We chat wit author Kiana Krystle about Dance of the Starlit Sea, which is “Hades and Persephone” meets Phantom of the Opera by way of Laini Taylor, in a sensually rendered world that seethes with intrigue and indulges the senses. PLUS we have an audiobook excerpt to share with you at the interview!
Hi, Kiana! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! My name is Kiana and I am a proud Asian American author, born and raised in California. I majored in Creative Writing at San Francisco State University and have interned at Flux Books, Jolly Fish Press, Books Inc, and Scholastic. Writing has always been a huge part of my life and stemmed from my love of lyricism, romanticizing the world, and a deep need to express my feelings.
Aside from writing, I have a huge passion for marine life and the ocean. I am the happiest when taking a cold plunge, dancing with the waves, standing in the water at sunset, or simply just smelling the sea and hearing the push and pull of the tide. Most of my writing is related to the ocean in one way or another.
I also love to sing and paint. I have a deep love for music and all creative arts. Like the girls on Luna Island in my book, I am also very spiritual and partake in my own moon rituals, smoke cleansings, and crystal healings. And, I share the same love of fashion, frills, and pageantry as them too!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
When I was in the first grade, my teacher told me I’d grow up to be a writer one day because of the short stories I used to write for my assignments. I grew up with a love of books, mainly for the escapism of it and the romanticization of love, beauty, and lyricism. When I was in high school, I felt so misunderstood by everyone around me. My emotions were too big for me or anyone else to really understand. Literature was my only solace. I knew I wanted to become a writer one day to inspire comfort in others too.
I was originally a poet before I wrote stories. I love the way words sound and how they flow more than anything. My greatest muse is Lana Del Rey, and I had always wanted to imitate her hauntingly beautiful sound in my own work.
As for storytelling, I first fell in love with reading through The Clique book series by Lisi Harrison. I loved the fashion and the glamour more than anything. I always knew that if I became a writer, I’d want my books to embody the same luxury and escapism. In high school, my favorite books were The Great Gatsby, East of Eden, and Romeo & Juliet. I deeply admired how those books captured an evanescent glimmer of love and beauty, and yet, there was still a darkness to it—a reminder that not all things we love are ours to keep—and that’s just life. Eventually, I grew to enjoy darker stories like The Bloody Chamber, Grimms Fairytales, and The Husband Stitch, and also movies like Jennifer’s Body and Brahm Stoker’s Dracula. It’s a category of media I like to consider “the monstrous feminine,” or rather, horror as an expression of the female experience. It became everything I wanted to be as an author.
In college, I read my first YA Fantasy—Caraval by Stephanie Garber. It was then that I knew I wanted to write YA. I loved the whimsy of her writing, the world building, and the lushness of her prose. As an author, I strive to balance that same whimsy with my love of lyricism, classic literature, dark fairytales, and the monstrous feminine.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
- The one that made you want to become an author: Caraval by Stephanie Garber
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Your debut novel, Dance of the Starlit Sea, is out August 6th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Lyrical, haunting, dream-like, coquette, & whimsical!
What can readers expect?
This book is a love letter to my younger self, a celebration of girlhood, and an honoring of the female experience. As a teen that was forced to grow up fast, I never felt seen or understood by anyone around me. Music and literature were my only escapes. Since I was sixteen, I had wanted to write Dance of the Starlit Sea for other teens like me whose emotions felt too out of control to tame or even process.
Dance of the Starlit Sea is a story that celebrates how radical love from those around you can mirror your tenderness back and show you that you are not your worst moments, you are so much more than the things that have happened to you, and you are always worthy of love. I wrote this book to empower young girls to embrace their most authentic selves, uplift one another, and extend love to both themselves and to others. It is my greatest hope that this book will touch the lives of young people and inspire compassion, empathy, and patience with oneself.
May it be noted that while the book has soft, feminine, and whimsical elements, it is also in part a horror. There are depictions of violence, gore, parental abuse, and body horror throughout the book. It was my intention to depict a character in an idyllic, perfect setting and have her inner demons manifest before her. So often, there’s a pressure to “fit in,” be “good,” be “perfect.” But through Lila, we learn that our demons are a part of us, and it’s okay, because there will be people who will love you even when it’s scary. Dance of the Starlit Sea teaches readers to be brave.
As you dive into the indulgent & eclectic world of Dance of the Starlit Sea, I hope that you will take a bit of magic with you when you’re done. Whether it be through romanticizing the little things, viewing life through rose-colored glasses, or feeling a deeper sense of love for yourself—whatever it may be, it is my greatest wish that this story enchants you.
Where did the inspiration for Dance of the Starlit Sea come from?
