342. How to Add Myth and Folklore into Your Story with K.T. Anglehart

Author K.T. Anglehart discusses Celtic mythology, how she incorporates them into her writing, and why you should consider blending fantasy and reality as well.

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Check out K.T.'s website:
https://www.ktanglehart.com/

Grab a copy of her book:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08HPF9R48

Follow K.T. on her socials:
https://www.instagram.com/kt_anglehart/
https://www.facebook.com/ktanglehart

Transcript

Jennia: Hello, I'm Jennia D'Lima. Welcome to Writing and Editing, the author-focused podcast that takes a whole-person approach to everything related to both writing and editing. Fantasy authors often find their inspiration from real-world tales and history. One fantasy author, K.T. Anglehart, is here to share how she creates her own mystic tales with a blend of Celtic mythology and contemporary themes.

Jennia: Well, I'm thrilled to have you here!

K.T. Anglehart: Thank you so much for having me!

Jennia: Can you tell us when you first became interested in Celtic mythology? Or if you can remember maybe something that originally just grabbed your interest from it?

K.T. Anglehart: Oh my gosh. I can't remember the first thing. I think it was, like, one thing that kind of melded into another over the years because, like, I just grew up having, like, a fascination with, first of all, magic, the occult, and then all mythology I've ever heard, and folklore. And then I started getting attracted to the folklore specifically associated with places like Ireland and Scotland and—

Jennia: Mmm.

K.T. Anglehart: —and other British Isles. And then I learned of the Celtic roots from those places and then like, I absolutely knew I had to explore them. Oh my God, I'm sorry. There's construction right outside my house. I hope that's not too loud (laughs). And so I ended up going there myself—

Jennia: Ah!

K.T. Anglehart: —Well, with my husband. Yeah, we visited Ireland and Scotland for our honeymoon. And I took notes like a mad person. Like, I just loved, loved everything I was learning. And it was during the time when I was also doing my master's. So during my masters's, I, like, declared my thesis as my first book. And that's how I was sort of guided and I knew what to do. And so all of it kind of worked out that way. Like, I was researching and writing for, like, four years, and then the first book, "The Wise One, kind of formed. And the magic is heavily inspired by what I've learned and the stories I heard. And I'm also really inspired by, like, New Age kind of mysticism. It makes magic feel very, very real. And I really wanted that effect on readers. So there's just a little bit of modern, a little bit of everything in there (laughs).

Jennia: So how did you blend the two and then come up with your magic system based on the inputs from historical data and then (K.T. laughs) more current information?

K.T. Anglehart: It's a very, it's a very interesting and difficult question to answer. I think it's more about the folklore and the stuff I learned was more tied to the land, the landscapes, and I kind of made that— I wanted to make that come through. And I made the story seem like they were real to the characters. So there are giants that form the Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland, for instance, you know? And it doesn't counter anything else that I weaved in to enhance the magic that comes from New Age mysticism, and esotericism. So that stuff is just, like, kind of was always in the back of my mind because I would read about it.

Jennia: Mhm.

K.T. Anglehart: And that was very easily— Like, it just kind of breathed life into the folklore. It just— It's hard to explain. Like, I guess you'd have to read it to know how I managed (laughs) to make the magic a magic system. But it just worked!

Jennia: Well, for some of these ideas you had for at least this book, did they change at all when you saw these places where the stories originated from in real life?

K.T. Anglehart: 100 percent. And they weren't even formed. Honestly, I'm a very (laughs) light outliner, so I'll outline super roughly. The first book was even probably barely outlined. Like, it was, but then it would change and change and change over four years. It kept changing every time I drafted and every time I learned and researched, and the story just kept making more sense as I was writing it. I was much better, like, at outlining and more discipline for the second and now the third that I'm working on right now (laughs).

Jennia: And just so it doesn't seem like we missed any of your biographical details, maybe if we let listeners know what your master's was in?

K.T. Anglehart: Sorry, yeah, it was just Creative Writing masters. I took—

Jennia: "Just creative writing" (laughs)

K.T. Anglehart: —You know, (Jennia laughs). I mean, I'm not a scientist (laughs) or anything, unfortunately. Like, I do not have a master's—

Jennia: You're a scientist of words. What are you talking about? (laughs)

K.T. Anglehart: I love that! I'm gonna put that on my LinkedIn (both laugh). Yes, I have a bachelor's in journalism. I studied script writing as well because I really love the idea of writing for the screen. I will always wanted (sic) to learn to write for television and that sort of thing. And then kind of told myself, "I need to write a book." Like, I'm an author, I need to write a book. Which I knew, like, my whole life. But I guess it kind of came to a point where I'm like, "I don't know if I'm disciplined enough to do this by myself" (laughs). So that was why I chose this program. I knew that you could declare your thesis project and, like, really focus on it.

Jennia: Yeah.

