We had the pleasure of sitting down with Yurie Kiri, an accomplished author known for her captivating mystery and paranormal novels. In this exclusive interview, Yurie shares insights into her journey as an author, her meticulous research process for incorporating paranormal elements, the inspiration behind her popular works such as “Moonlight Beach” and “Moonlight Canyon,” as well as the challenges she faced and overcame while writing her series. With a sneak peek into her upcoming projects and valuable advice for aspiring authors in the mystery and paranormal genres, Yurie provides a fascinating glimpse into her creative world. Join us as we delve into the mind of a talented writer who continues to enthrall readers with her imaginative storytelling.
Bur first, who is Yurie Kiri?
Yurie Kiri, born in a trailer in rural America, studied Mathematics and languages and speaks Japanese, English, French and has also studied Chinese, Arabic and Spanish as well as a smattering of other languages such as Korean and Russian along with binary, octal and hexadecimal machine language because if you really want to get to know someone you need to speak their language no matter if they’re machine or human. Yurie lived and worked in Asia for decades before coming back to America where Yurie went on an extensive backroad journey across the US and Canada from the rough Mexican border towns to the icy cold town of Yellowknife in Canada’s NWT where you need to cross a frozen lake to get into town in the winter. Yurie also sailed (single-handed) from Mexico to the Canadian border, retracing a well-traveled road journey by sea in a small, live aboard sailboat. Yurie has been traveling and gathering story ideas from Asia for the Game Series which covers Japan and other Asian countries and North America for the Murder and Mystery Series which covers the American Southwest.
Yurie Kiri’s Books
- Can you tell us about your journey to becoming an author? What was the turning point for you?
Well, there were two turning points. The first turning point was losing a good job that allowed me to travel and work in Asia was the inspiration to start writing Tokyo Games and also gave me some free time as well. As I’ve said before, Tokyo Games was written as a kind of revenge story about the people who unjustly kicked me out. Instead of moping around feeling sorry for myself, I used that free time to construct a good story about my enemies’ destruction. I changed everyone’s name as well as some of the circumstances, but that book (like all of my books) is full of real people, people I know, and new people I’ve met.
The second turning point, the one that led me to publish my books on Amazon and Apple, was getting yet another agent rejection letter – one of probably a hundred. I’d always thought that the only way to publish a book was to get an agent who’d then get me a deal with a publisher but at that time no agent was willing to represent a “science fiction” story about Japan or any “first” novel over 100,000 words…. Then after giving Tokyo Games to one of my friends to read, who then gave it to a certain newspaper for a review or critique… I was horrified. The newspaper guy hated it – “too much sex,” he said. “Why are your characters having sex all the time?” But that wasn’t true… I think the newspaper guy had actually been offended by the “body swapping” and creative gender issues explored in Tokyo Games (and in Osaka Games) where after witnessing their friend, Melinda being murdered by a leading politician, Hanako talks Keith into swapping bodies with her. Hanako, a brilliant scientist, developed the technology that enabled her to get into Keith’s body, so that she’d be big and strong enough to defeat her enemies. Keith was put into Hanako’s body and must then learn how to deal with all the aspects of feminine life including sex with the man he used to be… Anyway, all of that was too much for conventional people so I explored self publishing and found KDP with Amazon.
- What kind of research do you do before writing your novels, especially when incorporating paranormal elements?
I write about the people and places I know well, whether it’s Japan or the American Southwest. I wanted to be accurate on certain aspects of Japanese mythology, particularly the sacred sword, still part of Japan’s national ceremonies and the eight-headed dragon called the “Orochi” in whose body the sword was found. So I went to the nearest university and spent some time in the library going through old books… But then I put my own special paranormal spin on things. When I have questions I go to the nearest library for old books or historical book collections, but I also use the internet like most other people.
- What inspired you to write “Moonlight Beach” and “Moonlight Canyon”?
In my notes to the reader’s introduction to my books, I describe some part of my creative process. In Moonlight Beach, I describe overhearing a disturbing conversation that inspired me to write the story. However, that was not everything, since the main characters in Moonlight Beach were all based upon people I knew well. The local venture capitalists were based upon people I knew or interviewed for a non-fiction business book idea and the witches (Anne, Susan and Mary) were also based upon people I knew, including the astrologer Diane. Along the way, in various lifetimes, I learned enough about witchcraft and astrology to put together an exciting story. The bad guys were also people I’d either met or heard about from various reliable sources.
