What is one of your favorite things about writing?
I love being able to daydream and call it working! But I also like the feeling of satisfaction I get when I write the last sentence of a story. It’s like – wowza! – I did it. I created something completely new!
When you’re brainstorming for a new story, what usually comes first for you, the plot or the characters?
Honestly I can’t separate them out. A story begins in my head when I have a character with a problem. The problem has be related to the character’s circumstances and the circumstances have to be relevant to the particular character. So I can’t really say one or the other comes first.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Some of both. I tend to start off with only a minimal idea of where the story will go, but somewhere along the way I have to stop and work out the story, at least in my head to be sure I know how to bring it around. At that point, I usually write a brief outline of the story for myself to follow.
Can you write sex scenes at any time or do you have to be “in the mood?”
Does a mystery writer have to be in a murderous mood to write a murder scene? I regard myself as a professional author, which means that I write what the story requires when it requires it. It isn’t always easy, but it’s what we do.
What is the most difficult thing about writing?
Almost everything except writing the last sentence. I pretty much sweat blood over the rest of it.
What is one of your favorite ways to learn about your characters?
I just let them play in my head. I think about them while exercising or cleaning or doing anything else that doesn’t require much brain power. I watch them as they go about their daily life and see what they do, who they meet, etc. But most of that happens after I’ve already started the story. It’s how I get a handle on what they’ll do in the story itself.
Do you find it harder to write novels or short stories?
Most people will think it odd that I find short stories harder to write. Yes, it takes longer to write a novel – much longer, in fact, but short stories require a sort of concentration and discipline for limitations that I find hard. I think my mind likes to sprawl a bit when writing. I find it hard to resist adding complications and bigger story issues.
Would you tell us about your latest release?
My two most recent releases are short pieces in boxed set anthologies I’m doing with a group called The Naughty Literati. (More about that group at: http://naughtyliterati.com/ ) We did a winter themed anthology titled “Naughty List” and a romance/Valentine-themed anthology that was released in February called “Naughty Hearts” My story in Naughty List is called “Prelude to a Most Unusual Marriage.” It’s a Victorian romance that involves a widow and a widower, both with painful pasts and unusual sexual proclivities. In “Fifty Shades of Valentine’s Day” in the Naughty Hearts anthology Melissa is dumped by her boyfriend on Valentine’s Day, by email, no less! Melissa only thinks the day can’t get any worse. Until she damages her hot neighbor’s car, and he demands unexpected compensation.
What are you working on now?
I’ve just finished another story for our upcoming Spring Fling anthology. I also have a couple of novels in progress.
Do you have an excerpt from your latest release you would like to share?
Here’s a quick excerpt from “Fifty Shades of Valentine’s Day” in the Naughty Hearts anthology:
*****
Valentine’s Day… A day to celebrate love, sweethearts, joy. Chocolate candy, hearts and flowers… Bah humbug. Wrong holiday, right sentiment, Melissa decided as she pulled into the parking lot of her apartment building after the longest day of her life.
What kind of shitty asshole dumped his girlfriend of six months on Valentine’s Day, of all days? Daniel McKenzie Winslow, her own shitty asshole of an ex-boyfriend. He couldn’t be what she needed, he claimed, which was true in its way, but not for the reasons he wanted her to be believe. Not only that, he did it with an email. Sent to her work email account.
Asshole didn’t begin to describe him.
And probably because she was so upset by that, she got yelled at by two customers who thought she wasn’t moving fast enough, and another she accidentally shorted on a withdrawal. Of course, her supervisor noticed too, and asked if there was a problem. Yeah, right. And her drawer came up fifty-two dollars short.
And now there was someone else parked in her parking space, which meant looking for one somewhere else. Perfect cap to a horrible day. She spotted a narrow space between a huge SUV and shiny red Trans Am. Her little car would just fit.
But she cut it too close. The grating screech of metal on metal from the right rear meant her day was about to get even worse. What to do now? She drew a deep breath, and with shaking hands, reversed enough to back away from the other car and then pulled in straighter, avoiding it this time.
Did she have to notify the police? She didn’t think so. But she’d have to tell the owner about it and offer to pay for the damage. Soon. Right now, preferably. But she couldn’t. Not like that. Not when she knew who the car’s owner was. She’d write out an apology and include a check with the note that she’d make up any difference between it and the actual bill.
*****
Would you tell us about yourself?
I’m really very ordinary, you know, so it’s hard to know what to say here. I’m a mom and a grandma. I do laundry and clean house (well, sometimes) and wash dishes like everyone else. I grew up in New York (the city, that is) and moved to North Carolina some thirty years ago. I discovered books early and buried myself in them as much as possible as a child and a teenager. I still love sinking into a good book and getting swept away. I dream a lot, too, which makes writing the perfect vocation for me. How else can you claim to be working when you’re sitting in an armchair staring out the window?
What are your favorite genres to read and write?
I read and write in a lot of genres, romance most of all, but I also enjoy fantasy, science fiction and mysteries.
Where can we visit you online?
My website is at http://www.katherinekingston.com
How long have you been writing?
It seems like forever, but in fact, it’s been about 25 years. I started selling short stories to small press publications in the 1990s. But I found writing novels came more naturally to me.
Name three fictional characters (not your own) that you find hot. They can be from books, movies, or TV.
A. Viggo Mortensen in The Lord of the Rings (though he’d be even hotter with clean hair)B. Colin Firth in almost anything, but especially in the A&E Pride & Prejudice (swoon!)C. A golden oldie: Kevin Costner in Bull Durham. I still can’t take my eyes off him every time I watch it.
What is your favorite season?
Fall – I love the colors, the smells, the excitement of the coming holidays.
What book are you currently reading?
Currently reading the “Magic” series by Ilona Andrews. Great stories. Terrific world-building. I adore Curran.
What is the last movie you watched?
Guardians of the Galaxy – rented the video and glad I did.
What is your favorite comfort food?
Chocolate
Bio:
Katherine Kingston has a wild and crazy imagination that she sets free to rummage through the past, present, future and other worlds entirely. That imagination comes back with a lovely assortment of ideas for characters, plots, settings and events. The result is stories in many different settings, ranging from the medieval period to the far future to places that don’t actually exist except in her fantasies. They all include a sizzling hot romance, usually with kinky elements.
A former computer programmer and magazine editor, Katherine now works part time and spends the rest of her day writing. She lives in North Carolina with her husband of many years, and has three grown children and several grandchildren.
Her website is at http://www.katherinekingston.com
The Naughty List – Thirteen fabulous winter-set stories.
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00PYZON9U/
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Charlotte_Boyett_Compo_Naughty_List?id=El6LBQAAQBAJ
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/naughty-list-charlotte-boyett-compo/1120834064?ean=2940150189195&isbn=2940150189195
iTunes: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/naughty-list-charlotte-boyett-compo/1120834064?ean=2940150189195&isbn=2940150189195
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/naughty-list-2
Trade Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Naughty-List-Thirteen-Holiday-Stories/dp/1505559235/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
Naughty Hearts – Twelve romantic stories for Valentine’s Day and beyond.
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00T0UPK8S/indie01-0029-20
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Suz_deMello_Naughty_Hearts?id=o29vBgAAQBAJ
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/naughty-hearts-suz-demello-alexa-silver/1121138013?ean=2940150183568
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/naughty-hearts/id962950304?ls=1&mt=11
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/naughty-hearts
Trade Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Naughty-Hearts-Twelve-Valentines-Stories/dp/150759433X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422266946&sr=1-1&keywords=naughty+hearts
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