With a love for paranormal storytelling, author L.M. Hatchell blends Celtic folk tales, mythological legends from many cultures, and contemporary settings to create inviting settings in which her characters work to stop the bad guys from ruling the world. Join us for a follow-up Q&A with the author of The Midnight Trilogy, the Celtic Curses series, and Twisted Familiar.

What’s new in your writing world since last we talked? At the time, you were in the process of releasing The Guardian.

The Guardian’s Truth, the final (for now) book in the Celtic Curses series just released at the end of October, which is crazy to think it’s come full circle. I’m back in drafting mode now for the second standalone in my Feline Familiar series (the first book is Twisted Familiar), and I’m having lots of fun shifting to a more playful, cosy fantasy.

What do you love most about writing in your chosen genre?

Urban fantasy is a genre that can take so many different forms. I love that I can just as easily pull in elements of thriller and mystery as I can romance or a fun cosy vibe. It gives so much scope to play with, and the magic/supernatural side of things allows the imagination to run wild.

You’ve had success promoting your work through Kickstarter. What led you to take that approach, and what does Kickstarter allow you to bring to your fans?

I got nudged into doing a Kickstarter by a fellow urban fantasy author, Brogan Thomas. Her first campaign was very successful, and she produced the most stunning book. I figured I’d dip my toe in, never really expecting much. The platform blew my mind. As an author on social media you get somewhat used to shouting into the void, but with Kickstarter I actually felt like I was able to reach and properly interact with readers. The ability to be creative with the book is fantastic, but that interaction more than anything makes it one of the most enjoyable ways to publish for me.

How do you balance finding time to write with all the other things in your life — family, children, work, etc.?

I’m a glutton for punishment, LOL. The most important thing I think is to be flexible. Most of my writing has been done while I’ve had young kids so I learned how to fit writing anywhere I could. Even if it’s only five minutes, those few words eventually add up to a story. A lot of my writing is done now in the car when I’ve gotten to work ten minutes early. My business admin gets done in the evening when the kids have gone to bed and I’m half watching telly with my husband. It can be hard to keep on top of things though, so it’s important to be aware when you may be taking on too much (which I can be guilty of).

What are you working on right now?

I’m currently working on Obscure Magic, a standalone in the Feline Familiar Society world. It’s going to form the second side of a tête-bêche style special edition early next year, and I’m having a lot of fun with it. The main character, Elena, is a witch who gets visions from the milk foam on lattes. She sees a familiar who needs rescuing from two leprechaun mercenaries and finds herself embroiled in a mystery that of course requires a trip to the magical black market and potentially a heist. The Kickstarter prelaunch page is up if anyone wants a nosey:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lmhatchell/obscure-magic

What advice would you like to offer right now to fellow authors?

Writing can be a very solitary activity, and it can be hard not to get stuck in your own head, especially if things aren’t going as well as you’d like. Find your tribe, a group of authors maybe in the same genre, that you can lean on. It makes the world of difference at the times when you need that support. I’ve been lucky to make some amazing author friends over the past five years, and they’ve saved my sanity more than once!