Indie Author Interview: Emma Kennedy

Indie author Emma Kennedy’s first novel Golden Ruin came out this month on October 4th. Marketed as a sapphic sci-fi western, Kennedy’s debut is a blend of fun and serious, mixing the genres together with ease. Cassidy’s story grapples with sickness, friendship, and living life to the fullest in a faulty society. It has casual LGBTQ+ representation with its mix of characters and a gorgeous setting.

My full review (written before its release) can be found here. After receiving the published copy of Golden Ruin (as well as the cute additives which were very worth the price!), I can add that the book feels very good in hand. The smooth cover and size were satisfying, as well as the inclusion of the map.

Fandom Spotlite got a chance to ask Kennedy some questions about her writing process and the story itself.

Fandom Spotlite: When did you start writing Golden Ruin? How much did the story change from the first draft?

Kennedy: The timeline is a little touch and go, but I had the idea in March of 2023 and actually started writing (although sporadically) in June of 2023. Between November of 2023 – February of 2024 I wrote the majority of the story; I’d say about 75%.

In terms of content, I always knew the general vibes I wanted, but the “antagonist” for Cassidy changed quite a bit. I planned to write a sort of body switching horror plot where townspeople had gone missing and were replaced with android replicas of themselves, but ultimately this idea felt too forced and comic book evil. I also played around with there being some sort of “tech cult” that divided the town, but also felt like this was a bit too on the nose as one of the themes of the novel. Eventually, I just forged ahead without a villain and the man in white made himself known.

FS: What sparked the idea for the book?

Kennedy: There wasn’t one specific thing, per say. I work on a ranch, so environmentally I was very inspired. I had played Cyberpunk 2077 for about a month straight, and wanted more of that sci-fi, cyberpunk vibe. But I’ve always loved westerns and wanted to tell a story with the elements I really loved like bandits, saloons, gunslinging, etc. I started to mix the two and thankfully (I think) it worked out! 

Interestingly enough, Stardew Valley was not on my mind at all when writing or revising. When I got beta and editor feedback, almost everyone said it reminded them of Stardew Valley, especially the saloon scenes. So, for marketing purposes I leaned into it, but it was not an inspiration for the story.

FS: What is your biggest challenge when writing?

Kennedy: I’m a pantser, always have been, and my biggest challenge that I worked on while writing this book was to trust that even if I didn’t know where I was going, I’d still get there in the end. Books I had tried to write before always got abandoned because I didn’t know how they’d end and found it too daunting to keep chugging away when I didn’t know where the story was headed. I found I really enjoyed organically discovering the story for myself, but this also makes revisions and editing a bigger challenge. 

FS: If you could pick up the characters from Golden Ruin and put them into an AU (alternate universe), what storyline or genre would they go to?

Kennedy: Cassidy, at least by the end of the book, gives me final girl vibes. She’s such a fighter. I’d love to throw her into a campy slasher-type horror and watch her survive. It may seem a bit sadistic to put her through more turmoil, but our girl is strong enough to handle it.

Willa would absolutely be in a cozy rom com where she and Cassidy live happily ever after and Willa gets to own the restaurant she always dreamed of. There would be no bandits, tech, or dust. The hardest thing she’d have to deal with is getting a late shipment of tomatoes or not having enough tables to meet the demand of patrons.

Sam would thrive in a thriller mystery where they could put their investigative skills up against much higher stakes. They solved all of Cassidy’s problems in the story, and I know they’d want to scratch that itch with something bigger. They’d have a sidekick (not Alex, he hates puzzles) and a PI business that’s famous for being able to solve any case. 

Finn would be in a romantasy. Maybe he’d be in a guild, or work in a tavern. He’s perfectly happy to spend the rest of his life in Bell Valley with his loved ones, but I can’t help but wonder what a little adventure and danger might be like for him. He’s very established and comfortable with his life when we meet him, so I’d want to shake things up a bit. The romance would come in because, hello?? Finn is beyond charming.

FS: Did Cassidy’s thoughts and feelings about her illness stem from personal experience (if you’re comfortable sharing)? If not, where did you pull from?

Kennedy: In a way, yes. I have always been a hypochondriac, but after catching Covid for the first time in the beginning of 2023 my anxiety really spiraled out of control. I convinced myself so many things were wrong with me and stressed myself out so much that I started experiencing physical symptoms. So, for 90% of the symptoms you read about Cassidy having, that was something I experienced while writing. It also really influenced the man in white’s character as a being that is just “in her head”. She suffers physically and emotionally because of him, but he could never really hurt her. And once she stood up to him at the end, she resolved that fear. I’m in a much better place now, and I think a lot of that can be attributed to writing Golden Ruin and treating it a bit like a covert diary.

FS: Was the man in white an angel of death or a figment of Cassidy’s fragmented mind?

