Kate Stahl-Kovell Interview

How did you become a writer?

Twenty-three years ago, munching on overly salted popcorn in a small Las Vegas theater, I realized that I needed to become a writer. Yes, the movie we were watching was The Fellowship of the Ring. I began writing, but my early attempts at romance were so dreadful that my agonized thirteen-year-old self abandoned the dream. I set writing aside, later turning to Cultural Anthropology, Southeast Asian Studies, and Critical Dance Studies, earning a MA and PhD, immersing myself in academia, and then shifting to a career in Marriage and Family Therapy. I take side quests seriously.

Yet at thirty-three, I found myself a writer again. I dreamt of my main character, Birlinn, and suddenly I couldn’t stop writing. I recorded every detail from the dream—sketching characters, world-building, and developing magic systems. Within a week, the foundation for my witchy, Scottish folklore-inspired historical romantasy, Mōr, was set. I’ve been writing nonstop ever since. It’s no longer just something I do; it’s who I am and always was meant to be.

What inspires you to write?

I write for the readers who were told they were too much growing up. Who were instructed to be quiet, to calm down, to shrink themselves to the patriarchal spaces many communities have normalized as what life should be like for women. May we all have the strength to know life is short, and we never need to conform to the narrow opinions of those who refuse to live daringly.

How do you develop your plot and characters?

I’m neither a strict plotter nor a complete pantser. Most of my writing happens while I’m driving—navigating steep mountain roads and pulling over to record voice memos as ideas flood in. The characters tell me their stories, helping me build the initial framework of the manuscript. Then, I go home and refine the story, turning it into something cohesive. Once the first draft is complete, I dive into editing to address plot holes and character development, constantly fine-tuning the narrative.

Could you share some of your challenges as a writer?

The biggest challenge I faced as a writer was carving out daily writing time while juggling my roles as a trauma therapist, adjunct professor, editor-in-chief, and homeschool mom. I had to let go of a couple of my roles, shift my kiddos into a brick-and-mortar school, and be diligent about balancing my time with my loved ones in real life and the loved ones running around in my head onto the page.

Tell me about your protagonist. What’s your favorite trait and/or weakness?

Birlinn is like a prickly urchin—defensive on the outside but soft and tender within. She’s severely near-sighted (during the 500s in Northern Scotland!) but refuses to let that limit her. She climbs sea cliffs, stick fights, and is especially creative with cursing when riled.

Her internal struggle to balance duty to her people with her personal desire to be free of society’s constraints reflects a universal conflict many of us face.

What are your current/future projects?

I am a wee more than halfway through drafting the sequel for Mōr! I also have a standalone book in the works that takes place in Salem, MA in the 90s.

Do you have a routine you follow when writing?

I do, if my ADHD doesn't throw me a curve ball. Before I see my clients for their therapy sessions, I head out to a coffee shop to write! It's my favorite every morning ritual. It feels like my day has started once I say hello to my characters. I have several playlists on Spotify and Amazon music (some inappropriately named) to help me drop into the world of Mōr.

If you could go back in time and give yourself advice, what would it be?

Know your worth. And, as my favorite author Jaiya John says, “Would you like to read an epic Love story? You. Healing. From all of it. And living free."

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Yes! Just write. Write for the you that needed a kick-ass mentor as a kid. Write your rage, your love, your empathy, just pour it from your heart to the fingers pounding the keys. Just write. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or the perfect draft—there is no such thing. Just write.

Preferred Method for Readers to Get in Touch

You can connect with me through my website, katestahlkovell.com, or follow along on Instagram @katewritesit. I’d love to hear from you!