I hope you readers have been enjoying this series of author interviews as much as I have! It is just so utterly fascinating to learn from these great writers about what makes them tick and how they go about their writing process. Here are the interviews with the other three Grand Prize winners of our worldbuilding short fiction contest in case you missed them:
This week, we have Kate Seger. Kate is a seasoned Fictionate.Me author with several stories posted on the site. Her story “The Lunar Hunt” swept our worldbuilding short fiction contest and won three awards in different categories—Fourth Place Grand Prize, tied for Third Place in the People’s Choice category, and Second Place in the Best DIY Book Cover category.
It is clear this prolific writer has a lot to teach us about her writing process, attracting an online following, creating a gorgeous DIY book cover, and more. But before we get down to the interview, let’s take a moment to learn more about Kate’s beautifully written story and Kate herself as well.
The Lunar Hunt
Artemis is the Goddess of the Hunt, the protector of the forests of Etherea. She knows the danger the metal wizards pose. So when a spaceship lands in the abandoned realm of man, she will do anything to drive off the invaders.
Solara is a human space traveler on a mission to reconnect with her ancestors on a planet that her people once called home. She senses hostility in the strange, crumbling world, but an order is an order. And her orders are to track the heat signature she’s detected.
When the moon falls from the sky, two worlds collide … and the Lunar Hunt begins.
In this story, Kate masterfully weaves mythology into her intriguing world. She also shows her writing skills with the way she switches back and forth between two very different perspectives.
One thing that makes this story unique is that the human is the true alien in this world. And a beautiful world it is, with an undercurrent of tension and danger. “The Lunar Hunt” also features an unexpected twist ending that will make you wish there was more to read.
Author Biography
Kate is the author of the Ethereal Realms series and partner at Tarina Anthologies. A dog mom, introvert, and whiskey connoisseur, when Kate isn’t searching for fairy circles, she’s usually writing. She lives in New York on the banks of the Hudson with her husband and her German shepherd mix, Gracie.
Author Interview
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
What served as the inspiration for your story “The Lunar Hunt”, apart from our picture prompt?
I really wanted to juxtapose the idea of different kinds of “magic”. That was the first thing that came to me when I read and saw the prompt. For Artemis, Solara’s technology—her spaceship, her laser, even her clothing—is unfamiliar to the point of being magical. For Solara, Artemis’ ability to hunt her and the primordial eeriness of the forest itself is terrifying magic.
With your story, you do a fantastic job of incorporating mythology. Did you end up doing much research in order to portray Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt?
I've always been a bit of a mythology nerd, and it pops up in much of my writing. I was also an Art History minor in college, so I became familiar with many elements of mythology by studying the art of different cultures.
The Greek myths are some of my favorites to rework. I was already familiar with the story of Artemis and Acteon, so I tried to do a unique twist on that basic idea.
How did you get into writing?
I am one of those people who has always been obsessed with writing. As soon as I was old enough to read and form letters (which was a struggle since I have severe dysgraphia), I filled notebooks with short stories and poems. It's just something I've always had an innate desire to do!
Thankfully, modern technology has made it much easier because, with computers, I don't have to be able to read my own handwriting anymore. (It’s still mostly illegible.)
Who are the biggest influences on your writing and why?
Sarah J. Maas and Laini Taylor both for their ability to interweave myths, legends, and folklore into something familiar yet wonderfully new. George R.R. Martin for the breathtaking scope of his worldbuilding and his ability to craft morally gray, ambiguous characters. I am a huge fan of deeply flawed characters you still root for, even if they aren’t necessarily “good” people.
In “The Lunar Hunt”, you switch between two very different perspectives. Do you have any writerly advice about how to juggle two points of view, particularly with such a short word limit?
I think the most important part is to make sure your timeline is clear without repeating a bunch of content. I try to use a little cue at the end of the scene with the current POV character, which the new POV character can react to when the POV changes. This keeps the timeline clear, and you don't have to rehash a bunch of content.
