Meet Qilanna Quinn

We were lucky to catch up with Qilanna Quinn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Qilanna, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

As an author, keeping my creativity alive is essential. Luckily, inspiration can come from anywhere—other books, TV shows, movies, video games, etc. Even simply watching people makes for excellent inspiration. I have a Scrivener file with all of my story ideas, and I just let it continue to grow. Regularly reading is also highly important for me. Not only does it teach my mind how to write better, but it also can serve as a source of creativity, helping to unlock part of a manuscript where I’m stuck.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

My name is Qilanna Quinn, and I am an author of science fiction and fantasy novels. My debut, TO AVENGE A FALLEN STAR, is the first in a sci-fi dystopian duology that follows twenty-year-old Gemma as she enters a yearly tournament on her planet, Reva, to execute revenge on the man who murdered her sister: the game master himself. But as hidden enemies reveal themselves, some closer than she could have imagined, Gemma must forge unexpected alliances to confront the even greater threat. Her very life—and Reva’s future—may depend on it.

Writing has always been a passion of mine. Ten years ago, I was traditionally published under a different pen name, and then my life spiraled out of control. My journey through this darkness was long and arduous, but when I found the courage to re-enter the book community, the dark cloud over my soul began to lift, and I remembered why I’d written those books ten years ago in the first place.

So, I’m making—what I hope will be—a triumphant return to publishing, with the intent to use my stories to help others find their way in the dark and know they are never alone.

TO AVENGE A FALLEN STAR releases on March 25, 2025, and preorders are available now.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Being an avid reader is essential to being a successful writer. Reading thoroughly edited and published novels create in you a natural understanding of story structure, dialogue, creating characters, and beautiful prose.

Learning the craft of writing was also very impactful on my journey. I’ve read many books to improve my skills, and have taken courses to practice those skills. There are loads of free materials and courses out there, so it’s easy to find ways to learn and grow.

And for me personally, a deep understanding of psychology and mental illnesses has greatly improved my ability to write characters that are unique and have their own personal histories that affect who they are at the beginning of my stories. It also helps me get into the mindset of my main characters, which I feel makes for deeper points of view. Again, there are loads of free materials and courses out there, so I would highly recommend every aspiring author learn a bit about personality and psychology.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

As an author, I feel it’s beneficial to be more well rounded. Otherwise, all of my characters might start sounding the same, or my stories would all read the same. By developing the skills I’m weaker in, such as dialogue for example, I can create more impactful and meaningful conversation between my characters—which is an important piece of storytelling! I might be able to create excellent plot lines, but without characters whom readers love, it doesn’t matter how much effort I put in to my plot. Therefore, becoming well rounded as an author will allow for better stories.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://qilannaquinn.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/qilanna.quinn
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/qquinnwrites
• Other: https://tiktok.com/@qilanna.quinn

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