Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve enjoyed writing for a long time and it always seems to serve me and my mental health. So far I’ve written a short story collection, Two Moons, published in 2018 by BLF Press, a poetry collection titled This is Not About Love, also by BLF Press (2021), and my third book has just come out as an independent project.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, Sheila on the Mend, was inspired by the amazing women I know who are starting over and redefining themselves. It’s lovely to see the fearlessness and support of women for women.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to get gussied up for writing sessions a lot of the time. A bright lipstick and collared shirt give me power somehow.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favorite authors are the ones that I grew up reading: Nikki Giovanni, Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes. They used such powerful language to express the very seed of their message and it stuck with me.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on fun! I have a speculative western in the works as well as some galaxy-space adventures; featuring all women, of course.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Word of mouth! I hang out with and talk to some cool writers all the time and we have the best recommendations on all the different genres. We share and trade stories, books, industry news, and more.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice to new authors is to have fun. Don’t lose that writing spirit. You should enjoy the work you do and love the stories you tell.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write a sentence a day.
What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading a couple of books. The Black God’s Drums by P. Djeli Clark, Hell Cat’s Bounty by Renae Jones, and Debate and Decadence by Sula Sullivan.
What’s next for you as a writer?
What’s next for me as a writer is a new outline and project schedule. I like to keep something in the works to keep me sharp. I’m always writing, a poem, a novella, or an idea to outline
What is your favorite book of all time?
My all time favorite book is a short story collection by Lesley Nneka Arimah – a short story collection called What It Means When A Man Falls From The Sky. Incredible, original, unrepeatable.
Author Websites and Profiles
Krystal A. Smith Website
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