Interview with Kelly A. Nix, Author of Kaji Warriors: Shifting Strength

What can you tell us about your new release, Kaji Warriors: Shifting Strength?

I am very excited about it. It’s the first entry of the Kaji Warriors series, which centers around a group of young warriors surviving a culture dictated by strength and honor. In Shifting Strength, you’re introduced to the world of Kaji as Atae and her friends navigate the dangers of their training, the Sula Academy Tournament, and the royal egos of an unstable monarchy.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I’ve been an avid reader since elementary school, and I’ve never been shy about diving into a new fictional world. It started with K. A. Applegate’s Animorphs series, and I haven’t stopped since. Also, fan ficiton helped lanch my confidence as a writer. I enjoyed writing story lines for everyone’s beloved characters, and the feedback from readers was really positive, so I decided to create something original. I’m hoping my readers enjoy it too.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

I prefer book series’. When I discover new characters that I enjoy, I latch onto them. I love Kim Harrison’s Hallows Series. I am a big Rachel & Trent shipper. I also enjoy Jim Butcher’s Dresdan Files series,Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet series, Rachel Vincent’s Shifter series, and Patricia Brigg’s Mercy Thompson series.

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask

I would invite K.A. Applegate, and I’d ask her how she came up with such a unique story line. She created wonderfully well-developed characters with rich back stories and an adventure that spanned 54 short novels. Because of her, I looked forward to every scholastic fair my school held.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

I experience this high after completing a scene or chapter that really speaks to me. There are several chapters like this in my new book. Everytime I re-read them, I get chills because I’ve written them exactly how I’ve seen it played out in my mind, and I hope the reader experiences everything that I’ve intended for them.

What is a typical day like for you?

I have a full-time job that is seperate from my writing, and it requires me to travel often. I usually write on planes and in hotels, but I get the most done when I’m in my recliner at home. It’s my creative space. I work from my home-office when I’m not traveling, so I spend most of my work day on the computer. I usually write in the evenings when I’m winding down for the day.

What scene from Kaji Warriors: Shifting Strength was your favorite to write?

The first scene between Atae and Kandorq is my favorite scene. I mean, I really like their second scene together too, but the first one is kind of the beginning of Atae’s mental struggles. It’s the first time that she’s ever truely felt weak and vulnerable. This scene sets the stage for her character arc over the next several chapters.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

“It is what it is.” I don’t know who said it or when I picked it up, but it has changed my total persona. It keeps my anxiety levels at a minimum and helps to identify the things that I cannot change. That way, I can focus my resources on the things that I can change.

Kelly A. Nix is the author of the new book Kaji Warriors: Shifting Strength.

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