Moonlight Canyon was inspired by a trip to Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument outside of Silver City, New Mexico. Which I visited on a deserted Wednesday morning breathing in the musky air, soaking up the history and trying to meditate when I became aware of some low, soft voices….
- Can you share any challenges you faced while writing your series and how you overcame them?
Probably the biggest challenge I’ve faced is having written too much, either making too much of a long, epic story for normal people or allowing myself to get trapped. While writing, I get too absorbed into the story so I have to stop, put aside for a while before going back and editing it down to something more normal people can handle. I used a professional editor for Tokyo Games, but I did not like how my story had been changed so now I try to do my own edits until I get to a point where I turn it over to “Beta-readers” who make edit “suggestions” which I usually take.
- Are there any particular authors or books that have influenced your writing style?
I loved Carlos Castaneda’s “The Teachings of Don Juan…” and his other stories, which I’ve read several times. I also found inspiration in Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” and I loved the “stream of consciousness” writing style he used, typing onto a large roll of Teletype paper without stopping… Jack Kerouac supposedly sent his agent that original roll of paper to edit and publish. Now with modern computers, we all have that endless roll of paper… I also liked JRR Tolkien who wrote the “Rings” books. I loved those stories and the fact that he invented every aspect of the stories, including the several different languages used by the various groups of characters.
- How do you keep your readers engaged and on the edge of their seats throughout your novels?
I try to keep myself emotionally engaged in my stories. As I’ve said before, I read and re-read all of my stories, over and over probably close to 50 times or more before I release them and if after all those readings I still get emotional I think it’s going to be an exciting story. So far, whenever I read one of my stories, I still find places that I laugh, cry and get excited… and I know the story, so it has to be a real shock for first-time readers.
- Can you give us a sneak peek into any future projects or books you are working on?
I’m working on sequels, first the next book in the Moonlight series called “Moonlight Skull” which takes place back in New Mexico after Moonlight Canyon and after Moonlight Rip Tide. I entered Moonlight Skull in the 2024 Beach Book Festival, where it won in the “Unpublished” Fiction category. However, I’m still working on getting more reads and reviews before I release it. Moonlight Skull continues the story of some of the survivors of Moonlight Beach, Canyon and Rocks combined with the evil energy from the guys who met a suitable end in Moonlight Canyon. Some bad guys are just too hard to kill…
I’m also working on a sequel to Osaka Games, called “Kijo Games”. I entered Kijo Games in the 2024 Los Angeles Book Festival, where it took second place or “runner up” in the Science Fiction category. Kijo, a Japanese word for female demons, continues the gender blurring story started in Tokyo Games where Keith ends up spending more time in a female body than he thought he wanted. That extra time in a female body continued in Osaka Games and takes things in a new direction in Kijo Games where another Orochi monster might just save the day…
- How do you handle writer’s block or creative slumps?
My problem is more like a flood rather than a blockage. When I thought I was done with Kijo Games it was more than 1000 pages and I’ve edited it down to something about 1/2 that…
- What is your writing process like? Do you follow a strict schedule, or is it more spontaneous?
My process is spontaneous, writing all the time on Jack’s old Teletype roll when I should be doing something else that actually pays the rent. I have to do something commercial and then I can “reward” myself with creative writing time.
- What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to write in the mystery or paranormal genres?
First of all, write. One of my professors in college started each class with a “writing exercise” where he would just yell out, “write”. All of the students then had to instantly start writing… writing anything that sprang to mind until the professor yelled, “stop!”. We then had to share what we’d written… and hopefully, it made some sense. Second bit of advice is to write what you know … so if you want to write about witches or the occult, it might pay to have participated in a few witchcraft ceremonies. At least try a few Tarot cards, Astrology reads or just study auras or anything occult… you should be able to find a way in somewhere even in today’s internet, social media driven culture.
Thank you, Yurie Kiri, for sharing your inspiring journey and insights into your captivating novels. Your creative process and dedication to storytelling are truly remarkable.
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