Interview

Hi Kris and Welcome!  Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to interview you for Romance Junkies.  First, can you let us know what projects you are currently working on?

 

I am working on Book #2 of the contract with Kensington.  It’s the book that won the 2008 Golden Heart last summer for Best Unpublished Historical Romance, but it has undergone serious revisions, which took some time.  J  I don’t yet know what its title will be, but as a GH finalist, it was WANTING FINIAN.

 

I’ve sent this story in to my editor, so as soon as he says it’s a go, I’m onto the next one, which has about 100 pages written, and is another medieval, with a wronged and very angry heroine, a very, very dangerous hero, and they both have something precious to protect.  My working title is simply: The Jamie Story.  J

 

Who/What inspired you to write? Who is your biggest supporter?

  

I don’t know that anyone or anything ‘inspired’ me to write, as far as a static person or event.  I do know that, as I was working my way through the local public library, I stayed away from romances for sooooo long. In fact, I would go to the library, see an historical romance that looked good, but I was terrified of the covers.  LOL  I’d force myself to walk away, saying,  “No, no.  You can’t read THOSE books.”

 

Then I finally broke down.  I read my first one, and the day after I finished, I was up until 3 a.m. writing the worst book ever.  J

 

My biggest support is my husband.  He has let me do everything I needed, from cutting work hours to leaving my day job almost entirely, so I could pursue this dream.

 

How did you celebrate the sale of your first book? Who did you call first? 

 

Ahh, The Call.  The glamour is blinding, so shield your eyes.  I celebrated by continuing to provide home-based first aid (i.e. warm compresses) to my 3 y.o. son’s pink eye.  That’s what I was doing when my agent called with the news, and that’s what I was doing after we hung up.  :ohhhh.  ahhh.  commence applause: LOL

 

Right away, of course, I called my husband.  J  My mom died just before all this happened: the Golden Heart finals, securing an agent, getting a 2-book publishing contract. She would have been a very close second.  J

 

What do you feel makes a great Romance Hero? How do you develop your heroes?

 

Oooh, yay heroes!  I love our heroes.

 

For me, there are a couple components to making a romance hero great, and it holds true if he’s an alpha or a more low-key, ‘beta’ hero. 

 

In the end, I think he needs to be willing to sacrifice absolutely everything for love.  Risk it all.  Everything internally, and everything externally.

 

I have some things I love about heroes, which I’m stealing from my website, but as that came out of my brain in the first place, I suppose it’s okay.  ;-)

 

I like heroes who are self-confident.  Men on a hunt, with a mission, in control.

 

Except when faced with that one woman . . . the one who makes him fumble simple objects and get upset when he’s usually so in control.  The one who can get him. Every time, everywhere.

 

And I like beta heroes. Kind, quirky, willing to let the lady shine and be amazed by her.

 

Men who aren’t afraid to be quiet, because they don’t need to shout. About anything.

 

What do you hope readers take away after reading one of your stories? What do you want them to feel?

 

Oh, what a nice question.  I want them to feel hope.  Uplifted.  Like, “Yea! If it’s important enough, then yes, it’s possible. I see that now.”

 

Oh, and I’d really, really like if they wanted/imagined being the heroine. If the situations she faced prompted the reader’s imagination, and she lets the book fall to her lap to imagine what she’d do if it were HER. 

 

And of course, I’d like if the reader would want to have the hero in her life. J

 

What I would like is if the reader lets the book slip away at times as she reading, to daydream. Of course, she has to pick it right back up again, turning pages relentlessly, ignoring the pleas of her husband to ‘turn out the d*mn light already!” or thoughts of the coming sleep-deprived workday, unable to rest until she finally reaches the very…last…page.  J

 

Do you find it easier to write with a deadline or without? How do you feel when you write “the end” Are you ready to send your characters on their way?

 

Hmm, tough.  I am just learning how to write on a deadline, so I don’t know if I can answer that question well yet.  I do know the story I’m currently revising was a great deal more difficult than writing a new story would have been, which is difficult as I am on a deadline for it. 

 

I’d say that the structure of a deadline is going to help in 2 ways.  It will force to pre-plan more that I do, which is going to make the stories even stronger, as it will reveal holes more quickly.  Also, I am an inveterate reviser.  I will revise until the story goes on the shelf, if allowed.  So, the deadline forces me to stop, so I can move on to the next story.

 

Since you have started your career as a writer, what would you say are the most important lessons you have learned?

 

Persistence.  Keep showing up, every day, and you’ll be there when the bus comes by.

 

And you have to pay attention while you’re being persistent: learn the craft.  Be an apprentice, then a journeywoman.  It’s a lifelong study.

