YA: Tell us a little bit about your latest work.
KK: Middle Ground is a continuation of my sci-fi dystopian novel, Awaken. It’s set in the year 2060, in a society where people spend almost all of their time behind a digital screen. It takes the idea of our current “plugged-in” culture to an unhealthy extreme.  Middle Ground digs deeper into why it’s becoming so hard for this society to break free from a digital world. It follows Maddie through her experience in a teen detention center after she gets in trouble. It brings up a lot of messages about technology, and where it can lead if it isn’t kept in check.

YA: What are some of the qualities in your latest work that set it/you apart from what’s currently our there on the young adult market?
KK: I think it’s a really timely story that’s applicable to all of our lives today. We’re immersed in a digital culture and there are so many benefits to computers, but also some drawbacks. The way we communicate is drastically changing and I think it’s important to step back and look at how technology impacts our lives before we jump on every new gadget.  I hope my books are entertaining and eye opening for young adults, as well as a story that adults can appreciate.

YA: Can you describe the path to getting this work published? What were the challenges? What was easy about it?
KK: This book was different to write compared to Awaken.  With Awaken, I wrote from start to finish, but with Middle Ground, I wrote it more in sections and then pieced it all together. Middle Ground was more emotionally taxing for me to write. In order to write from Maddie’s perspective, I had to experience everything right along with her, all of her highs and lows. It was mentally tough at times, but also a really fun creative challenge. What was easy about it? I just let my characters lead me along; they really inspire me and I love spending time with them.

YA: What will readers of Awaken, this book’s precursor, find most surprising about the sequel?
KK: I think they will be surprised with where this book goes—it’s darker than Awaken, and Maddie goes through a very intense struggle. But, I tried to intertwine the darker places of the book with messages of hope and love to pull the readers through.  

YA:  If you could cast the Dream Film Adaptation of your work, who would you cast?
KK: Tough, tough question! I’m not as familiar with younger stars. I would cast a younger Hayden Christiansen or maybe Chris Pine to play Justin. I would cast Blake Lively to be Maddie. George Clooney is a little old to be Maddie’s dad, but someone with his look/style would be great.  Oh, and in case James Cameron is reading this, James, how about directing this one?

YA: If you hadn’t become an author, what path would your career have perhaps taken?
KK: I used to be a high school English teacher and I honestly miss teaching. I’d love to teach creative writing again someday.  My dream job other than writing would be working on a movie set. That is my second greatest passion to books—movies.  I would love to be a director!