The following is an interview with USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde regarding the upcoming release of her romantasy novel, The Wren in the Holly Library, through Red Tower Books. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Linde about her creative process in bringing the story and characters to life on the page, what she hopes that readers may take away the story, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of The Wren in the Holly Library! What are you most excited for readers to experience with this modern-day retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and what served as its inspiration?
K.A. Linde: Thank you so much! This has been many years in the making for me, and I love that so many people get to experience this story now. What I am most excited for is when the twists hit at the end. I’ve had many people say that they got to what they thought was the ending and didn’t see what was coming next. That’s always a satisfying experience as an author.
There was much inspiration behind the story. First and foremost, Beauty and the Beast of course. Additionally, it is steeped in Celtic mythology. As well as inspired by my time in Dublin on a research trip with my mom for our own Irish roots, and several different times I was in New York City.
BD: The creative process of approaching an adaptation of a prior work – especially one as well known as Beauty and the Beast – can be a daunting experience. How would you describe your approach to breathing new life into the story, especially in light of your deft work in weaving fantasy, romance, and political intrigue into your narrative?
KAL: Truthfully, I didn’t set out to write a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I was writing about a street thief who got put in bad circumstances and then had to be in a forced proximity relationship with a monster. And once I got to about halfway through writing the first of many drafts (think twenty at least), I saw that the structure was already there. Then, I was more deliberate with my use of it throughout the second half and in subsequent editing drafts.
But what interested me about Beauty and the Beast was a girl finding what she wanted in the least likely of circumstances. In her old life, she is stifled, can’t find true love, or expand her mind. Once she escapes to what should be her prison, she truly comes into her own. And that is the universal fantasy that so many of us want. A person to see us for who we truly are, a mirror of ourselves despite all flaws, and—a very big library, of course.
BD: What makes Red Tower Books the perfect home for this story?
KAL: Red Tower Books saw the magic in this story. I remember getting on the phone with the editor and her telling me that it was a six-star book and that she was going to make sure everyone knew. They believed in the story from day one. It’s sort of a dream come true with everything that has gone into it. The sprayed and stenciled edges and artwork and beautiful interiors. It definitely found its forever home in the perfect place.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Kierse’s story may connect with and impact today’s readers?
KAL: Kierse’s story is one of finding family after a long line of abuse and abandonment. She comes out of terribly difficult circumstances after her family left and the man who took her in hurt her to find love and acceptance both with her friends and a mirror in the hero, Graves. I believe it to be a very moving tale of found family and perseverance in the face of adversity. While also steeped in love.
BD: Are there any other upcoming projects on which you are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?
KAL: I am currently writing the second book in the Oak and the Holly Cycle, and then the final book in my Royal Houses series, House of Embers. It’s about a half-Fae girl who finds her place in a world set against her. Plus, an enemies-to-lovers relationship with a dark Fae prince, a dragon tournament, and more deft political machinations.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about The Wren in the Holly Library and your other work?
KAL: The best way to get more information is through my website, www.kalinde.com. You can also follow me online @authorkalinde on Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok. I have a weekly newsletter where I talk to my readers and give book recommendations and freebies that you can sign up for here: www.kalinde.com/subscribe
