I think any character is made up by a collage of qualities collected from real people you know, or from yourself.
Kayla Eason – 1 May 2020
The Back Flap
The Salton Sea—a landscape at the world’s edge. Eleven-year-old Mia has grown up here, gathering memories from the dying body of water, from the abandoned homes and businesses, from the past’s echoes of grandeur.
Through a rich imagination and a deep bond with her foster brother, Mia skirts a childhood of abandonment herself, apt to instead focus on the ways in which she is wanted. But as summer breaks open, that sense of value is upended by experiments in power, and Mia finds herself the target of harassment. Over the course of a single day, she’ll be forced to reimagine what others have ever wanted of her.
With the same tenacity and grace readers will identify in the novel’s titular character, Kayla Eason explores the shame that so often attaches itself to vulnerability, while also stirring the precarious terrain of physicality and fantasy through the lens of adolescence and femininity. Mia is an intimate portrayal of family, place, and the memories we allow to sculpt our sense of self.
About the book
What is the book about?
Chronicles moments in a young girl’s life which influence how she reacts to a harassment experience with her male peers.
When did you start writing the book?
The book began as a short story, and I started expanding the story sometime in the fall of 2015.
How long did it take you to write it?
Once I decided to turn the short story into a longer piece, the process took a couple years. During that time, I wasn’t working solely on the book. It was “finished” many different times, until I would reread portions, and start revising again. Finally, in June 2018, I decided that I wanted to finish it once and for all, and so spent a month on final edits.
Where did you get the idea from?
I think that the itch to write about children—specifically, the process of developing more self-awareness—was inspired by wanting to explore some aspects of socialization and the influences which inspire experiments in social power. I was spending a lot of time thinking about what makes a person powerful, and how so much of that is due to a person’s upbringing and environment.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
One intention of the book is to create the sensation of time breaking apart, particularly in moments of anxiety or happiness. At times, I wasn’t sure if the pace of the book was readable.
What came easily?
Describing the landscape. I love building a setting.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
I think any character is made up by a collage of qualities collected from real people you know, or from yourself.
Do you have a target reader?
Not consciously.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
Once I have a vague idea of what I’d like to write about, I build a folder of images. Looking at imagery—landscapes, paintings, architecture, strange compositions—is really important to me while I write. Images, along with reading other fiction, helps me to establish a tone / atmosphere, which motivates and excites me. I also like to read articles / creative non-fiction, which provide research and often inspire plot points.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
My outline is usually an on-going document of ideas and scenarios. As the notes build, I begin to imagine a loose progression of events, which becomes more realized as I write a draft. However, a story will inevitably grow in a direction I wasn’t expecting.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
With the exception of three or four sections, the manuscript was not seriously edited until I finished writing a full draft.
Did you hire a professional editor?
My publisher was my editor. Prior to submitting the manuscript, writer friends edited various parts of the story.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Yes, and no. If I’m in the mood for music, I prefer atmospheric / instrumental songs. Sometimes, I like quiet. Sometimes I like the noise of a coffee shop.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
No. However, with future manuscripts, I plan to submit to agents.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I chose the indie route because of my manuscript’s length. It’s a very short novel, and I understood that pitching a short book is rarely successful.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
My publisher and I collaborated on the cover.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
My plan involves a social media campaign using film photos I’ve taken to pair with the novel. The photo portion has been really fun, and I’m excited to talk about the book through the images.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
If you are submitting to indie publishers, spend time researching how extensively they will or can market your book. Do they promote the book on social media? Do they reach out to journals, newspapers, or websites for reviews? Not all publishers are capable of spending their time or funds in this way, and often, the effort is collaborative. Transparency between you and the publisher is important—who will do what, is there a PR plan, a marketing campaign, etc. Don’t be afraid to ask any and all questions, make suggestions, and have a vision!
About You
Where did you grow up?
Angels Camp—a small town in Northern California.
Where do you live now?
San Diego, CA.
What would you like readers to know about you?
Film photography is my other great love.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a short story collection and a new novel project.
End of Interview:
For more from Kayla, visit her website.