By: Stacee Sledge
Olympia author Karen Hamilton – pen name Kiki Hamilton – came to writing later in life.
After a long career in partnership with her husband – an Olympia contractor who builds high-end waterfront homes – and working in real estate and as a general manager for a local manufacturer, Hamilton had a light bulb moment that sparked her writing career.
“I was a big reader as a kid, and I always thought I’d write a book one day,” Hamilton says. “I’d messed around with some ideas but never took it seriously.”
Then Hamilton read Harry Potter in 2007, and something clicked.
“I loved it so much,” she says. “I’d forgotten what it’s like to get totally lost in a book.”
At the time, her daughter was nine years old and Hamilton envisioned writing something only for her. “But then it kind of became an obsession and I just kept writing.”
Tor Teen, an imprint of Macmillan, published Hamilton’s debut novel, The Faerie Ring, in September 2011.
The book is considered a young adult novel, a genre whose audience – thanks to the incredible popularity of the Harry Potter books – increasingly spans readers of all ages.
The Faerie Ring takes place in Victorian England and follows the adventurous saga of Tiki, an orphan girl who discovers the reality of faeries.
Hamilton’s success – more elusive than ever in today’s ever-changing publishing world – didn’t come easily.
“When I first decided to start writing, I started out with this wide-eyed fantasy,” Hamilton admits.
She started work on her first book and sent it out to a few agents, all of whom rejected the manuscript. Then, about four years ago, Hamilton started working with a paid editor. “And I can clearly remember standing in my house, getting her letter, and realizing: Oh, I don’t know how to write publishable fiction.”
Hamilton took online classes and joined different groups for support and feedback. It worked. “It’s kind of been an evolution,” she says. “With writing, you’re always learning how to do it better.”
The Faerie Ring was actually the second book Hamilton wrote. The first novel did not get picked up, though Hamilton sent it to the woman who eventually became her agent and sold The Faerie Ring.
“I decided to put the other book on hold because I didn’t think it was my best work,” Hamilton says. “It’s still sitting on my computer.”
“I’m very fortunate,” she continues. “Tor Teen published The Faerie Ring, and I’ve had an opportunity to do signings in New York and New Orleans and some events in Portland and Chicago.”
One of Hamilton’s upcoming events takes place right here in Olympia, when she and other young adult fiction authors gather at the Olympia branch of the Timberland Regional Library for “New Kids on the YA (Young Adult) Block” on March 15th at 7:30 p.m.
Hamilton will join Kendare Blake (Anna Dressed In Blood), Megan Bostic (Never Eighteen), Carole Estby Dagg (The Year We Were Famous), Helen Landalf (Flyaway), Kathy McCullough (Don’t Expect Magic), and Alexa Martin (Girl Wonder), for readings, Q&A, book signings, food, and prizes.
“I’m so excited,” Hamilton says of appearing with this group of writers. “The young adult community is really tight-knit. Everybody helps each other and you get to know people online and you go through a similar process on the path to publication.”
Events like this one have given Hamilton’s debut novel good exposure and enough sales to prompt her publisher to release a follow-up. The Torn Wing – a sequel to The Faerie Ring – is due this October.
Hamilton says she’s always envisioned a four-book series. “It all depends on sales and how things go,” she says.
She also has a young adult contemporary story going out on submission soon.
Readers can keep tabs on upcoming events and book release news – including giveaways of advance reader copies of The Torn Wing when they’re available, in June – at Hamilton’s website, Facebook page, or Twitter account. A trailer for The Faerie Ring can be seen here.
For Hamilton, the entire experience has been like a dream. It’s difficult to sell a book, and even after reaching that goal, many authors don’t get the opportunity to go on a book tour.
But not only has Hamilton been able to travel, give readings, sign books, and meet readers – she’s been welcomed by large crowds at many events.
“Here’s a line of people waiting for half an hour to get a book that hasn’t even been released yet,” she says, still seeming to not quite believe it.
“I feel very grateful that I had the chance to experience that moment. It will probably never happen again,” she says with a laugh, “but I had it, so it’s good.”
New Kids on the YA Block
Olympia Timberland Library
March 15th from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
318 8th Ave. SE
Olympia WA 98501
360.352.0590
