Tag: author interview

Interview with Kathy Tyers: Cover Reveal for Upcoming Novel Firebreak

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Kathy Tyers writes character-driven science fiction with a deep heart and an inquiring spirit. She is the author of the Firebird series – Firebird, Fusion Fire, Crown of Fire, Wind and Shadow, and Daystar – of the Star Wars universe novels Truce at Bakura and New Jedi Order: Balance Point, and of several stand-alones.

She returns to the Firebird universe with her upcoming release Firebreak, which takes place between Crown of Fire and Wind and Shadow. Releasing March 10, 2026 and now available for preorder, with 20% off on Enclave Publishing’s website!

Cover art by Kirk DouPonce at DogEared Designs

Lady Firebird Caldwell returns to the world of her birth, Netaia, intending to introduce her young sons to the noble Electors while her husband, Brennen, conducts a military inspection. When mysterious ships in distress suddenly approach the planet, the Electorate sends her to initiate first contact. Forced to work alongside a vengeful childhood enemy, Firebird uses everything within her power—even her passion for music—to negotiate, only to discover their alien technology threatens all the worlds she holds dear.

Facing ruthless betrayal, Firebird undertakes a deadly journey to salvage the mission. Brennen must make daring use of his telepathic powers to save human life in the galactic Whorl, including that of their young sons. But saving the worlds might force Brennen to give the order that would mean Firebird’s death. In a galaxy poised on the edge of ruin, survival may demand the ultimate sacrifice—from them both.

Caylah: I’m so excited to hear that you’re releasing a new book in the Firebird universe! The new cover looks stunning! Could you tell us more about Firebreak and how the story came to you?

One of the hardest choices an author can make is where to start and end their story – after all, the universe and characters never “end” in our own minds! It’s been quite a few years since your last book in the Firebird universe. How did you decide it was “right” to return?

Kathy: Caylah, thank you for the opportunity to talk about writing Firebird’s story again. If you don’t mind, I’d like to combine my answers to your first two questions.

In 2022, I thought I would never be able to write again. Long COVID had done bizarre things to my brain. Sometimes, I could barely wake up for two or three days, and then I’d have insomnia for most of a week. The worst of it was the sensation that something seemed to be creepy-crawling inside my skull. I barely had the energy to get through a day and cook dinner. Some people thought I was doing pretty well, but I had no energy left to write, which made me feel sad and old.

Still, every second Monday evening, I got together with some new writers from my church and helped them learn the craft. I tried to resurrect an old project of mine, Holy Ground, a rural fantasy novel. I’d written it in third person limited POV, and my writing friends encouraged me to try rewriting it in first person. Week after week, I simply had nothing to bring to the writers group. The passion just wasn’t there. I couldn’t persevere through the long, long process of writing a full first draft, even though the novel was substantially written already.

Finally, Broose–another founding member of that group, and a former Disney animator–challenged me to simply write something that brought me joy and fed my spirit. I had thoroughly enjoyed writing the Firebird series. They filled up something inside of me that had gone empty and dry during COVID. So, out of a sense of grateful nostalgia, I re-read all five of them. I found myself wondering what Firebird and Brennen were doing between Crown of Fire and Wind and Shadow. (Books 3 and 4) The next thing I knew, a new story was pouring out of me. The post-COVID lethargy was gone. Kathy Tyers was alive again.

Caylah: That is wonderful advice – returning to joy when our muse decides to hide under a rock. What did you enjoy most about this story and what are you excited for readers to experience (no spoilers of course!)? I’m personally excited to see more about Netaia’s culture and how it transforms over the years.

Kathy:  The characters! I’ve known Lady Firebird for most of my life. Over the years, she has matured into someone who feels very real to me. So does Brennen. Letting them find each other and embark on their adventures together satisfied a hunger in my soul. In our fallen world, we long for a happy ending–but doesn’t a happy ending usually lead to the next challenge?

Caylah: Indeed! Firebird came so alive to me, so I’m excited to see more of her story.

How does your relationship with God influence your writing process and story planning? e.g. perhaps you have a prayer you like to pray as you sit down to write. 

Kathy: I try to get to work immediately after my quiet time each morning. One of my favorite C.S. Lewis quotes says, in effect, that who/what you are will come out in your writing whether or not you try to put it there. So I work hard on telling a good story and, occasionally, on bringing forward the faith elements. Lightly but genuinely! The exception to “lightly” was Wind and Shadow, which was written as a Master’s degree project for Regent College, a wonderful theological school in Vancouver, BC. One of the main characters was a priest in training, you see….

