Author Interview with K.L. Griffiths

Today, we’re thrilled to feature K.L. Griffiths, an author who blends emotional depth, raw suspense, and a touch of the unexpected in every story. In this interview, she shares the powerful moment that led her toward writing, how personal experience shapes her characters, and why even her darkest scenes come with an undercurrent of human complexity.

What was the moment you knew you wanted to be a writer, and how has that journey unfolded so far?

Answer:
Dean Koontz’ Watchers slayed me. That was 1987. Although I was in high school when I read it, the cynical ex-soldier’s depression and suicidality resonated with me. I wanted my own genetically engineered super-intelligent dog and an adventure to distract me from life–or so I thought. When the rubber met the road, I chose to break up with writing for twenty-five years to fully devote myself to parenting and homeschooling. To parents who successfully balance a career and home life, I salute you and want your autograph! For me, I spent those years devouring tons of great books and sharing them with my children and creating a foundation for my late-breaking writing career. Fiction writing is like driving my own dreams.

Tell us about your latest book—what inspired it, and what can readers expect?

Answer:
Bookworm is my newest release. It’s about a timid widow who numbs out with books until the exact scene of her husband’s gruesome death appears in the one she’s reading. Things get worse from there. One night my husband was late returning from a thirty mile bicycle ride. I simply took dictation from the creative catastrophist who lives inside my head. Readers can expect to be choked up by the heartbreaks of life and appalled by the all-too-human capacity for making a mess of things.

Is there a scene you’ve written that made you emotional, or one you’ll never forget writing?

Answer:
Ah…there are several. I don’t write scenes with the intention of provoking tears or big emotion, but it has happened organically in every book so far. I find myself writing and crying, and I figure the reader might, too. A writer friend– an adventure-seeker tough guy (think Bear Grylls)– cried at one of the scenes in Bookworm. Not that women’s tears don’t count, but when you can get the XY’s to tear up, it’s pretty darn sad. I can’t tell you the scene because it would spoil the story.

How do you handle creative blocks or days when motivation is hard to find?

Answer:
For me, the easiest part of writing is revising, so when I’m too blocked to create new work, I comb through my work-in-progress and shine it up.

Which character you’ve created do you feel the closest to, and what makes them special to you?

Answer:
I feel closest to Rory in Spiked because he struggles with how to handle the bully in his life. I used a brewery lab as the setting for Spiked, but when I was in high school, I had my very own bully who made going to school a sickening experience. Rory’s desire to get anonymous revenge is a younger me. Without giving away spoilers, I can admit that my real-life bully did not meet the same fate as the antagonist in Spiked. And that’s probably for the best.

Do you build your world first, or do your characters shape the world as you write?

Answer:
My characters decide where the story goes. Makes for a wild ride.

What’s a piece of writing advice that changed the way you approach storytelling?

Answer:
Tension is everything. There must be mystery, no matter what genre you work in because that’s what keeps readers turning pages. What does it matter if the sentences are brilliant if no one reads them?

What’s something about your writing routine that might surprise readers?

Answer:
I write at the dining room table with a cat on my lap. I’ve also written in a parked car, at the library, in restaurants, at swim meets/practices and anywhere else I could steal a bit of time. I have no dedicated writing area, only a desire to create stories where they didn’t exist before.

If your latest book were adapted for the screen, what scene would you be most excited to see come to life?

Answer:
In Spiked, a truck is pushed down a ravine with a man duct-taped to the driver’s seat. In fact, every scene involving duct tape would be visually mind blowing, disturbing, and have a hint of eroticism.

What do you hope readers feel, think, or remember after finishing your book?

Answer:
I want my readers to come away with a nuanced perspective of good vs. evil and a respect for the complexity of the human soul. Life will take each of us down in one way or another. What matters is that we rise. (Yes, I am a fan of Rocky Balboa and every underdog ever.)

Connect with K.L. Griffiths

• Website: klgriffiths.com

• Facebook: facebook.com/KLGriffiths.author

• Amazon: amazon.com/author/klgriffiths

Final Thoughts

A big thank you to K.L. Griffiths for sharing such an honest, inspiring, and emotionally rich view of her writing journey.

Her ability to merge real-life vulnerability with thrilling plots creates stories that are not only gripping but deeply human. From emotionally charged scenes to duct-tape-laced suspense, there’s always something unforgettable in her work.

Explore more author interviews and browse through our stunning collection of premade book covers to find inspiration for your next bestseller.