Welcome to BookView Interview, a conversation series where BookView talks to authors.

Recently, we talked to Kate Gateley about her writing and her recently published novel, Severance of the Sorcerer, an adrenaline-charged and perfectly paced conclusion to The Lost Wells Trilogy (Read the review here).

What life experiences have shaped your writing most?

Oh, I love this question—and I think this one is a two-part answer. Firstly, I regularly alchemize my personal growth and life experiences into what my characters experience. It’s incredibly cathartic to “do the work”—so to speak—and then put it somewhere at the end of the day. Secondly, I am an avid collector of random knowledge and facts. I struggle with insomnia, so I spend many nights listening to interesting podcasts and learning new things … I love planting random facts and details throughout my series.

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

It’s probably finding enough time or space to write and enter the flow state. Writing is often mentally restorative, so giving myself the grace (and room) to move into a flow state is imperative to the process. But it can also be tricky, particularly with the demands of everyday life (kids, work, animals, etc.). I also struggle with executive dysfunction sometimes, depending on my burnout levels or where I am in my cycle. “Competition tasks” can be tricky, mainly the last five percent of a project, so being gentle with myself and trusting the process is vital. In the end, it all gets done!

How do you begin a book?

Great question! Once I have a general sense of the characters (who usually come to me as a feeling more than anything else), I put my character(s) in a room together (usually somewhere in the latter half of the book) and see how they might react. I introduce tension (typically romantic, as that’s the foundation of my series so far) and open the scene to free dialogue. It is so much fun sitting back and watching the character interact (and hopefully, my hands can keep up with the typing).

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

Sometimes, I research before, particularly if I want to cover a specific mythology or historical period. However, most of my research occurs during the process or as part of my natural process as a (passive) fact collector. When writing, I’ll leave little notes embedded in the work to flag that I’ll need to come back and fill in the research or spend specific time developing a section. This allows me to keep the narrative flow without becoming too bogged down by research points.

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

I adore creative collaboration through visuals. Throughout the development of the Lost Wells Trilogy, I invested in book trailers and concept photography with local visual artists. This allowed me a new portal into my work—and how it is perceived pre-publication—that I wouldn’t have otherwise accessed through traditional writing avenues or critique groups. It also gave me original marketing content. I have also recently developed a pattern collection with a surface designer, allowing me to converse with a diverse audience of makers; some of my favourite conversations about writing have been at quilting events!

Which scene or chapter in the book is your favorite? Why?

Tough call! In the latter part of the book, there is an incredibly moving series of scenes involving Ronan and his friends, which is sure to draw tears. Also, the climax is exciting because it involves multiple missions in tandem, which I had a lot of fun writing.

Which scene, character or plotline changed the most from first draft to published book?

Not so much in draft form but in storyline—Ronan, hands down. Particularly from book one to book three. He’s a complex character and has kept me guessing from the start. In book one, he’s Dom’s best friend and is irritated by Julia’s arrival, but he eventually grows to care for her. In book two, he becomes obsessed with a particular modality of magic, threatening and ultimately sabotaging his relationship with the main characters. In book three—without giving too many spoilers—Ronan finds his rock bottom, so to say, and has to determine how to get himself out of the mess he’s created … so much so that I am writing a spinoff duology about him after Julia and Dom find their HEA.

What’s more important: characters or plot?

For me, it all comes down to the characters. It’s hard for me to imagine a plot’s hard and fast rules without first imagining the characters—how they interact and what will set them on their journeys. Because my books are woven with romance, I think this makes sense. Also, I’m very much a “pantser,” at least as I begin the first draft of any project, so it’s all about the characters for me.

What makes this book important right now?

This series represents the ability to change despite life’s (and society’s) attempts to program us otherwise. It’s easy to fall into old habits or patterns, but it’s courageous to sit with one’s mistakes or flaws honestly and choose a different path. In Tides of the Sovereign, Julia learns to stand in her sovereignty despite the trauma she carried and what she previously believed about her abilities. In Mantle of the World Ruler, Dom learns to stand in his power and lead based on his values, not the inherited ones thrust upon him centuries before. In Severance of the Sorcerer, Ronan must face accountability head-on if he hopes to restore his most cherished relationships. Cassius, meanwhile, is an example of someone who never grows or changes … which ultimately leads to his downfall.

What’s next for you?

Severance of the Sorcerer launches on March 19, 2024. After that, I will continue to work on the “Ronan Duology” (title TBA) for 2025 publication, a top-secret project (shh!), and two different WIPS in new genres (gothic/ horror romance & speculative). Completing the Lost Wells Trilogy feels like the end of a rebirth cycle (wink) and the opening of a thousand doors. I am so excited about what comes next!

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