Featured Interview With Keely Brooke Keith
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, but my family frequently relocated. By graduation, I lived in 8 states and attended 14 schools. Aside from a few long-term stays in Australia, I’ve lived in the Nashville, Tennessee area for about 20 years.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Someone gave me a blank journal when I was 8 or 9 and I immediately started writing a book in it. I’ve been writing stories ever since.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I enjoy the classics, but I read mostly non-fiction because I love to read about writing and literature and history and… oh my, I get excited just thinking about it! I’m a nerd. I was that kid in school who liked homework.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My debut novel, The Land Uncharted, is an unusual mix of science fiction, historical fiction, contemporary, and romance. Some call it a genre-blender or a mash-up. I wasn’t out to break genre rules; I simply wanted to take what I love about several genres and use those elements in an original story.
I started with a question: What if an uncharted land existed but was undetectable to modern technology? That’s the science fiction element.
I was inspired by my family history research. My ancestors migrated to the American West during the mid-1800’s. I thought: what if during that era a few families wanted to find a whole new land instead if going west? What if they packed a ship, ran aground on an uncharted land, and founded a new society there? That’s what gives The Land Uncharted its historical fiction feel.
Instead of writing the story of the settling of that land (which I may do some day) I decided to start the story in our era. The Land Uncharted begins seven generations after the settlement of the Land. I actually set the story a couple of years in the future, but it’s otherwise contemporary.
Finally, I believe romance is truly one of the most magnificent parts of life. One of. I also like to give these women cool jobs, big adventures, and some character development so they are ready to love when the time comes.
It took me a few months to get rolling on The Land Uncharted, but once I did, I wrote the bulk of it in about 4 months. The second book in the Uncharted series, Uncharted Redemption, was complete in 3 months. The third book, Uncharted Inheritance, is almost complete, but I’m lingering in the process because I just don’t want it to end.
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