I met Katherine Stone, the author of The Reappearance of Tom Ferris at a meet the author book fair in Michigan late last year. We were at the book fair together, but it was her grandmother, Joan, who introduced us. Joan and I became acquainted through “Listen to Your Mother,” in St. Joseph, Michigan and we’ve been friends ever since. Katherine is a talented 20 year old author who credits her grandmother’s encouragement and printer to her success as an author.
Sort of three points of a triangle; Isn’t that one of the wonderful things about friendships?
Katherine lives in Michigan; part-time in Michigan and part-time in Portage. Her first novel, The Reappearance of Tom Ferris, is a fantastical mystery/thriller. Her books are available on Amazon for Kindle, and at Bookbug and the Michigan News Agency in Kalamazoo, MI.
I asked Katherine a few questions about being an author. Here’s what she had to say:
Tell me a little bit about your writing process:
In all honesty, my writing process isn’t very organized. When an idea strikes me, I open a blank document and just start typing out my stream-of-consciousness. This infodump then turns into a rough outline. After that, I just start writing—sometimes sticking to the outline, sometimes deviating completely once I get to know my characters a little better. I tend to find most of the story along the way.
How did you get started:
I’ve always loved storytelling for as long as I can remember. I’ve had a massive world of characters and stories developing in my mind for more than a decade. In 2017 when I had a couple of months in limbo before a cross-country move, I took a sliver of that and ran with it, and The Reappearance of Tom Ferris was born.
What’s your biggest challenge:
My biggest challenge has to be self-doubt. I constantly find myself second-guessing my ideas, and I have to remind myself that this is not helpful or constructive and will only hold me back.
Why should we read your book(s)?
I’ve been told it’s different in that it doesn’t fit neatly into one genre, instead blurring the lines between urban fantasy, science fiction, and mystery. I rarely see this done, but personally, I love reading books like this. It’s also the first in a series-in-progress, so there will be more to the story to follow.
How can someone else do what you do?
It seems too obvious to be the key to doing what I do, but just start writing. A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step—or, in this case, the first page. Also, self-publishing with Createspace is easy and free—good for authors on a budget.
Tell me about your first day of school (Okay, yes, this is my Barbara Walters, ‘if you could be a tree what kind would you be?’ type of questions. I love the answers I get because it tells me so much about the person I’m talking to):
On my first day of school, I insisted upon taking the bus that picked kids up at the entrance to our neighborhood. My mother was terrified to let me go on my own, and tried to persuade me to let her drive me instead. I was persistent, though, and wanted to show my independence(even as a six-year-old). She relented, and everything was fine—I loved my class and my teacher.
What were you like in high school? (Come on, we all want to know that, right?)
In high school, I was really shy whenever I wasn’t with close friends. I was that kid that sat in the back corner of the room and never talked, instead just reading whenever I wasn’t doing classwork.
What advice do you have for someone who has the same background/childhood/aspirations as you?
Never give up no matter how difficult your current circumstances may seem—there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. Do what feels right for you, even if it doesn’t fit the mold of familial or societal expectations.
Here’s my quick review of The Reappearance of Tom Ferris:
A wonderful first-novel. THE REAPPEARANCE OF TOM FERRIS melds together a young adult mystery, humor, and a bit of the supernatural. Far from formulaic, Katherine Stone surprises in every chapter. A little bit Scooby-Doo, and lot like Arm-chair-detectives, there’s action on every page.
This book is good for any audience, from a new mystery reader to the Agatha Christie fan. I can’t wait to see what’s next from Katherine Stone.
Already three of my friends added it to their reading list. You can too, by going to GoodReads.com and joining the conversation. Or better yet, follow the link to Amazon by clicking the picture of Katherine’s book, and order it for yourself now. (Disclosure: Theoretically, I get a penny or two if you order the book through the link.)