Mary Dublin and Anne Kendsley are the dynamic duo behind "Shot in the Dark," a novel that masterfully blends the gritty world of monster hunting with the whimsical allure of fairycore aesthetics. Driven by a shared love for supernatural adventures and the enchanting fairy world, they embarked on a journey to create the book they always wanted to read. Their collaboration is a testament to the power of friendship, creativity, and the belief that seemingly disparate elements can come together to create something truly unique. In this interview, they share insights into their creative process, the development of their characters, and the personal experiences that have shaped their writing. For aspiring authors and fans alike, their story is a source of inspiration and a reminder that passion and teamwork can bring even the most fantastical ideas to life.
What inspired you to write "Shot in the Dark"?
We have always been fairies at heart, and in our teenagehood, we took a liking to the show Supernatural. There was very little media that combined those vibes, so we adopted the idea of "write the book you want to read!"
How did the concept of combining a gritty monster hunting world with a whimsical fairycore aesthetic come about?
This book is truly a reflection of our personalities and interests. We love the fairycore aesthetic and the spine-chilling vibes of monsters--why not both together? We’ve been delighted by the feedback from our readers that this is “a vibe I didn’t know I was missing!”
Can you share more about the development of the enemies-to-lovers romance in your book?
We are romantics, but we want our characters to work for it! There's something compelling about the forbidden--and what's more forbidden than a fairy and monster hunter falling in love? The idea that two people could come from such different worlds, be natural enemies, and still find themselves struck by an irresistible pull towards love despite everything stacked against them is so fun to write!
What personal experiences influenced the themes and characters in "Shot in the Dark"?
We can relate to the idea of struggling to be authentic to yourself. This is a concept that Sylvia truly faces--she lives in a community where her curiosity and brand of bravery are frowned upon. The idea of finding family where you least expect it, and that home is not a place but people really speak volumes to our special friendship as well. Our male characters Jon and Cliff also deal with grief in different ways; we can relate that finding purpose through pain can be difficult and an ongoing journey—but an important one.
How do you and your co-author, Anne Kendsley, collaborate on your books?
We use Google Docs! Our ideas come naturally through conversations. We thoroughly outline the story together, and from there, we take turns writing out the first draft. It's a fun way to both write and read the story as it unfolds.
What challenges did you face while writing and publishing your third book together?
Social media and marketing is a beast with a massive learning curve and many hiccups along the way. Writing is natural and easy compared to finding your audience! Imposter syndrome can also be a challenge, and we’re grateful we have a built in support system in each other to pick each other up when we have those days of questioning our capacity to take self-publishing on!
How do you balance creative differences when working on a project with a co-author?
We are typically on the same page about most things. Any differences of opinion we may have are resolved pretty quickly since we trust each other's opinions so much as friends and creatives working together. Our thorough outline also ensures we are on the same page as we move through the manuscript.
What advice do you have for aspiring authors looking to write collaboratively?
Creating an outline together works wonders and keeps you on track. Take advantage of the opportunity to bounce ideas off each other— for us this looks like long rambling phone calls sometimes, gushing about how an idea can elevate the entire series for emotional impact!
Can you discuss a significant obstacle you encountered in your writing career and how you overcame it?
For the longest time, we were writing only for ourselves and each other. Learning how to focus on writing for our target audience took some time and practice--and a lot of editing! It’s a delicate balance to strike between writing authentically what’s on your heart and writing for market.
How do you stay motivated and inspired during the writing process?
Having a co-author creates an environment where there is always someone to be excited with. There is always someone to share emotions and new ideas with. The support of our readers and street team is also SO uplifting! Every kind and excited comment, message, and review definitely reinvigorate our motivation.
What role does your environment in Florida and Texas play in your writing?
That could be a subconscious reason we made Sylvia an ice fairy, seeing as we live in such hot and humid environments! We also have a southern Gothic / swampy setting for book 2 in the Shot in the Dark series, which we are stoked to reminisce on our personal experiences with visiting those areas.
How do you think "Shot in the Dark" stands out in the supernatural and fairycore genres?
While it’s difficult to sound unbiased, Shot in the Dark is truly a unique storyline! We struggled to think of any book that has blended traditional delicate fairies with high stakes action/adventure, ancient feral magic with binding consequences, and forbidden slow burn romance all in one tidy package. The combination of the dark and the whimsical create a truly “best of both worlds” vibe that readers have described as cozy and haunting.
What message do you hope readers take away from your book?
We hope that readers who have ever felt a little lost in accepting themselves or finding a place where they are accepted for all of themselves, truly find their own found family in Jon, Cliff, and Sylvia. We hope they know that there is a place for them, and that family goes beyond a building and beyond blood.
What advice would you give to other women pursuing a career in writing?
Find a support system and network! This is advice we wish we could have given ourselves years ago (where’s a Time Machine when you need it??). Writing as a career can be a difficult pursuit, but there are so many amazing women that we have connected with that have supported our journey and given us helpful advice on many aspects of the publishing journey— and our DMs are always open if you need us to be those ladies for you!
How do you use social media to connect with your readers and promote your work?
We are very active on social media, promoting with epic book trailers, excerpts, sneak peeks and behind the scenes of the writing/publishing process! We have been slowly getting more comforting being on camera as much as our beautiful book cover. Our favorite thing in the world is connecting with readers and fellow authors in comments and messages!
https://authorsdublinkendsley.com
