PHOTO: Author Kelly S. Marsden, offering a gentle smile, surrounded by the Yorkshire countryside that inspires much of her work.
Exploring Urban Fantasy, Horses, And Life
Kelly S. Marsden opens up about her journey as a writer, her roots in Yorkshire, the creative process behind her books, and navigating life alongside her literary passions.
Kelly S. Marsden has an unmistakable magic in how she approaches storytelling. Born and raised amongst the rolling landscapes of Yorkshire, where whispers of history and folklore linger like mist on the moors, her literary work carries a vivid sense of place. As much as her books delve into the supernatural, there’s a grounding, a connection to these landscapes that feels personal, even intimate. Her worlds may be filled with witches, demons, and dragons, yet they hold a quiet homage to the life she’s lived—the horses she has cared for, the communities she’s observed, and the journeys she’s undertaken.
The Witch-Hunter series furrows deep into themes of danger and light, blending gripping action with moments of humanity and humour, while The Northern Witch, true to its roots, draws readers into the richly woven heritage tied to Yorkshire’s spirit. Marsden’s characters carry a depth that reflects her meticulous process: some dreamed up with deliberate purpose, others who seemingly take on lives of their own. Each possesses flaws, strengths, and growth that speak directly to the reader’s heart, offering familiar humanity amidst magical possibilities.
Now juggling a career in animal nutrition alongside her writing, Marsden balances realities with her fantasies in a process uniquely her own. Her path as an author hasn’t been without challenges—she approaches her creative work with reflection and authenticity, embracing breaks when necessary and sharing openly with her readers. Through her novels and her openness, she reminds us of the universal truth that creativity thrives when it’s unrestrained and unapologetically personal.
Kelly S. Marsden masterfully blends supernatural elements with relatable humanity, creating deeply moving, vivid stories inspired by Yorkshire.
What inspired you to start writing fantasy stories alongside your career in the horse industry?
I know, I’ve worked with horses most my life, and I go and write books featuring witches and demons, and hardly any horses in sight! For the small part they play, I had fun including some real horses in my books. My sister’s mare Lulu features in the Northern Witch Series – Lulu almost put me in hospital when my sister first got her, so I made sure she put the main character in hospital too…
The witch-obsession started when I was a child – it was entirely my dad’s fault. He used to say that my Nanna was the wicked witch of the North, and that if we didn’t behave, she’d turn us all into toads.
Rather than being scared, I was fascinated, and it became a lifelong passion and interest in everything supernatural.
Can you tell us more about your experience growing up in Yorkshire and how it has influenced your writing?
I’ve been an avid reader all my life, and the books that were being published at the time were based in the US, or if we were lucky, London. I found it very frustrating that Yorkshire wasn’t getting much representation.
When I started to write, I swore to always have at least one Yorkshire character or setting. So far, I’ve kept that promise, with James (Witch-Hunter) from Doncaster; the Enchena duology starts in Leeds; the Northern Witch Series is set in a fictional town in North Yorkshire; and my current work’s main character is from Sheffield.
“There are good monsters and evil unicorns in Enchena.” – Kelly S. Marsden
How do you balance your full-time work with your passion for writing?
This is always a tricky one for me, I have a couple of health conditions, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME). I’ve had CFS for about twenty years, but it has been getting worse lately. (I also have Huntington’s, but it’s not affecting me yet.)
I’m very open with my followers about everything, as it’s a waste of energy to pretend everything is fine all the time.
I always try and set aside parts of my day that are dedicated to writing, or working on other projects, like the audiobook that has just been completed for the Northern Witch Series.
One of the important things in my writing process (and that I’ve only recently started to embrace), is that it’s ok to take a break.
“I wanted to capture that same balance between dark and light; danger and humour.” – Kelly S. Marsden
What drew you to the urban fantasy genre and the concept of witch-hunters in your Witch-Hunter series?
I was a fan of Buffy The Vampire Slayer growing up. It was something fresh, that hadn’t been done before. It introduced dangerous supernatural creatures, and lots of action; but it was also light-hearted, and the character development kept me hooked.
I wanted to do something of a similar vein (no pun intended), I wanted to capture that same balance between dark and light; danger and humour.
The Witch-Hunter plot started with the villain – I had dabbled with Wicca, and the thought occurred of what if a bad witch broke the Wiccan Rede? Or, what if witches were an entirely different breed – a danger to everyone – and if that happened, who would protect regular people?
I was at university when I started writing the series, and I went into super-research mode, finding out everything I could about the witch hunts, and the Malleus Maleficarum (the real witch-hunting guide).
I wrote my version of history, where the Malleus Maleficarum was given to the general public, in good faith, so they could spot and trap real witches; instead it was used maliciously against thousands of innocent people. Witnessing how the public couldn’t be trusted, the real witch-hunters started to work in secret; which leads to the modern-day, with Hunter Astley and his colleagues.
“I’ve had CFS for about twenty years, but it has been getting worse lately.” – Kelly S. Marsden
Your Northern Witch series seems to have a strong focus on family heritage and learning magic, can you elaborate on this theme?
I wasn’t very close to my family growing up, and I think that’s really evident in my earlier series (the Witch-Hunter books) focusing more on found family rather than blood relatives.
When I started writing the Northern Witch Series, I’d moved back to my home town after a decade away; and reconnected with my family.
I wanted to avoid the popular backgrounds found in many Young Adult books, that the main character had a difficult upbringing, and either comes from a single-parent home; or is an orphan.
Mark is surrounded by a loving and supportive family; he has amazing and loyal friends; and up until this point, life has been peaceful and happy.
A part of me wanted to challenge myself – could I take a completely feel-good setting and characters, and still make the plot exciting?
The Lost Soul, part of the Enchena duology, appears to be a more epic fantasy story, what inspired this change in direction?
Yes, it is quite different to my other series.
The Enchena Duology is my tribute to the Narnia series. I was obsessed with those books growing up, and they shaped the type of writer that I wanted to be. I loved the huge adventure and the creativity; and also, how it centred on the very human aspects – including normal, imperfect heroes and heroines.
One of the main aspects I tried to keep in The Lost Soul, is that no matter where a character starts, or where you think they are going, the story will always break expectations.
A relatively-spoiler-free example I often use is that there are good monsters and evil unicorns in Enchena.
How do you develop your characters and plotlines, do you have any specific writing processes or rituals?
It depends on the series.
The Enchena Series is the most structured project I’ve worked on. I wrote the history, and all the stories that led the characters to where they were. The plot was conceived in full before I started writing, and there was very little deviation from what I’d planned.
The Witch-Hunter Trilogy was quite a bit looser. I knew the big plot points, but then I let the characters take control of the story, creating some plot twists that even I didn’t see coming!
The Northern Witch Series was a very relaxed process, with no fixed plot, other than Mark taking over Nanna’s position at the head of the coven. There were times when I questioned some choices made throughout the series; but in the end I was very happy with the result.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are looking to publish their own fantasy novels, particularly those who are trying to balance writing with another career?
Go ahead and do it – in your own way.
I’ve spoken to so many people that are scared to call themselves authors, or professional writers, because they haven’t published yet; or they feel their work isn’t as good as someone else’s.
Don’t compare yourself to others, and don’t try to emulate other writers – your voice is what makes your story special.
Do your own thing at your own pace – if it takes you a few months to write a book, that’s fine. If it takes you a few years, or a few decades – that’s fine too.