Caylah: Amen! Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. I remember you published a different edition of Firebird before your deal with Enclave. How did you choose to release a version with enhanced religious themes (is that the biggest difference)? Have you received criticism from fans of your general market (Star Wars) work?

Kathy: My editor Steve Laube had been a fan of my writing before I moved over from Bantam Books to Bethany House publishing, where he worked at the time. During our first conversation, he told me he had suspected for some time that I was a Christian because he’d found hints here and there in my writing (see C.S. Lewis quote above!). Yes, people have left reviews online warning other readers that my books from a Christian publisher have Christian themes. Surprise!

Caylah: Personally, I found the themes of shame, faith, and new life incredibly challenging and encouraging – they make the story have eternal significance. Are there any readers who’ve approached you over the years to share how the Christian message impacted them? All authors want to think that their stories have the power to transform at least one life! 

Kathy: One of the most moving experiences in my life was attending the baptism of a young woman who said she’d decided to become a Christian after reading the Firebird books.

Caylah: Wow, that’s incredible – praise God!

Read my review of Firebird book 1 here.

Caylah: I love how much you weave music into the chapter titles and into Firebird’s thought processes! In my opinion, that’s one of the elements that takes a character from “good” to “great” – their hobbies and passions actually transform how they view and interact with the world. I actually use your trilogy as an example when I offer this advance to new writers! Are there any other tips for character development that you’d share with budding writers?

Kathy: My characters usually reveal themselves to me slowly. I need to spend time with them, thinking through what they find beautiful, meaningful,or challenging. Often, it’s through the process of writing a first draft that I learn what drives them. I enjoy involving some of my characters in music or other arts because that’s been a big part of my background since childhood. I grew up in a musical family. I might ask a hopeful writer, “What do you enjoy, what do you know something about, besides your fiction? Can you layer that into your story in some way that enriches the plot?”

Now and then, though, inspiration hits in an instant. For example, I first glimpsed one of my favorite characters, Tel Tellai, when he was standing at the foot of a breakaway strip while a space-and-atmosphere fighter took off. He was just standing there in shock and protest, holding both of his arms stiffly down at his sides. “Who in the world is that?” I wondered. Calmly, he told me his name (honestly, that’s how it felt) and that he loved Phoena Angelo. I was shocked. “You love HER?? What???? How could ANYONE….” 

Caylah: Moments of “conception” like that make storytelling feel like such a superpower! Since we’re quoting C.S. Lewis, your description reminds me of how his main character in Till We Have Faces says, “I was with book, as a woman is with child.”

The interrogation scene between Brennen and Firebird is one of the most tensely compelling scenes I’ve ever read – the chemistry! I remember the first time I read it, how Brennen’s act of clicking his heels together and shifting forward to begin accessing Firebird’s mind was such a tangible moment that made me physically feel the tension in the room. Then I reread your annotated version and realized you did this deliberately (as good authors do, haha)! You articulated so clearly how physical actions can punctuate energy and emotion and create turning points within a scene without the characters using any words. Are you able to expand upon that idea, maybe going into when this tactic works and when it might not, for some writers?

Kathy: Thanks, Caylah. I love that scene too. I wrote at length about tagging dialogue with action beats in my book for the Christian Writers Institute, Writing Deep Viewpoint: Invite your Readers Into the Story. It isn’t always easy to find the right action beat. I hear my characters speak to each other long before I can see their body language or their surroundings. Every writer’s process is just a bit different.

Caylah: That sounds like a great resource – thank you! It’s encouraging to know that even elements which might not come as naturally or quickly to writers can still become a great strength.

There’s a lot of disagreement about what makes a “strong female character.” Some people have complained that Firebird too quickly gets “shunted into the role of wife and mother,” but I think you did a wonderful job of showing a variety of feminine strengths in Firebird. Being a lethal fighter pilot isn’t the only way to kick butt, which she still does throughout the rest of the trilogy! How would you describe your approach to writing female characters and do you think Christians “should” write women differently than we see in mainstream media?

Kathy: I’m especially glad you asked about this. “The role of wife and mother” is not the end of any story. In and of itself, it’s a high calling for many. For others, it’s a vital step into their unique future. When I brought Firebird and Brennen together, I knew that they both had strong reasons for wanting to create a family.

Still, they obviously weren’t the kind of people to live quietly-ever-after. How, then, would they balance parenting with the other calls on their lives? It’s been a challenge for me, just as it’s been a challenge for them. But they’re doing it! Just wait till you read how they get there in Firebreak. 

