Kate Golden is the USA Today bestselling author of both The Sacred Stones and Harker Academy trilogies. When she isn’t writing, Kate is an avid book reader, puzzle addict, and game night enthusiast. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their puppy, Milo.

Welcome to the Hive, Kate. Congratulations on your release of Half City! What can you tell us about it?

Thank you so much! Half City is an action-packed urban fantasy set in a reimagined version New York City, with a strong paranormal, enemies to lovers romance (a demon slayer and a reformed demon) at its centre. It follows a huntress named Viv who attends a dark academia college for demon hunters like herself.

Tell us a little something about your writing process – do you have a certain method? Do you find music helps? Give us a glimpse into your world!

I love to write early in the morning before anyone is up. Sometimes that even means four am! I also write exclusively to movie, tv show, and video game scores. Right now I’m really loving the soundtracks to Expedition 33 and Howl’s Moving Castle.

Speaking of worlds, what inspires your worldbuilding? Do you have a magic system/s? If so, can you tell us a bit about it?  

With this book especially I have really enjoyed blending high fantasy (demons, vampires, the underworld, etc.) with our modern world (pop culture references, a city that is based on New York.) It’s been a great challenge to craft a magic system that fits seamlessly into our world, such as figuring out why certain people can see demons while others can’t, and how to hide a magical combat college in the heart of a major city!

Can you tell us a bit more about your characters? Do you have a favourite type of character you enjoy writing?

This book is filled with characters that are all struggling in one way or another to balance the light and dark within themselves. For example, our heroine, Viv Abbot, slays demons which means she is always saving lives, but there’s also a certain amount of bloodlust and violence that she is keeping at bay. I really enjoy writing complex characters like hers, but I also have a soft spot for writing the bubbly, overly optimistic, sunshine best friend! 

If you could spend the day with one of your characters, which would you choose and what would you do?

I’d probably pick Viv’s roommate at the combat college—Sophia. She’s a spitfire, has great style, could protect me from any demons we run into and help me find some great vintage pieces while thrifting to boot! A dream afternoon! 

Without spoilers, tell us about a favourite scene you most enjoyed writing? 

There’s one scene in which Viv and the demon instructor from Harker, Reid Graveheart, spar in the college’s arena while both wearing blindfolds. It’s a way for him to train her to rely on other senses, but of course, their mutual attraction comes through pretty strongly in that moment as well. It was a very swoony and heart-pounding moment to write! 

We see such varying opinions from authors when it comes to the time of editing their books. How have you found the editing process? Enjoyable, stressful or satisfying?

I actually love editing! That’s when I get to fix all the broken things in my draft, which is enormously satisfying. I think the key is to give yourself grace and a healthy timeline. I have only hated editing and wanted to pull my hair out when I have a lot of edits to make in a very short amount of time. 

We always appreciate a beautiful book cover! How involved in the process were you? Was there a particular aesthetic you hoped the artist would portray?

I was able to put together a truly TERRIBLE drawing of what I was hoping for, as well as some mood board images, and then the design team at my publisher took that and ran with it! They made something so far beyond my wildest dreams, I was totally blown away!

One of our favourite questions here on the Fantasy Hive: which fantastical creature would you ride into battle and why?

Wow, fabulous question! I think I’d go with a phoenix!! They are always reborn from the ashes, they are powerful and fiery, and it’s a nod to my first book, A DAWN OF ONYX. 

Tell us about a book you love. Any hidden gems?

My favourite romantic fantasy book is A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES which is maybe not a hidden gem, but everyone should go read it anyway! It’s a great dark academia, enemies to lovers romance with wonderful world building and mental health rep! 

Can you tell us a little something about your sequel to Half City? Or Do you have any other upcoming projects which you can share?

Cursed City, which comes out in early October, will explore the consequences of what Viv discovers in this book, and ratchet up the tension in her already complicated love life. We’ll meet more complicated characters, monsters, and magical beings of course. And the only other thing I’m working on at the moment is the third and final book in the trilogy, which will come out next summer. I can’t give too much away about that one yet, but expect plenty of high stakes, spice, and drama as we barrel toward a big finale!

How does it feel to have your book out there in bookshops or in readers’ hands? 

This truly will never get old. I feel extremely grateful each day to see something I worked so very, very hard on in the hands of readers. Walking through my favourite bookstore and seeing my own book will never stop feeling like magic. 

Finally, what is the one thing you hope readers take away from your writing?

I hope readers are able to find a sense of escapism, joy, and entertainment in everything I write, but in this book especially I also hope they are able to remember the immense value of self-love and self-acceptance. That’s what Viv struggles with most in this story and I hope readers that struggle with the same thing are able to see a bit of themselves in her journey.  

Thank you so much for joining us today!

Thank you so much for having me!

Half City is available now – you can order your copy on Bookshop.org