Kathryn C. Kelly

I'm so very excited that Inferno’s release day is almost here. I can't thank everyone enough for all the interest you've shown in Georgie's and Sloane's story. The subject is taboo, yes. Some of you know who inspired this Lolita-style, May-December romance.

This is the story of two broken souls who manage to find one another. Sometimes, when we are lost and shells of the person we should be, we do very stupid things. There's another component to Inferno--Georgie's mother, Cassandra. She's as broken as her daughter. The world is obsessed with youth and Cassandra knowingly ignores Georgie, to feel better about herself. Sloane is the bridge that crosses the Georgie-Cassandra divide.

Finally, I apologize for the cliffhanger. I wasn't sure which would be best. The cliffhanger or a book close to 200K words. I chose the CH. To be fair, I know everyone doesn't have my reading tastes. However when I have a choice between reading a very long book or a book that will be split into two or three different novels, I go with the latter. That isn't to say I won't read novels that are 190,000 words. It takes me longer to pick it up because with my day-to-day schedule, a longer book seems more daunting to me.

Once again, I thank everyone who took the time to read and review Inferno.
… (meer)

UPDATE 5/31/23 Reckless is out! If you read my journey on Facebook, the following text isn't different. But I want to thank everyone so much.

I have been working on Reckless for a very long time. When I scrolled through my timeline, I saw how many times I talked about it and promised it and teased its release. Amidst writing Reckless, I had health scares, new diagnoses, procedures, tests, and surgeries. I watched Memaw Kelly become so very frail. I worried about Kathryn Ferdinand and her mental state and health scares.
Like everyone, the economy took a toll and there were days when I had to stretch a little food to pay for a lot of medicine. Other times, I didn't know if I wanted to bother living anymore. Just from the gargantuan obstacles I faced. One in particular is dealing with electrical issues in the house. I've been trying to figure out how to change bad breakers in the box but I don't want to get fried. That realization strikes me even as I write this. Deep down, I don't want to die. I fought hard to survive cancer and, years earlier, heart failure. I was just tired. All of this affected my thoughts.
There wasn't a month that went by where I didn't think about Reckless. There were many days I didn't because my head was too crowded with other issues. I continued writing and was in several anthologies from Andrea Miles Rhoads and Elizabeth Knox. My submission was accepted to be a part of the Cocky Hero Club. My book was to be based on Stuck-Up Suit by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward. I was ecstatic. But my illnesses and my concern for my family, whom I love dearly, repeatedly interfered. Then, late last August, I finished Savage Suit. Somehow, I finished my first full length novel since 2019.
It was a moment I will never forget. I cried. After all the lows and the tears and the prayers and the fear, it was finished. And I am very proud of that book but for the first time I was proudest of myself. Yet, there was still the elephant in the room that stole some of my joy: Reckless.
I started the story long before I was accepted into any of the aforementioned projects. And it wasn't finished. My despair returned and I fell into a deep depression. It only deepened when I saw that updating the original series was stalled. I updated Misled and Misappropriate and then stopped because of some of the other personal and writing obligations. I considered laying down my pen.
Misled came out in 2013 and the industry has changed so much. I told myself if I didn't budget for marketing, why bothering releasing the book. However, I made a promise to y'all. And I couldn't leave you hanging OR my characters. I worked from October to December on rewrites. In January, I set up preorders with the intention to release on May 3rd. I told myself I had enough time to complete the book I envisioned, do justice to the series, and make it worth everyone's wait. I begged Christopher to talk to me. I prayed.
Then, I had the hemorrhoidectomy and I thought I would never sit down again. My laptop is old and wouldn't update. It kept freezing on me, so I HAD to sit at me desk. The book grew. Savage Suit was released. I listened to the audiobook and loved it. The pain of the internal and external incisions was intense. My mother was barely able to walk because of back pain. Kate's depression became concerning. Food was low. I received a small shock at the breaker box.
I was exhausted. I quit. I was going to release a statement saying I was retiring from writing. Yet, that was the easy way out. I love writing. I started my first novel at 12. Had I really fought all these years just to crawl away with my tail between my legs? I knew eventually I would have to write again. So I told myself, ain't nothin' but a thing. I have my family. We have a roof over our heads, a car to drive, and food on the table. I pushed the release of Reckless to May 31st. I watched Queen Charlotte. Twice. Alone and then with Kate. I prayed. And I told myself to get back to work. This was when I realized I had to split Reckless into two books. The decision reinvigorated me.
Suddenly, part one was done.
RECKLESS WAS FINISHED.
I stared at my screen and clapped and laughed and cried. It was after 3 in the morning but I called my mother. It was done. Even as I write this, tears are in my eyes. It was almost like the day I rang the bell in November 2016. And, today, Reckless is available to the world. I would love for it to be a smashing success. I wish it gets thousands of reviews. But I don't have marketing money and I still have so many personal obligations. I also have to finish Ruthless because I just can't wait for y'all to see how it all plays out.
To everyone out there, don't give up. Continue to fight and hope and dream and pray.
Thank you to everyone who never gave up on me, even during my darkest days. Thank you for never giving up on Reckless. Much love to each of you.
As much as I want Reckless to be a bestseller, its release represents so much more. Whether it sinks or swims or whether its loved or hated, Reckless is my biggest triumph and, for me, that is everything.


__________________________________________________________
I have to offer my apologies to everyone. I canceled the preorders I wasn't able to complete the manuscript to upload it in a timely manner due to some illnesses I have been going through. I have been undergoing tests and thankfully I have nothing serious. Just very annoying. I broke my tailbone at the age of 19 and, lately, I have been going through holy hell with pain at the base of my spine. More than likely, I will need a third esophageal dilation because my esophagus continues to close up, despite having had two dilations since December. Finally, I have to see a rheumatologist because the major marker that indicates Lupus has always been abnormal or high or positive--I don't know the correct term for this because I try to live my best life and not worry about what may not ever come to pass. Having said that, there is some suspicion that I might have developed full-blown Lupus. These are my most serious issues and I feel as if you deserve an explanation as to why CJ's story is delayed again. The good news is I have only 4 chapters left to completion (and a resend to my editor). You will see advertising because it was too late to cancel. However, instead of rushing the process and the story, I canceled the pre-orders to put out the best possible read for y'all. I'm so sorry for the delay. I contacted Amazon beforehand to put a new preorder in and was told I would be able to do so because of the extenuating circumstances of my health issues. However, when I wrote in to get the approval, I was declined, so as soon as I get this issues straightened out, I will have it back on Amazon at the $0.99 preorder price.… (meer)