We chat with author Kate J. Armstrong about Fyrebirds, which is the spellbinding sequel to the international bestseller Nightbirds and sees tensions rising and with their powers no longer a secret, the Nightbirds must decide for whom and for what they are willing to fight, and how far they will go.
Hi, Kate! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Why hello, readers! I’m glad you’re here. Some things about me: I grew up in Virginia, but I now live in Australia, where I moved after I finished college. That’s when I decided to strap on a backpack and go looking for adventure, which I found in great abundance. Yes, kangaroos are as cool as they look, and no, we are not allowed to ride them. I’ve worn a lot of different professional hats over the years: bartender, nonfiction book editor, high school English teacher, and now author. I also have a podcast called The Exploress, which time travels through history to find out what life was like for women of the past. I love travel, long hikes through forests, vintage cocktails, and any excuse to dress up in historical attire.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
To me, stories have always felt like magic. Some of my earliest memories are of my mom reading to me from books like The Secret Garden and A Wrinkle in Time. I loved how transportative those stories felt; the way they took me into other worlds and lives. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing something. When I was young, it was mostly short stories and epic poetry (I remember one particularly long one about the crush I had on Batman). And then in high school, I got the impression that I could only write “serious” things. I spent a lot of time worrying about not being good enough, which was a hurdle it took me several years to get over. It was when I went back to my early reading loves – Young Adult, fantasy, magic – that I really found my voice.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Paperbag Princess. First chapter book? Probably Matilda by Roald Dahl.
- The one that made you want to become an author: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Fyrebirds is the follow up to your debut and it’s out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Alluring, Propulsive, Feminist, Magical, and Powerful.
What can readers expect?
A wild ride! Fyrebirds explores deeper shadows than Nightbirds, full of big questions about a woman’s autonomy and her right to own her body and her power. But it’s just as full of intrigue and adventure: the girls will have to fight harder than ever for each other, and we will finally find out what kind of power they can wield when they join. Readers can expect to meet some new villains, see more of the Eudean Republic, enjoy more romantic moments, and see some truly big magic.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring further?
I loved getting to write Fen’s point of view: she’s such an enigmatic character, and it was a lot of fun to get behind her armor and explore her inner thoughts. I can’t say too much about my favorite moments to write without spoilers, so I’ll simply say: one’s a kissing scene in the middle of a club/bathhouse, and the other features Willan shirtless in the rain. You’re welcome, readers. If you’re interested in hearing more about my writing process for this series, I highly recommend you check out Pub Dates, the podcast where fellow author Amie Kaufman and I take readers behind the scenes on our books’ creation.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing the sequel?
So many. It turns out writing a sequel for the first time is hard! I had so many story threads I wanted to weave into the sequel, and I had to spend a lot of time figuring out which ones were most important, as I knew I wouldn’t have room for them all. Self-doubt crept in and whispered in my ears many times. Would I be able to write a conclusion that would do Nightbirds justice? It wasn’t easy, but I think I pulled it off. I’m quite proud of this book.
What’s next for you?
I can’t say much about it yet, but here are some mysterious hints: it’s a YA twisted fairytale involving a very capable princess, a very broken knight, a band of hardcore women warriors, and a slightly terrifying magical horse. I’m having the best time writing it.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
There are so many! I devoured The Heart of the World by Amie Kaufman, Deep is the Fen by Lili Wilkinson, and Morgan is My Name by Sophie Keetch. I just stayed up WAY past my bedtime finishing Listen For The Lie by Amy Tintera. I’m looking forward to Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid and The Enchanted Lies of Celeste Artois by Ryan Graudin.
