We were lucky to catch up with Libby Kay recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Libby, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I’ve been writing for over half my life, and I won’t age myself by telling you how long that is! ;)

I’ve always wanted to be a novelist; wanted to tell lovely, sweet stories to make people smile. I started writing when I had a full time job and full time responsibilities. Writing was the perfect escape for me, a way to express myself and craft characters that felt like friends.

Like most people, when the pandemic hit in 2020 I made some changes to my life. I wasn’t content just writing when I had the time, because I wanted writing to be my career. With the support of my husband, who is a saint and I love dearly, I quit my job and took nearly a year to write.

That year was not all wine and roses, I’ll tell you that right away. I was excited, because I got my first contracts with Inkspell Publishing. I wrote the first 3 books in my Buckeye Falls series, but I also started building the Libby Kay brand. I got on Facebook and Instagram, started attending more local book events, and most importantly, I started to FEEL like an author.

This was a risk, and it shifted how my husband I lived, spent money, and budgeted our time. There were moments of frustration when the words wouldn’t come, because this was the entire goal of my “funemployment” period…crafting stories. We had experiences we had to miss out on, because I wasn’t earning enough to live that “DINK” lifestyle. Yet, through all the creative struggles, I focused on how lucky I was to have the time, no matter how long it lasted. I wrote notes for future stories, started the Romance RoundUp podcast with the fabulous Liz Donatelli, and I prepared for the next stage in my writing career.

The dream isn’t over, but it’s shifted. I’m back working full time, and it’s been a transition. Yet I don’t regret taking the risk, because it got me where I am today as a writer.

Now, I realize what I’m describing is not right for every person. But there are ways you can find time or take smaller risks to make your dreams come true. My goal for as long as I can remember was to write books, have people read them, and craft worlds where people can escape and fall in love. I’ve achieved that, but I know the journey is only getting started!

Libby, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Libby Kay. I’m a romance author, podcast cohost, and a librarian by trade. Books, specifically romance books, are my bread and butter. I’ve been a lifelong reader, and I truly believe books make people’s lives better, regardless of the genre they read. I live in downtown Columbus, Ohio with my husband. When we’re not hiking and traveling, you can find me reading, writing, or baking in my kitchen.

I’ve been a published novelist since 2022, although I’ve been writing since I was a kid. Short stories here and there, notebooks scrawled with notes that didn’t have a plot, but they sure had heart. I love crafting stories that readers can escape into, and the reason I love the romance genre so much is that it’s a guaranteed happily ever after.

I got into writing after years of being a bookworm and librarian. I started in public libraries, which only helped me learn more about the different genres and publishing trends. (Not to get off topic, but if you’re an aspiring writer, you need to read your genre! I know not everyone can spend their days in a library, but keep an eye to social media and book trends. It will help you when it’s time to market you own story.)

In 2019 I published my first short story in an anthology with my late mentor, Dianne Drake. I met Dianne at a writer’s conference in 2018 in Indianapolis, and that meeting shaped how I approached publishing. She offered me tips and tricks with writing, editing, and looking to the industry to see what was popular. I met a variety of authors on a similar journey, and these relationships have been invaluable. I don’t want to get dramatic and say misery loves company, but sometimes with writers – we do! ;)

The one thing I want to share about writing is that it’s not really about the writing. I know that sounds odd, but hear me out. When I got a contract for my first novel with Inkspell, I thought I had it made. I assumed that writing the book was the hardest part, but I had a lot to learn. For as much as my publisher supports and promotes my books, the real responsibility lies at my feet. If I want readers to read my book, and find my book, I need to market like it’s my fulltime job. And spoiler alert, it is!

I’ve had to embrace my “professional extrovert”, because I cannot hide behind my laptop all the time. I need to be on social media, out at events, networking with authors, and searching for readers who will love my books as much as I do. So to any writers out there, take a deep breath and get ready to shout from the mountain tops that you’re a writer and your story has merit and a place on reader’s shelves.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding part of being an author is meeting readers. I’ve had these stories and characters flitting through my brain for ages, and to meet a reader who read my book AND loved it, there is no greater high in the word. I tease my husband that I should wear a heart rate monitor when I go to events, because when a reader said they enjoyed my books or are happy to meet me, I’m pretty sure I need the attention from an esteemed cardiologist. ;)

I joke, but there is something magical about meeting a person who not only wanted to read my book, but also enjoyed it. I write about love, but at the heart of each story, it’s the people. I write about people going through real life situations like break ups, career changes, family and marital issues, and so much more. I want readers to identify with characters and maybe not feel so alone in the world.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

For as much as I love hearing from readers, it’s not always sunshine and unicorn reviews and interactions.

When I go to book fairs that aren’t romance-only, there are a lot of readers who roll their eyes at the romance genre. “Oh, it’s just romance?” is my least favorite response from a potential reader. You need to believe in what you’re crafting, but also realize that not everyone is a romance reader.

The biggest challenge for me that threatens to bring me down are bad reviews. Fortunately, there have been way more good reviews than bad, but the bad ones cut deep. As a reader I understand that I’m not going to love every book I read, and that’s okay. But that mindset doesn’t always work when I’m the author they didn’t enjoy. I’m embarrassed to admit I check review sites like Goodreads and Bookbub more often than I should, but I force myself not to get bogged down in the negativity. It’s part of the creative process, after all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.libbykayauthor.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libbykayauthor/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LibbyKayAuthor/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel&eid=ARCeqMFV4bOXtAsCf9qQ51glbfpENMauyAF0xWSUBJ3kXsPKB2VF-40Obxm9L9T5fa-w0OinprjjExQp
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReaderSeeksRomance
• Other: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19377638.Libby_Kay

Image Credits

All of these are my photos.