Interview With Author Nyk King
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi readers! I’m Nyk King and I’m a recovering electrical engineer. I’ve always been somewhat of a precocious reader, swearing off picture books at age 6 to immerse myself in fantastic, futuristic, and sometimes scary worlds. I vividly remember getting hooked on Stephen King’s “The Eye of the Dragon” and Anne Mccaffery’s “Dragonsong” in second grade, and have never looked back. While I was in school, I also loved to write and paint; but as time passed, I just couldn’t manage to juggle creative pursuits as hobbies while working full time as a military officer with two school age children. I retired this summer from the US Air Force, and since then have been blessed with the flexibility to focus full time on my writing and artistic business, Numanity LLC.
Since it’s only been a few months since I’ve started, I decided to first attack a novella entitled, “A Stunning New Look,” because that length seemed to be the easiest to tackle to figure out if I was cut out for this whole professional writing thing and to learn the ropes of publication. I also have five other books hovering in the backdrop of my mind, to include the ambitious story that inspired it all entitled “Numanity.”
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My new novella is “A Stunning New Look,” about a woman named Maria who is struggling with work life balance and decides to take time for herself at a spa. Since I’m not the type of person to write an “Eat, Pray, Love” knockoff, however, the story spirals downhill as her procedure has horrific and unintended consequences.
I was actually getting stem cell injections for my knees at an upscale-looking but bargain-basement priced clinic, and experienced some of the same reservations as the main character from the story. Of course, while the procedure was underway, I was catastrophizing, “What’s the worst that could happen?” and my twisted brain supplied the craziest answer, which I then inflicted upon Maria in the story.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
There are quite a few Easter eggs in the story that I added in after about the 17th self-editing session, which I think is somewhat unusual but hopefully will entertain some eagle-eyed readers!
Not sure if this is typical, but I had a very distinct vision for the beginning and end of the story when I sat down to write “A Stunning New Look.” Everything in the middle was connective tissue to lead readers along a path that I thought for sure would have people guessing the ending well ahead of time, but I hoped the narrative would be suspenseful enough that they would stick along for the ride. When some early readers provided feedback that the twist at the end was a total shock and that they loved it, I was pleasantly surprised.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
All of them–every time I read a book I pull lessons on aspects of writings style that I love (or not so much). “A Stunning New Look” was inspired by other campy sci fi/horror short stories I’ve loved, like those from Phillip K. Dick, Piers Anthony, Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, Ken Liu, and Poul Anderson; as well as modern shows riding the coattails of “The Twilight Zone” like “Love, Death, and Robots,” “Black Mirror,” and “Electric Dreams.”
What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m working the marketing campaign for “A Stunning New Look” for its official Amazon launch on October 21, 2025, as well as putting together my website (anyone else hate WordPress?) However, my full length novel, “Numanity,” is ever-present in my mind. It’s a post-apocalyptic YA sci-fi novel about the melding of humankind and machines to run a dying world. I’m frequently scribbling down notes (yes, on paper!) in a journal that will eventually be morphed into a detailed outline for the full-length novel that I plan to release in fall 2026.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesome Gang, of course! But really, I’m also shotgunning promos out through Robin Reads, through BooksGoSocial (I also published my ARC through Netgalley using their service and have them working on Amazon ads), my Facebook (www.facebook.com/people/Nyk-King-Art/61581171299140) and Instagram (NykKingArt) accounts, as well as my author website at NykKing.com.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m a new author myself so maybe I should be asking others! I felt pretty confident in being able to write a book and edit it, however I had no idea about all the marketing aspects, getting a social media following (which I had deliberately suppressed during my previous professional career), navigating how to get reviews for my book prior to it getting published (time travel?), etc. Knowing this was my blind spot, I bought some Indie publishing books by Sam Kearns (“How to Publish a Book on Amazon in 2025” and “How to Market Your Book on Amazon”), who opened my eyes to other resources such as Dave Chesson at Kindlepreneur.com and Derek Murphy at CreativIndie.com. Their combined advice, blogs, freebie books, and resources were invaluable–I highly recommend all three.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Plan a marketing strategy ahead of your book release! Also, plan your release date (actually put a publication date on Amazon or wherever you plan to sell your books) to hold yourself accountable, stop the self-editing spiral, and get your great work in front of an audience instead of collecting bit rot on your computer.
What are you reading now?
Did I mention I’m a prolific cross-genre reader? I was RVing over Columbus Day weekend, so I just finished quite a few books: a quick read by John Scalzi entitled, “3 Days, 9 Months, 27 Years (The Time Traveler’s Passport)” which was a fascinating take on time tourism; “The Enchanting Greenhouse,” the second book in a great cozy fantasy duology by Sarah Beth Durst with one of the few examples of sentient plants that I can recall (barring “The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” and “Little Shop of Horrors”); “The Queen of Blood,” by the same author, which was a cool intro to a series where magic comes from homicidal elementals and the magicians that control them; “Ushers,” a short story by Joe Hill about a man who repeatedly escapes death; “Trap Line,” a short story by Timothy Zahn featuring interstellar travel, aliens, and possession; a graphic novel: “John Constantine, Hellblazer Vol 1” — so stoked about the rumors of a second Constantine movie from Keanu Reeves; and “Sociopath-A Memoir,” a non-fiction book about people who don’t feel empathy from a person who became a psychologist just to better understand herself (will definitely be reference material for a future book!)
I just began reading “The Inheritance Trilogy” by N.K. Jemisin, which is off to a strong start. I thought this was my first time reading it, but since the sun god’s name is giving me deva vu I guess it’s been a while…Note, I am an avid fan of Amazon Prime Reading (where most of the aforementioned books can be found for free), selecting slightly delayed Amazon shipping to hoard credits like a jealous dragon to spend on yet more books, and using Libby and my local library for the rest, otherwise my book addition would bankrupt me!
What’s next for you as a writer?
Crossing my fingers that my short story will make it to the Bestsellers List on Amazon after release–wish me luck!
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?
Limiting myself to one book per genre…”The Talisman” by Stephen King. I’ve read this book almost every summer since I was in high school, so it’s become kind of a ritual for me. Like “The Stand,” it’s a cross-country horror journey, but the main character is just a kid trying to save his mom, which makes Jack and his quest very relatable. “The Shadow of the Torturer” by Gene Wolfe, which is the first book in a series taking place in the Urth of the future. Opposite from “The Talisman,” the protagonist has a completely un-sympathetic occupation, but once exiled, wanders around this utterly weird world–it’s kind of like a fever dream in the best way, like much of Gene Wolf’s writing. And for something lighter but equally brilliant, a contemporary fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, “Good Omens.” The anti-Christ is born but gets switched at birth, and hilarity ensues. Say what you will about the author, but this is one of my favorite books of all time because of the perfect juxtaposition of its serious topic (ie the Apocalypse) and the ROTFL humor with which it’s written.
Author Websites and Profiles
Nyk King’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.