We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kevin Cady a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kevin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.
Being a self-published author has been (and will continue to be) a wild and humbling ride. The pursuit began in 2011, an inkling that I wanted to write a trilogy, and it’s bloomed into what I hope can be a lifelong endeavor.
Back then, I had zero experience building a narrative in novel form—despite being an English teacher. After all, it’s different to build a building than it is to analyze one’s architecture, and I had zero idea how to start. I decided I needed to begin somewhere.
I put together first drafts of the three novels in my Elijah Warren Files Trilogy between the years of 2011-2013, and I even edited those first versions by hand. Yep. Red ink and printed pages like a ’90’s-style professor. I soon recognized I would be editing and improving and revising the books incessantly (and consistently till publication); it was a moment revelatory. I realized (it was one of many things) that what I was picturing for the avenue to publication would be a far cry from actuality.
In the subsequent years, I’ve gone through many phases of evolution in my writing career. I published the first book, A Solitary Awakening, back in 2015, and then realized I needed to have a website. I needed to have people review the book. I needed to create a mailing list and think about fan experiences and innumerable other things. And it was overwhelming. But this part of the process was integral and really connected me further with my work and my goals. How do you build a website? Don’t know. In fact, I didn’t know how to do any of those things (and am constantly learning), but I believe these challenges have helped ground me and, as mentioned, really connect me to my craft. To take further ownership. It’s also allowed me to feel more reasonable about the future challenges I’ll surely face.
Being twelve years in, it feels bizarre to consider those different phases and lessons learned. It feels exciting to consider the different moments which have led to today. It also feels overwhelming how far I’ve still got to realize the goals I have for my writing.
One unique thing I always try and describe is the solitary nature of writing novels. For twelve years now, I’ve ponied up at home, in coffee shops, and in dive bars. Countless hours, all with the hope of creating worthwhile, beautiful pieces of writing. Interesting stories which people want to dive into and consume and dissect. And you as the author must live in that world for however long it takes. It’s almost like coming up for air when the book is written and sent off for publication. It’s like you can come back to real life.
To that end, an interesting turning point was the moment the trilogy was fully published (Crooked Principles in 2016 and Truth’s Illusion in 2017). I was finally able to talk about it fully, and in earnest, as up to that point I’d kept the process secret. No one knew I was writing. It almost felt unreal at that time, like what I was doing was just playing pretend. Playing writer. Playing author (of which it took me many years to claim). It just felt like a solitary, illusory pursuit, and some days still does.
But I’ve realized that once the books are published, they don’t belong to me anymore. They, like any other piece of art, only belong to the creator during the lonely process of creation. But once it’s out in the world, things kind of seem less lonely again. The characters are real and known and you can talk about what people love and hate and what they find beautiful or ugly. The story becomes far more real, and the transition between creation and existence is one profound. It’s one of the moments when writing feels very worth it.
Since the trilogy was published I’ve been fortunate to have different writing opportunities—pairing with a Colorado Springs art gallery to create a multi-channel, collaborative project (a written story, a visual rendering, and a spoken performance of the story) which was ultimately displayed in the gallery through all those artistic mediums. I’ve been asked to participate in markets and events and interviews ranging from local (Springs Gazette, Denver Canvas Rebel, Shoutout Denver) to national (NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox). Though the thing I’m most proud of is the reception to my most recent novel from 2022, Depths of Dante, a down the rabbit hole adventure which the Book Excellence Awards recognized as a finalist in their international competition in the horror genre. They said, “The world building and vivid imagery bring a dark complexity to the story—a feature that sets this book apart from others in its genre. For readers interested in a chilling look at what could be in the afterlife, this book is for you.”
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
My writing fits under a self-proclaimed moniker of dark mystery, and I have cultivated this style throughout my work. The best creators (in my opinion) are those which exist in their own world, on their own artistic plane, no matter their chosen medium of creation. My favorite authors (as well as musicians, painters, etc.) are those whose style is wholly their own. When you read a Stephen King novel, it’s King and no one else. When you listen to bands like Wayfarer (a Denver band), the style is Wayfarer. Artists like Goya—when you see a Goya painting, you immediately know it’s Goya. And those creators might be often copied or people might attempt replication of style, but I think when an artist owns their own style, it’s the most powerful way to create. I believe it’s difficult to replicate an artistic style which is wholly unique.
