K. Ancrum is an American author specializing in contemporary young adult fiction. She is best known for her award-winning novel The Wicker King (2017) and the recent critically acclaimed Icarus.
Kayla Ancrum was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. In high school, she had a lasting impression of Garth Nix, one of her favorite authors. At 12, Kayla started crafting novel-length works and, at 19, had written her first publishable novel. She attended Dominican University to study Fashion Merchandising, but her love for literary criticism and the company of poetry students swayed her towards an English degree.
After college, Ancrum worked as a legal assistant. Her breakthrough came with The Wicker King, a novel she wrote at 21 during her college years. Acrum contacted 63 agents before partnering with Amy Tipton and then Eric Smith.
Her writing process is systematic and structured, identifying herself as an architect and plotter. She meticulously outlines her stories before writing, allowing her to keep track of her progress.
The Wicker King and subsequent novels, such as The Weight of the Stars (2019) and Darling (2021), have been praised for their diverse casts.
She has tackled themes of poverty, wealth, and various family dynamics, always with a keen eye on inclusivity. Ancrum said, "I write to reflect the diversity of my own experience, to create a world as varied and vibrant as the one we live in."
She has expressed a desire to write middle grade fiction, picture books, and even a five-book series for adults. Her curiosity about different formats and genres hints at a versatile and evolving career.
As for her personal reading preferences, Ancrum enjoys middle grade fiction, particularly fantasy, and finds inspiration in adventurous contemporary works and films.
Looking ahead, Ancrum is interested in exploring new territories, including writing for established intellectual properties like "Star Wars" or "Scooby Doo," and potentially venturing into video game narratives. Her dialogue-heavy writing style could lend itself well to interactive storytelling.
K. Ancrum resides in her hometown of Chicago. She currently writes most of her work in the lush gardens of the Chicago Art Institute.
Photo credit: Jasmine Denise Photography