I really wanted to write a book that honors an authentic teenage experience in hopes of making young people feel seen and inspiring self-love along the way. This book has been with me since I was a teenager, and while I was growing up, my emotions felt so out of control that it terrified me. I always found solace in the ocean and how although it is destructive and chaotic and uncontrollable, it is also something beautiful and admirable. And the dark parts of the ocean don’t make it “bad.” Rather, it’s just the way it is. That self-actualization and reflection is the core message throughout Dance of the Starlit Sea that I hope readers take away from the book.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
By far, my favorite part of writing Dance of the Starlit Sea was the friendship between Lila and Roisin. Roisin’s innocence, compassion, whimsy, and unconditional love makes her so precious to me. She reminds me of my best friend and represents the embodiment of hope and love in Dance of the Starlit Sea.
There have been countless drafts of Dance of the Starlit Sea, and in every universe, Roisin is always my favorite character. She is who inspires Lila’s journey of self-love and her growth as a character. She represents the idea of showing empathy and compassion to others, no matter what they’ve been through, because those little seeds of love can really change a person and make them want to do better. Every good thing Lila does throughout her journey is for the benefit of Roisin because she’s the first real friend she’s ever had and the first person she’s ever really loved. In doing so, Lila realizes her own tenderness, and eventually comes to forgive herself for the things she’s been through/done.
Plus, I adore everything she shares with Lila—their tea parties, playing dress up, doing each other’s hair and makeup, having sleepovers, baking, dress shopping, going to the flower market. They bring out a softness in one another that’s just so endearing. Their relationship is the real heart of the story.
What a stunning cover! Did you have a vision in mind before the final cover was revealed?
Thank you so much! Yes, I actually had a very hands-on cover design experience, thanks to Peachtree Teen and my editor, Ashley Hearn. When my team asked me if I had any ideas for the cover, I had already commissioned my “dream cover” from an artist in hopes of manifesting it. From there, my editor allowed me to select an artist I wanted to work with (with my team’s approval). Our process was incredibly collaborative, down to how the characters should look, what they’re wearing, and how I envisioned the color scheme. Almost every detail was discussed with me and approved prior to moving forward, which I am incredibly blessed and thankful for. Not many authors have control over their covers at all. They took all of my dreams into account, especially the iridescent finish, which is just stunning and my favorite part!
This is your debut published novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
Haha, my road to publication has been incredibly unique to say the least. I majored in Creative Writing at SF State and graduated in 2020. I actually finished the first draft of my novel the day I graduated college. From there, I began my querying journey, alongside building my author brand on social media. I accidentally reached out to my editor, Ashley Hearn, via DM asking if she was accepting queries because her manuscript wishlist perfectly aligned with my book. To my surprise, Ashley Hearn was in fact not an agent, but rather, a very popular editor who has worked on some of my favorite books. And, to my surprise, she was spearheading a new imprint distributed by Penguin Random House.
Despite not being agented, Ashley agreed my concept sounded exactly like what she was looking for and she offered to read my manuscript. Eight months later, she offered me a book deal on one condition. While she saw potential in me, the writing wasn’t quite there yet. She offered to sign me on proposal with the promise of me re-developing the book with her. I was over the moon at the opportunity, and I trusted Ashley from the start. I loved her editorial vision, and she immediately provided this intimate, safe space for me to express my desires for what I wanted this book to be. She believed in me maybe even more than I believed in myself. “No” was never an option. I knew I wanted to work with her.
After agreeing to the proposal, I contacted a list of agents and received 10 offers of representation. I signed with Naomi Davis, who I had met on a panel through my fellowship with BookEnds Literary.
Over the next 3 years, Ashley and I developed Dance of the Starlit Sea together. It was not an easy process. We probably rewrote the book 3 or 4 times, completely scratching concepts, and starting over again and again. It was pretty harrowing, considering I was on deadline for all of these rewrites while also managing a full-time job and my personal life. Though, it was an incredibly rewarding experience. I learned so much through working with Ashley, both about writing and about myself. I love the relationship I have with both Ashley and Naomi, and I hope to continue growing as a writer with both of them.
I know I still have so much to learn and improve on as a writer, and that I am extremely lucky in how I got my opportunity to become published. It is a privilege I don’t take lightly, and I am consistently determined to improve my craft and grow as a writer.
What’s next for you?
Becoming an author has always been my greatest dream. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to pursue what I love the most. I would love to continue publishing my YA novels with Peachtree Teen. Though, I also want to explore more of my “monstrous feminine” themes and literary voice in the Adult genre. While most of my writing is contemporary fantasy or magical realism, I also hope to write a literary romance or a romcom one day. I love books like The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo, The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue, and Normal People. I also love the sweeter, fluffier romances like books by Jenny Han and Carley Fortune. I hope to have the opportunity to explore every niche and genre I’m passionate about.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
Ooo, this year, I’ve really loved Rouge by Mona Awad, Where The Dark Still Stands by A.B. Porenek, and The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields. My most anticipated reads to come are THIS FATAL KISS by Alicia Jasinska, Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone, This Raging Sea by De Elizabeth, and I Am Made Of Death by Kelly Andrew.
