Q&A with Author Kaylin Boyd

Behind the quaint but chaotic cafe Coat Yard Coffee, through the mini drag show and stand-up comedy show held out in a tent to hide from the rain, was Playground Productions. The studio housed a small flock of individuals ready for new author Kaylin Boyd’s to launch her first novel, “Tell City.”

A duo performed a compilation of music numbers for the audience,  including an acoustic cover of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters.”  Even a tarot card reading was being conducted in the corner of the room for those seeking their fates. After the time reached 7:30 p.m., Boyd took a seat in front of the audience, and after reading passages from her work, took the time to answer questions regarding the book, writing and the feeling of a newly-published book.

When did you start writing “Tell City"?

I started writing "Tell City" back in 2012, and I was leaving for college, from Louisiana, for the last time. It would take me four years to finish writing it, and it would take another two years for its publication.

What inspired you to write “Tell City"?

On the way to college, there was a man walking on the interstate, at night. He wasn’t trying to hitch-hike, and didn’t have a backpack. And I thought to myself, ‘I could write about this one day.’

What was your favorite part about writing it?

It would definitely be editing the story. The first draft of anything you write always sucks, no matter what. So all the editing was an adventure in itself, and it was a group effort to get it all edited. I can’t thank the people involved in the process for the help. It takes a community to write a book.

What about your least favorite part?

All the times I wasn’t able to write, for sure. At the time, I was in college and working, but I knew this was what I wanted to do. It was just tough managing to have time to write. I’m usually an impatient person, so this book is a miracle to behold.

What was your thought process when it came to writing “Tell City”?

I just decided I was gonna stick with this one. I’ve started many stories, but this one made me realize I wanted to finish this. It just kinda happened. I plowed through the writing with only a general sense of direction, and it made it better without any deadline.

What did it feel like to finish writing the story?


It was terrifying, because I felt the ending coming closer. I would often hide in my room and start cramming words until it was finally done. I felt like I was breaking up with my characters, or they were moving away, but the two years of editing quickly reversed that to them being obnoxious.


Are you self-published, or did you have it professionally published?

I spent about a year looking for someone to get it professionally published, but at that point, my friends pointed out I already had it paid to get published, and I knew someone that is a book designer, so they asked ‘Why not have it published yourself?’ So in March of this year, it finally was able to be completed. Despite that, it was more expensive because you had no literary agent and middlemen. I was paying for the book design, the editing, the marketing, and everything. It evens out, but it depends if you’re good at the marketing.

What would be your advice to other people who want to become authors?

Just got for it, and procrastination is the fertilization for creativity. There’s a lot of pressure for writers out there, but keep writing all the time to produce ideas. But that also includes going out and doing other things, like going to an art show, a concert, live to have something to write about.

Anything else you would like to say?

I plan on creating a new story soon, but it’ll be done in a more organized style of writing rather than how I created “Tell City”, and I hope to do more soon.