Caylah: I can’t wait to see the kind of trouble Kiel and Kinnor got into as kids!

Ok, now for my “fan girl” moment. When Brennen first feels Firebird’s mental shout he expects to find brotherhood. Though it didn’t turn out that way, I’ve been fascinated by what that dynamic would look like in their culture. I would LOVE to see a short story about a Sentinel “blood brother” pair!!! Do they have any famous “Gilgamesh-Enkidu” pairs or stories about sisterhood (which is rarer to find in fiction, sadly)?

Can individuals have more than one pair bond? For instance, would a pair bonded husband also be able to pair bond with a brother in arms? Would his bonded wife feel his brother through their connection at all? I then had fun imagining what would have happened if one of the Shuhr assassins had discovered they were connatural with one of the men in the Caldwell bloodline. What do you think would have happened – would they have stayed their hand as Brennen did with Firebird? 

Kathy: You may have given me a great subplot idea. Thank you. 

Caylah: Ooh, yes! Is there anything else you’d like to share about your story, process, or world?

Kathy: Thank you again for the chance to share a bit about Firebreak, my favorite characters, and my writing process. It was a treat to meet you at Realm Makers, and I hope to see you there again in 2026, when Firebreak is finally available!

Caylah: Thanks! It was lovely meeting you too. And congrats on the birth of your grandson!

Kathy: Thank you!

Follow Kathy Tyers on Facebook for more news and discussions, and find the first book in her Firebird trilogy here. Firebreak, releasing March 10, 2026, is now available for preorder on Amazon or through Enclave Publishing’s website (20% off there).

Amazon links are affiliate links – I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!

Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…

Interview with Jeremiah Friedli – Debut Author of Christian Sci-Fi Novel CORE Deception

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By Caylah Coffeen

CC: Thanks for joining me Jeremiah, and congrats on your debut novel! Tell us about it!

JF: Thanks, and I appreciate you inviting me to join today! Here’s what you’ll find in my novel CORE Deception:

A tyrannical government, a cryptic letter, a devious hacker…

In a world where the government’s CORE systems see and track everyone, seventeen-year-old hacker Seth Alvarez is determined to save his sister from being placed in a reeducation facility. Armed with a cryptic letter, Seth embarks on a search for the valuable incognito devices—cyber master keys that can set his sister free. But with only three weeks remaining, he finds himself wedged between two powerful forces who will stop at nothing to get the devices first.

CC: That sounds exciting! I love books about siblings (I have 6 myself!). And congrats on making it to the finalist stage in the debut category at the 2025 Realm Makers Awards! What do you love most about this story and what are you hoping readers will connect with?

JF: I love stories of espionage, undercover, and page-turning suspense. I also like some level of technology. A dystopian setting offers the perfect venue for teen characters to get into these activities. If you love clean YA read that keeps you turning pages, stories of underdogs standing up to dystopian governments, and plots filled with intrigue and suspense, CORE Deception is for you.

Take codes and ciphers for example. I’d read about them in true spy accounts and liked the idea of incorporating them into the CORE Series. As I learned more so I could write about them correctly, I really enjoyed codes and ciphers. In fact, they play key roles in CORE Deception and its prequel novella Association. I even created a Code and Cipher Guide to go along with my books.

Another reason I like CORE Deception is the primary thematic element, which grew out of 2020 when I faced fears I didn’t know I had. I’ve struggled with fear of acceptance, fear of failure, and fear of incompetence before—to name a few fears. But this was new to me. It was fear that dominated my thinking and tried to control my actions. (And really, doesn’t all fear do that?)

Something told me this wasn’t right—more like Someone. As a Christian, I shouldn’t fear like that, not if I believe the Bible. After all, our future is secure, no matter what happens to us physically. And as Christ-followers, we have more hope than anyone else.

So why was this fear so strong? Later I came across a quote by Max Lucado from his book Fearless. He put it really well: “Fear, at its center, is a perceived loss of control.”

That was me. It felt like I’d lost control of almost every aspect of normal life. Not that I had control in the first place. And that was the foundational deception of my fear. Experiencing this it was painful because it forced me to face a reality—I wasn’t trusting God like I thought I was, like I wanted to think I was. But as painful as that was, it was a gift, growing me as a Christian. And I soon incorporated it into CORE Deception.

CC: That’s such a powerful way to put it. I’ve certainly struggled with that. It’s easy to “trust” God when everything is going well. How else has your faith shaped this story? Could you share what “Christian sci-fi” means to you?

