📚Author Interview K. R. Galindez
Some storytellers are born from quiet moments of wonder—childhood afternoons spent wandering through fantasy worlds, late‑night gaming sessions that spark unexpected emotions, or the first time a book makes you feel something bigger than yourself. For today’s featured author, that spark began with The Fellowship of the Ring and the sweeping narratives of classic Role Playing Gamess. Those early experiences planted the seeds of a lifelong love for epic worlds, complex characters, and stories that make you feel deeply.
From Guam to Ohio to the California coast, their journey has been shaped by academic curiosity, creative obsession, and a decade‑long commitment to building a fantasy saga with heart, grit, and political depth. What began as a single scene idea in 2016 grew into The Spirit of a Rising Sun, a sweeping tale of rebellion, identity, and hope—now re‑released in a significantly expanded and revised edition.
Today, we sit down with the author to explore the inspirations behind their work, the challenges they overcame, and the characters who have lived in their mind for ten years. This conversation offers a window into the making of The Last Chain saga—and the passion that drives its creator forward.
📚What first sparked your love for storytelling and fantasy worlds?
This is a tough question! I do remember at a young age falling in love with fantasy and sci-fi books and video games. One of the most impactful books I ever picked up was The Fellowship of the Ring when I was in middle school. I was obsessed with the book, then I went on to finish the trilogy. That was around the same time the movies came out.
But around that same time, I had been playing RPGs on PlayStation quite a lot. I enjoyed the gameplay a lot, of course, but really fell in love with the stories and characters.
🖋️When did you first realize you wanted to become an author?
I guess there wasn’t really a moment. It just kind of happened sometime around 2016, when I became obsessed with an idea for a story. I just couldn’t let it go until the book was done. I am still not sure if being an author is ultimately for me, even though I do love storytelling and learning everything I can about it. Sometimes I think I’d rather write stories for video games, but for now, I’ve really come to love writing so much I don’t think I could let it go.
🌅How would you describe The Spirit of a Rising Sun in one sentence for new readers?
A servant breaks her own chains, gets swept up in a conflict bigger than she could have ever imagined, and finds the most incredible people to help her along the way.
🌍Tell your readers a little about yourself, where you grew up, where you live now, where you went to school etc. Let them get to know the personal you.
I was born in Guam, but grew up in Ohio, and now live in Santa Cruz, California. I’ve been in the area for over ten years now and briefly lived in San Francisco. I came out here to earn my PhD in sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, which I completed last December. Neither of my parents went to college, so moving to California for a PhD was quite exciting! And I adore the ocean. I visit the coast every day.
Before that, I earned a BA and MA in sociology from the University of Cincinnati. I enjoyed thinking about social change, movements, power, and inequality, and sociology was great for this. But I also studied Classics, which was deeply influential on me. I especially liked studying ancient Roman political history, Latin poetry, and Greek plays/theater when I was in college.
During my PhD studies, my dissertation research explored geography, history, and environmental justice in Guam. I cherished my time in Guam and all the people I met there, and those experiences directly shaped certain things in my book.
Ten years ago, though, I discovered that what I really enjoyed spending my time on was creative writing. And in 2016, I had an idea for a scene and couldn’t let it go until the whole book was done. I became obsessed with writing and wanted to learn everything I could about characters, plot, worldbuilding, etc.
In August 2017, on a rainy night in Guam, I started writing the first chapter after spending a year outlining and jotting down ideas. I then published the book in 2021 with a smaller press, but recently had the opportunity to re-release. This new version is double the length and significantly revised.
I wanted to write a big story, one that would give me the space to develop an ensemble cast with interlocking histories, multiple locations across a sprawling continent, big cinematic moments mixed with more tender and intimate ones. Readers have tended to appreciate the book’s worldbuilding, but what mattered most to me were the characters. I spent ten years of my life thinking daily about imaginary people and their struggles. And I hope readers come to appreciate them just as much as I did.
💡What inspired you to author this book?
I would say I had many inspirations. But first, the idea for the book just randomly came to me one day. I had this idea to write a fantasy story about a woman trapped in a prison who dreamed of escaping and joining a rebellion somewhere. That was basically it. In the very first draft ever, she escapes because of magic… but that of course changed drastically as I wrote the book.
But something that really inspired me to write this book was that I wanted to write a fantasy book that featured an alternative economy. So, not just a rebellion opposing a tyrannical empire, but one that functions according to a completely different set of economic principles from either feudalism or capitalism.
So Oyza learns early on that the Ungoverned claim to have no kings, then later discovers more about the economy and the way they live. She knows from the book she hides in her prison cell (a book banned all across Vaaz) that an old philosopher wrote a treatise on a world without class or rank, where everything is shared in common, and surmises that maybe the Ungoverned took inspiration from him…
I won’t say more because of spoilers, but anyone interested in that sort of thing will definitely enjoy some of my book’s longer chapters that address this very subject. Do you want to sink into a 5,000-word chapter exploring firsthand what medieval communism might look like? You’ll like my book!