My dark mysteries have elements of classic murder mystery (as most revolve around a death of some kind) but with added elements which I believe earn the moniker of dark mystery. There are philosophical elements embedded which might reveal something altogether different, if the reader is willing to dig deeper. There are graphic elements which are more so found in genres like horror or sci-fi, which I feel add a level of macabre grittiness to the writing. And when these elements come together, they create my style—dark mystery.
One of the more telling and powerful statements I can make is with other people’s honest critiques of my work. Especially those unknown to myself and vice versa.
Of the first book in the trilogy, it was said, “A Solitary Awakening is a feverish orchestration of mystery, violence, poetry, and even love,” by Foreword Clarion Reviews, an objective review company.
“Crooked Principles is a sinister masterpiece that conjures visceral emotions and stomach-churning images. Cady’s stylized prose penetrates the darkest crevices of the imagination, creating an arctic place from which there is no escape,” said Foreword.
Kirkus Reviews said of Truth’s Illusion, “The hodgepodge of characters takes readers through a gleefully curvy plot that covers a number of decades, while the vicious assassin’s consistent presence heightens suspense…Fast-paced and absorbing; a series highlight.”
Finally of Depths of Dante, Book Excellence said, “The overall plot line is original and compelling from the start with Cady’s writing as descriptive, articulate, and well-paced as ever. The book offers new perspectives on the grim and dire aspects of humanity today with unexpected twists and turns readers won’t soon forget.”
Comments like these help me continue writing with confidence, as unbiased reviews reveal (in a sense) whether or not I’ve succeeded in accomplishing my goal of creating vivid, thought-provoking mysteries with darkness at their core. Now, reviews certainly aren’t the only marker of success for the books (it’s necessary for me to love it before it’s released), but for a self-published author, they help create more credibility for the world of dark mystery I’m trying to cultivate.
At book shows or at releases, I always welcome people to the dark mystery family, as that’s what I feel this is. Once you know a Kevin Cady Dark Mystery, I believe you’ll want to delve into the others, and I believe I’ll consistently surprise and intrigue you. I believe you can count on me as an author, and I look forward to the continued chance to prove this accurate to the reader fam, whether it’s their first, or they’ve read them all and are awaiting the next.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Sticking out in memory is a (now) comedic event which derailed the trilogy for nearly a year.
As prior mentioned, I oftentimes work in places that are public and busy (coffee shops, dive bars…) where I have little obligation, and where my brain can focus on the task at hand. The busy nature of the environment somehow allows me to remain focused. It’s almost an escape from the real world, where I don’t have to think about typical responsibilities.
Amidst releasing A Solitary Awakening and revising Crooked Principles, I realized I needed to outline and plan changes for the second book as a whole to get it to where I wanted it. As opposed to going chronologically and revising page by page, I spent six months creating this plan in a notebook (something I always carry), and it was finally finished.
Somehow I left the notebook where I was working (won’t name names…haha), and when I realized the following day I’d left it, I called. I received message that they remembered seeing the black notebook, but that an employee had thrown it away at close of business. What!? Who throws away a notebook filled with information!? I was devastated.
Anyway, I had to decide, do I attempt to replicate what I’d written and planned for the prior six months, or do I completely overhaul the plan and take the book a new direction.
In the end, this new direction propelled Crooked Principles to a place where it would never have been had the notebook not been…disposed of…
Though it took another six months to rework the plot, I honestly don’t recall the original plan or ending, and I’m appreciative the book was completed as it was. Happy disasters.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Most rewarding in the process of artistic creation is certainly sharing the work when it’s done. I love hearing about a reader experiencing the journey. I love watching people adjust opinions about characters or themes or events as further pieces are unearthed. I appreciate hearing feedback about the layers of the novels, and when I have those conversations, it feels very worth it. Much love to the dark mystery fam.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kevincadyauthor.com
- Instagram: @kevincadytheauthor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Kevin-Cady-Author/pfbid0uRRsRNUeoTcREVAWs5ZPMmzeqNQ7shUjshrnWcVR7tCuvyWDksTGCEQBZwSWdVJYl/
- Other: Amazon Author Profile https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kevin-Cady/author/B01FWP3I4M?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Image Credits
Photos by Caitlin Scully Cady