Author Interview: Kendra E. Ardnek

Today we have an interview with author Kendra E. Ardnek.

What are the names of your books?

Sew, It's a Quest (Bookania Quests Book 1)Do You Take This Quest? (Book 2)Saffron's Big Plan and other storiesThe Ankulen

Can you give a short summary of your books?

Sew: A pair of royal twins seek the Fairy Godmother who mixed up their gifts at their christening. 

Take: The quest for allies, and a mad dash to get home for the wedding. 

Saffron: A collection of four short stories. 

“Saffron's Big Plan,” the story of two princesses who never fit in with their families.

“Tears, Frogs, and Laughter” A tailor's son falls in love with a cursed princess, then gets turned into a frog. 

“The Derao” a story of knights, princesses, daring do, and forgiveness. 

“The Prior Quest” The back story of a minor character in Sew, It's a Quest. 

The Ankulen: The story of a girl who lost her imagination at the age of seven. Fifteen years later, one of her imaginary friends appears out of nowhere and helps her get it back.

What genre are your books?

Fantasy, mostly fairy tale retellings, and Christian allegory

Who is your books' audience?

The Bookania Quests and the short stories are targeted at preteen girls, but I'm told that they also makes a great read aloud for a younger audience. The Ankulen is more YA, but is again, still suitable for younger audiences.

What first inspired your books?

Fairy Tale rewritings have always been favorites with me, so when my mom suggested that I write some myself a few years ago, I decided that it was a good idea. Unfortunately, my Sleeping Beauty sequel was going nowhere fast until one day, whilst folding laundry, I had the random idea of a girl who, due to a Fairy Godmother mistake, was the best swordsman in the world. I instantly had a name, appearance, and backstory for her, and she then took over the book.

The Ankulen came about one bright sunshiney day when I was outside playing with my younger cousin, and we decided that it was high time we put on another play (we both love drama) and an early version of The Ankulen is what came out. Unfortunately, we could never decide on an end, so it fizzled away and was basically forgotten. The idea intrigued me, and would never actually go away, so after making a few minor changes to a few of the characters, I sat down and started writing it in story format, and within a few months I had a nice little story.

How long have you been writing, and why did you start?

Seriously writing? About eight years.

I have been making up stories since I understood the concept, and as soon as I had mastered writing, my mom tried to get me to tap those stories into words. (In fact, I have two of the construction paper-bound books just a few feet away from me as I type.) Unfortunately, while I liked the idea of having my stories written down, it'd take so long, I'd get bored of it and abandon it halfway through. I didn't begin writing seriously until shortly after the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie came out and some friends and I decided that it would be a lot of fun if we made our own movie. Due to budget and cast limitations, we knew that we would have to make a lot of changes, and since I was the oldest and most adamant about the plot, I was elected to write the script. That thing became my baby and I rewrote it three times (each time it resembled Narnia less and less) until I decided to switch it to book form. It still needs another rewrite or two (and a prequel, since I've made it the second book in its series) but I do plan to publish it someday.

Where do you write most often?

About 75% of the time, I write on my laptop at my school desk, though I sometimes take it into my bedroom and work at one of the four desks that I have stashed in there or on my bed. The rest of the time I write in notebooks wherever I happen to be at the moment. (These are the days I'm either babysitting or roaming town.)

What are your ‘author quirks’?

Whenever I'm writing or plotting a really exciting scene, I will suddenly jump up from my computer and run out the door and around our yard a few times. My family affectionately calls these my “outbursts.”

What advice do you have for other authors?

Don't be afraid of the possibility that your idea has been written before, because it probably has been. However, it's never been written before by you, so it's going to be different. (But if you do run across a book with a similar premise, do read it and make sure that they aren't too much alike.)

What do you do when you lack motivation?

I usually bury my nose in a book, pull out my knitting needles or crochet hook, go for a hike in the woods, clean my room, become very interested in my schoolwork …basically anything that doesn't involve my writing. The whole time, however, I feel very guilty because my poor character is left dangling off the side of the cliff and I have no idea how to get her off.

What do you most want your readers to know?

I'd like them to know that, no matter how crazy their lives are, there's someone in control, and if they'll just turn to him, they don't have to worry and fret. In both my Bookania Quests and in The Ankulen, I compare God to an author. He knows what good will come of whatever trial you're going through, whether its for your benefit or for that of your observers. We just have to trust him.

Forgiveness is another theme I deal with a lot.

And finally, where can we find your books?

All of my books are available on Amazon. I have a neatly organized list of links and previews here: kendraeardnek.weebly.com/my-books.

 Thanks, Kendra!