A little conversation

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Author Q&A with Scott Kay

Q: What inspired Tale of the Four Winds?
A: It started with a creature I wrote about in high school that stuck with me for years. I’ve always been drawn to stories about angels, mythology, and the strange line between good and evil. Then came the bigger questions: What does it mean to be a monster? What does family look like when biology fails you? Once I had Joshua’s voice in my head, the story unfolded into something much more personal.

Q: The book blends fantasy, horror, mythology, and coming-of-age. How would you describe it in one line?
A: It’s what happens when mythology, trauma, and identity crash into each other in a haunted New York apartment building.

Q: There’s a strong theme of found family in this book. Why is that important to you?
A: I think a lot of us—especially queer people, veterans, and anyone who's felt like an outsider—end up building the family we wish we had. Found family isn’t just a theme in my book, it’s a reflection of real life. The people who see us and stick around? That’s the real magic.

Q: Joshua’s journey is full of emotional depth. Is he based on you?
A: Joshua definitely shares my awkwardness and introspection, especially when it comes to identity and feeling out of place. But he’s braver than I was at that age—and maybe a little more magical. He asks questions I still ask: Who am I? Where do I come from? Do I have to be what they said I was?

Q: What authors or books have influenced your work?
A: I love the emotion and intimacy of Ocean Vuong, the mythic layers of Neil Gaiman, and the accessibility of authors like V.E. Schwab or Leigh Bardugo. I also have a soft spot for the conspiracy-theory-meets-history vibe of Dan Brown. That definitely found its way into Joshua’s academic curiosity.

Q: What can readers expect from the next book in the series?
A: Angels & Demons takes everything deeper and darker. The stakes get higher, the monsters get meaner, and Joshua is forced to face the parts of himself he’s tried to ignore. Think: more mythology, more chaos, and a few surprising betrayals.

Q: What do you hope readers take away from Tale of the Four Winds?
A: That we’re all a little bit magic. That the labels we inherit don’t have to define us. And that sometimes, the most broken people are the ones with the power to heal others—just by surviving