Welcome back dear readers for Episode 3 of #indieauthorsummer. This, the final installment of the Indie Author Summer series, brings us an author I think is very unique and someone you should keep your eyes on. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Katherine Silva, an indie author based out of Maine. She has done some great work, which I will mention more toward the end of the article. What put Katherine on my radar was The Deadlands Trilogy. When one of your protagonists is a reanimated talking fox, you take note. What’s more? The fox is absolutely hilarious.
Without further ado, let’s talk about it, with Katherine herself.
Abby Wolf: At what point in life did you realize you wanted to pursue writing professionally?
Katherine Silva: I had dropped out of college and was working retail. Writing has always been a strong love in my life so the opportunity arose to self-publish my recently finished manuscript with a local group who would help design the book, edit, and otherwise assist in the publishing process. That was 2010 when self-publishing was still very new. Once that book was out in the world and in my hands, I was hooked. I just wanted to keep going.
AW: Tell us a bit about your existing work(s). Which is your favorite, so far?
KS: Over the last fifteen years, I’ve published seventeen books. Some of my favorites have been within the last few years but my absolute favorite thus far is Dead Folk. I loved the idea of being reunited with the characters from the first book and getting to take the story in a different direction with its western influences. This one felt very automatic for me. I love writing action scenes and grief and this is jam packed full of both.
AW: What can you tell us about your most recent project, whether its newly released or pending publication?
KS: I just finished and published VULPINE CURSE, a prequel to Undead Folk, which features dystopian and desert punk influences. My next book coming out is Where The Soul Goes, which is coming out from Truborn Press in September 2025. This one combines a lot of my favorite tropes: food, dystopian landscapes, grief, and road-trips. It’s also set against an alternate 80’s background which was lots of fun to write.
AW: What is the most surprising thing you have learned during the writing process?
KS: I have found, especially in the last few years, that I write better when I’m on a time-crunch. I’m much more discerning with word choice, am able to cut the fat where it needs to be, and home in on voice. I am also completely unable to stop myself from doing too many things at once. That’s something I need to work on.
AW: What advice would you want to give to an author just starting out?
KS: Pace yourself. You’ve got all the time in the world to make your story shine and sing how you want it to. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. And don’t be afraid that your ideas might be too strange for readers. Readers LOVE strange. Your voice is yours and yours alone.
AW: What is the strangest thing you have had to research for a project?
KS: Not necessarily research so much as fanaticism I suppose, but my first novel included a lot of opera influences. I ended up listening to Donizetti’s Il Dolce Suono (from Lucia Ddi Lammermoor) for over ten hours while working on a scene for the book.
AW: Tell me your favorite thing about working on the indie side of publishing and one hard thing about it.
KS: I love my fellow presses and authors and the books they publish. There’s such openness towards diversity, toward such unique and strange stories. Things that the Big 5 Publishers might not want to take a risk on. The best books I’ve read have come from indie presses and indie authors. But, publishing a book the indie way takes a lot of work and a lot of commitment. Back when I started in the industry, I had no clue how to market my work. It requires constant attention and the need to put yourself out there whether you’re comfortable doing that or not. You are the only person that knows your work and yourself; you are the one who has to sell yourself.
AW: If you could have any author with you on a deserted island, who would they be and why?
KS: If it could be anyone, living or dead, it would be Anthony Bourdain. Gone before his time. Absolutely a masterclass with his outlook on food, life, and writing.
AW: What was your most recent 5 star read?
KS: I’m finishing up Jacy Morris’ latest from Tenebrous Press called We Like It Cherry and it’s absolutely one of the most brutal page-turners I’ve read in a while. Five stars all the way.
AW: What are you currently reading and/or listening to?
KS: I’m between projects so while editing, I’ve been listening to Marika Hackman and Simon Stalenhag’s work. When I’m doing interior formatting and cover design, I’ve been rocking El Michels Affair. “Enter the 37th Chamber” is such an awesome cover album of Wu-Tang Clan’s best songs.
Katherine is three-time Maine Literary Award finalist for speculative fiction. She is also editor-in-chief of Strange Wilds Press. Some of her other work includes The Wild Oblivion series and The Monstrum Chronicles series, among many more. She also edited Boreal, An Anthology of Taiga Horror, an anthology of 22 stories that intermingle the dark and lonely forests of the taiga biome. I urge you to check out her website or consider picking up one of her books. Her voice is masterful in the nuances of horror and grief. I really enjoyed The Deadlands trilogy and The Vulpine Curse.
The last thing I want to leave you, the reader with is, look in those darker corners of the bookstore. Find the books and authors that aren’t in the direct spotlight or a platform that allows for a huge reach. You will find some gems, I promise you. You may even find your next favorite book.
You can read my previous Indie Author Summer interview with Cat Delani to discover another new-to-you author and perhaps your next summer read.
Photos courtesy of Katherine Silva
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