If you had any advice for budding writers who want to get published, what would it be?
Just keep writing! When I was younger, my parents always supported my writing, but I thought making a living doing it was a pipe dream and that I should look at it more like a hobby. Now, I write books and freelance edit full-time as a career. It’s absolutely possible to make a living doing it, as long as you are willing to put in the work.
You also tied for Third Place in the People’s Choice category, which shows you have an engaged following online. How did you grow your fandom? What advice do you have for other writers trying to grow their audience/readership?
Different things seem to work for different people. I try to utilize multiple forms of social media—Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram. But for me, my Facebook reader group is my home base. I drive all my readers there when possible, and it's where I find I have the most, and deepest, engagement. I think the most important thing is to interact consistently on your platform of choice. Don’t just make an occasional post that says, “Buy my book”. Also, use open-ended posts that start conversations and be yourself to connect with your readers as an individual, not as someone selling something. Treat your readers like friends and let them get to know you.
In your story, you blend science fiction and fantasy so beautifully. What draws you to writing in those genres?
Since I first read A Wrinkle in Time and The Hobbit as a child, these have been my genres of choice. Maybe at its most basic level, it’s probably escapism, but when I read—and write—I love immersing myself in something magical and other with universal themes that I (and my readers) can still connect to despite the foreign surroundings.
Your gorgeous cover for “The Lunar Hunt” won Second Place in the Best DIY Book Cover contest. Do you have any tips/tools to recommend for authors who want to create their own covers?
Make sure you use properly licensed stock, and you’ll save yourself from a potential host of frustrations! I also try to keep it simple. When there's too much going on, and you’re an amateur (I am by no means a graphic designer), it can be hard to make the elements work together cohesively.
You have written several stories on Fictionate.Me, including the popular litRPG Haven and the zombie apocalypse novel Out of New York City. What advice do you have for writers on how to be such a prolific author?
I write every single day. No matter how tired of words I am from writing/editing for a living, I try my hardest to get at least 2,000 words of my own stories written. I think consistency is key. You have to make writing a habit.
In addition to your many Fictionate stories, you are also the author of the Ethereal Realms series. Could you tell our readers more about this series, and where they can find it online?
There are currently two books in the Ethereal Realms series, and the third and final book is set to release this summer. They are new adult dark fantasy set in a divided world—with mortals on one side of the Veil, and Fae, Elves, and other fantastical creatures on the other. The books follow the protagonist, Arianette, who is a reluctant “chosen one” hauled across the Veil to fulfill a prophecy.
You can find the novels on my website www.kateseger.com.
I'll also be posting a prequel novel on Fictionate soon!
Here's one just for fun. Name your favorite:
Books: The Gods and Monsters series by Laini Taylor, ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas, Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, and the Dark Tower series by Stephen King.
Movies: Gone with the Wind, Apocalypse Now, Lord of the Rings, Labyrinth.
Shows: Game of Thrones, The Tudors, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The White Queen/The White Princess.
If you have any questions for Kate, you can reach her at…
Facebook: @katesegerauthor
Facebook Group: https://m.facebook.com/groups/courtofdreams
Instagram: @katesegerauthor
Twitter: @katesegerauthor
TikTok: @katesegerauthor
Thanks so much to Kate for sharing the inspiration behind her multi-award-winning, mythology-infused story and writing advice! Thanks also for taking the time to answer our questions and provide such thoughtful answers.
To read the rest of our winning entries, click here!
This interview marks the end of our Grand Prize Winner interviews. But don’t worry, there are plenty more author interviews yet to come! Next week fellow staff writer and contest judge Heather will start her round of interviews with the Young Author Grand Prize winners, which will feature precocious authors below the age of eighteen.
So tune in next week to get some writerly tips and learn the habits of our young contest winners, and as always, keep an eye on Fictionate’s social media accounts for features on all our anthology contributors.
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