JF: Faith should shape everything Christ’s followers do and think. It’s easier said than done, but that’s what I try to do, including with my writing. This doesn’t mean there’s a Bible verse on every page, but it does mean my writing should reflect a Christian worldview and be done for Christ’s glory.

This reminds me of a pivotal point years ago. I’d been writing it since I was a kid, mainly for enjoyment but with the possibility of publishing eventually. I sensed a challenge from the Lord regarding my time used in writing. If I was going to spend time on it, I should use it for His glory and not just my personal enjoyment. Yes, I want to write engaging stories that whisk readers away into an amazing world of fiction, but I also sensed the call to use my stories to “lay up treasure in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). That includes reflecting biblical worldview and weaving in themes that inspire courageous living for God, regardless of the genre.

I like to think of Christian sci-fi—really any genre—as stories written from a biblical worldview. The Bible should always be the foundation and guide for creators and readers. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, God’s word is sufficient for all areas of life.

CC: Amen! What did you most enjoy about writing your book? What was most challenging?

JF: I absolutely love the phase of writing when the spark of an idea grows into something bigger. It’s that phase when I’m exploring characters or a storyworld (or both!), ideas explode, and it seems anything is possible. It’s like receiving a fascinating new toy on Christmas Day—I’m just so excited to play with this new idea and see what it can do! With CORE Deception, it didn’t take long to realize I had enough for more than one novel.

But for all those loose ideas to form a cohesive story, I eventually had to put it into a framework (either before or after writing the first draft). The phase of structuring everything, making my setting consistent, and refining character arcs posed one of my greatest challenges. I’ve polished words before and cranked out many drafts over the years, but pushing a novel through developmental edits (making all the large pieces work) wasn’t something I’d done before and was harder than anticipated. But the story is so much better for it.

CC: Worldbuilding is definitely the fun part! Actually sitting down and writing takes so much discipline! How long have you been writing and how did God guide you into this career?

JF: One of my first stories was a one-of-a-kind picture book I wrote and illustrated myself as a kid. It was four pages long with a grand total of seven sentences (if you include “the end”), put together with construction paper, masking tape, and staples. [optional: insert picture below] The name was Twenty Door Bells. A real page-turner, huh? You can tell I was using cutting edge print-on-demand technology too. But you can see my imagination was already at work.

Mostly, I only wrote creatively when it was required for school. But somewhere along the way, I found I liked crafting stories. Sometimes it was because my siblings were writing stories. Later, it’s more likely that I ran out of stories to read, and so I decided to write my own. I enjoyed it so much I kind of became an overachiever with writing assignments.

For example…

Assignment: 5 pages of fanciful fiction

Completed Project: 39-page story of animals in a medieval kingdom, complete with intrigue and major battle scenes.

Assignment: Short story with dialogue (short, as in, only a few pages)

Completed Project: 35-page mystery with black-cloaked thugs and a pie fight, among other things.

Soon I was writing even when there wasn’t any assignment—short stories, poems, novellas, novels—and sharing them with my family and friends.

I got into westerns, action, mystery, humor, sci-fi, fanciful, fantasy, retellings, and even an interactive mystery-thriller. I did flash fiction, short stories, novelettes, novellas, short novels, novels. Having siblings who wrote helped a lot, offering camaraderie and some friendly competition. I have terrific memories cowriting with my brothers and sisters. Also, it was huge that my mom (and homeschool teacher) fostered creativity.

As time went on, I sensed God calling me to do more with my creative writing, as I mentioned above.

CC: Haha, I love your enthusiasm! And that your mom kept your first story! How would you describe your writing style and how has it evolved since those early stories? Do you have any advice for writers as they try to develop a unique style?

JF: I love stories with high suspense, action, and thriller pacing. I think a lot of teen guys would agree. When I read books in that genre, I’m able to detect a general style, especially for action and suspense scenes.

But when it comes to developing my own style, I’ve largely followed James Scott Bell’s advice on the subject. Keep in mind, both he and I write for the commercial fiction market, not literary or what your high school English teacher taught you. In Revision and Self-Editing for Publication, Bell says, “It’s best to allow voice and style to emerge naturally in the telling of your tale. Attend to the fundamentals of the craft, and voice and style will seem organic. That’s your goal.”

Put another way, don’t think too hard about style. As you write more and more, you’ll naturally develop one of your own. But if you concentrate too much on style, you risk awkward, unnatural prose that jars the reader.

