did your love of books begin?

My love of books started when I was young. I used to stay up reading book after book. I remember receiving books quite often for birthdays and Christmases. The Junie B. Jones series; especially, was a favorite of mine. On the rare occasions when I had an allowance, I would spend that money on books like Junie B. or Percy Jackson.

When did you start to have the wish to become an author?

I remember receiving a small sketchpad when I was around seven years old. In it, I would write short stories—mainly about my guinea pig. I ran out of pages very quickly and yearned for more so I could continue to write.

When I was ten years old, I was struck with the idea for my first book. I wrote the outline and shared it with my best friend at the time and she loved the idea. That idea grew and morphed over the years until it eventually became When the Divine Are Dead.

How have you found the process for becoming an author?

I've found it quite easy, for the most part. I think because I set out to be indie from the get-go. I didn't have to go through the querying and rejection process as many authors do. Because of sites like Createspace (now Amazon KDP) and Reedsy, it was easy to find resources and editors. The hardest parts are more of the post-publication stuff—marketing and selling. I suck at it, but as places are opening back up after the pandemic, I'm finding spaces that are helping me get the word out.

What would you say to those wanting to become an author?

I'd say, know what you want, hone your skills, and don't be afraid to make connections. There are so many resources out there if we only know where to look. Making connections on social media or in your local community is an excellent step in finding those resources.

Tell us about your book/books:

My two books that are out—When the Divine Are Dead and In the Case of Our Fate—are the first two books in my young adult urban fantasy series. The series mainly follows a superpowered teenager (Bradley) who has been running from danger most of his life. After a tragedy, his family relocates from the Chicago area to Indianapolis, where they struggle to rebuild. There, Bradley reconnects with an old family friend who has her own dangerous past. While struggling to come to terms with his trauma, Bradley makes an effort to avoid being involved in another tragedy, but soon, it is revealed they are in more danger than they thought.

My series grapples with issues involving mental health, grief, anti-racism, and diabetes awareness while also adding fantastical elements.

The third book will be released in November 2022.

What do you love about the writing/reading community?

I love how so many members are supportive of each other. A lot of us want to help each other out, whether it's with reviews, retweets/reposts, or advice. I love that we can all come together.

If you could say anything to your readers what would it be?

A major theme in my series is based on a quote in book one, "You are a survivor." That statement has resonated with so many readers. I've had several people ask about my book at conventions simply because they saw that phrase on a bookmark on my table and thought, "This. I needed this." So for my fellow survivors, please remember that you have survived everything up until this moment, and you will continue to survive. We are all stronger than we think.

Where can people connect with you?

Website: www.ekbarnesauthor.com

Twitter: @ellisa4achange

Instagram: @ekbarnes_author

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ekbarnesauthor

TikTok: @ekbarnes_author