Meet the Writer (+ 20 Random Facts About Me)
Happy Tuesday everyone!
I just turned 20 years old last week (yikes!) so I thought I would throw together a post where I share a little about myself and my writing journey. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever done an official “meet the writer” so here it goes!
1. I am a beginning plant mom. My children-plant's names are Goose, Gypsy (RIP), Genevieve, Galileo, Gladys, and Galadriel.
2. I collect seaglass (green is my favorite color to find).
3. I sang in Carnegie Hall with my community choir. (To be honest, the bathrooms at Carnegie were not as impressive as I was hoping...)
4. My favorite foods include Cheetos, black licorice, roast beef, boba tea, and Coffee Lovers Only ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery.
5. In my lifetime, I have wanted to be a princess, a dentist, a ballerina, an architect, a pilot, and a writer. Other than a young adult author, my dream job would be to work at a bookstore.
6. My first WIP was a children's picture book titled "Camerella". It was an Egyptian camel retelling of Cinderella... (I was 5, please don't judge... My Cinderella obsession started early.) My next writing endeavor was at 7 or 8 with a chapter book about a girl named Aubrey who adopts a three-legged border collie named Tag and enters him into an agility contest.
7. My bucket list includes traveling to London, owning a VW van (like a real hippie), and being traditionally published.
8. I am an INFP, a Type 4w5, and a Hufflepuff (with a little Ravenclaw)!
9. I have been in two plays: Beauty and the Beast Jr. where I played Silly Girl #1 one (2015) and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe where I was cast as the White Witch (2016).
10. Licorice Spice by Stash and Glazed Lemon Loaf by Tazo are my favorite teas.
11. My great grandma taught me to crochet and I have crocheted 20+ amigurami stuffed animals so far.
12. My favorite scent in the whole world is lilacs (followed closely by Christmas tree and fresh baked bread).
13. If I could own any animal, I would have a hard time choosing between a unicorn, a platypus, and a blue footed booby.
14. I love to shoot my recurve bow and although I feel super cool doing it, I'm not very good at it.
15. I can make an origami secret chicken by heart. (You can make one too *wink wink*)
16. My favorite TV shows are Gilmore Girls, Downton Abbey, Clone Wars, Psych, and White Collar.
17. Purple is my favorite color.
18. Apparently, my fiction writing is similar to Agatha Christie’s so that’s cool. (You can see who your writing style is like here!)
19. I have three scars: one on my knee from a hike up at Devil's Kettle, one on my nose from slipping and face-planting into very hardwood, and one above my right eyebrow from a pointy frozen sled. (I've also had whiplash from a freak zip-lining accident and a concussion from falling off the end of a ski lift. True story. Fun times.)
20. When I was 11, I sent a letter to the Queen of England and her lady in waiting sent me a letter back telling me that she showed the Queen the butterfly I drew on the front.
Thank you so much for stopping by and getting to know the writer (AKA me).
Until next time!
~ K.J. Haakenson
I just turned 20 years old last week (yikes!) so I thought I would throw together a post where I share a little about myself and my writing journey. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever done an official “meet the writer” so here it goes!
When did you start writing?
I wanted to write stories since I was 5 but I didn’t have the guts to really start writing until I was 17. Now, I can’t even imagine what it would be like without stories and words in my life.
When did you start bookstagramming?
I started my bookstagram in May of 2018 and this blog in May of 2019 (My 2ish anniversary is coming up so be on the look out for a giveaway on Instagram!) I have really enjoyed being able to share my love of reading and writing with so many other bookworms and young authors! :)
Go to genre to read?
I adore young adult fantasy and retellings but I have recently discovered a love for historical fantasy!
Genres you write in?
Genres you write in?
I mostly write fantasy/magical stories but my current work in progress is historical fiction. I would love to dabble in all genres one of these days. Some of my runaway plot bunnies include a 90s inspired sci-fi, a futuristic western, a soft dystopian, a middle-grade dragon adventure, and a gritty but magical Cinderella retelling.
Standalone or series?
Oof... It definitely depends on the mood I'm in. Standalone for any book I'm unsure of but am curious enough to pickup. But I do love the feeling of being sucked into a series with so much content ahead of me!
What author is your biggest inspiration?
Both the Narnia movies and the Lord of the Rings movies inspired the storyteller in me (so thank you C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien) but Nadine Brandes (author of Fawkes, Romanov, and the Out of Time Trilogy) has really inspired me with her writing style, her strong faith, and her impact on her readers.
Plotter or Panster?
I’m actually more of a planster... I don’t plot everything and I can’t fly by the seat of my pants the entire way. I like to have a loose idea of where I'm going and fill in the details as I go.
How do you get in the writing zone?
