Interview With Author Katie Fitzgerald
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an epic fantasy author who came back to writing after a career as a technical writer and then as a decorative artist. Somewhere around the time I hit the 55+ bracket, spending all day on a ladder with a knee that creaked like a haunted door felt less magical, so I returned to my first love: creating new worlds, complicated characters, and stories with heart.
I’m also a discovery. I write to find out what happens. My “vomit drafts” are gloriously messy, my dogs are my daily writing assistants, and I rely heavily on coffee, long walks, and the occasional deep-dive Google search into things like “how conscious are horses when they sleep?” or “would cavalry ever charge pikemen?”
So far, I’ve written two books in the Healers of Cyridan universe:
In the Hands of Healers, a prequel novella introducing the world,
and
The Healer’s Heir, Book 1, the first full-length novel in the series.
I’m currently writing Book 2, where—unsurprisingly—life, magic, court politics, and my characters continue to refuse to behave.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is The Healer’s Heir, the first full-length novel in my Healers of Cyridan series. The spark for it actually goes all the way back to my teenage years, when I first fell in love with Tolkien. Doesn’t it always start with Tolkien?
While I adored The Fellowship of the Ring, my younger self was mildly irritated that every elf seemed to be white, blond, and impossibly ethereal. So, naturally, I invented my own world where darker hair meant greater magical power. I wrote my first serious novel in high school (deeply flawed) and packed it with lore, politics, and an entire magical history.
That early book will never see daylight (trust me… no). But the worldbuilding stuck with me. Years later, when I felt the pull to write again, I didn’t need to start from scratch. I already had the bones: the magic system, the political tensions, the tangled bloodlines. I just needed to tell the stories that came before that high school novel.
The Healer’s Heir grew out of that impulse—returning to the backstory and exploring the people, conflicts, and sacrifices that shape the world. Ironically, it’s now become the main event, and I’m completely rethinking how the series will end because of it.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m convinced my entire writing process is quirky, but a few habits stand out. I’m incredibly process-driven, even though I’m a discovery writer at heart. I keep a chapter development checklist because there is no way I can hold everything in my head at the same time.
One of my more unusual habits is doing separate passes for each character in a scene. I reread the events from their point of view to make sure they behave like themselves rather than puppets doing whatever is convenient for the plot. If I try to force them into an action that doesn’t fit, they dig in their heels. Listening to them always leads to a better solution.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have very eccentric reading tastes. I pull inspiration from all over the place. Recently I’ve been influenced by Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, because no one writes characters and dialogue like she does. I also admire the sharp problem-solving and dry humor in The Martian by Andy Weir. And then there is The Secrets of Skinwalker Ranch. I know it isn’t a book, but the blend of mystery, science, and the unknown scratches the same creative itch.
All of these influences weave their way into my writing in one form or another, even if they make a very odd dinner party together.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on Book 2 in my Healers of Cyridan series, the direct sequel to The Healer’s Heir. It picks up with Nirrel as he tries to navigate the political fallout, shifting alliances, and emotional wreckage left in the wake of the first book. I jokingly say that I am wrestling the finale into submission, but the truth is my characters keep surprising me. They have a habit of refusing to take the easy path, and I am along for the ride with a stack of notes, a lot of coffee, and a supportive family.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
https://www.katiefitzgeraldauthor.com
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I don’t know if I have “official” wisdom, but I do have a few things I’ve learned.
First, your first draft is allowed to be a glorious mess. Mine are. I call them my vomit drafts. Just get the story onto the page. You can’t revise a blank document, but you can absolutely shape something messy into something beautiful.
Second, find a process that works for your brain, not someone else’s. I’m a discovery writer with a project management degree, which means I have spreadsheets and checklists coming out my ears, yet I still write to find out what happens. There is no wrong mix of structure and chaos if it gets you to the end of the book.
Third, listen to your characters. If you try to shove them somewhere they don’t want to go, they balk. When you follow their logic and motivations, the story deepens in ways you couldn’t have planned.
And finally, give yourself permission to take your time. Writing a book is a long emotional marathon, not a sprint. Life will interrupt you. Your to-do list will get derailed. You’ll doubt yourself. Keep going anyway.
If you love the story you’re writing, that love will make its way to the page.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I ever heard was write to market. That doesn’t mean copying what everyone else is writing or chasing trends. It means understanding your genre, knowing what readers love, and recognizing that the five-genre mash-up living in your head might not have a clear audience.
Once you know where your story fits and who it speaks to, you have the freedom to make your own magic. You can still be creative and original, but you’re doing it in a way that helps readers find you. You need that balance between imagination and reader expectations.
What are you reading now?
The Keyhole Wizard by Susan and John Ruff
What’s next for you as a writer?
After I finish Book 2, I move straight into Book 3 to wrap up the trilogy. After tackling three epic doorstoppers back to back, I plan to write something shorter. I have several ideas for Cozy Fantasies that keep tapping me on the shoulder, and there is also a speculative fiction idea wandering around in my head waiting for its turn. I never lack for stories, only for the time to write them.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
If I were stranded on a desert island, I would absolutely take “how to” books. How to build a raft. How to find fresh water. How to navigate by the stars. Anything that helps me get off that island and back to my keyboard. Survival first, storytelling second.
Author Websites and Profiles
Katie Fitzgerald Amazon Profile
Katie Fitzgerald’s Social Media Links
Author Interview Series
To discover a new author, check out our Featured Authors page. We have some of the best authors around. They are just waiting for you to discover them. If you enjoyed this writer’s interview feel free to share it using the buttons below. Sharing is caring!
If you are an author and want to be interviewed just fill out out Author Interview page. After submitting we will send it out in our newsletters and social media channels that are filled with readers looking to discover new books to read.
If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.