CC: That’s a good point. Sometimes writers can over-plan, rather than letting things develop organically. What was your journey to publication like? Why did you pick the route you did and what kind of challenges did you face along the way?

JF: As mentioned, at some point I pivoted from writing for fun to writing intentionally, like for the purpose of publication. I dedicated myself to the craft of writing and eventually started looking for publishers and agents. But eventually, I didn’t sense any major publisher’s interest in my writing. While a small publishing house might have been, I felt like I’d be doing much of the same work as independently publishing—an idea I gradually liked more and more.

More significantly, as time went on I realized that I would really like to have a say in the final book product. I sensed that God wanted me to influence the story, the editing, the cover, the marketing, and so on. The catch is, I had to learn at least some about all those areas. For example, I knew I should outsource my cover design, but that still requires I understand the norms for covers in my sub-genre and can create a design brief for the designer.

Pragmatically, indie publishing works well in the book industry today. There’s definitely a learning curve if you’re going to do it well, but it’s easier than ever for an author to tackle areas like typesetting and selling directly from their website. And I’ve found I enjoyed the business and marketing parts of writing a lot more than I anticipated.

CC: That must be a relief! It’d be so hard to stick with it if you hated the business and marketing like a lot of authors do!
There has been discussion lately of how few young adult books feature male main characters (outside romance plots). Indeed, it seems like major publishers aren’t interested in these types of stories. Why do you think this is? Are you hoping to reach boys and young men in particular, and how do you hope your book can accomplish this?

JF: Yes, I write for teen guys. Perhaps because as a teen guy, I had a hard time finding books I enjoyed. Thankfully, I did find some, and that’s probably why I ended up writing YA! But more importantly, that’s the genre I sense God calling me to. I still have a lot to learn here, so I’m always eager for resources that help me do this.

It’s no secret to those in the book industry that guys don’t read/buy as many books as girls.

If you look at what the large publishers are producing, the same disparity seems to exist in the young adult genre. Not that there’s anything inherently wrong with that. My guess is they’re publishing what sells. To an extent, it’s a chicken or the egg situation—since not a lot of guys read, few new books get published for them, which leads to fewer guys reading and therefore publishers creating fewer books for that diminishing readership.

Some blame the gaming industry for drawing guys away from books, but my counter to that is “what is it about those games that connect with guys?” There are a number of independently published authors who have figured out how to produce stories guys love and are filling the void left by the larger publishers. Because plenty of young men do like to read, even if they’re not looking for reading material in the same places other people are.

This is a big topic, and this excellent discussion on the Christian Publishing Show is a good next stop.

CC: Thank you! That’s a valuable perspective. What’s next for you as an author?

JF: I’m well into the planning phase of CORE Deception‘s sequel. Readers can expect more suspense and espionage while exploring new facets of the CORE Series storyworld and digging deeper into characters like Seth, Krystin, and Jhalak. The next title and plot are a secret right now, though I’m feeding some insider snippets to those subscribed to my emails. Here’s a teaser for the sequel:

A relentless pursuer.
An unpredictable ally.
The opportunity of a lifetime.

Can seventeen-year-old hacker Seth Alvarez survive a daring undercover mission that could change the course of a nation…or destroy everything he’s even known and loved?

After a third novel in the CORE Series, I’m praying about what to write. Several ideas are pushing their way to the front of the line, and it’s too early to say which one will win out. It could be another sci-fi, a modern thriller, kingdom adventure—you get the idea.

CC: Thanks Jeremiah, I look forward to it! And best of luck in the next stage of judging at the 2025 Realm Makers competition!

JF: Thanks so much for allowing me to join the discussion today!

About Jeremiah Friedli

Author of the 2025 Realm Awards Finalist CORE Deception, Jeremiah Friedli is a homeschool graduate, lifelong writer, ice cream lover, and native Texan. He enjoys getting out in God’s creation, whether that’s hiking, camping, running, or just reading quietly on the porch. Otherwise, you might find him seated behind a large screen with one of his beloved spreadsheets or watching a movie with his family. Learn more and connect with him at jeremiahfriedli.com.

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Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!

Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…

A tall Asian woman and a shorter white woman with a brown wavy bob hug in front of a library fireplace, smiling.

Author Talk with Rea Frey – in Conversation with Georgina Cross

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Photo from left to right, Georgina Cross and Rea Frey

by Caylah Coffeen

Rea Frey (Nashville), the award-winning author of 4 fiction and 4 nonfiction books, joins Georgina Cross (Huntsville), the author of 6 suspense novels, to discuss her new release In Every Life. Thank you to the South Huntsville Public Library and The Snail on the Wall for hosting this event.

