Kay Hanifen was born on a Friday the 13th and once lived for three months in a haunted castle. So, obviously, she had to become a horror writer. Her work has appeared in over fifty anthologies and magazines. Her first anthology as an editor, Till the Yule Log Burns Out, was published in 2024. The Last Ballard is her debut novel.
When she’s not consuming pop culture with the voraciousness of a vampire at a 24-hour blood bank, you can usually find her with her black cats or at:
@katharinehanifen (Instagram)
@TheUnicornComi1 (Twitter/X)
Kayhanifenauthor.wordpress.com
1) First, I want to thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me! When did you know that writing is what you were called to do? What is it about being a writer that you love the most? What about being a writer frustrates you the most?
I’ve always been a storyteller, even as a little kid. One of my early childhood memories is of dictating stories for my mom in little paper books and then illustrating them. It was in the fourth and fifth grade, though, that I realized that this was what I wanted to do forever. I had a number of teachers who were incredibly encouraging of my writing, and it set me on the path I’m on now. The thing I love most about writing is finding my angle by looking at what isn’t being done and finding what interests me. For example, if the anthology call is about vacation horror, I write it from the point of view of a hotel worker rather than a traveler and use it to explore the downsides of the tourism industry. I think I get the most frustrated by rewrites, which is kind of bad to say because writing is rewriting. There’s sometimes a mental block, though, where I’m like, “I just wrote this. Why do I have to write it again?” It’s important to get past that, though, because the process is what makes a strong finished work.
2) Can you tell us a little about your book(s) and where our readers can find out more about them and you?
The Last Ballard is my debut novel. It centers around Rhea, a young woman who returns to her family’s massive estate for the funeral of her abusive grandparents. She expects to field awkward questions, say her goodbyes, and never see the place again. What she doesn’t expect is to inherit the old house and all the ghosts inside. Now, with the help of the family cook and groundskeeper, she has to solve the mystery of a hundred-year-old murder before becoming a ghost herself.
You can check out the book here: https://www.miravallebooks.com/books/thelastballard!
Till the Yule Log Burns Out is a hybrid anthology and novella I edited and put together with several of my horror author friends. It concerns the St. Wenceslas Church Choir after their bus gets stranded on the way to a Christmas caroling competition. They decide to take shelter at a nearby inn run by the mysterious Innkeeper and make the best of it by opening their Secret Santa gifts. But the gifts have changed. Each one now relates to a secret from the choir members’ pasts, which they are compelled to share.
You can check it out here: https://books2read.com/u/bPdL6r!
If you want to check out my other work, my author website is here: kayhanifenauthor.wordpress.com!
3) What projects are you currently working on?
I don’t like to jinx the novels I’m working on, so I won’t say, but I am sending out to a number of anthologies. I’m also working on an audiobook adaptation of Till the Yule Log Burns Out.
4) What has been your most significant achievement as a writer thus far? Where do you see yourself within your career in the next five years?
I think The Last Ballard and Till the Yule Log Burns Out are my two most significant achievements so far. I hope to get an agent and publish more novels in the next five years.
5) How have you dealt with rejection within your writing career?
Every writer has to deal with rejection. It’s important that you don’t take it personally or see it as a reflection of your skill, because it isn’t. Getting published is largely a numbers game. You send your work to as many places as possible, because eventually, someone will bite. Before I got my first short story acceptance, I was rejected by ten publishers, so I like to use that ratio. Ten no’s for every yes. For example, The Last Ballard was written five years ago and had been getting rejected on and off for years before it finally found a home with Miravalle books. The most important thing is to never give up.
6) Do you have a schedule for when you write? Do you outline your novels? How long does it generally take you to finish a novel?
I do, and it’s a bit ridiculous. I tend to write best in the middle of the night, usually around 1-3 a.m., so my sleep schedule is a bit of a mess. In the battle between planners and pantsers, I tend to be a plantser. I have a separate document with a loose outline, character list, and any important information, but I also don’t adhere closely to an outline, allowing the characters to take me where they need to go. As for finishing a novel, it depends. I usually write one thousand words every night, so it can be anywhere from a month to a couple months. It also depends on how often I take breaks throughout in order to focus on other projects.
7) Do you believe that there is ever a point in life where it’s too late for an aspiring writer to become successful in this industry? Do you feel a late start would hinder their chances?
It’s only too late when you’re dead! Is it likely that the aspiring writer will quit their day job? No, but that applies to writers of any age. A late start won’t necessarily hinder their chances. If anything, the writer will have more maturity that comes with age and life experience.
8) Are you an avid reader and have you always been? What’s the first book you ever read that really touched you emotionally and moved you? Who is your favorite author? What book are you currently reading?
I was an avid reader from a young age. I even won a schoolwide award for the number of books I read. That said, I fell out of the habit of reading for pleasure in college (the danger of studying literature). I’ve been listening to a lot of audiobooks and trying to get back into the habit. I think the first book series that really inspired me was Nancy Drew. They were my gateway drug into reading. As for favorite author, that’s a bit tough. I love Stephen Graham Jones, Agatha Christie, Shirley Jackson, Bram Stoker, and Jonathan Sims. Those are my top five in no particular order. Right now, though, I’m working my way through The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. It’s an incredibly fun series with a fantastic protagonist.
9) Given the recent shake-ups in publishing, what are your thoughts about how the publishing industry is being represented today? Do you lean more towards traditional publishing or self-publishing as a preference? Does being a hybrid author interest you?
The publishing industry is tough to break into. There are so many talented writers out there, and I’m honestly kind of intimidated by it. I think I’m most interested in being a hybrid or traditionally published, though. I self-published Till the Yule Log Burns Out, and it was a fun challenge, but I can’t say I have the marketing skills to do it all on my own. It’s been nice working with a publicity and marketing team for The Last Ballard.
10) I feel like writing is a remarkable tool to help people not only express themselves, but also to cope emotionally and mentally. I know for me I write to be and feel more authentic. What unique quality is there about you, about your art, that you feel represents your authenticity? How does writing help you to be more empowered in your purpose?
I think that my strength is that I always try to write from a place of compassion. I may not like or agree with the characters, but I still see where they are coming from. I believe that everyone needs a hero, so I try to write for those who have never seen themselves reflected in stories as the good guy while also exploring the ways that society hurts those on the outside.
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