 

But in the end, persistent people achieve their dreams.

             

Do you feel a romance story has to have a Happily Ever After? Why or why not?

 

Yes. Sure.  That’s what people expect when they come to romance.  It’s a genre.  It’d be like writing a mystery where the mystery didn’t get solved.  No problem with that—probably be a wonderful story.  But it’s not the mystery genre, and it’s not what people came expecting to read.

 

I also think HEA’s are a wonderful thing to write towards, to be moved by.  There’s an awful lot of sadness in the world.  I believe that wherever we can add positive energy, that’s a good thing.  Who knows where and when the tipping point is? I’d like to be part of some sort of critical mass for Good.  J

 

Do you use a pen name? Why or why not? If you do does the name have a special meaning to you?

 

Despite some back and forth on it, I decided to use my real name.  As a psychotherapist, I really didn’t want my clients sitting there picturing some of the more racy scenes, and trying to process their fight with their boss the day before. 

 

But, as I was drastically cutting back my therapy practice anyhow, after my son was born, it began to seem, well, unnecessary. 

 

Also, there’s another reason I’m now glad I decided to go with my own name.  It’s because, after people find out I have a book coming out, ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE (okay, maybe 99.99% of everyone) asks, “Oh, what do you write?” and when they hear ‘Romance,” their smile stiffens slightly and they say, “Oh.  And are you writing under your own name?”…

Why, yes.  I am.  And you?  Do you work under your own name?

 

I am now incredibly glad I went with my own name. 

 

Do you think one of the first questions people ask mystery writers is if they’re writing under their own name?  I do not think so.  But I will one day form a study group on this, so please stay tuned.

 

If your life were a movie, what would you call it? What would the theme song be?

 

Oh, I’m never good at questions like this!  LOL.  Perhaps that’s because my life hasn’t been movie-material.   J   A lot of dreary day-to-day living.  Cook, pretend to clean, go to college, get disillusioned, get re-illusioned by acts of will . . . you know the routine, We all do it.  J

 

What is one question no one ever asks you that you wish they would? 

 

Nice question.  And yet, as I’m so new at this writing thing, I haven’t had too many questions asked, for me to wish for alternates! J  I like RJ’s questions; they make me think.  And for a mom of a preschooler, that can be quite a feat.  J

 

MORE FUN…

What is your biggest pet peeve?

 

Annoying or scary noises really bug me.  Like, a loud rumbling truck going by, or even a TV too loud, bugs me A LOT!  J

 

But, that’s more a sensory thing.  As far as pet peeves . . .

~ Unreasonable people.  Can NOT stand that.

~ Drivers who don’t know that ‘merge’ is a verb.  You have to actually DO it. 

~ Passivity.  In any way. 

 

What is your favorite spring activity?

 

Going around with my son and finding all the new growing things.  Smelling spring in the air.  You know, that moment when you take a deep breath and there’s warmth there, under the chill, and that fresh, full fragrance?  Yes. I like that in the spring. 

 

I was just in Heidelberg, Germany this spring, in April, and it was just gorgeous.  Made me realize I may have to move to a place where Spring comes a bit sooner and more energetically than it does in the Pacific Northwest. 

 

Do you have any TV shows that you can’t miss? How about ones you can do without?

 

No, although, hubby and I have started to watch American Idol over the past few years, and I am enjoying the series Lie To Me.

 

Dork alert: I like nature shows, and The Waltons, and Little House on the Prairie. 

 

What kinds of hobbies do you have? Do you want to learn something new but just haven’t had time?

 

Love hiking and camping.  Want to love exercising, but God has not granted that wish. My son and I have discussed how great it would be if the things you loved were the things that were good for you.

 

So, for instance, if you like chocolate ice cream, well, presto, for you, it’s beneficial!  Non-fattening!  Filled with vital nutrients and vitamins!

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Anyhow . . .that was a tangent, wasn’t it? 

 

I was self-teaching myself Irish, and one day, I’ll get back into it.  But I think I’ll get some help this time.  J  It’s a very confusing language.

 

I think I’d like to learn to knit.  That feels very do-able.  One day, I want to have horses again.  That’s a dream.  One day.  One day.  J

 

Thanks so much for having me here!  I really enjoyed the questions, and I’d love to have anyone who wishes stop by the website (http://kriskennedy.net) or pop me an email (kris@kriskennedy.net) anytime.  You can let me know you read the interview, or just say Hi! 

 

Thanks so much!  Hope you enjoy THE CONQUEROR!

 

It’s been a lot of fun, Kris!  Good luck with your writing career!

By Kim Atchue-Cusella

Romance Junkies Publishing Editor

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