Bold thief Kierse gets more than she bargained for when she breaks into a terrifying creature’s home in The Wren in the Holly Library, the first in a new series from K.A. Linde.
The Wren in the Holly Library takes place in a fantasy version of New York City, and the cityscape is written with so much detail. How many nooks and crannies in the novel are based on real locations? Most importantly, does the shop that sells Kierse’s favorite cinnamon babka actually exist?
This was such an interesting part of the editing process, actually. I wrote it as monster New York City and based it off of my experiences in New York over the last couple years. Then after I finished, I spent a week with my husband walking the streets of the city, riding the subway and taking photographs. I came home and edited the entire book in one fell swoop to bring all the reality of Manhattan to the locations. So everywhere is real or based on something, including the history of Five Points, Track 61 and yes, Kierse’s bakery! It’s based on William Greenberg’s bakery on the Upper East Side. It’s one of my favorite places to stop when I’m in the city.
I have a master’s degree in political science and my husband is a professor in the field. Political landscapes are woven into nearly all of my works.
The novel depicts gangs, blackmail and slavery, all of which we obviously deal with in the real world. How do you balance bleak political elements with more lighthearted action or romance?
To be honest, the political side comes so easily to me. I have a master’s degree in political science and my husband is a professor in the field. Political landscapes are woven into nearly all of my works. I like to think that those lighthearted things, especially love, are what keep us going when our day to day feels bleak too. You have it all in your life, and in a novel, it keeps the pacing from feeling bogged down.
The banter is so enjoyable! Do you draw inspiration for witty dialogue from certain people or conversations in your own life?
Honestly, I just have a very vivid imagination, and I’m inherently sarcastic. Kierse having that dry wit that she can fire back in banter is just what my brain immediately comes up with. She has to know how to handle herself, and a lot of it comes down to using the banter to control a situation. Which Graves obviously likes.
Kierse reads and dissects a number of myths and folk tales. Do you have a favorite folk tale that you’ve held onto from childhood? What is the “kernel of truth” that you’ve gleaned from it?
This is such a fun question. I read a lot growing up. Like I was Matilda at the library reading through all the shelves. Probably my favorite kernel of truth is from Roald Dahl’s The Witches, the idea that monsters live among us and even ordinary people can seem scary. Which parallels the story, but also suggests that you never really know what anyone is going through.
I love “A rising tide lifts all boats.” Help people, bring people up with you, raise your voice for the things that you believe in.
In some lights, Kierse could come across as a “Strong Female Character” (a trope where a woman is tough and capable, but also emotionless and often two-dimensional), but she also embraces her sensuality and openly relies on others. Were you consciously trying to avoid certain stereotypes?
Kierse being both strong and vulnerable mimics how so many women have to go through life. To quote Barbie, “It is literally impossible to be a woman.” It’s important for her to be three-dimensional, for people to be able to relate to her because she’s not a blank slate or entirely larger than life.
Character names in fantasy can be tricky, but I genuinely loved all the names in the book, especially Torra and Lorcan. How do you know when a name is right for a character?
I almost always know the names of the main leads before I even start writing the story. Graves came to me immediately, and I knew from the start that I wanted to only use his last name. I love when a character goes by an unexpected name and we don’t know the full version until later. For Kierse, I was researching Irish names and Ciaran was the Irish version of the Scottish Kier. And I wanted to do a play on that. So I came up with Kierse. Plus, the names have to sound good together. Also, Torra is my favorite name too!
The central motto of the society of The Wren in the Holly Library is “Monsters not magic,” which is not only a fun catchphrase but an extremely effective piece of exposition. Do you have any personal mottos that you swear by?
I love “A rising tide lifts all boats.” Help people, bring people up with you, raise your voice for the things that you believe in. And in the same vein, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” We’re helping each other out. We’re not competing with each other.
The Wren in the Holly Library is the first book in a new series. If you were to describe the sequel in one word or short phrase, what would it be?
Trust issues.