🎨Where did you get the inspiration for your book’s cover?
I started reading fantasy as a kid in the ’90s, things like the Dragonlance Chronicles and later, The Lord of the Rings. When it came time to choose a cover artist, I really wanted something that clearly signaled epic fantasy, something with a more serious tone, done in an older style that reminded me of the books I read growing up. And I wanted to feature characters prominently, because I loved my own characters, of course.
So I shopped around and ultimately hired Alejandro Colucci to design my cover. I really liked the work he had done in the past (for writers like Robin Hobb, for example) and knew he’d do a wonderful job for me, too. And he did! I absolutely love the cover he made.
Fun side note: he was way out of my price range, actually, so I literally sold a Pokémon card to pay for it. One of my favorites. My PSA 10 Fossil Japanese Holo Lapras. The price had spiked, and I had been unemployed for months and was seriously financially struggling, so I sold it to help finance my cover. Someday I plan to buy it back.
🌟 Who has been the most significant influence on you personally and as a writer?
I don’t think I could pick just one influence, but there are many. In terms of other authors, some influences are certainly George R. R. Martin, Joe Abercrombie, Ursula K. Le Guin, Tolkien. But I’d also include TV shows, films, video games, and other mediums as influential.
As I mentioned earlier, a major influence on me is absolutely Final Fantasy, having grown up playing the series and falling in love with the many characters and worlds across the games. X and X-2 are my favorites, though. And in some ways, I discovered that video games made their way into my book in ways I didn’t realize. There are some fights in the book, for example, that definitely give off “mini-boss” and “boss fight” vibes. Many of my characters fit into a “party” structure together. Another influence is certainly Chrono Cross. The environment, the music, the world, the mystery… it all shaped my sense of storytelling and the vibes and feelings of the worlds I wanted to build.
Some other influences are things like Star Wars, Les Misérables, Y Tu Mamá También, and Independence Day. And like I talked about earlier, the many historical and academic texts that made their way into my writing. And, obviously, a heavy dose of socialist and left-leaning texts.
Last, I’d also say my mom was an influence. She taught me to read at a very young age, and I still remember the first ever book we read together! And believe it or not, she’s published romance books, including when I was a little kid. I learned a bit about publishing and writing from her and her writer friends when I was young. She used to sit in our backyard on her laptop, on a swing in the sun, and just work on her stories. And I still admire her commitment to her own storytelling.
⛰️ What were your struggles or obstacles you had to overcome to get this book written?
I will say there were many. Practically, it was hard just to find time. I was also working on my PhD at the same time I was writing this, and that was challenging. I typically did my “real work” during the morning and day, then tried to squeeze in time for creative work during nights or weekends.
The process was also a lot, which was a bit of a struggle for me. I began drafting in 2016, began actual writing in 2017, found a small publisher in 2019, published in 2021, then rights reverted to me a couple years later, and I had a window open to revise and republish the book. I tried to find agents and publishers, but that didn’t work, so I decided to pursue self-publishing instead.
I went into it not really knowing what I was doing. I had never taken proper creative writing classes. And my academic background was primarily sociology, not literature or writing. Something I had to learn, for example, was how to undo the influence of academic writing. In academic writing, everyone now wants an abstract point without reading the boring concrete details: what’re the 2-3 important bullet points? But in fiction, we want the opposite. Show, don’t tell, as they say. You can’t just tell the reader a battle happened. You have to show the small details that make it come alive. I see writing as building an experience for a reader. People read because they want to feel things, and I hope they feel what I do when they read what I write.
Another struggle, to be honest, was writing in genres I knew substantially less about. This includes, of course, romance. But my mom published romance books, so I had heard bits throughout my life. One of my best friends loves romantasy, and I appealed to her for advice, especially about how to write Yars and the feelings Oyza develops for him. Last, I specifically hired beta readers who were experts in romantasy, asking them to help me improve these parts of the book in particular. And it was very rewarding! I learned a great deal from them.
📖 Tell your readers about your book.
I’ve said a lot already about it, but we could talk a little more about some of the other characters now, like the villain, Liviana. She’s a brilliant and beloved military commander intent on reforming and strengthening the Empire during what she perceives to be a time of decline and severe mismanagement. She’s a great fighter, too, skilled with her sword. But she’s also the daughter of a powerful minister who’s a top advisor to the emperor. And that minister is Oyza’s master.
So the story also involves this historical tension between Oyza and Liviana. Basically, Liviana grew up with Oyza as a household servant. And she hated Oyza, of course, because of the attention she received from her father.
