This Week’s Feature Author Interview with
Kelly Bedford
Hi Kelly Bedford, welcome to the Indie Publishing Group website. Introduce yourself to us. Tell everyone who you are, where you’re from, what do you enjoy doing, hobbies and interests.
Hi! I’m Kelly Bedford, I’m based out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, and I’m a mommy of two, ages three years and ten months – it’s a busy time!
I just self-published my first novel, A Light in the Dark, and I’m working on the second book in the series.
I’m also a fine artist, I paint abstract paintings in several different mediums, though I sell my artwork under my maiden name, Kelly Cutter.
I love to read, go for bike rides and just watch in amazement as my little ones grow.
When did you start writing and why?
I was told by several of my University professors that I should write, but I had always been more interested in fine art, so I didn’t really give it a lot of thought. It’s a tricky subject to bring up, but I finally started writing in 2015, after the loss of a pregnancy. I just needed an outlet for my grief, and the book just started to flow. I wrote half of it, and then stopped for about four months, because I was feeling better and didn’t like to put myself back into that sad headspace. A few months later I unfortunately lost my grandmother, and so, once again, I channeled my grief into writing.
The question of ‘Where does the love, energy and spirit go?’ comes up a lot in A Light in the Dark.
Which is your favorite book you have written and what gave you the idea for it?
Well, since there’s only one, I’d have to say A Light in the Dark! A lot of the ghost stories in the novel are based on friends and family members’ paranormal gifts and experiences. My husband and I are into survival and prepping, so a lot of the tips and facts are based on that.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
Gracie, the heroine, struggles through a literal and figurative darkness – she finds herself alone during a permanent, worldwide blackout, and she is haunted by people who have died. She must overcome a lot of obstacles to see the light in her situation.
Who helped you with the cover? Or did your design it yourself? What was your inspiration for your cover design?
My husband designed the cover, and it was inspired by a scene in my book – icy handprints left by those who have departed the physical world.
What are some of the themes of your story?
Definitely survival, the paranormal, good versus evil and light versus dark. Love, grief, hope.
What’s your process when you sit down and decide to start writing a book? What is your process and do you have a system?
With two small children, I don’t have a lot of free time, so my process is: get them to bed, write as much as I can, wake up a few hours later slumped over my keyboard.
Who are some of your favorite characters and why?
From A Light in the Dark, Andy is definitely my favourite. He adds a lot of humour to a scary and bleak world, and gets Gracie through a lot of tough times. And he loves puns. Enough said!
Who are some of your favorite authors?
I love JK Rowling, Suzanne Collins, and of course Robert Munsch.
Have you got anything you’re working on now?
I’m working on the second book in my A Light in the Dark series.
If you could have any super powers what would they be?
I would like to be able to fly, and clean my house Mary Poppins-style.
If you could travel to any location in the world where would you go?
I love British Columbia, Canada. The mountain air is so fresh and the landscape is breathtaking.
Where do you hope to be in 5 years’ time?
I hope to see my books reach a lot of readers, and I hope to see my little family happy and healthy.
Thanks so much for taking the time to do an author interview. Take a minute and check Kelly Bedford out on the links below. Kelly Bedford’s book, A Light in the Dark, is available now on Amazon!
Kelly Bedford Twitter
Kelly Bedford Goodreads
Kelly Bedford Facebook
Kelly Bedford Author Website
