Author Interview with Kate LeRoux

Today I have the privilege of chatting with Kate LeRoux, the author of the Kalathan series, among other things. Here’s what she had to say.

I live in the beautiful city of Cape Town in South Africa and except for 9 months in the UK and Europe when I was 21 have never been anywhere else in the world! I am a Christian which defines every aspect of my life including my writing. I am happily married with 4 kids between the ages of 9 and 15, used to be a high school English teacher, homeschooled my kids until last year and love pretty much anything arty and creative. 

I assume you’ve been writing for a long time, but when did you decide you wanted to self-publish?

I have always written bits and pieces of poetry, plays, and stories for family and friends – at University a professor told me I shouldn’t teach but rather write, but I don’t regret my years as a teacher at all. I never thought I was capable of writing a novel until I tried 3 years ago and I haven’t looked back. I have never tried to get published because the South African fiction market is teeny, especially for something niche like my YA Christian stories. With my crazy life I need the freedom and flexibility of self-publishing.

Who’s the biggest critic of your writing?

My husband is not a novel-reader, but he is very sharp and has an amazing eye for details and inconsistencies. Also he is easily bored and not afraid to criticise! So any criticism from him is super helpful. If something I write keeps him engaged then I am satisfied! 

What about your biggest fan?

Do I have one? I don’t know! There is one person who read my books after a mutual friend recommended them. She has become a beta-reader and wonderful encouragement and I am so grateful for her excitement every time she reads my work. 

Who’s your favorite character you’ve created? Why?

Oh goodness – I am very attached to my characters. I daydream about them more than I should, even after their stories are written. One of my favourites is Jack from Teacher, Teacher. I don’t know why other than he’s just a nice guy. My favourite character to write so far has probably been the witty, snarky, arrogant prince Jandrin from the Kalathan books, or crazy Grigor from Brothers of Kalathan. 

What book or story are you currently working on? Can you tell us a bit about it?

I am working on Book 3 of the Kalathan series, Return to Kalathan. It follows the exile Korbin as he returns to his homeland to face a different kind of persecution, and his own love story of course! I am also often working on short stories for the weekly Reedsy Prompts Contests. I love the sense of community and was very excited to win a couple of months ago for a story set in Kalathan! When I feel discouraged I can go back to read all the cool comments to feel inspired again. I feel that it stretches me and keeps me writing “fit”. 

Kalathan is an interesting world, not quite fantasy, not quite reality. What was your inspiration for it?

I actually began scribbling a story about an ordinary girl going on a journey with 6 princes when I was in high school. I dug out my old notes one day and went from there. I think I was mostly inspired by Robin McKinley’s books, The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown, which are set in a reimagined colonised India-type land. I enjoy historical fiction but am not interested in being finicky about accurate details. It was much more fun to make up my own history! We are friends with some missionaries in Kazakhstan and their updates got me interested in Central Asia. Adding the European conqueror aspect allowed me to mix that with things more familiar to me. 

Can you write in chaos, or does your creativity require peace and quiet?

I can write in chaos; if I could not there would be no books! I do a lot in the small pockets of time between driving kids around once I know where I am going with a story. But I do need some quiet. I wrote a lot before Corona hit when my husband was traveling out of town for work. I would stay up very late writing and regret it in the morning! But he has stopped traveling for now, and my kids are not back at school full-time yet, so there is plenty of chaos here. 

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

I love going for walks with my family and friends in the forest on the slopes of Table Mountain near our home. I like playing the guitar and piano, making art and doing some baking. I adore going to the theatre when I can, especially to see a musical. I have also enjoyed doing DIY with my husband – we did some renovations on our house ourselves which was hard work but very rewarding. 

Thanks for sharing with us today, Kate!