There’s also a lot I haven’t mentioned yet: magical artifacts called magewares, a religious system inspired by astrology, and plenty of side characters. There are huge, epic battles on both sea and land, a bioluminescent swamp, feuds with conniving priests, drug addiction and redemption, an occasional magic spell…
It’s also a deeply political story, with much of the story focusing not only on political intrigue and conflict but also discussions about revolutions, experimental political and economic systems, and everything that I came to associate with the rebels I called the Ungoverned (which is actually a bit of a misnomer because they have quite a developed system of true self-governance).
🎯Who is your target audience, and why?
I’ve really struggled with this question. My audience is readers who want big, epic fantasy stories featuring multiple POVs and lots of political intrigue. There are kingdoms to learn, unique customs and religious beliefs, ancient magical artifacts…
But to me, in my heart, the book is at its core a semi-romance story between Oyza and Yars. It’s really their story, together, as they get swept up in a conflict far bigger than either of them ever imagined. So, I would say that readers who like romantasy might find just enough in my book to appreciate it, but they absolutely should not go into the book believing it to be primarily a romance.
Other readers would include people who like a bit more grittiness. Death, violence, war, torture, big battle scenes, assassinations, drug addiction, heartache. That’s all in there, but I tried hard to make all this was felt deeply and intimately by the characters themselves.
Spirit is the first book in what I am now calling The Last Chain saga. I hope to write six books. And book 2 is fully drafted, but I still have lots of work to do. So if you’re the kind of reader that wants a big series, with tons of characters, and lore, and complex world-building, but you also want to forge a deep emotional bond with the characters, you’d probably enjoy my story. To me, the real appeal is the characters and all the relationships they share.
🏆 What do you consider your greatest success in life?
Probably earning my starred review from Kirkus. I just didn’t know what to expect and was totally shocked when I learned about it. But after spending ten years of my life on this book, it was really great to receive recognition like that.
🔮. What one unique thing sets you apart from other writers in your genre?
This is hard to answer because so much has already been written and so much is still being written! At least something that friends of mine appreciated is that my book is a fantasy that presents an alternative economy. So, I at least like to think the book is unique in that regard. The story is dystopian in some ways, and many times it’s pretty dark, but there are these moments of hope scattered throughout, including glimpses into how another world might someday be organized.
❄️What can readers expect from Book 2 in The Last Chain saga?
Well, I’ll share a small surprise: Book 2 is drafted from start to finish, and some of my close friends have already read it. But I am still deep into editing and refining the story. I hope to have it out in fall of 2027. But what to expect? I guess I shouldn’t say much… but expect a new setting, new characters, new struggles, new adventures, and a plot that just gets deeper and deeper before an explosive ending that I can’t wait to share. Oh, and there’s snow!
🧙♀️ If you could sit down with one of your characters for an hour, who would it be and why? (A fun, engaging question that deepens character connection.)
Honestly, probably Syvre. She just has so much knowledge, so many mysteries, things to share. I’d really love to learn everything I could from her, especially about magewares or the history of the Ungoverned. And hanging out with Yip would be fun, of course!
🛠️ What advice would you give aspiring fantasy writers who are just starting their journey?
Just write. Every day if you can. Share your work with anyone willing to read it. Absorb every book, video, and podcast about writing that you possibly can in your spare time. Helpful tips and advice are everywhere these days. Online, you can even find full lecture series about creative writing, including for fantasy specifically. Brandon Sanderson’s lecture series is great, for example.
Also, when you have a full draft, send it to as many beta readers as you can, and seek out experts who can give advice in the areas where you are weakest. You want readers and editors who will be honest with you.
Accept that you will make mistakes before you feel truly comfortable with it.
But otherwise, the best advice for anyone starting is to just have fun with it.
❤️ Is there a particular message or emotional experience you hope readers take away from your book?
I would want readers to take away the idea that nothing is guaranteed; there is no real security to be found in something transcendent. Oyza spent her life imagining answers that never were. All we truly have is each other, our collective struggle, and a shared vision of the kind of world we want to one day see.
As our conversation comes to an end, one thing becomes unmistakably clear: The Spirit of a Rising Sun is far more than a fantasy novel. It’s the product of ten years of dedication, curiosity, and emotional investment—shaped by academic journeys, childhood inspirations, and the countless worlds that have left their mark on its author. From Guam’s landscapes to the California coast, from sociology seminars to late‑night writing sessions, every step has woven itself into the fabric of The Last Chain saga.
Readers who step into this world will find epic battles, political intrigue, and sprawling lore—but also something deeper: a story about connection, struggle, hope, and the belief that the worlds we imagine can help us understand the ones we live in. And with Book 2 already drafted and new adventures on the horizon, this saga is only just beginning.
Thank you for joining us for this interview. Whether you’re here for the fantasy, the politics, the romance, or the characters who feel achingly real, there’s a place for you in this world—and many more surprises still to come.