I’ve learned—and am still learning—not to ignore my intuition. I believe that's where the real magic lies. Those divine nudges, as I call them, guide me to tell stories that need to be told.
Irish and Scottish folklore and spiritual teachings captured award-winning author, K.T. Anglehart’s, imagination. Now, she follows her intuition and writes young adult urban fantasy inspired by what she’s learned and experienced.
Lyndi: How did you come to write young adult urban fantasy?
K.T.: I was drawn to the idea of making magic feel tangibly real, something you could stumble upon in your backyard. Because urban fantasy is more grounded in reality than other subgenres of fantasy, it always comforted me. The way it seamlessly intertwines mystical elements with the everyday world always gave me hope that we’ve uncovered but a fraction of the Earth’s mysteries.
Lyndi: How does your love of Ireland and its magical folklore play out in your stories?
K.T.: I felt I encountered real magic when I travelled across Ireland and Scotland. The rich folklore tied to these places, passed down by storytellers intimately connected with nature and their culture, resonated with me deeply. It was like suddenly, there was proof of magic; for instance, one tale explains why basalt columns are shaped in perfect hexagons; another was so fascinating that it inspired a prophecy—a white horse that rises from the lake every seven years…how could I ignore that? For me, these stories breathed life into the narrative and the magic of The Scottish Scrolls.
Lyndi: You mentioned that you receive divine nudges. What role do these play in your writing process?
K.T.: I’ve learned—and am still learning—not to ignore my intuition. I believe that's where the real magic lies. Those divine nudges, as I call them, guide me to tell stories that need to be told. They’ve led me to Ireland, to Mckenna, and to Scotland three times now. In terms of my writing process, I loosely outline, but I let the scenes play out as if I’m watching the characters act on their own, as though I'm an outside observer. I think Stephen King is a great example of a successful author who follows his characters, and by extension, his intuition!
Lyndi: Can you elaborate on your suggestion that authors give attention to the spark between characters?
K.T.: I'm not sure if this happens to other writers, but when I write dialogue and I'm in the groove, I feel as though the characters are sitting in front of me, having a conversation. I strive to keep it natural, believing it's important to gift more of that to readers—that innate spark, the essence that makes these characters captivating, intriguing, and relatable. For me, the worth of a story hinges on the characters; no matter how compelling the plot, if the characters aren't worth listening to, the book loses its appeal. So, while every scene should drive the story forward, it's also more than okay, in my book (no pun intended), if its primary function is to showcase the chemistry between characters who will accompany you for the next three hundred pages.
Lyndi: What factors affected your decision to become an Indie author?
K.T.: I was so enamored with my characters and the world I was imagining that I didn’t want to wait on anyone for the green light to have it published. Truthfully, I was afraid the process would be disheartening and I would fall out of love with it by then. Instead, I decided to passionately move forward, and I loved being able to make every creative decision along the way. That being said, I wouldn't rule out traditional publishing once The Scottish Scrolls chapter is over.
Lyndi: What marketing strategies have you found effective for promoting your books in your target market?
K.T.: 1) Assembling a killer ARC team
2) having a rockstar publicist by your side
3) and being on the socials, getting to know other writers and readers!
Katrina Tortorici Anglehart is an award-winning author from Montreal, with a multilingual prowess in English, French, Italian, and “Spanglish”. A dedicated academic, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, a graduate certificate in Scriptwriting, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.
Inspired by the wizarding world, the land of Narnia, and parallel planes, she penned The Wise One, inviting readers to connect with nature and its everpresent magic. Her exploration of the
landscapes and folklore of Ireland and Scotland greatly influenced her debut YA urban fantasy, marking the inception of The Scottish Scrolls series.
K.T. Anglehart is a passionate advocate for bunnies, thanks to her late Netherland Dwarf, Magic—the inspiration behind her imprint, The Magic Dwarf Press. When she’s not writing or diving into magical reads, she revels in hiking, antiquing, and Netflix binges alongside her high school sweetheart-turned-husband, Andy. They currently live in Toronto with their three pets: Nessie, a mysterious rescue dog from Puerto Rico, and their whimsical bunnies, Onyx and Stirling.
Mckenna O'Dwyer knows she's impulsive. Sometimes reckless. She also knows she's a witch and keeps reincarnating as one, for reasons only her mother, Abby, can help her fully understand.
After weeks of searching, mother and daughter finally reunite—just like Elizabeth Dunlop’s prophecy states—and Abby is keen on helping Mckenna get a firm grasp on her abilities. She teaches her the proper way to channel elemental magic... but Mckenna soon discovers there’s a shortcut, something Cillian fully supports if it means getting quicker, more powerful results.
At first, Mckenna will do anything to thwart the High Priestess once and for all, before her powers are used to wipe out billions of souls. But the white horse Eachna’s devastating vision of Mother Nature continues to haunt her. Is that the future awaiting them if the Scottish Scrolls aren’t fulfilled?
Which is the lesser evil?
Enthralling, passionate, and with twists you won’t see coming, Mckenna’s magical education begins in book II of The Scottish Scrolls.