Georgina: So we’re, like, real friends?

Rea: (laughs) Yes, real friends.

Georgina: Well, we first met because we have the same agent. But we just talked for 3 hours at our 3 pm “dinner.” Real friends! Rea was a couple years ahead of me when we met, so she’s someone I’ve looked up to and learned from.

Rea: Well, this is one of the coolest part of being an author – you find your people.

Georgina: Yes! And complain to them, and troubleshoot – we’re still learning from each other. I have 6 books out now, just started my 7th. And you just released your 8th and are writing your 9th!

Rea: That’s right. I just released In Every Life, out August 6th.

Georgina: So you’re beating me now!

Rea: (laughs) It’s not a competition!

Georgina: So what do you write and how did you get published?

Rea: I write thrillers and women’s or book club fiction. I’m with 2 different publishers for the 2 genres. The first book I wrote, I didn’t even know it was thriller. I just wrote the book I loved and the publisher who gave me the book deal said it was thriller.

Georgina: We both started out similarly – we wanted to write the book we wanted to write. But they try to fit you in a genre once you get a book deal. It’s a business, and it helps them sell your books.

Rea: Yes, so after my first book deal, they wanted me to keep writing thrillers. I had to suddenly manufacture books in that genre. I started in fiction, and didn’t know how to get published. I got published at 22 with a sketchy company and it bombed. So I switched to nonfiction, but it didn’t bring me joy. I finally switched back to fiction and my first book, Not My Daughter, poured out of me in a month. By then I knew enough about the industry to land an agent, then a two-book deal. I hadn’t written fiction in 10 years and suddenly I had really tight deadlines. I dealt with a lot of imposter syndrome.

Georgina: You also wanted to write women’s fiction.

Rea: Well that just came to me too. I was out of contract with my first publisher and fell back into my original process where I didn’t know what genre I was writing. I just wrote. I’ve been chasing that feeling from my debut book – when I had no one telling me what to write, and wasn’t put in a genre box. We feel a huge pressure to market and sell our books. We’re creatives, not marketers. I’m putting out 2 books a year and you wouldn’t believe how little time there is to write – it’s all about everything else. I’m trying to push back against that.

Georgina: We’ve both decided to go back to our roots, writing what we love. My 7th, your 9th book. My mind is dark. I’ll always write thriller. But my dad said I’m almost going toward horror. And I don’t want people to say “it’s too unbelievable” if I take a step toward magic realism. I write fiction because I can do what I want!

Rea: Right, can “a story you love” be a genre?

Author Quirks!

A young woman with short, wavy, light brown hair sits at a wood table, cheerfully signing a stack of paperback books.
Photo Credit: Georgina Cross

Georgina: Well, let’s do a lightning round of questions so the audience can get to know you a bit more before we dig into your new release. Are you a morning or night person?

Rea: Morning!

Georgina: Big city or small town?

Rea: I used to have said big city, I’m from Nashville, but now I’d definitely say small town. I hate the traffic.

Georgina: Crowds or intimate gatherings?

Rea: Intimate gatherings, definitely!

Georgina: What’s your favorite snack?

Rea: You know, I really don’t snack anymore, though it used to be fruit.

Georgina: That’s right, your nonfiction books are about nutrition and you work out a lot. I always have snacks with me in case my blood sugar drops. We were at an event together, and you came up to me and said you were dying, hadn’t eaten all day, and I remember offering you one of my snacks. It was a Cliff Bark and you just gave it a look like, “what’s this?”

Rea: (laughs) Did I even eat it?

Georgina: You were just tearing little bits off! I thought, what a waste of my Cliff Bar.

Rea: It’s just so processed. If you do anything for your health, cut out seed oils, you’ll feel so much better.

Georgina: What do you do to relax?

Rea: I just got a rescue dog, an Australian cattle dog, so not relaxing, because they need so much exercise! But I love movement – swimming, hiking, laying in sun. I’ll also watch a movie with family, go out with friends.

Georgina: If you could only take 2 things from your house if it was on fire, what would you take (aside from your husband and daughter)?

Rea: My dog definitely! Because of my tour, I won’t see my daughter for 8 days, and that’s the longest I’ve ever left her (she’s 12 now). But almost cried leaving my dog today. Otherwise, I’m not very materialistic. I had a tiny home as a writing study, filled with books by my clients (I also help authors get published) and limited edition ones. It actually did burn down and I lost everything!

Georgina: Sorry! Didn’t mean to bring up trauma here!

