Meet Katie Gaskin, author of “The Legend of Syn”
Tell us what your book, “The Legend of Syn” is about!
Sure! Here’s the summary:
Emmie, native to Thelan, raised soft and sweet by her father, but gifted wit and courage from her mother, is discarded on the frozen coasts of Atlas after her father's merchant ship wrecks. Quickly discovering — but not understanding why — she is immune to the ruling god-King's magic, she uses her unique resistance to push back against his ruthless reign. Intrigued by her unyielding spirit, Ashay finds her defiance both maddening and captivating.
Their fiery clashes spark philosophical debates and tentative warmth, forging a slow-burn bond that will unfold across a sweeping series. As Emmie confronts her trauma and Ashay grapples with his own nature, their connection will change the lands, change the gods, and change them both... forever.
What did you love most about writing this book?
It was meant to be a short story, but then blossomed into a 6-part series. The characters informed me they had SO MUCH GROWTH to go through before they reached their end-states. Who was I to argue? 😅
How did you start writing?
I’ve been writing since I could put pen to paper as a kid. But I didn’t start seriously writing until my late 20’s. :)
Tell us a little bit about your self-publishing experience.
Oh gosh. Like for most, I’m sure, it was pure chaos. A massive learning curve, self-inflicted deadlines that wind up being too tight, art commissions that fall through despite said deadlines, no social media following… yeah. Kind of the worst, haha. But I learned SO much and am so glad I did it!
What was your biggest challenge in bringing the book to market and how did you solve it?
Is it dumb to say my book cover? I was so determined to have it look exactly how I wanted it, but golly gee willickers, I am NOT a digital artist of any kind. 😂 So, formatting that and making it look at least passable was my biggest struggle. But… I figured out Canva, hired an amazing artist, and worked on about a bajillion iterations until I felt good about it!
What's one piece of advice you have for other writers?
KEEP. GOING.
Anything else you want folks to know?
My book is very character-progress driven—the whole arc of the entire series revolves around what it means to be human, within the context of a world ruled by demigods.
What's the link to your book?
