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Tell us about your book series Shadow Runner and its new second installment, Shadow Hunter.
In book two, Ada is finally free… But to do what? As an unmarried woman in Victorian society, not much. But she's always been an unconventional thinker, and she solves her immediate problem—needing a place to live, yet not having a man to legitimize her purchases—by paying cash and whisky to a drunken vicar in exchange for a crypt, which she covertly decks out and lives in. Her ongoing struggle in book two is to establish an identity that gives her cover and allows her to live a meaningful life. Also, someone is killing Shadows. A bumper crop of bodies is the sort of thing that will put authorities on alert, and that’s something Ada can't afford. One of the dead women turns out to be a childhood mate, so Ada decides to hunt the hunter. Along the way, she acquires an orphan sidekick and a love-sick suitor. Her interpersonal skills are lacking for obvious reasons, but her humanity is still intact, so these relationships become at once problematic and essential to her development.
What inspired you to write this series?
If I admit my motive the books will probably be banned! LOL! Then again, all publicity is good publicity, or so they say. It occurred to me that modern women don't really understand just how young the right to self-agency is. It wasn’t until 1974 that American women could apply for a credit card without a male cosigner. Marital assault wasn’t a crime in all fifty states until 1993. Hollywood has romanticized the Regency and Victorian eras, when in fact it was a tough time to be a woman. Even little things, like how does one use the privy in a hooped skirt? And there were other challenges. Ada's birthright is ostensibly a comfortable life, but a cage is a cage, and as a woman of that era she is destined to be chattel. She realizes this early on and yearns for a different path. She gets her wish, but nothing could have prepared her for the darkness that results. Still, in book two, we find her making peace with her choice, as she has the chance for a do-over.
What was the biggest challenge you faced in writing these books?
My biggest challenge was finding the will to seek publication. I have several complete manuscripts in boxes, but I had watched author-friends go through the rejection process that's inevitable. I had no desire to experience that. Truth be told, I was bullied into trying. The whole thing is very amusing and, if any of my tormentors read this, they'll be smiling smugly. Love is weird. And to be fair, I had more help than anyone deserves. I’m lucky to have had such a smooth road.
What has been your most rewarding experience in writing?
Hearing from readers. To me, it's better than money (thank goodness because very few authors live on their residuals). When someone takes the time to write a review, with actual words, not just stars, they've just established a delightful connection with a stranger. It really tickles me.
Tell us about your YouTube show Writer 2 Writer and what topics you cover.
What makes Writer 2 Writer different than most author podcasts is that it’s reader focused. There are no aspiring authors in the audience, so we avoid shop talk. Think "book signing."
Someone has wandered over to your table, and they want to know what your book is about. Writer 2 Writer interviews are essentially free ads. Listeners are looking for new reads for their TBR. Guests are looking for new readers. It’s like Tinder for authors and readers.
Where can readers learn more about you?
Website: www.kjfieler.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kat.fieler/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/katfieler.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katfieler/
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