For our last interview of the April 2022 Short Fiction Contest, we’re talking to Kim Riot, our 1st Place People’s Choice Winner!
Kim won People’s Choice with her entry entitled “A Kiss for Sleeping Beauty”, a feminist retelling of the original fairy tale.
Kim keeps us in the realm of fantasy for her retelling but modernizes the story’s protagonist by making her a female knight who turns out to be even more heroic (and intelligent) than her male counterparts. Why do women have to be saved by men? How about women saving other women to subvert that trope?
A Kiss for Sleeping Beauty
In this retelling, we meet our protagonist Aimes, a young woman who has entered the quest to find Fairmont kingdom’s Sleeping Beauty, their cursed princess who is protected by a fire-breathing dragon. The winner of the quest will win the hand of the beautiful princess.
Braver and cleverer than the male knights competing against her, the protagonist makes easy work of the quest's many dangerous riddles and hurdles to overcome. But instead of gloating and leaving the other contestants behind, she brings them together to help find the princess as one. For her, it’s not about the prize—marrying a princess; instead, she’s hell-bent on rescuing the princess to save her from the danger she’s in, and maybe making a name for herself to propel herself out of poverty.
This story makes us question the common ideals of bravery, courage, and true love. Why can’t a woman be as brave and heroic as a man?
Kim proves that they certainly can be!
Author Biography
Kim Riot is a writer currently querying her first novel—a YA vampire fantasy. When Kim isn't writing or has her nose in a book, she works on her podcast called The Reading Riot. The podcast features writers and readers who talk about books, writing, and read aloud their short stories. Kim also considers herself a vampire and zombie enthusiast and loves to preach that pineapple does in fact belong on pizza.
Author Interview
What was your inspiration for your story “A Kiss for Sleeping Beauty”, the winner of the People’s Choice vote?
When I read the brief my mind raced and I tried to think of ways to give a fairytale a twist. What I thought of first was how princesses are always being saved by men, so I thought let's change it up and have a girl save the day! So, once I had my heading, “Sleeping Beauty” seemed like the perfect fit. It is, after all, one of my favorite fairy tales.
Which authors are your biggest inspirations for your work, and why?
Jay Kristoff and Sarah J. Maas influence me the most. Jay’s writing style is more dark and edgy, while Sarah’s style leans towards the fantasy romance side. I’d like to think my style is a mixture of both of them.
How did you get into writing, and how old were you?
For years I hated writing, but when I turned twenty-five something changed—I changed. There was a creativity hole forming inside me and I was struggling to find an outlet to fill it. Then one day I had a dream about a vampire. I obsessed over the dream, wishing so badly someone could turn it into a book or movie. After a few weeks of daydreaming about the idea, I decided I would be that person! So, I poured myself a glass of wine, opened my computer, and began to write. Now six years later I have a completed manuscript ready for querying. Truly a full-circle moment.
You won People’s Choice, which means you have a wide reach and engaged audience. What’s your advice for authors needing more engagement and/or a bigger fanbase?
No matter how you choose to market yourself, always be YOU! Being genuine and showing your sensitive side opens the door for people to relate to you. I think as writers we are constantly struggling to grow our following, so take that extra step and interact with other writers and readers. Don’t just post to post. Have the post mean something to you and it will help others connect with you on the same level.
Tell us about your podcast called The Reading Riot. How did it start, why did you start it, what’s the goal, etc.
The Reading Riot Podcast was born during quarantine. It’s the perfect place for writers and readers to connect. In each episode, I have a guest and we chat about writing and books we love. At the end of each episode, we read short stories we write for the episode using a writing prompt that I provide. It’s a great podcast for people who want writing advice or just want to chill and hang out with us!
For those who don’t know, you are querying your first novel. What advice do you have for authors looking to query with literary agents and big publishers? How has the experience been for you so far?
Writing my book felt like climbing a mountain. It took a lot of time and effort, but I got to the top. Now with querying, I feel like I’m climbing Mount Everest. It’s a completely new challenge to tackle. So far it has been rough because I’ve never done this before. It takes a lot of research and time. My advice for others is make sure your manuscript is solid, have a creative website, a killer query letter, and do a lot of agent research. Make sure the agent is the right fit based on their preferences in their bio sections on any query site. Don’t just send it to every agent you find.
While you’re querying your novel to be traditionally published, you are also self-publishing short stories. How does this help your creative process?
Querying my book means I’m no longer writing it and I have to be writing something. Writing is now a part of who I am and I need that creative outlet. Creating new characters in a small capacity really cleanses the palate and keeps the inspiration coming. It’s also a way for some of my work to be out in the world. Hopefully, the people who like my short stories will want to read my book someday.
Do you prefer traditional or self-publishing, and why?
I honestly don’t prefer one over the other. I have friends who have gone both routes. With my first book, I want to see if getting traditionally published is even possible. If that doesn't work out, I plan on self-publishing.
What does your writing routine look like? How can new writers establish their own writing routines?
To be real with you, I have no writing routine. I write when I want to write. For me, writing is an escape and a safe space. However, when I was ready to finish the final draft of my book, I made time every day. Whether it was ten min or four hours. You gotta do what works for you. Writing is something I love, not dread. So, by taking away a forced schedule, my story more naturally flowed out of my fingertips and I hit fewer writing blocks.
What’s your number one advice for busting out of writer’s block?
Don’t give up! Some days a single word is battle, while other days the words flow like water. When I feel stuck, I’ll take a drive or walk while listening to music. During that time, I’ll daydream about my story and let my mind wander. Usually, after a day or two, I figure out the cause for the block. Taking some time away always helps me come back to my story feeling fresh.
Just for fun! Name your favorites and why they’re your faves!
Movies: A big one for me is the 90’s Disney movies. They have the best pacing and plots! Talk about a perfectly rounded story. The Lion King, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast are some of my favorites. They totally influence my writing style. I also need to include all Hayao Miyazaki movies! All his stories have strong lead female characters!
Books: Nevernight by Jay Kristoff, Ninth House by Leigh Burhugo, Phantom Heart by Kelly Creagh, and all Sarah J. Maas books. For me, all these books either have a paranormal or fantasy element which is a must for me!
Shows: STRANGER THINGS IS MY FAVORITE OF ALL TIME! Amazing writing! Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead also make the list for their storylines and balance of action and drama. When I need a feel-good TV show, I watch the British Bake Off. It really helps my mental health watching that show. Everyone is so sweet and nice doing what they love. It reminds me to look at writing the same way.
I’m with Kim, Stranger Things is one of the best shows out there, and great inspiration for writers!
We’d like to thank Kim for taking the time to interview with us and share her writerly wisdom.
To read the rest of the winning entries, click here.
Stay tuned for more news and updates on the anthology, coming soon to Fictionate.Me and Amazon.
Follow us on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Discord
Check out our app on iOS and Android!