Kist Bookshelf

Early access of my interview with Evan Leikam, author of Anji Kills a King (the Fantasy Sickos Book Club read for June).

Evan Leikam is a debut fantasy author who burst on to the scene with Anji Kills a King, which Tor Publishing released in May of 2025.

I talked with Evan about his journey to becoming an author, the inner workings of Anji Kills a King, and what he has planned next in this candid and fun interview!

You can follow Leikam at the following..
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book_reviews_kill/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@book_reviews_kill?lang=en

Thank you to Tor Publishing for providing my advanced reader copy of Anji Kills a King.

(EARLY ACCESS) Becoming An Author: Evan Leikam Interview | Author of Anji Kills a King

Evan Leikam is a debut fantasy author who burst on to the scene with Anji Kills a King, which Tor Publishing released in May of 2025.

I talked with Evan about his journey to becoming an author, the inner workings of Anji Kills a King, and what he has planned next in this candid and fun interview!

You can follow Leikam at the following..
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book_reviews_kill/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@book_reviews_kill?lang=en

Thank you to Tor Publishing for providing my advanced reader copy of Anji Kills a King.

Join our Bindery community of book-reading Sickos: https://kistreadsbooks.binderybooks.com/
Check out my wife's homemade bookmarks: https://kiststudio.etsy.com
Follow my other efforts across various platforms: https://linktr.ee/michaelkist

0:00 Getting to Know Evan
6:24 Birth of an Author
13:20 Anji Kills a King
15:07 Embracing Influences
20:46 Writing Fuel
22:25 Writing About Addiction
25:00 Planning a Series
29:43 Exposition and Worldbuilding
31:41 Audiobook Thoughts
33:57 Picking a Cover
37:21 Being a Creator
39:38 I Am Become Author
#booktube #booktubetbr #fantasybooks #authorinterview

Becoming An Author: Evan Leikam Interview | Author of Anji Kills a King

Tester

Michael Kist

During this phase, we're reviewing manuscripts and deciding which book we want to publish. At the end of this phase, we offer an author a book deal.

Consideration

As the manuscript goes through several phases of editorial work, the cover and interior design takes place, while format decisions about paper stocks and printing treatments are made.

Editorial & Design

**Design** includes the cover process and interior layout, as well as format decisions like paper stocks and special treatments.

Design

While the books are on press, the pre-order links go live and the marketing campaign ramps up with waves of review copy mailings to media and influencers.

Pre-order

The finished copies have released on the book's publication date. Go give it some love!

Published

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This is a longer entry about me. I love to write, and I love to share my thoughts with the world. I hope you enjoy my work!

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