Rea: Yeah, Georgina! No, it’s okay. My husband rebuilt it simpler, and I actually like it better now. It helps me come up with ideas when I don’t have so much bombarding me. Now, I guess I’d also take the framed photo of Sophie’s first ultrasound, which I don’t have a digital copy of.

Georgina: Okay, you have to describe your morning ritual, it’s fascinating. You’ve scaled it down, right?

Rea: Actually, I scaled it up. I’ve really gotten into fascia lately. So I take a block and move it all over the muscles in my face – there’s so much tension in our face that we don’t realize.

Georgina: …

Audience: …

Georgina: You get up in the morning… and the first thing you do is rub a block all over your face?

Rea: (laughs) Yes!

Georgina: Are you still greeting the sun too?

Rea: Oh yes, I usually get up before the sun rises.

Georgina: I have a damn note on my coffee machine that says “greet the sun” because she told me to do that.

Rea: We’re so out of touch with our circadian rhythm because of technology. So I go outside, get the sun in my eyeballs first thing, and it signals the right hormones to activate. I’ll get my feet in earth too. I dry brush my skin, take a cold shower if can’t take an ice bath, journal, meditate of course – the first hour is for me, then my husband and I have a coffee and chat by the pool. And these days I’ll walk the dog.

Georgina: You dry brush your body every day?

Rea: Yes, it’s great for detoxing.

Georgina: And you still have time to write 8 books!

Rea: Because I take care of myself, take time for myself!

Georgina: I think about greeting the sun, but I still haven’t.

Rea: In a whole year?!

Georgina: I look at the sticky note and think, that sounds lovely, then just don’t?

Book Release – In Every Life

A stack of books titled In Every Life by Rea Frey rests on a table. The cover reveals an upside-down auburn woman in a lavender dress against a green field. The spine splits her body in half lengthwise. Half of her is visible on the front, and half on the back cover of the book.
Photo credit: Georgina Cross

Georgina: Alright, we’ve got to talk about your new book, In Every Life.

Rea: Yes! So it’s about a newly wed couple who’s really happy together, but then the husband gets cancer, and comes up with this crazy idea – he wants Harper to find new love before he dies. And suddenly her old flame who she hasn’t met in 10 years shows up. She hasn’t settled (for second best) in life, but she does live with a lot of what-ifs. Harper wanted to be an artist in New York, wanted to go all in with this guy, but she didn’t. The book takes a magical realism turn when she makes several wishes and wakes up in New York with her ideal life. The book splits into 3 timelines – what is, what was, and what-if. This book was inspired by two friends whose wife was diagnosed with leukemia and their whole life was consumed with survival. Cancer became their whole lives, when they were so joyful and active before. I love playing with time and how one little decision can put us on another path entirely (this theme is often called “sliding doors”).

Georgina: Your book last year had a lost love too. So I’ve wondered, who is Rea’s lost love?

Rea: I had a starter marriage when I was 22, a practice marriage I like to say. After the divorce I had a 6 month steamy connection with a best friend. It was messy. I moved away to Chicago, swore off men and dating. We didn’t really have closure so I have wondered. I had just started dating my now-husband when this flame called me and said he wanted to be together for real. I said no. 15 years of marriage later and I’m happy – I don’t hold on to things like that. Not everyone has “the one that got away,” but it’s relatable.

Georgina: So I know I get super excited to write certain scenes. Which part of the book was your favorite – the what is, what was, or what if timeline?

Rea: The what-if is new, so it’s fun to put myself in that position. The “what is” and Harper having to face the end of a relationship after only 2 years was hard to write but really important, I had to put myself in those shoes, to think of losing someone you’re still getting to know. Her whole world becomes about him, but she has to think beyond him, pre-grieving almost. So I think that’s my favorite timeline.

Georgina: Are you a linear writer? You wrote Ch 1 to the end in that order even with the switching timelines?

Rea: Yes, I write them how they appear, not in different chunks, but in the final order.

Georgina: We’ve both just ended our contracts with publishers – we’re in the same place now. What are you looking forward to next?

Rea: As creatives, we need space, time to process. When I used to think about writing I was in the woods, burning candles. I’d walk for hours and come back, totally immersed in it. In our crazy digital world we don’t even have time to think these days. We fill our time with content, consume so much. I’ve gotten away from that because I can’t come up with ideas otherwise. There’s no WiFi in my writing tiny house. Not even candles now, because that’s what burned it down! It was the goddess of words statue that lit up. I don’t have anything extraneous anymore.

