From Hollywood Rejection to Bestselling Author: The Kay A. Oliver Story

Every great story starts with a spark. For award-winning author Kay A. Oliver, it wasn't a elaborate plot outline, but a simple, provocative question: "Why do we exhume every grave we find in Sudan or Egypt, but our own graveyards are sacred?"

This single thread of curiosity unraveled into her first novel, Disturbed Tombs, which won four awards and launched a prolific writing career that has since produced 12 books and counting. But Kay’s journey to becoming a celebrated novelist is as fascinating as her plots. Before she was an author, she was a professional in Hollywood, working on movies, screenplays, and marketing. It was there she was told the stories she wanted to tell—ones with strong female characters—were "not really marketable."

Instead of conforming, she took the leap into novel writing. The rest, as they say, is history—literally.

In a recent episode of The Author’s Voice with KAJ, we sat down with Kay to discuss her latest release, A Powerful Disturbance, and delve into the unique process that allows her to blend intense historical fact with page-turning paranormal fiction.

Steal This Strategy: Kay A. Oliver's Writing Playbook

For aspiring writers and story lovers alike, Kay’s approach is a masterclass in creativity and discipline. Here are the key strategies you can apply to your own work:

• Start with a "What If," Not a Plot. Kay’s best ideas come from questions and obscure historical snippets. Her book Road to Alisium was inspired by a tiny news blurb she could never find again. The Lesson: Keep an idea journal. Capture every question, every strange news story, every "what if" that crosses your mind. Your next great story is hiding in plain sight.

  
  

• Be a "Pantser" with a Plan. Kay is a self-described "pantser" (writing by the seat of her pants), but her background in film editing means she visualizes the entire story like a movie in her head first. This internal storyboard gives her the freedom to write fluidly without being shackled to a rigid outline.

  
  

• The First Draft Rule: Ban Perfection. This is perhaps her most critical advice for new writers. "Just write," she insists. "Don't waste your time trying to perfect it at the beginning because it's a live animal. Novels are made in the editing stages." Your first draft's only job is to exist. You can't edit a blank page.

  
  

• Research Until They Think You've Lived There. Kay’s settings are characters in themselves, from the tombs of Egypt to the trails of old Venezuela. She researches so thoroughly that a reader from the region of one of her books insisted she must have visited multiple times. She never had. This commitment to authenticity is what makes readers feel "rich with history and knowledge."

  
  

A Powerful Quote to Ignite Your Writing

"Novels are made in editing stages. Don't waste your time trying to perfect it at the beginning because it's a live animal. You have the power of the keyboard."— Kay A. Oliver

Dive Deeper into the Story

This blog post merely scratches the surface of the wisdom Kay shared. To get the full, enriching experience—including hearing her read the chilling opening pages of A Powerful Disturbance—you need to watch the full interview.

In the interview, we cover:

• The detailed research behind the clashing spirits of Simón Bolívar and Santander in A Powerful Disturbance.

  
  

• How to build a series that keeps readers coming back for more.

  
  

• More of her invaluable (and free!) writing tips for character and plot.