KA Stefana

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

I am a part-time author, writing in my spare time, but I try to write a couple of chapters every week. Beyond writing, plotting, and scheming with my characters, I love to cook, read, go hiking, and paint. I am a civil engineer by trade but have spent most of my time playing in the lab. Now, my days are filled with numbers for the day job and wrestling with misbehaving characters in the evenings. Many, many moons ago, I lived in Germany. You will find hints about my time there, and sometimes I'll include a place I visited.

When and why did you start writing books?

I started writing during quarantine and haven't stopped writing since.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

I am still writing part-time but hope one day to be able to write full-time.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

That's such a loaded question. If I had to choose one, I would say fierce and fiery Katriona from The Schatten Chronicles. Her personality is bold, sassy, stubborn, and everything in between. Most of all, I love her strength to carry on in a dark and feudal world and face her enemies head on.

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

I am wrapping up The Shadow Wolf, which is part of a shared world. I needed to have the wolf pack live in Greenland. It was a challenge to do the research, tie the culture into the storyline respectfully, and still weave a tale that my readers would enjoy. The best part was researching the names of the characters.

Who is your favourite author and book?

Jeff Wheeler; The Wretched of Muirwood.

What book are you reading right now?

Fairy Tale by Stefan King.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

I have always read fantasy books from C.S. Lewis to Tolkien, to the new authors Jeff Wheeler, Christopher Paolini, and Ted Dekker. I think from years of reading great tales, I have found the inspiration to spin a tale or two.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I love to cook and create new recipes. I try to cook a few days a week, splitting the cooking with my husband. I'd cook more, and there were more hours in the day. I also love to go for walks and hike new trails, but my favorite activity is drawing or painting.

Do you have any new books in the works?

I just finished writing The Shadow Wolf on Kindle Vella and I am in the process of having the cover designed and final edits. Hopefully, I will have a launch date in June 2024!