Georgina: I write fiction because I want to make stuff up. It’ll be interesting now I’m a free agent to go to a new publisher and define my own stuff. It’s fun for a story to have unbelievable elements. I want to include some paranormal elements without people saying, “but this is supposed to be thriller.”

Rea: Yes! Harper’s friends from In Every Life give her an oracle deck, tell her to burn some sage and stuff under the full moon and make 3 wishes. She doesn’t believe much in it, till she wakes up in an alternate universe! I even included a full moon ritual in the back of the book.

Georgina: I’m Chinese and we’re super superstitious… so I haven’t tried that ritual.

Rea: Ooh you have to. I swear, if I shuffle an oracle deck, one will fly out randomly. I have friends who say they always pick one that’s just perfect for them.

Audience Questions

Q: How do you determine whether to continue on with a character’s story in a sequel or write a standalone novel?

Rea: Back with my first book, I had to choose between 2 publishers – one wanted a sequel and the other wanted a standalone. I went with the one who wanted a standalone. It could have taken my career a whole different route, if I’d tried the sequel path, but I’m glad I didn’t. Once I’m finished with a story, I’m finished. I always write standalones.

Georgina: I’ve never tried writing sequels. Sometimes I think it’d be easier not to have to restart with a whole cast of characters every time. But I wonder if I’d remember all the details from my first book or forget them. And after ripping your book apart so much in editing, you’ll be happy enough to see a new set of characters!

Q: How do you deal with writers block with such strict deadlines?

Georgina: Ask for an extension!

Rea: So I’ve had some crazy deadlines like 3 months to write a whole book when all I started with was a proposal. I already had writer’s block found a prompt that was really interesting and wrote a 10 page proposal. It was accepted and my publisher wanted it in 3 months! I sat there for a month with no idea what to do. I took a lot of walks. I don’t sit and try to write and force it – I allow myself space for things to come to me. That’s actually my best received book and I had zero attachment to it! Sometimes it’s good to have a deadline or writing a book can drag out to a year.

Georgina: Seriously though, ask for an extension. If Simone Biles can, I can. I called and asked – the worst they can say is no. They weren’t happy. It’s a business – they have a whole line of other professionals and a schedule that gets bumped too. But they granted it. Sometimes things just happen in life and you need to feel a bit freer to get it done.

Rea: Books get written by writing consistently. I tell myself, if write 1000 words a day, that’s a book in 2 months. I’m a fast writer, so I can hit that in 30 min. If I can’t dedicate 30 min out of my day to making this work… I mean, it’s totally doable. If I instead give myself 4-6 months to write a book, I fill that time with other things. I need the specific daily goal.

Q: What was your social media presence like before publishing?

Rea: I hate social media, I think it’s responsible for a lot of mental illness. I’ve always resisted it- I want to be an author without it. I finally got on and thought it was so dumb. When I sold my first book, I picked Instagram, then added Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Then a year or two in said I’m not doing this, and deleted everything but IG. My publishers weren’t happy, and I’m probably not reaching as many people as I could otherwise, but I’m happier. I have met phenomenal readers on Instagram, I’ll say that. I’ve never had negative experiences.

Georgina: I’ve come to terms with it. I don’t think there’s a solution. We unfortunately have to have a social presence. It’s so rare to make it without it.

Rea: But does it sell books?

Georgina: It gets reviewers.

Rea: I’ve worked with authors for 20 years. It’s not the end all be all. Social media can sell but it’s more of an energy sucker, no one can figure out, it regularly changes, and there’s no end date to posting. Publishers want to see 50-100K engaged followers, which is crazy. We’re not designed to have connections with that many people. Publishers have decided the onus to market is on us. But it’s OUR time. That’s not what we signed up for. If we collectively decide “no,” we’re not doing that, things will have to change.

Georgina: I always tell the writers in my writers group, don’t split your brain energy between socials, paying for training, and writing. Step 1: declare yourself an author. Step 2: write. Step 3: finish the book! Don’t worry about all the other things till you finish your book.

Rea: There are other ways. Word of mouth is still the MOST effective sales tool. I think privacy will come back around again. It’s exhausting. I want to be a writer. That’s what I am.

Georgina: Well thank you all so much for coming and please stick around to look at our books!

Support Local Authors!

Support Rea Frey by purchasing her books through Huntsville’s local indie bookstore The Snail on the Wall. Find her on Instagram @reafreyauthor.

Find Georgina Cross’ books online too and follow her on Instagram @georginacrossauthor.

Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!

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