Author Interview with Shay Kauwe
The Killing Spell by Shay Kauwe
The moment I learned 1) of the synopsis of The Killing Spell and 2) that Shay Kauwe will be the first traditionally published Native Hawaiian fantasy author, I knew that I wanted to talk to her about her book.
Shay and I connected over some similarities: we’re eldest daughter who grew up in Hawai’i with connections to a colonized language (ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi for her, Uchinaaguchii for me). Kea, our main character in The Killing Spell, also shares some of these similarities, and I think that’s just one of the reasons I loved this book so much.
The Killing Spell is a love letter to languages disguised as an urban fantasy and murder mystery. We explore what it takes to connect with your homeland, which no longer exists, through a language that others work to bury. What happens when a society places a hierarchy on one language over another?
Mahalo nui loa to Shay for an early copy of the book and the opportunity to chat! The Killing Spell comes out April 14th, 2026. You can order a copy at your local bookstore or on Bookshop.org.
About Shay:
Shay Kauwe is a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) author from Hawaiʻi. She grew up on the Homestead in Waimānalo but moved to Russia because she fell in love with a boy. They now live in Oʻahu. Shay holds an M.Ed in Education and was named an NCTE Early Educator of Color in 2021. In 2022, she was awarded an Empowering ʻŌiwi Leadership Award by the Hawaiian Council, for her work in storytelling and literacy. Her debut urban fantasy THE KILLING SPELL is forthcoming from Saga/Solaris Books and will be the first traditionally published adult fantasy novel by a Hawaiian author.
Connect with Shay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaykauwe/