Author Meet & Greet

All are welcome here.

Connect with authors through their social media links (if they choose to share them), learn about their writing process, and purchase their works.

The 4 most current interviews are posted here. Older ones may be found under the Archive: Author Meet & Greet on the main page of this blog by the author’s last name.

**Jack Ketchum’s Interview from December 2017 is PINNED at the bottom of this page**

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So, without further ado, let’s get to know

Meet & Greet Author:  #299

Kendall Kirkbride

Your Name: Kendall Kirkbride

Pseudonym: None. I publish under my own name. (Although I played around with the idea of writing my memoir – which has really been more of a WordPress side project – under the pseudonym Maddison Penrose.)

Genre(s) of your work: Psychological suspense, crime thriller, gothic mystery, horror, dark fantasy, and dark “romantasy.”

Titles/Year of Published Work(s):

The Quiet Between Us — Sept. 3, 2026

When Gods Wake — Sept. 11, 2026

Upcoming:

Where the Missing Go — tentatively planned for November 2026

Bio:

Kendall Kirkbride is an Ohio-based author whose work moves through psychological suspense, crime thriller, gothic mystery, horror, and dark romantasy.

Outside of writing, she is a licensed chemical dependency counselor working as a primary therapist in substance-use treatment. She earned her undergraduate degree in criminal justice and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling with concentrations in addiction and forensic counseling, while preparing for future doctoral study in forensic psychology.

Her debut novel, The Quiet Between Us, begins the Elliott Mercer series, while When Gods Wake opens The Dead Gods, a planned five-book dark romantasy series.

Her stories tend to live in the uncomfortable spaces between what people know, what they remember, what they are willing to admit, and what they would rather leave buried.

Why do you write in the genre that you do?

Apparently, I am incapable of writing about emotionally well-adjusted people having a perfectly normal Tuesday.

More seriously, I have always been fascinated by the things people hide—from each other, from themselves, and sometimes from entire communities. Psychological suspense gives me room to explore memory, grief, obsession, secrecy, trauma, and all of the ways our perception of the truth can become distorted.

Fantasy gives me many of those same opportunities on a much larger canvas. I can take questions about power, belief, morality, history, love, grief, and identity and build an entire mythology around them.

On the surface, The Quiet Between Us and When Gods Wake are extremely different books. At their core, though, both are asking versions of the same question: What happens when something everyone has accepted as truth turns out not to be true at all?

That seems to be where my brain likes to live.

How has writing changed/altered your life?

In more ways than I expected.

For a long time, writing was simply something I loved and something that belonged to me. Publishing changed that. Suddenly these characters and worlds that had existed privately in my head could belong, in some small way, to other people too.

It has also forced me enormously outside of my comfort zone. Writing a book is strangely private. Publishing one is the exact opposite. You have to let people read it, judge it, review it, talk about it, and sometimes completely misunderstand it—and then somehow continue writing anyway.

I am still very early in my publishing career, but I think writing has made me braver. It has also reminded me how much I genuinely love storytelling, even when everything surrounding the actual writing—formatting, marketing, algorithms, emails, and trying to figure out what on earth I’m doing—is considerably less romantic.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

I am terrible at choosing favorite authors because what I want from a book changes constantly depending on what mood I am in.

The writers I tend to love most are the ones who can create atmosphere so effectively that the setting almost becomes another character, who are willing to let their characters be complicated and occasionally deeply flawed, and who trust readers enough not to explain every single thing to them.

I love books that leave me thinking about them after I’ve finished them. Give me morally complicated people, secrets, mythology, unreliable memories, buried histories, impossible choices, or a mystery that makes me question what I thought I understood, and I’m probably interested.

My bookshelves are consequently a little chaotic.

Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?

Definitely not a passing fad.

I don’t think audiobooks are going to replace physical books or ebooks, but I do think they have permanently changed how people are able to fit reading into their lives.

People listen while driving, working, exercising, cleaning, traveling, or doing a hundred other things that make physically sitting down with a book impossible. They also make books more accessible for many readers.

I think the future is less about one format replacing another and more about readers expecting stories to be available in whichever format works best for them.

I would absolutely love to eventually have audiobook editions of my own work.

What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?

I am still very much figuring this one out.

So far, social media has been my primary sales and marketing tool (granted, I only published my first novel 12 days ago). I have found that posts where I am actually talking to people—sharing something about the writing process, celebrating something exciting, laughing about something that went wrong, showing the physical book, or explaining why a story matters to me—feel much more effective than repeatedly saying, “Here is my book. Please buy it.”

People want to connect with people, not advertisements.

I am only now beginning to branch into reviewer outreach, bookstores, libraries, podcasts, author networking, and potential in-person events, so I am very interested to see what happens as that part grows.

As for bad marketing, I think anything that starts making every interaction feel transactional is probably a mistake. I never want someone to feel as though I only interacted with them because I wanted them to buy my book.

Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?

Generally, no.

I think fiction needs room to explore difficult, uncomfortable, frightening, ugly, and morally complicated subjects. Writing about something is not the same thing as endorsing it, and sometimes fiction is one of the safest places we have to examine subjects that are extremely difficult to discuss elsewhere.

That doesn’t mean writers are immune from criticism, and it certainly doesn’t mean every treatment of every subject is automatically thoughtful or responsible.

But I am much more comfortable giving readers information and allowing them to decide what they want to engage with than deciding certain subjects simply shouldn’t be written about.

What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings?

I support them.

To me, a trigger or content warning isn’t censorship and it isn’t telling someone that they shouldn’t read a book. It’s information.

Readers come to stories carrying their own experiences, and I don’t lose anything by giving someone enough information to decide whether a particular book is right for them—or whether today is the right day for them to read it.

Especially because I write darker fiction, I would rather someone make an informed choice than unexpectedly encounter material they weren’t prepared for.

A content warning tells you what may be inside the book. It doesn’t tell you what you are allowed to read.

Do you find that you sell better in person (at events) or through social media (like a personal blog, website, or Amazon)?

I honestly can’t compare the two yet!

So far, my sales have come through social media and online visibility because I haven’t begun doing in-person author events yet.

That is something I am actively working to change. I’m beginning to reach out to bookstores, libraries, reviewers, podcasts, and other members of the book community, and I would absolutely love to start doing signings, author discussions, festivals, and other events.

So ask me this question again after I’ve had the opportunity to embarrass myself at a book table somewhere.

For now, social media wins by default—but I am very open to trying whatever helps my books find the readers who might genuinely enjoy them.

Where can people find you and your work?

The easiest place to find everything is my author website:

https://kendallkirkbride.com

There you can find information about my published books, upcoming work, purchase links, information about me, and ways to get in touch.

My currently published books, The Quiet Between Us and When Gods Wake, are available through Amazon, and I’m also on Goodreads.

Readers can also follow along through my social media accounts, where I share book news, writing updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses of whatever fictional disaster I’m currently creating, and updates on future releases.

Website: https://kendallkirkbride.com
Goodreads: Kendall Kirkbride
Amazon: Purchase links are available through my website
Email: hello@kendallkirkbride.com

My next planned release is Where the Missing Go, the second book in the Elliott Mercer series, which is tentatively scheduled for November 2026.

And, because apparently two fictional universes were not enough to keep me occupied, I am also continuing work on the remaining books in The Dead Gods series.

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Clay Knight

Your Name: Clay Knight

Pseudonym (if you use one): C. C. Knight

Genre(s) of your work: Horror, supernatural horror, creature horror, dark comedy, and speculative fiction.

Titles/Year of Published Work(s):

Hollowmarch — 2026

Bio:

C. C. Knight is an Alabama-based horror author and scientist with a fondness for strange towns, impossible places, monsters that probably shouldn’t exist, and characters who cope with terrifying situations using humor that is occasionally appropriate.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

I’m especially drawn to authors who can take an unusual or even impossible premise and make it feel completely believable once you’re inside the story.

Stephen King has always impressed me with his ability to make you care about ordinary people before asking them to confront extraordinary things. Jack Townsend is another favorite because I love the way he blends genuinely strange and unsettling horror with dry humor, memorable characters, and an escalating sense that absolutely anything can happen.

More broadly, I love writers who understand pacing and mystery. Give me characters I care about, an irresistible question I need answered, and a world I’m reluctant to leave when the book ends, and I’m probably going to have a very good time.

Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?

Definitely not a passing fad.

I think audiobooks have expanded what reading can look like. Someone can experience an entire novel while commuting, exercising, traveling, cleaning the house, or doing any number of things that wouldn’t allow them to sit down with a paperback.

I’m particularly excited about that because Hollowmarch is currently being produced as an audiobook. Hearing another person perform characters that previously existed only as voices inside your own head is a very surreal experience. A great narrator isn’t simply reading the words — they’re performing the story and giving it another life.

I don’t think audiobooks replace physical books or ebooks. They’re another doorway into the same story, and I think more doorways into books can only be a good thing.

What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?

I’m still new enough to publishing that I’m actively figuring this one out.

So far, the most encouraging thing has been genuine human interaction. A reader recommending the book, a reviewer talking about it, or somebody sharing it with a friend feels infinitely more valuable than simply yelling “BUY MY BOOK!” into the internet repeatedly. I’ve also learned that book marketing involves an impressive amount of sending messages into the void and occasionally discovering that the void has an email address.

The least effective strategy seems to be assuming that publishing a book automatically means people will discover it. There are an extraordinary number of books competing for attention. Writing the story is one challenge. Helping the right readers discover it is an entirely different one. I’m learning as I go.

Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?

I think fiction needs room to explore uncomfortable subjects. That doesn’t mean every treatment of every subject is automatically thoughtful or worthwhile, but I’d rather readers have the freedom to decide what they want to engage with than have someone else decide which ideas they’re allowed to encounter.

Horror in particular has always explored uncomfortable territory. Fear, violence, death, grief, morality, and the darker parts of human nature are practically built into the genre. Context and intent matter tremendously, but discomfort by itself isn’t a reason I think a subject should be off-limits to fiction.

What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings?

I think they can be useful when they’re informative without spoiling the experience.

Readers know themselves better than I do. If someone has a particular subject they genuinely don’t want to encounter, giving them enough information to make that decision seems perfectly reasonable. At the same time, particularly in horror, surprise and uncertainty are part of the experience. So I prefer warnings that give readers the information they reasonably need without providing a road map of everything that’s going to happen.

Give people useful information and then let them decide what’s right for them.

Do you find that you sell better in person (at events) or through social media (like a personal blog, website, or Amazon)?

Ask me again after I’ve been doing this longer!

Hollowmarch is my debut novel, so I don’t have enough history yet to pretend I’ve discovered the secret formula. Most of my experience so far has been online, and I think digital discovery is incredibly important for independent authors. Someone can hear about a book, look it up, read the description, and be reading it within minutes.

I suspect the real answer ultimately won’t be one method or another. Different readers discover books in different ways, and the challenge is figuring out which paths actually lead the right readers to your work.

Where can people find you and your work?

My debut horror novel, Hollowmarch, is available in paperback and ebook through Amazon, with an audiobook currently in production.

Readers can search for “Hollowmarch by C. C. Knight” on Amazon and Goodreads to find the book.

I’m always happy to hear from readers — particularly the ones who develop theories about what exactly is happening in Hollowmarch. I make absolutely no promises that I’ll tell them whether they’re right.

If you like horror with mystery, monsters, strange mythology, genuine scares, dark humor, and characters who remain recognizably human when everything around them stops behaving normally, Hollowmarch was written with you in mind. More than anything, I wanted to write the kind of horror novel I would want to discover myself: creepy enough to make you reconsider that noise downstairs, funny enough to occasionally let you breathe, and mysterious enough that “one more chapter” becomes a very bad decision at one o’clock in the morning.

And Hollowmarch is only the beginning.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hollowmarch-C-C-Knight/dp/B0HBNYMN24

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Jill Maglio Ryan

Your Name: Jill Maglio Ryan

Genre(s) of your work: Children

Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Cuz I Can
Let’s Play Ball
The Girl with Gills
The Magic Closet
Red Yellow Blue What Color are You?

Bio:
Jill Maglio Ryan grew up in Sheffield, Illinois, alongside her twin sister, Valerie. From an early age, her life was shaped by love, resilience, and a deep sense of purpose—qualities that would later define both her personal journey and her writing.

She raised her daughter, Meghann, who had special needs, while owning and operating her own salon for over 25 years. Through every challenge and triumph, Meghann remained at the heart of Jill’s world, inspiring a strength and compassion that touched every part of her life. During
Meghann’s final year of high school, Jill married her husband, Dan.

Driven by determination and a lifelong love of learning, Jill returned to school and earned her bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University, all while continuing to write. She also created and hosted an online support group for parents of children and adults with special needs, offering connection, understanding, and hope to others walking a similar path.

On May 24, 2018, Jill and her family said goodbye to Meghann. This profound loss reshaped her life, deepening her commitment to honoring Meghann’s spirit through her work.

Today, Jill writes with heartfelt purpose, telling stories that shine a light on children who chase their dreams and overcome obstacles, regardless of differing abilities. Through her words, she seeks to inspire, uplift, and remind others that even in the face of loss, love continues to guide
the way.

Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I write in this genre to advocate and to show others that differing abilities are not limitations to dreams or to living a meaningful life. My goal is to create stories that inspire and uplift, reminding readers that every child has the ability to hope, to strive, and to achieve in their own way.

How has writing changed/altered your life?
Writing has been a bittersweet journey for me. I began writing children’s books as a way to heal from the loss of my daughter, Meghann. What started as a personal path toward healing has grown into an emotional and deeply rewarding journey, enriched by the stories shared with me by other parents, caregivers, and teachers.

Who are your favorite authors and why?
I have many favorite authors. Here are a few- Colleen McCullough, Fern Michaels, Freida McFadden, Jodi Picoult, Janet Evanovich, and Rebecca Yarros. I like all of these women because they have a nice range of writing styles.

Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
I believe audiobooks are a powerful and valuable medium. Many people rely on them for a variety of reasons—some enjoy listening while driving or commuting, while others benefit from them due to challenges with traditional reading and find audiobooks a more accessible way to
experience stories.

What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?

I haven’t yet found any marketing tools that truly align with my goals or effectively support my work.

Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
I do not believe writing should be censored. Some of the most meaningful progress has come from openly discussing and writing about subjects that were once considered unacceptable. Honest storytelling creates space for understanding, growth, and meaningful conversation.

What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings?
I believe trigger warnings are a valuable way to prepare readers for sensitive or potentially distressing subject matter. They offer individuals the opportunity to make informed choices about the content they engage with.

Do you find that you sell better in person (at events) or through social media (like a personal blog, website, or Amazon)?
I find that I connect best with readers through in-person events, where I can share my work and message directly. I also prioritize donating books to libraries, schools, and children, often more than selling them. My focus is on raising awareness and advocating for children with differing abilities, and their right to pursue and achieve their dreams.

Where can people find you and your work?
People can find my books on Amazon, and the Wordsmith Bookstore in Galesburg. People can also follow me on my blog and social media.
https://parentingcelebratingsmallsteps.blogspot.com/
amazon.com/author/jillmaglioryan
Meggeriffic
Meggeriffic1987
jillianm1963@hotmail.com

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Carol L. Paur

Your Name: Carol L. Paur

Genre(s) of your work: YA Mystery and Middle-grade Mystery, Middle-grade Fantasy, Adult (clean) and a Spiritual Self-help book

Titles/Year of Published Work(s): I Indie published three books: Stories in 2013. Dead Catherine Zimmer must listen to three stories of unrelated people to determine her final judgment. Waves is the sequel to Stories. Catherine Zimmer’s judgment requires she relive aspects of her life until she understands the mistakes she made. Praying for the Enemy: Your 911 to Peace is a spiritual handbook to help readers become more intentional with forgiving and praying for their enemies.

The next three books were traditionally published. Isasnora Snores, Black Rose Writing (2019), The infant Isasnora’s snores shatters glass, so she’s banished from the glass kingdom of Calelind. When an evil king declares war on Calelind, Isasnora goes to battle to defeat the enemy. Early Summer, Orange Blossom Publishing (2022). Helene Denny struggles with anxiety but is obsessed with serial killers. When a string of girls go missing, she investigates only to have her little sister go missing. Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost, Chicken Scratch Books (2025). Rowley is camping with her parents when she learns of the Lumberjack Ghost. She’s ready to head to a waterpark when her best friend, Huey, arrives. Huey doesn’t believe in ghosts and she argues with Rowley saying there’s a mystery afoot. Rowley must solve this mystery to save her friendship.

Bio: Carol L. Paur has done standup comedy, written and produced children’s plays, and freelanced for newspapers and magazines. Paur is also a screenwriter and writing mentor. She holds an MA in Communication from Marquette University.

Why do you write in the genre that you do? I write in many genres but so far only the mysteries have sold. There are too many stories in my head to stick with one genre. The other genres are picture books, horror, thrillers, literary, dystopian, and non-fiction.

How has writing changed/altered your life? I am insecure but writing has given me confidence. The more I write, the better I feel, even when I get those rejection letters.

Who are your favorite authors and why? Too many favorites. My message to readers is to step out and try different authors and genres. I have started buying books from my fellow authors at book events and have been pleasantly surprised.

Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why? I find many fans still prefer holding a book in their hands. Some of them use audiobooks or read on Kindle-like devices, but I don’t think they’re going to replace paper books any time soon.

What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one? Good old face to face contact has been the best for me. I’m not the biggest fan of lugging my books to book fairs but I do love meeting people. The next good marketing tool is my monthly newsletter. I don’t have to worry about social media’s algorithm hiding my social media post. I love when I have contests, and readers actually participate.

I’m not sure if there’s a bad marketing tool, unless you ignore people passing by your author table (Yes, I’ve witnessed that, and then the authors are angry they didn’t sell anything.). That said, I do think some authors rely too much on social media and only post about their books. I’ve backed away from social media, posting only my upcoming events (which is a bit self-serving). It was getting too difficult to come up with creative social media posts and I had little to no engagement.  

Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo? Censored by whom? I believe parents should have the right to determine the books their minor children read. I believe school libraries have the right to determine the books they will carry. I believe bookstores should have the right to determine the books they will carry. Even public libraries make decisions all the time on what books they will carry. Are there topics that are taboo? I think anything that supports or promotes child pornography or abuse should be not published or promoted. Should the government get involved? This is a sticky question because governments in the past took books away they didn’t deem “good.” However, the Federal Communications Commission limits what is allowed on the radio. I would like to see a better rating scale on books so people and parents can determine if the book is appropriate for them. I have checked out books not knowing much about them and was surprised at the language and pornography. More than anything I’d like to see opposing sides listen to each other instead of shouting and disparaging one another.  

What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings? I wonder if this is what could be on books to let readers know there might be sensitive or controversial issues. I don’t have a solution. This is just a suggestion.

Do you find that you sell better in person (at events) or through social media (like a personal blog, website, or Amazon)? In person.

Where can people find you and your work? Thank you for asking. My website is: www.clpaurauthor.com. My books are available from the publishers or Amazon.

I’m on Twitter (https://x.com/ArmorCate), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-paur-2a5b43162/) Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/carol.lpaur) and Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/authorclp/)

 

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Jack Ketchum

(PINNED – Interviewed in December 2017)

 

Name: Dallas Mayr

Pseudonym (if you use one): Jack Ketchum

Genre(s) of your work: Horror and Suspense (and the occasional Black Comedy.)

 

 

Titles/Year of Published Work(s):  Writing professionally since 1970, first fiction 1976, first novel, OFF SEASON, 1981.

 

 

Bio: see my website http://www.jackketchum.net/and add to that, Most Recent Novel, THE SECRET LIFE OF SOULS, written with Lucky McKee and Most Recent Collection, GORILLA IN MY ROOM.

 

 

 

Why do you write in the genre that you do?  

I grew up loving fantasy, and horror is the dark side of fantasy.

How has writing changed/altered your life?

The usual perks of self-employment — no punching the time clock, no damn bosses hovering over your desk.  But in addition to that, writing mandates continual periods of self-examination.  You don’t easily get away with lying to yourself on the page.  It requires you to scour your history and your present for your deepest faults and pleasures, to reveal and revel in them, to find the strengths in your life and work from there, reaching outward.

 

 

Who are your favorite authors and why?

Far too many to list here.  I read all over the place and consequently my favorite writers come from all genres and backgrounds, from Henry Miller to Gabriel Garcia Marquez, from Raymond Chandler, Elmore Leonard and John D. MacDonald to Thomas Hardy, Philip Roth, Michael Chabon, Joyce Carol Oates, Peter Straub and Stephen King.  Why?  Because they’re smart, empathic, courageous.  Because they’re good!

 

 

What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?

I wish we had a lot more mom-and-pop, brick-and-mortar bookstores.  I seriously miss browsing.

 

 

What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?

The need for empathy and tenderness in the world, that the souls of beasts and humans matter.  And a few hours of just plain fun.

 

 

How much does personal experience play in your written work?

Depends on the piece.  Some, like THE GIRL NEXT DOOR and RED, are highly personal, others…?  I don’t know where the hell they came from!

 

 

How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?  

Finishing a piece is almost always easy.  It’s getting started that’s hard.  Getting all your ducks in a row and then having the balls and suspension of disbelief  to say to yourself, this is really going to work.

 

 

What makes you NOT finish reading a book?

I give books a first paragraph test.  If it passes, then a first chapter test.  If it passes that, I’ll almost always finish the book — I can tell from there that I’m going to want to.   If it fails I scuttle it immediately.  Very occasionally, too much repetition will make me dump it.  I don’t want to waste reading-time.  Too much good stuff out there.

 

 

Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?

Nothing should ever be censored.  Everything is worth discussing.  How long a discussion is another matter entirely.

 

 

Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?

 Life’s short.  I don’t bother with peeves.  If I’m bored, I just close the book.

 

 

Where can people find you and your work?

Website, see above. I have a list of published works there.   Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/jackketchumofficial/ Twitter, https://twitter.com/jackketchum Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Ketchum

 

What can I say?

I am honored to have received a bit of Jack Ketchum’s time, for him to share his thoughts and words with me (and my readers), and for his participation in a blog such as this one. Thank you so much – for the interview as well as your writing. It has and continues to be an inspiration.

Readers, I implore you to look into Jack Ketchum’s work, especially if you are a horror/suspense fan. From the mouth of Stephen King – “Who’s the scariest guy in America? Probably Jack Ketchum.”

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