K. Iwancio is living proof that being a fangirl can pay off in your writing career. The Pennsylvania-based indie author has found success with her self-published novels, including Spellbound in the Stacks, a story about a witch who must find true love or risk being turned into a cat forever, and Nailed at Home Plate, where her baseball romance shifts from hot to downright steamy. We talked to K. about her journey from a school classroom to self-publishing nine books and what advice she has for writers just starting out.

What made you fall in love with writing?

I believe a lot of aspects made me fall in love with writing. The ability to craft your own little universe into the pages of the book is by far the coolest superpower one person can hold. Writing and reading are the easiest/cheapest escape one can take from the world. All you have to do is start reading and you’re immediately transported into a brand new world, with new opportunities. It truly is magical.

Did your childhood or teenage years influence your journey as a writer?

The writing “bug” bit me back in first grade when I was only 7 years old. We had a Creative Writing segment to our day, a few days a week. Our teacher would take us through the process of drafts, editing, formatting, etc. When at the end of the marking period we could pick one finished story for her to “publish”. From there she would type it up, print it out, let us illustrate the pages, and then would laminate and bind it together. It was such a power trip for me and I loved every second of it. It was the one part of the day I always looked forward to. I was bitten again in 7th grade middle school when I learned how to write different kinds of poetry. It only blossomed more in 8th grade when I joined the Literary Club. In 10th grade I had an amazing English teacher who LOVED my short stories. My senior year I took Creative Writing class and aced it in my sleep.

Is it true that your writing journey started with fan fiction?

It did! Ironically way back when back in high school. Fan Fiction is a fantastic way to post anonymously to see if people like your work. Writing it is easy because there is usually an entire established world and characters that you can write. Its a great exercise as a writer to “stretch your legs”. My forte (Back then) was Obi-Wan/OC and Harry Potter/OC. Right now its all Obi-Wan/reader inserts.

Do you take inspiration for your main characters from real life or real people?

Technically I do, and technically I don’t. Typically it’s the physical features that inspire something first and from there I craft an ideal “book boyfriend” based on personality and mannerisms to suit the narrative. My female main characters pull little nuances and character quirks from people I know or characters in books/television. Being a writer means you’re always observing and “people watching”. Sometimes you bury an idea so deep down that you surprise yourself when it rears its head while writing.

When was your first book published, and what inspired it?

There was this viral Tweet going around at the time about this woman who couldn’t get her Christmas tree off the roof of her car. When all of a sudden an attractive and shirtless neighbor appeared out of nowhere to help her out. It was a completely unhinged idea, but I went “I could write that story”. So I did.

Correct me if I am wrong, but to date you have written 11 books. That is a huge achievement! Does being a writer still feel like a dream?

I currently have 9 published books, with two more set for release in 2025 (if all goes well, my schedule has been rather gruelling of late). Writing is still the dream. I’d rather be writing than doing just about anything else (except feeding my inner fangirl). 

Did you self-publish all of your books?

I self-published all of my books! I’m an Aries, so I have a very particular personality and method to my madness when it comes to projects. It awarded me a schedule that’s all my own doing. So if something goes wrong or is late, it’s all my fault. Which, fair. But also I think it’s invaluable for ALL authors and aspiring authors to go the self-publishing route at least once in their careers. There is a LOT that goes into it. If someone tells you it’s easy, they’re lying to you. But for as difficult as it is, its also the most rewarding experience of my life.

What has been the biggest lesson you have learned since publishing your first book?

The publishing world is always a moving machine. Things change, things advance. With each book I’ve published, I’ve learned something new. Something that’s invaluable to making the process much more streamlined. And then, there are still hiccups along the road. There always will be. You have to be quick on your feet to roll with the punches. And do it all with a smile.

Above: a photo from the Nailed at Home Plate signing event, hosted by Cupboard Maker Book Store in Enola, PA.

What advice would you give to a writer who is starting to write their first book?

Write. Seriously, sit down and write. It doesn’t have to be pretty. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just getting words down on the page is a huge accomplishment. From there, read comps to your work so you know how to pitch your idea to either agents or your reader. You need to know what’s out there and what’s selling well. I know I started out thinking, “Oh I just want to publish something and say that I did it”. Which is honestly awesome, but usually it blossoms into something so much bigger. No matter what path you’re setting, set a good one that will lead you to success. Research everything. Heck, reach out to me and I can give you a crash course on it all! I love helping fellow indies.

What do you think is the most important element in becoming a successful writer?

Becoming a successful writer requires an umbrella of methods. You need to read books in your genre, both bestsellers and indies. Make notes on what you liked/didn’t like. Read up on how to self-edit. Practice in showing and not telling. Participate in peer writing groups (preferably in person) for valuable feedback. And please, please, please don’t give up or stop writing!

How do you plan your stories, or do they choose you and come to you naturally?

Most of the time I’m what you would call a “pantser”, as in, I fly by the seat of my pants. Generally, I start out with a pretty zany idea and slowly flesh it out with random notes to myself. From there, the characters start having conversations in my head or scenes come to mind. All in all its pretty hectic in K’s head at any given time. I have notes and parts of stories everywhere.

You have two more books coming out later this year. Is there something you would like to tell us about them? Maybe a one-line pitch?

Oh, now that’s a good question, that’s a two-sided coin. Both are continuations in two series that I have. Thistle Field Estate is actually the prequel to my Thistle Field Estate series, where two brothers fall for two best friends at their family’s Scottish estate. My readers wouldn’t shut up about how much they LOVED the mom. And I felt the mom and dad deserved their own story. Which is between a headstrong, independent Scottish woman who bought a dilapidated Scottish estate and can bake like it’s her magical power and a grumpy contractor trying to make a name for himself. They fall in love during the estate’s restoration project. The other release is the third book in my Spellbound in Thistleton series. This series follows the relationship of Aidan and Faelene, a book-loving nerdy cosplaying firefighter and the small town indie bookstore owner who’s secretly a witch that can turn into a cat. Zany right? It’s called Spells & Belly Swells. Aidan and Faelene are settling into married life but would like to start a family one day soon. If only it wasn’t for the pesky family curse that turns her bloodline into a cat at will and for forever if they don’t find love before the 13th year after their 13th birthday.

What is next for you? What does the future hold?

Right now, I’m working with a lovely literary agent to pitch my Savannah Bananas-inspired baseball romance, Nailed at Home Plate, to publishers. As much as I love being an indie author, I always wanted to be traditionally published, at least once in my life. So fingers crossed that this is my chance! Aside from that, check out my socials to see where I’ll be signing next and to see all the fun teasers for my upcoming books!