Kennedy: I personally enjoy leaving interpretations like this up to the reader, but for me it’s somewhere in-between. He is definitely something other.

I think for the majority of the story he’s a representation of her fear that her life and body is spiraling out of her control. Their confrontations get worse and worse as her condition does. It’s her mind’s manifestation of all of that, and that’s why we don’t see him again once she decides she’s not afraid of him anymore.

But, I had their chapter in limbo where he acts as a sort of guide to the afterlife on purpose. I didn’t want him to just be an antagonist that she beats, I wanted her to find her peace with him, and in turn, with her suffering. When he asks if she’s ready and holds out his hand, I think that really ties up their arc together. We all fear dying, Cassidy’s entire arc deals with this. But I think in accepting the inevitability and not letting it rule you, it’s a kind of freedom. At least, that’s what I wanted to give Cassidy with that final scene between them and with the man in white overall. 

FS: Which book details were you most excited to include (the art, the playlist, etc.)?

Kennedy: All of it! I love an immersive experience, and the only reason I stopped where I did was cost. Commissioning art adds up quickly, but we support real artists in this house! I always look up character art when I read a book, and I was so excited to see my babies come to life. The playlist was also a blast to make, even if no one listened to it I’d have been happy to have just had it for myself. I do a little happy dance when I see someone has saved it on Spotify. The map snuck up on me late into the process. I asked on threads if anyone liked maps in books outside of fantasy and I got a resounding yes. So, I tried my hand a making a map and loved the end result. It gave me a bit of grief with formatting, but I think it was worth it. 

FS: When adding songs to the Golden Ruin playlist, were they inspired by the feel of the novel itself, specific characters, or both? Did you listen to it when writing?

Kennedy: It’s a mix of both. The man in white inspired a lot of the songs. The first song [WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?] especially feels evocative of one of the many confrontations he has with Cassidy throughout the book. I was also really lucky timing wise that Beyonce released her iconic country album, so some of those songs had to be included. The rest can be tied to some characters, specific scenes, and general vibes for the book. 

I listen to it a lot now, but I didn’t create it until the third draft was finished. I don’t listen to anything while I write because I’ll usually just jam out and lose focus on what I was doing. So, while a draft was with my copy editor it was kind of a reward to listen to songs and curate a playlist that I felt represented the book as a whole.

FS: What’s one book you think other people should read if they loved yours?

Kennedy: In the Valley, A Shadow by Samantha Tano!! She is not only a fellow indie author, but it is an INCREDIBLE sci-fi/western with a trans character lead. It’s got so much action and heart, and there’s another one on the way. What more could you want? I was able to snag a signed paperback from her and the cover is stunning in person as well.

FS: Talk about your blogging. Did it help to write out these updates and processes? Are you hopeful it’ll aid other indie authors?

Kennedy: In a way, absolutely. Writing is a very solitary journey, especially as an indie author. I’m not at a press where I have colleagues I can connect with, and I’m too shy for writing groups or conferences. It can feel like shouting into the void sometimes and it’s nice to get my thoughts out of my head.

So, blogging to me is not only like a time capsule or journal, but also a how-to guide. When I do this all again for the next book, and I wonder about something I can go through the blog and see what the heck I was thinking. 

If it helps others that would be great! I only got this far because of fellow authors sharing their hard-earned experience on blogs, reddit, and social media. Especially with the stigma that still sticks to self-publishing, I see no point I gatekeeping helpful information. When one of us rises we all rise.

FS: Are you planning on writing more stories in this universe? If so, what? If not, what’s next for you?

Kennedy: A part of me would seriously love to, I am incredibly attached to the world, characters, and just general vibe. But I had always planned for this story to be a standalone. I feel like Cassidy’s story came to a complete and satisfying end, and I don’t want to drag her through any more trauma. I will say, should the opportunity present itself (let’s say in a special edition, wink wink) I do have a bonus epilogue set two years in the future that is mushy and wonderful and ties up some other characters’ happy endings. 

As for what’s next, I have about six ideas juggling on the back burner. The current WIP is still too early to tell if it will be another standalone or a series. But it’s an adult, sapphic fantasy with Renaissance vibes and a murder mystery. There’s a competition There’s sabotage. There’s a lot of work to be done…


Thank you Kennedy for agreeing to an interview! This brought me a much bigger appreciation and understanding of the book and insight into an indie author’s process.

Golden Ruin is available to order on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Emma Kennedy can be found on InstagramTikTok, or their personal website.


About Hailey Watkins

Hailey is a self-proclaimed bookworm and writer. While she loves to read fantasy or slice-of-life the most, their heart belongs truly to the Warrior cats book series. She has collected and read all of the books in the nearly 100-book-long (and counting) series. She's also a fan of reading Webtoons, graphic novels, and manga, as well as watching anime. When they're not writing about fandom, their day job is as a substitute teacher.

View all posts by Hailey Watkins

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