Author Interview – Kris Spencer – Every Storm Is A Message

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK” Kris Spencer discusses Every Storm Is A Message, a novel inspired by selkie myths, where a resilient young heroine navigates land rights conflicts and a touch of magic realism.

Written by JJ Barnes

www.jjbarnes.co.uk

I interviewed Kris Spencer about his life and career, what inspired him to write his new novel, Every Storm Is A Message, and his creative process.

Tell me a bit about who you are.

I am a teacher and writer based in London. My three poetry collections—Life Drawing (2022), Contact Sheets (2024), and Slack Land (2025)—are published by Kelsay Books. My debut novel, Every Storm is a Message (2025), is just published by Holand Press.

When did you first WANT to write a book?

I’ve been writing most of my adult life. First off, I wrote textbooks—eight of them—a couple did quite well. Then I wrote magazine articles. All non-fiction. My move to fiction came through poetry. One poem. I wrote a poem and it rang a bell. What I now call the ‘lyric chime’. I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since.

When did you take a step to start writing?

Writing creatively started with that first poem. Another writer told me that writing is craft not an art. I like that advice. The first steps were all about taking writing seriously—learning the craft.

How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?

My novel, Every Storm is a Message, took almost exactly two years from the first word to holding the paperback in my hand.

What made you want to write Every Storm Is A Message?

The inspiration for Every Storm is a Message came from a poem I wrote, based on a traditional reading of the selkie myth—capture, betrayal, and escape. A version of that poem now forms the prologue to the book. I wanted to write a tale where the outcomes were positive, and the female characters provided the strength.

What were your biggest challenges with writing Every Storm Is A Message?

I had to get the plot right. I don’t know if it’s the engine or the rail-track, but the plot—having a beginning, middle and end, that worked—was important to me. Also, there is a bat squeak of magic realism in the book. I worked hard to balance that element of the story.

Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?

My lead is a like the mysterious stranger in a western movie who rides into a troubled town and tries to save the day. But they are not a weatherbeaten cowboy/gunfighter. My hero is a young woman, who doesn’t quite know who or what she is. I really liked the way Alicia Vikander played Lara Croft in the movie: tough and vulnerable. Somewhere, that take on things—being brave and not giving up, having more than your share of moxy—was central to her character.

Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?

I have known some people whose status, power and money were more important to them than living life with a consideration of ethics and morality. These kind of people are not criminals, they are often lauded. But some very rich people are disparaging of people who are not as wealthy as they are: I think they see it as a weakness. Maybe it’s inevitable. That’s the personality of my antagonist: a person lacking in warmth and feeling who looks to fill that void by manipulating and subjugating others too weak to fight back.

What is the inciting incident of Every Storm Is A Message?

Right at the beginning of the novel my character is found by an old fisherman. She has been left on the beach after a storm and he nurses her back to health.

What is the main conflict of Every Storm Is A Message?

There is a fight for land rights. A conflict between a rural community of farmers and fishermen, and developers seeking to buy the land for profit.

Did you plot Every Storm Is A Message in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?

Neither? Both? I had a plot, but I had to work very hard to develop the narrative. Eventually, I reached that magic place where the characters begin to lead things. Then, it’s a matter of listening.

Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did Every Storm Is A Message need?

I worked with two novelists, Richard Lambert and Rupert Wallis. They gave me some excellent advice. But the most important feedback I got was from a poet friend, Annick Yerem, and that was about the moral compass of the book.

What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?

Just write. Don’t wait. Write with as much freedom as you can muster and realise that the real work comes in the redraft.

Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?

Yes, there will be a sequel to Every Storm is a Message. But I’ll wait a bit. I have a rough sketch for a new novel. Something different, about redemption. Somebody who has lost a sense of others, but through circumstance gets that back, but at a cost.

And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?

Yes. The book is selling. I have some nice feedback from people I don’t know. More than that, even, I have put characters in landscape whom I believe in, and with values that I hold dear.

Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3Vtdzdk

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3JMw75M

Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/472D1x6

Twitter/X @KrisSpencerWord

bsky @krisspencer.bsky.social