Depending on the day, I like to make tea, light a candle, turn on my inspiration playlists for whatever project I'm working on, and *try* to not get distracted. It usually takes me a while to get back into the zone if it's been a while but it's such a wonderful feeling when the words flow out onto the page.
Do you write with pen and paper or on a computer?
For the majority, I use my iPad (with a keyboard attachment) to write in Word. If I am stuck or need a break, I write with pen. (As a side note, I recently received fountain pens and holy guacamole, I LOVE THEM).
What's the hardest thing about writing?
Ugh, finding the time and space to write without distractions or overly high expectations of myself is so hard for me. When I can give myself the grace and space to create freely, I enjoy the process more and can write better than I would have with the pressure. Also finding the right words is very hard. I can write lovely descriptive paragraphs about woodlands and sunsets and then forget the word for couch. It's so stupid.
What are common themes you find in your own writing?
I don't usually mean to but themes of courage, family, and identity often find their way into my stories.
Plotter or Panster?
I’m actually more of a planster... I don’t plot everything and I can’t fly by the seat of my pants the entire way. I like to have a loose idea of where I'm going and fill in the details as I go.
How do you get in the writing zone?
Depending on the day, I like to make tea, light a candle, turn on my inspiration playlists for whatever project I'm working on, and *try* to not get distracted. It usually takes me a while to get back into the zone if it's been a while but it's such a wonderful feeling when the words flow out onto the page.
Do you write with pen and paper or on a computer?
For the majority, I use my iPad (with a keyboard attachment) to write in Word. If I am stuck or need a break, I write with pen. (As a side note, I recently received fountain pens and holy guacamole, I LOVE THEM).
What's the hardest thing about writing?
Ugh, finding the time and space to write without distractions or overly high expectations of myself is so hard for me. When I can give myself the grace and space to create freely, I enjoy the process more and can write better than I would have with the pressure. Also finding the right words is very hard. I can write lovely descriptive paragraphs about woodlands and sunsets and then forget the word for couch. It's so stupid.
What are common themes you find in your own writing?
I don't usually mean to but themes of courage, family, and identity often find their way into my stories.
And here are 20 random facts about me that you didn't ask for:
1. I am a beginning plant mom. My children-plant's names are Goose, Gypsy (RIP), Genevieve, Galileo, Gladys, and Galadriel.
2. I collect seaglass (green is my favorite color to find).
3. I sang in Carnegie Hall with my community choir. (To be honest, the bathrooms at Carnegie were not as impressive as I was hoping...)
4. My favorite foods include Cheetos, black licorice, roast beef, boba tea, and Coffee Lovers Only ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery.
5. In my lifetime, I have wanted to be a princess, a dentist, a ballerina, an architect, a pilot, and a writer. Other than a young adult author, my dream job would be to work at a bookstore.
6. My first WIP was a children's picture book titled "Camerella". It was an Egyptian camel retelling of Cinderella... (I was 5, please don't judge... My Cinderella obsession started early.) My next writing endeavor was at 7 or 8 with a chapter book about a girl named Aubrey who adopts a three-legged border collie named Tag and enters him into an agility contest.
7. My bucket list includes traveling to London, owning a VW van (like a real hippie), and being traditionally published.
8. I am an INFP, a Type 4w5, and a Hufflepuff (with a little Ravenclaw)!
9. I have been in two plays: Beauty and the Beast Jr. where I played Silly Girl #1 one (2015) and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe where I was cast as the White Witch (2016).
10. Licorice Spice by Stash and Glazed Lemon Loaf by Tazo are my favorite teas.
11. My great grandma taught me to crochet and I have crocheted 20+ amigurami stuffed animals so far.
12. My favorite scent in the whole world is lilacs (followed closely by Christmas tree and fresh baked bread).
13. If I could own any animal, I would have a hard time choosing between a unicorn, a platypus, and a blue footed booby.
14. I love to shoot my recurve bow and although I feel super cool doing it, I'm not very good at it.
15. I can make an origami secret chicken by heart. (You can make one too *wink wink*)
16. My favorite TV shows are Gilmore Girls, Downton Abbey, Clone Wars, Psych, and White Collar.
17. Purple is my favorite color.
18. Apparently, my fiction writing is similar to Agatha Christie’s so that’s cool. (You can see who your writing style is like here!)
19. I have three scars: one on my knee from a hike up at Devil's Kettle, one on my nose from slipping and face-planting into very hardwood, and one above my right eyebrow from a pointy frozen sled. (I've also had whiplash from a freak zip-lining accident and a concussion from falling off the end of a ski lift. True story. Fun times.)
20. When I was 11, I sent a letter to the Queen of England and her lady in waiting sent me a letter back telling me that she showed the Queen the butterfly I drew on the front.
Thank you so much for stopping by and getting to know the writer (AKA me).
Until next time!
~ K.J. Haakenson
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