1–What is the title of your latest release?
2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Ryia Cautella, a.k.a. the Butcher of Carrowwick, and her motley crew have succeeded in the ultimate heist…with the most dire possible consequences. A terrifyingly powerful tool has fallen into the hands of Callum Clem, the criminal leader of the Saints, who was already one of the most dangerous men alive. With the newfound ability to force magic-wielding Adepts to his will, he is unstoppable.
With their group scattered throughout the five kingdoms of Thamorr—and not all on the same side of the fight—things seem hopeless. But can Ryia get the gang back together for one last job? Or will chess-worthy power plays and shifting loyalties change Thamorr as they know it?
3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I created the world of Thamorr, where Among Thieves and Thick as Thieves take place, for a NaNoWriMo project back in 2015 or 2016. That project ended up going nowhere, but I still was fascinated by the world and the magic system – a world where the magically inclined are subjugated – so I found another story to tell in that world! The humor in Among Thieves really helps offset the darkness of the world I’ve created, which works way better than the bleak tale I had set there initially.
4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
Absolutely not. Ryia Cautella would chew me up and spit me out in ten minutes flat.
5–What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Answer: Snarky, guarded, wounded
6–What’s something you learned while writing this book?
Answer: This book taught me my outlining process! It’s the first time I used Excel to outline a book and I have never looked back! I have a row for each scene and a column for each plot, subplot, and character arc. Outlining this way makes it really easy to see the whole layout of the story before I actually put pen to paper, which makes the drafting process so much smoother!
7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
Answer: I always wait until I’m totally done. My first drafts are generally a tangled mess because of this, but I need the momentum to keep going, and if I keep looking backward, I fear I’ll never actually finish the first draft.
8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Sushi! I love sushi so much; I could eat it every day. I’m also a stereotypical writer in that I enjoy coffee and bourbon equally (in their respective appropriate hours).
9–Describe your writing space/office!
My writing space is in the corner of my living room. It is just a simple desk covered with post-its and notepads and odd assorted books and pens, and I live by the calendar whiteboard on the wall above it.
10–Who is an author you admire?
I admire most authors, honestly. Having the tenacity to sit down and finish a whole book and then edit the living daylights out of it and then have the bravery to share it with the world is admirable, full stop.
When it comes to craft, I admire different authors for different things! Andrea Stewart has inventive, vivid magic systems rarely seen in fiction. Nicholas Eames has some of the best humorous, laugh-out-loud lines and scenes I’ve ever read. Joe Abercrombie does deeply flawed but incredibly lovable characters like no other. There’s plenty to admire about many authors, I can’t possibly pick just one.
11–Is there a book that changed your life?
I would argue that every book I read changes my life just a little. The books that changed me most are probably the Redwall books by Brian Jacques, which are the books that got me into reading fantasy when I was about nine, and The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien, which is the series that made me want to be an author.
12–Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
These days, I work from home for my day job, but at the time, I still went into an office every day. I looked down at my phone and saw my agent was calling and immediately excused myself to walk to the stairwell as calmly as I could before answering. None of my colleagues there even knew I was writing books, let alone that I was trying to actually publish one. When my agent told me the news, I had to clamp a hand over my mouth while jumping up and down so I didn’t scream with joy! The journey from starting to write seriously to getting that book deal was five long years, so I was beside myself with excitement.
13–What’s your favorite genre to read?
Science fiction and fantasy, for sure! I love it so much I even cohost a podcast about it, called SFF Addicts!
14–What’s your favorite movie?
I’m not sure about favorite, but the movies I’ve seen the most times are definitely Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films from the early 00’s.
15–What is your favorite season?
My teenage self would balk at this answer, but I’m a summer girl these days! I love warm weather and getting out into the sunshine. I used to say autumn was my favorite. While I do still enjoy a nice, crisp fall day, I know that fall means winter is close, and here in Michigan, winter can be brutal and lasts like six months — takes some of the joy from fall!
16–How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Basically, I don’t! Maybe a quiet dinner out with close friends or family or something. But I usually just go about life/work/whatever as normal on my birthday and don’t tell anyone about the day. Though I will say I definitely make space to treat myself — my sister makes the most amazing macarons for me every year and it’s the best!
17–What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
TV show, I’m going to say Ted Lasso. It’s not sci-fi or fantasy, but I have never had a show make me laugh AND cry as much as this one has. For books, I just recently read Richard Kadrey’s The Grand Dark and found it haunting and compelling. For podcasts, I mean, I’ll plug my own here — SFF Addicts! We interview authors and get their masterclasses on the aspects of writing they’re best at! Also, I recommend any writer interested in getting their work published in the future check out The Publishing Rodeo, which is an unflinchingly blunt exploration of the realities of the business side of the book world.
18–What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I don’t know if I can pick just one! I just love food in general.
19–What do you do when you have free time?
I spend any free time split between a few different things. I love going outdoors and spending time in nature, so trail walks and hiking and things like that. I also enjoy video games — the Mass Effect and Legend of Zelda franchises are a few of my favorites!
20–What can readers expect from you next?
I don’t have any other deals solidified just yet, but I have an epic adventure fantasy, a cyberpunk, and a dieselpunk story all in progress right now!
THICK AS THIEVES by M. J. Kuhn
M. J. Kuhn returns to the gritty world of heists, magic, and deception in this high-stakes fantasy follow-up to internationally bestselling Among Thieves perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and V.E. Schwab.
Ryia Cautella, a.k.a. the Butcher of Carrowick, and her motley crew have succeeded in the ultimate heist…with the most dire possible consequences. A terrifyingly powerful tool has fallen into the hands of Callum Clem, the criminal leader of the Saints, who was already one of the most dangerous men alive. With the newfound ability to force magic-wielding Adepts to his will, he is unstoppable.
With their group scattered throughout the five kingdoms of Thamorr—and not all on the same side of the fight—things seem hopeless. But can Ryia get the gang back together for one last job? Or will chess-worthy power plays and shifting loyalties change Thamorr as they know it?
LGBTQ | Fantasy Dark [Gallery, On Sale: July 25, 2023, Hardcover / e-Book, ISBN: 9781668013632 / eISBN: 9781668013649]
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About M. J. Kuhn
M.J. Kuhn is a fantasy writer by night and a mild-mannered university employee by day. She lives in the metro Detroit area with her husband Ryan, a dog named Wrex, and the very spoiled cat Thorin Oakenshield. You can find more information about M.J. online on her website.
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