When I was a little girl, I was someone who was just as likely to be found climbing trees or splashing in a creek as she was curled up with a book, lost in a world of magic and adventure. Apparently, this path leads many young dreamers to pursue careers as authors, as Haley Kilgour has a similar background.
Haley, of course, had a much cooler calling in life than just writing. Her love for the ocean was so strong that she often joked she must be part mermaid, and this passion led her to pursue a degree in marine biology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Never one to stop chasing her dreams, Haley went on to obtain a Master of Professional Science in marine conservation from the University of Miami in 2019. I recently sat down to talk to this part-mermaid, part-writer wonder woman about all things writing and her upcoming appearance at UTOPIAcon in Nashville from June 20 to 21, 2024.
Nikki: Thank you so much for joining me, Haley! I know we’ve featured Owl Talyn Press on the blog, but I’m really excited to hear your story. To kick things off, tell me about your books! What genres do you write in?
Haley: I so far have only published fantasy books, but I do have books in historical fiction and action adventure started. I read just about anything except for horror.
That is so funny, I also have a historical fiction in the works… but a horror-fantasy, too! Let me ask, what made you want to be a writer?
I couldn’t sleep. So, I told myself bedtime stories. And then the characters demanded I write their stories. So, here we are!
That is so funny, I know you always say that your biggest inspiration for writing is that you simply needs her characters to be quiet so you can think. Was there an author that inspired you to really start writing?
Christopher Paolini. I wanted to be published at 15 just like him. It ended up being 24, but hey, still published!
I loved reading The Inheritance Cycle back in the day, too! I’m really glad I didn’t publish the books I was writing as a teenager, though I did query them. What did your path to publication ultimately look like?
I was indie published with Rockhill Publishing, but my business partner, David F Balog, and I decided we wanted to do things our own way and set of an a really weird and winding journey to create Owl Talyn Press. So now I’m both self-published and indie published since I am the publisher of a small press. (laughs)
That must be the coolest journey. I know Nanagin is available through the press, and you mentioned a few works-in-progress earlier, but… what’s next, Haley?
Nanagin’s sequel is hopefully coming late this summer. No later than end of this year. Then I’ll be taking a small break from that world for a mythology retelling.
Oh, I love mythology retellings. I know you can’t give away too many details, but know that I’m already itching to learn more. Let me ask this instead — what’s your favorite book?
I don’t really have a favorite but the three that have impacted me most as a reader have been The Swiss Family Robinson, Harry Potter, and Eragon.
I love that, those are some fantastic stories. In terms of indie stories, what authors are you obsessed with right now?
E. M. Rinaldi. The next books she’s working on has a character that’s a marine biologist. And it helps that one of her good friends — me — is a marine biologist to help make it accurate!
(laughs) That’s always such a fortunate happenstance, isn’t it? When I was working on Industrialized, one of my best friends happened to be majoring in chemical engineering. She was the one who told me that the Bunsen burners I included in the fictional lab should have been convection burners, though I can’t say I really know the difference. Aside from chatting with other writers, what goes into your writing routine?
It used to be first two hours of the day were spent writing. Now I’m lucky if my ADHD cooperates to get 30 minutes done when I get home from work. And, no, I can’t get up any earlier, I already get up at 5:45 a.m. for work.
I also have to wake up early for work, so I feel your pain. Speaking of pain, are there any tropes you just don’t enjoy?
Most romance tropes. I hated romance in stories as a kid because it just wasn’t always necessary. So while my books do have romantic interests, the romance and romance tropes will never be at the forefront.
I totally get that, and I often feel the same. Do you have any other quirks as a reader that are in that same vein?
I actually get really annoyed with what people name characters sometimes. Like, I just read a book and I’m like… this isn’t the right name. And, sadly, I just know I’m nuts on this one.
That’s actually really funny, and I’ve definitely felt the pressure as a writer to choose the right names for that reason. Let me ask, when you’re not writing, what do you do for fun?
Read? I also enjoy photography and scuba diving.
Okay, I need to dig into this marine background of yours. That’s just so fascinating. Did you always know you’d be a marine biologist?
I first wanted to be a vet. Then a marine biologist. Then a famous singer. Then a famous writer. Then a teacher. I’m a marine biologist and I have the writer part down, now to work on the famous.
And I’m manifesting the heck out of that for you, because you’re a literal rockstar. A writer, a publisher, someone I’m increasingly starting to suspect may actually be a mermaid. What kind of music can I catch you singing?
A little bit of everything but Country. And a fair bit of Classic Rock.
Noted for the sailors out there — if you hear a siren singing pop on the open water, assume it’s Haley. If it’s Country, it’s probably a different mermaid. So, do you ever write in the water or any other unusual places? And have you ever set any of your stories in the places you’ve visited as a marine expert?
No unusual writing places, but I love to read in pools. And, yes, actually! One of my stories is set in Miami and the Florida Keys. I did grad school in Miami and currently live in the Keys.
I love the Keys. I was so shocked when I first visited Key West and saw all the chickens wandering around! Which actually opens up a really punny transition for me. I know a lot of writers chicken out and sell themselves short before they can become a published author. Do you have any advice for them?
Don’t give up. Like… the process sucks, but the result is so worth it. And the indie community isn’t like it was one, two, three, or even five years ago. Reach out to just about any author and they will do their best to help you and steer you in the right direction.
That is honestly so true, and the author community has been a lovely one to be a part of. I really appreciate your time today, Haley! Before I let you go, I just have one more question for you. What’s the best thing a reader has told you?
That they loved my book. Those simple words mean the world to me.
Haley Kilgour is an author to keep on your radar! Connect with her on Instagram to keep a pulse on her upcoming projects, and swing by Amazon to learn more about Nanagin.
Want to learn more about other indie authors you need to know? Keep an eye on my Indie Author Spotlight Series for spotlights that span various different genres.