K.T. Anglehart: Among the other, like, amazing instruction that they give. So that's what happened there. Like, I made my first book my thesis project. So thankfully I was very heavily guided along the way.

Jennia: And did you always know that you wanted to write in this

Jennia: genre or did you have other ideas that you bounced around first?

K.T. Anglehart: I think I always knew. I think since reading "Harry Potter as a child and watching "Charmed (laughs), I absolutely knew I would be writing in this genre. Now I think I'm open— I really like lighthearted comedies and stuff like that that I think would have just like a spark of magic in it. What do you call it? There's a word for it.

Jennia: Magical realism?

K.T. Anglehart: Yes! Sorry, I was completely blanking. So, like, magical realism combined with some, like, romcom? I think I would kind of go into that direction for for another s— not series. I'm gonna say standalone, because a series is a heavy commitment. I'm gonna need a break after this (laughs).

Jennia: Well, besides those other influences, what are some of the other characters or stories that most inspired your work or will most inspire your future work that you seem to already be plotting a little bit?

K.T. Anglehart: Oh my God, I'm a mess with (both laugh) the inspiration.

Jennia: We love a good mess.

K.T. Anglehart: I am not a typical, like, genre-following author kind of thing. Like, I take inspiration from anything that's funny or touching or that just stays with me. Okay, so one of my future projects— I don't know if you've ever watched "Fleabag, but—

Jennia: Oh, yes! I've heard of it and I think I know the plot, yes.

K.T. Anglehart: Okay, well, her character is so raw and hilarious, and I just kind of saw this protagonist in a future work that I think would be just, like, amazing to follow Anyway, so just— like, that has nothing to do with my genre. So I'll get inspired by that. I'll get inspired by Wednesday Addams. You know, like, I'm, like, "Oh, I could go younger the next book," and I love that vibe of the mystery and the darkness and . . . I don't know. So, like I said, I'm kind of all over the place in terms of—

Jennia: But, like—

K.T. Anglehart: —Sorry?

Jennia: —I think it's all those mashups, though, that keeps something feeling fun where even though you've taken something that maybe we've seen this theme before, this trope before, but you offer something new just because, again, there are those unlimited possibilities if you take one from Column A and one from Column B, and like, what's gonna happen?

K.T. Anglehart: Exactly! What's gonna happen? What happens if you mash these people together?

Jennia: Yes! Well, going back to the mythology part, can you share one or two of the themes that you've seen maybe crop up over and over that are just as relevant today?

K.T. Anglehart: Hmm, ​​I'd ​have ​to ​think ​about ​that ​one. ​There's ​always, ​like, ​a ​heartfelt ​kind ​of ​connection ​with ​humans ​or ​something. ​There's, ​like, ​a ​cross ​with ​humans ​in ​a ​lot ​of ​their ​stories. ​There's ​a ​lot ​of, ​like, ​connection ​with ​family. ​There's ​a ​lot ​of ​misunderstandings ​in ​this series—

[This part is under construction. Please check back in later!]

16:40:

Jennia: Yes! Well, do you have any tips for finding that perfect blend of fantasy and realism?

K.T. Anglehart: I think take really the elements that stay with you, that stand out to you most— That's certainly what I did. What pulls me to a story is I think there's a reason behind that. So there's a reason why you're attracted to a story. So take those things— those lessons you learned, or things that made you laugh, or things that made you ponder, or things that made you wiser— and work that in. And also be creative. Because there's no real rules. I think as long as you're respectful of the culture, or the mythology that you're maybe, sort of borrowing from, then twist it the way you want to— We have creative license, we can do that. But definitely acknowledge it. And yeah, just take the most beautiful parts of it and make it your own.

Jennia: Mhm. Well, and then, for our final question, if you could meet one character from Celtic mythology, who would it be and why?

K.T. Anglehart: Yes! The— I don't know if I'm pronouncing it right. I always pronounce it the Cailleach So she's, like, the wise woman, the witch who guides others during difficult times. And as the season changes you might see her and she might look extremely ugly to some with like one eye in the middle of her forehead. And then she becomes beautiful, like, that kind of thing. And she may also be in the second book. But yes, I would meet her. I would want to hear everything she has to say. She's seen it all. She is ancient (laughs) and extremely wise. She's a wise woman. So yes, I would meet her.

Jennia: That is a great answer. Now I'm gonna have to go look this person up (laughs). Or this character, rather, yes. Well, thank you again for such a fun interview!

K.T. Anglehart: Thank you for having me! It really was fun. I hope I didn't stumble too much on my words as I do usually (laughs).

Jennia: Well, there is a difference between writing and speaking, as I myself have even known (laughs) with reading my intros

K.T. Anglehart: (both laugh) Awesome.

Jennia: Well, thank you for listening and be sure to check out the show notes for additional information, including all of her links. Thanks again!